Chapter Three:

Drugs

A drug is …………………………………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………………………………... Drugs are classified in many different ways. One of the most common classification systems is as follows: ……………….. these are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system, increasing the body’s feeling of alertness. ……………….. these drugs depress or slow down the central nervous system, producing a feeling of relaxation or drowsiness. ……………….. these drugs produce an effect on the brain that distorts the user's awareness of sight, taste, touch, sound and smell. Objects may take on different sizes or shapes, noises may be heard louder or softer. These drugs may also alter a person's mood. The effect of a drug will vary depending on:

The amount taken (dosage) and chemical properties.

The manner that the drug is taken. - how frequently the person uses the drug. If a person uses a drug frequently, they can develop a tolerance to the drug, and larger doses are necessary to produce the same effect. - the method of administering the drug; injecting a drug

directly into the bloodstream will result in a quicker effect than ingesting.

- Use of other drugs – if a person mixes drugs it can produce a very different effect to which that drugs was originally designed for.

Individual differences. - age/sex - body weight - tolerance/mood - past experiences - activity level - medical condition

The circumstances or environment - the place the person is in - the presence of significant others

ACTIVITY: Match the correct definition to the label below. This is the overindulgence in and dependence Drug Use on a drug or substance leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical or mental health, or the welfare of others. Drug Misuse This involves taking a drug or substance into your body in order to change its functioning. This is when a person takes a drug for Drug Abuse another purpose for which it was intended, usually resulting in negative health consequences.

PHYSICAL REASONS SOCIAL REASONS EMOTIONAL/MENTAL REASONS

ACTIVITY: Classify each of the drugs listed below as either stimulants (S), depressants (D) or hallucinogens (H).

DRUG EXAMPLES SHORT TERM EFFECTS S, D or H

Alcohol Beer, wine, spirits Blurred vision, slower

reaction time, poor coordination

Amphetamines Speed, uppers Increased blood pressure

and heart rate, anxiety

Methadone Aka done, junk,

jungle juice

Relief of pain, slows down pulse and lowers blood

pressure.

Benzodiazepines Valium, mogadon,

rohypnol

Have a calming effect, cause drowsiness, slurred

speech

Caffeine Coffee, tea, cola,

chocolate Increased alertness,

increased body temperature

Cannabis Marijuana,

hashish

Sleepiness, poor coordination and

concentration

Cocaine Aka crack, coke,

snow

Increased heart rate, alertness and energy. Increased breathing

Ecstasy MDMA aka E,

eccy, eggs

Speeds up activity of CNS, feeling of wellbeing and

euphoria

Heroin Opium aka H,

smack, hammer

Lowers concentration and coordination, nausea and

vomiting

Inhalants Solvents, petrol and anesthetics

Blurred vision, slurred speech, poor coordination,

loss of memory, nausea

LSD Aka acid, trips Changes in perception and

mood, visual distortions

Naturally occurring

hallucinogens

Magic mushrooms,

angel’s trumpet

Vivid perceptual distortions, distorted sense of time and

space.

Tobacco Cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco

Increased pulse rate, rise in blood pressure

ACTIVITY: Match the level of drug use with the correct definition. LEVEL OF USE DEFINITION Recreational The user cannot do without the drug. They suffer physical and mental distress when they cannot have it. Experimental Drug use only occurs when there are certain circumstances eg. “I only smoke when I have a drink.” Dependent Only uses a drug once or a few times to try it out. Habitual Uses a drug in a social way eg. Ecstasy at a dance party. Circumstantial When drugs are taken at certain times during the day due to a routine that has developed.

The effects of a drug are not fixed. Drugs will differ in their effect depending on factors to do with the individual, factors to do with the environment, and factors to do with the drug itself. ACTIVITY: Classify each of the following factors as either Individual factors (I), Drug factors (D) or Environmental factors (E).

Factor I,D or E Factor I,D or E Factor I,D or E

Amount of drug taken

Person’s size Previous

experience

Gender Speed of

taking drug

Social setting

Peer influence

Person’s

mood Expectations

Venue How the drug

is taken

Strength of drug taken

Modifying one of the three factors can decrease the level of harm that could result from drug use. For example, consider the following scenario. Sandra was happy to be back home celebrating her sister Nicole’s wedding. It was a beautiful night at a restaurant on the water’s edge. The party was going well until late in the evening, when too much alcohol had been consumed by her young cousins and one of them fell overboard into the water.

THE ENVIRONMENT A wedding held on the harbour

Underage drinkers Excessive alcohol THE INDIVIDUAL THE DRUG

ACTIVITY: Manipulate each of the factors in the above scenario using the Drug Triangle to demonstrate how the danger can be reduced. THE ENVIRONMENT …………………………………………………………………… THE INDIVIDUAL ……………………………………………………………………….. THE DRUG ……………………………………………………………………………….

Polydrug use is when a person takes more than one drug at a time or sequentially after one another. Mixing drugs can multiply the effects of each drug and increase the danger of the body’s reactions. For this reason, mixing drugs should be avoided. In many cases of heroin overdose deaths, cocaine, alcohol and other drugs are often also in the person’s system. On most prescription drug bottles advice is clearly given warning the patient to not mix their drugs with alcohol.

Regardless of the type of drug used, the procedure will be the same for people first on the scene. The main point to remember is that there are no secrets about the situation. Hiding the person until they sober up might mean they never get the medical attention they need. Overdoses caused by some drugs are more life-threatening than others. For example, heroin is very dangerous because the effects are so fast and the person often doesn’t know the strength of the substance. The major problem associated with overdose is breathing in vomitus and the person choking on it. The lungs become full of the person’s own vomit! How would you help a person who you suspect has overdosed on drugs?

1. Call an ambulance without delay. It is better to do so when a person is semi-conscious, not unconscious.

2. Check for response. If there is none, go through the ABC procedure of first aid.

3. If breathing, put into lateral (recovery) position. Do not leave unattended. Give nothing, not even water.

4. When the ambulance arrives keep no secrets. It is much easier for the ambulance officer to talk to one, sober person, that a group of people under the influence of drugs. Tell the ambulance officer all you can about the type and quantity of drug used.

1. GET INFORMED about all drugs. This will help you to understand the drugs you, your relatives and friends are exposed to and enable you to make wise decisions.

2. TALK TO EACH OTHER about drug use. Talk about problems

which may be related to drug use; eg. social, sexual, financial or health problems.

3. LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES to drug use and encourage

everyone to use other ways to relax or deal with difficulties. Many problems like stress, anxiety, boredom and physical pain can be relieved without using drugs.

4. GET ACTIVE in your community. Talk to your school, church,

community group, sports club or parent association about programs to improve drug education and awareness.

5. GET ADVICE AND HELP if you, your relatives or friends have a

drug problem.

HOMEWORK ACTIVITY: Using the local phone book or internet, locate the services that you can contact if you or a friend/family member needs help to stop using drugs. List the services and their contact phone numbers in the table below.

SERVICE PHONE NUMBER

Drug Classification Method of

administration Harmful effects to

the user Problems it causes

society

MARIJUANA

ECSTASY

HEROIN

COCAINE

Drug Classification Method of

administration Harmful effects to

the user Problems it causes

society

LSD

INHALANTS

AMPHETAMINES

MUSHROOMS

METHODONE

Drug Classification Method of

administration Harmful effects to

the user Problems it causes

society

TOBACCO

CAFFIENE

ALCOHOL

Colour the face that corresponds to your feelings about the unit you have just completed.

Complete the sentences below: 1. The things I liked best in this unit were………………………………..................... ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. The things I liked least in this unit were……………………...………..................... ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. One thing I learned in this unit was…..………………………………..................... ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. I would like to find out more about……………………………………..................... ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5. Improvements that I could suggest for in this unit include…………..................... ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Teacher’s comments:

Needs Improvement

Satisfactory Good Excellent

Consistent effort

Neatness

Homework completion

Assignment

Recommendations: ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………… …………………….……………………………………

Parent’s comments: ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Signed: …………………………………… Date: ………………………