Drugs

1. Drugs Chapter 5

2. Objectives Identify the following: • The adverse effects of tobacco use • Types of tobacco use • The effects of environmental tobacco smoke • Types of psychoactive drugs and their physiological effects • Types and risks of inhalant use • The adverse effects of Rohypnol & GHB

3. Tobacco Toxic Components • Tar • Nicotine • Carbon Monoxide

4. Tar • Byproduct of burning tobacco • Dark sticky substance condensed from cigarette smoke • Contains potent carcinogens • Causes the “smoker’s cough” • Promotes chronic bronchitis and emphysema

5. Nicotine • Colorless, oily compound • Addictive substance found in tobacco • Nicotine is considered to be more addictive than cocaine or heroin • Extremely poisonous in concentrated amounts • Major contributor to heart and respiratory diseases • It may first act as a stimulant and then have a calming effect

6. Side Effects • Inhibition of urine formation • Discoloration of fingers • Dull taste buds • Irritates membranes in mouth and throat • Causes skin to be clammy • Reduces body temperature

7. Withdrawal Symptoms • Irritability • Anxiousness • Hostility • Food cravings • Headaches • Inability to concentrate

8. Carbon Monoxide • Odorless, tasteless and highly toxic gas • Reduces blood’s ability to carry oxygen, causing shortness of breath • Damages inner surface of coronary arteries • Increases rate of atherosclerosis • Impairs normal function of the nervous system • Plays a role in the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes

9. Types of Tobacco • Cigarette Smoking • Smokeless Tobacco • Cigars/Other

10. Cigarette Smoking – Statistical Information • Cigarette smoking is the largest preventable cause of illness and premature death in the US • More people die from smoking then from alcohol , cocaine, heroin, suicide, homicide, car accidents and AIDS combined • In the 30 years since the first Surgeon General’s Report on smoking, approximately 10 million Americans have died from a smoking related cause • The annual costs of smoking related problems are more than 50 billion dollars in direct medical costs

11. Statistical Information cont… • Smoking is a major cause of COPD • Smokers are 20 times more likely to have heart attacks • Smokers are 10 times more likely to develop lung cancer • Estimated that each cigarette shortens your life by 2 minutes

12. Mouth, throat, and other types of cancer Cirrhosis of the liver Ulcers Gum & dental disease Decreased HDL Increased fatty acids Diabetes Heart disease Atherosclerosis Blood clots Decreased clotting time Increase in blood thickness Allergies Sexual impotence Additional Problems

13. Smokeless Tobacco • Is it a safe alternative to cigarettes??? • There is approximately 2 – 3 times more nicotine in smokeless tobacco • It is absorbed through the mucous membranes releasing cancer-causing agents • Problems include: bad breath, CV disease, decreased smelling and tasting abilities, dental and gum problems, and a variety of cancers (lip, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, and tongue)

14. Problems cont… Leukoplakia • a pre-cancerous condition that produces thick, rough, white patches on the gums, tongue, and inner-cheeks

15. Cigars/Other • Pipe and cigar smokers are at higher risk than smokers for certain types of cancer (lip, mouth, and larynx) • Pipe smoke (2% carbon monoxide) and Cigar smoke (6% carbon monoxide) is more irritating to the respiratory system • Are clove cigarettes safer??? • They contain 2 X the amount of tar, nicotine, & carbon monoxide as most moderate brands of cigarettes • Contains eugenol

16. Environmental Tobacco Smoke • Also known as second hand smoke or passive smoke • The Environmental Protection Agency officially declared ETS to be a human carcinogen in 1993 • Harms cardiovascular system of non-smokers and may increase the risk of non-fatal cardiac problems • Causes 60,000 deaths each year • ETS triggers 23 asthma attacks every hour in children

17. Smoking Cessation • 1.3 million smokers quit each year • One year off cigarettes reduces your risk of a heart attack by 50 % • After 15 years of abstinence from smoking, your risks are similar to that of a person whom never smoked

18. Smoking Cessation cont… 5 Steps to Quit for Good: • Set a quit date • Get support and encouragement • Learn new skills and behaviors • Get medication and use it correctly • Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

19. Psychoactive Drugs • Drugs that disrupt the normal functioning of the CNS, by interrupting neurotransmitter function • Divided into 6 categories based on their physiological effects on the body: • Stimulants • Depressants • Hallucinogens • Cannabis • Narcotics • Inhalants

20. Stimulants • Amphetamines • Cocaine • Caffeine

21. Amphetamines • Drugs that speed up the nervous system • Manufactured in a laboratory • Behavioral effects: elevated moods, increased alertness, feelings of well being, suppressed appetite • Users will become fatigued after the effects wear off • With abuse, users will experience rapid tolerance and a strong psychological dependence

22. Amphetamines cont… • Methamphetamine – most commonly abused • Crystal meth (smokable form) – most dangerous • Effects are rapid and can last for several hours • After the effects wear off, the user is exhausted • Long term abuse: nutritional difficulties, weight loss, reduced resistance to infections, and damage to the liver, lungs, and kidneys

23. Cocaine • Naturally occurring substance • It can be inhaled, injected, or smoked • The effects are short lived (5 – 30 minutes) • Dopamine and norepinephrine are released, causing feeling of euphoria and confidence • Electrical impulses to the heart become impaired • Psychological and physical dependence occur rapidly

24. Cocaine cont… • Crack cocaine (smokable form) • Rock like crystalline form • Combination of cocaine with baking soda • Reaches the CNS immediately • Effects are short lived (5 – 10 min.) • Feelings of depression after use • Abuse can result in convulsions, seizures, respiratory distress, and sudden cardiac failure

25. Caffeine • Found in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, cocoa, and some carbonated beverages & medications • Excessive consumption can cause serious side effects, such as tremors, nervousness, irritability, headaches, hypertension, arrhythmia, dizziness, and insomnia • Also acts as a diuretic • May increase fibrocystic breast disease in women • Withdrawal symptoms: headaches, depression, drowsiness, nervousness, and fatigue

26. Depressants • Benzodiazepines • Barbiturates • Rohypnol • GHB

27. Depressants cont… • Physiological effects: drowsiness, impaired judgment, poor coordination, slowed breathing, confusion, weak and rapid heartbeat, relaxed muscles and pain relief • Benzodiazepines: prescribed to relieve tension, muscle strain, sleep disturbances, panic attacks • Barbiturates: used to induce relaxation, sleep and relieve tension

28. Depressants cont… • May produce a physical/psychological dependence within 2 to 4 weeks • Physician must prescribe and monitor • At risk if there is prior history of abuse • Lethal combination when mixed with alcohol

29. Narcotics • Drugs that relieve pain and often induce sleep • Opium is the base compound for the following • Morphine • Codeine • Heroin

30. Heroin • Abuse is common because of a strong physical and psychological dependence • Produces a dream-like euphoria • With needle injections, increased risk of HIV • Withdrawal symptoms are extremely intense, but rarely fatal • Overdose can result in death within minutes

31. Cannabis • Naturally occurring plant called Cannabis sativa • Active ingredient - Tetrahydrocannabinal (THC) • determines potency • fat soluble substance • Medical uses

32. Cannabis cont… • Behavioral effects: relaxed mood, heightened sensitivity to music, food cravings, impairment of short-term memory, overestimation of time, & inability to maintain attention to a task • Chronic abuse may lead to motivational syndrome • May be more dangerous than cigarette smoke

33. Hallucinogens • Psychedelics • Affect perception, sensation, awareness and emotion • Examples: • LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) • Mescaline • PCP (phencyclidine hydrchloride)

34. LSD • Considered to be the most potent • Hallucination & Illusions • Flashbacks • After use, a person loses control over normal thought process

35. PCP • Also known as Angel Dust • Sometimes considered a hallucinogen • First used as an anesthetic • High doses may cause serious mental illness

36. Inhalants • Chemicals that produce vapors having psychoactive effects when sniffed • Examples include model glue, acetone, gasoline, kerosene, nail polish, aerosol sprays, cooking sprays, lighter fluids, cleaning fluids, & nitrous oxide • Inhalants reach the lungs, bloodstream, and other areas very quickly • A brief or single exposure can cause asphyxiation or cardiac arrhythmia

37. Inhalants cont… • Effects similar to alcohol at first: • Dizziness, blurred vision, involuntary eye movement, poor coordination, slurred speech • Other effects: • involuntary extremity movement, euphoric feeling, nose bleeds, and possible coma

38. Inhalants cont… • Health risks: • Hepatitis • Liver and/or kidney failure • Destruction of bone marrow • Respiratory impairment • Blood abnormalities • Irregular heart beat, and/or heart failure

39. Inhalants cont… • Sign of inhalant abuse: • A rash around the nose and mouth • Nosebleeds • Residue found on the face, hands, or clothing • Breath odors • Redness, tearing or swelling of the eyes • Irritation of the throat, lungs, and nose that may lead to gagging and coughing

40. Club Drugs • Ecstasy (also known as MDMA) • Chemically similar to methamphetamines and mescaline • Usually taken orally in tablet form • May cause panic, anxiety, and rapid heart rate • Possible long-term damage to brain areas that are crucial for thought and memory

41. Club Drugs cont… • Rohypnol • Approved drug in some parts of the world • Similar to valium – but more potent • Commonly used with other drugs • Also known as “roofies” or the “Date Rape” drug • “anterograde amnesia” • It can be fatal when mixed with other drugs

42. Club Drugs cont… • Gamma Hydroxybutyrate • Fast acting, powerful, depressant • Commonly taken with alcohol • Used in Europe as a general anesthetic and treatment for insomnia • Also manufactured underground by “kitchen” chemists • Fine line to cross with a lethal dose that can lead to seizures, respiratory distress, low blood pressure and coma

43. Club Drugs cont… • 2C-B • Considered a psychedelic and a drug similar to MDMA • Taken orally • Visual effects are considered to be more intense than those created by LSD

44. Club Drugs cont… • Ketamine hydrochloride • Also known as “Special K” or “K” • 90% is legally sold for veterinary use • Lower doses can increase heart rate and numbness in the extremities • Higher doses can depress consciousness and breathing • Extremely dangerous when mixed with other depressants

45. Anabolic Steroids • Synthetic male hormones or androgens that build tissue • Side effects diminish the normal production of testosterone • Health issues: liver problems, kidney disease, shrinking testicles, sterility, high blood pressure, acne, sleep disorders, heart disease, increased aggressive behavior, extreme mood swings, and depression

46. Summary • Toxic components of tobacco include tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide • Type of tobacco include cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco, and cigars • Cigarette smoking is the #1 most preventable cause of death • Psychoactive drugs disrupt the normal functioning of the CNS, by interrupting neurotransmitter function • Stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, & caffeine • Depressants include benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and the “date rape” drugs

47. Summary cont… • Narcotics include morphine, codeine, and heroin • Marijuana is a naturally occurring plant called cannabis sativa • Hallucinogens include LSD, mescaline, and PCP • Inhalants are chemicals that produce vapors having a psychoactive effect when sniffed • Ecstasy is chemically similar to methamphetamines and mescaline • Anabolic steroids build tissue

48. Local Contacts • Texas A&M University • Dial-A-Nurse 845-2822 • Student Counseling Services 845-4427 • Student Counseling Service 24 Hour Helpline 845-2700 • Student Life Alcohol & Drug Education Programs 845-0280 http://stulife@tamu.edu/adep • Alcohol Abuse Help Line for Texas 800-553-7160 • Scott & White Alcohol/Drug Treatment Program 691-3338 • Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon 361-797

49. Local Contacts • Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol & Substance Abuse (BVCASA) 776-7070 • BVCASA 24 Hour Hotline 775-8255 • Narcotics Anonymous of Brazos Valley 822-9094 • 800-DRUG HELP (800-378-4435) • www.drughelp.org