1 / 12

Introduction to Drug Abuse

Introduction to Drug Abuse. Terminology. What is a drug? A drug is any substance that when ingested into the body changes the way the organism functions. Tolerance :

mpeter
Download Presentation

Introduction to Drug Abuse

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introduction to Drug Abuse

  2. Terminology • What is a drug? • A drug is any substance that when ingested into the body changes the way the organism functions. • Tolerance: • A stage of drug abuse in which the brain and body get used to a drug, causing a person to have to take more and more of the drug to get the same effect

  3. Dependence: A stage of drug abuse in which a person needs a drug just to feel okay (normal).

  4. Addiction: • A style of living characterized by compulsive use and overwhelming involvement with a drug. A stage of drug abuse in which the user cannot stop taking the drug despite serious negative consequences; the drug takes control of the brain and overpowers the body’s natural signals

  5. Withdrawal: • A stage of drug abuse when the user stops taking the drug. The user is often in physical pain and may suffer from depression, hallucinations or delusions.

  6. Substance abuse • Substance abuse is the use of a drug or other substance for a non-medical use, with the aim of producing some type of 'mind-altering' effect in the user. • This includes both the use of illegally produced substances, and the abuse of legal drugs, in a use for which the substance was not intended. • Often this involves use of the substance in excessive quantities

  7. Who is at risk for trying drugs? • Risk factor = personality, environment, genetic • Peer pressure is huge, both for teenagers and adults alike • Young men • Low self-esteem • Low academic achievement • Friends/family use • disorganized life • a.Marital Problem or geographical separations • b. Stress at work • c. Family Problems • d. Previous drug usage

  8. Warning signs of teenage drug or alcohol abuse may include • a drop in school performance • a change in groups of friends • antisocial behavior • a worsening in family relationships. • change in eating and sleeping habits

  9. Types of Drug Addiction • Stimulants: Amphetamines, but a more common stimulant is nicotine. • Hallucinogens: LSD was a popular drug in the 1960’s • Cannabis Compounds: The most common drug in this category is marijuana • Depressants: Alcohol is the most common depressant

  10. Opiates: Heroin and cocaine lead the list here • Designer Drugs: e.g. Ecstasy • Inhalants: e.g. Glue sniffing

  11. Special type of Drugs of Abuse Many different types of drugs can be abused: not only illegal drugs such as heroin, cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy, but also prescription drugs such as tranquillizers, analgesics (painkillers), and sleeping pills. Prescription drugs.Using a prescription drug in a manner other than the intended prescription constitutes drug abuse.

  12. Some of the more commonly abused prescription drugs are: • Pain-relieving narcotics (Percodan, Codeine, Vicodin, Percocet ) • Tranquilizers and sedatives (Halcion, Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Phenobarbital) • Muscle relaxants • Prescription amphetamines (Ritalin, Cylert, Adderall)

More Related