legal & illegal drugs
DESCRIPTION
Legal & Illegal Drugs. Objectives. Warm-up. Define drug abuse & distinguish it from both appropriate use & misuse. Describe how psychoactive drugs affect the brain. Summarize the risks of drug abuse. Myth: Medicines from drugstores can’t harm you. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Legal & Illegal DrugsOBJECTIVES WARM-UP Define drug abuse &
distinguish it from both appropriate use & misuse.
Describe how psychoactive drugs affect the brain.
Summarize the risks of drug abuse.
Myth: Medicines from drugstores can’t harm you.
Fact: Medicines can be just as dangerous as street drugs if they are used inappropriately.
Writing: What other myths do teens believe about drugs? Write down some statements you have heard from your peers. Which are true? False?
Legal & Illegal Drugs Facts About Drug Use
Medicines—legal drugs that help the body fight injury, illness, or disease
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs—medicine sold legally without a prescription
Prescription Drugs—drugs that can only be obtained with a written order from a physician & can only be purchased at a pharmacy
Illegal Drugs—chemical substance that people of any age may not manufacture, possess, buy, or sell
MisuseMistakenly
taking more than is
recommended to treat a cough
Legal & Illegal Drugs Facts About Drug
Use Drug Misuse—
improper use of medicines
Drug Abuse—when a drug is intentionally used improperly or unsafely Using any kind of
drug for nonmedical purposes
Proper UseUsing per label instructions to treat a couch
AbuseDeliberately taking
more than is recommended or
taking for purposes other than a couch
Legal & Illegal Drugs Drug Abuse & the Brain
Psychoactive Drug—mood-altering drug that affects brain activity
The Reward Pathway—area of the brain that releases dopamine, which makes us feel pleasure The extra dopamine released during drug use can
cause user to ignore the harmful effects of the drug and want to continue using it
Flooding the Reward Pathyway with dopamine may lead to intense craving for the drug when it is not available
After a time, drug abuse can dull brain’s reactions to natural levels of dopamine. The user no longer feels pleasure from normal activities
Illegal & Legal Drugs Drug Abuse & the
Brain, cont. Addiction
Compulsive use of a drug regardless of cost to health, family, or social standing
Abuse of psycho active drugs leads to addiction
A disease that changes the structure & chemistry of the brain
Legal & Illegal DrugsDangers of Drug Misuse & Abuse Side Effects
Unwanted physical or mental effect caused by a drug
Examples Nausea Dizziness Drowsiness
Can vary from person to person
Tolerance & Dependence Tolerance—when a
person uses a drug repeatedly, they need more to get desired effect
Dependence—body’s chemical need for a drug to function normally
Legal & Illegal DrugsDangers of Drug Misuse & AbuseWITHDRAWAL DRUG INTERACTIONS Nausea Vomiting Headaches Dizziness Fever Digestion problems Paranoia Panic Tremors, seizures, death
Drug Antagonism—each drug’s effect is cancelled out or reduced by the other neither drug has desired effect
Drug Synergism—drugs interact to produce effects greater than those that each drug would produce alone
Impurities No regulation of illegal
drugs = no guarantee that they are pure Could be “cut” or diluted
with another substance Can vary from batch
to batch in concentration = can’t predict what effect drug will have each time
Other Health Risks Hepatitis & HIV—blood
borne pathogens that are transmitted through contaminated needles
Risks to Fetus & Newborn Broad range of
developmental problems Baby born with drug
dependency Drugs can also pass
through breast milk
Legal & Illegal DrugsDangers of Drug Misuse & Abuse
Legal Risks Criminal Record
Hard to get into schools, military, jobs
Prison Terms Fines
May Commit Other Crimes Shoplifting Robbery Assualt
Effects on Family & Friends Strained relationships
b/c behavior & personality of drug abuser
Interests & activities that helped bind relationships no longer exist
Family & Friends drift away
Legal & Illegal Drugs
Legal & Illegal Drugs Costs to Society
US Government spends billions to stop illegal drug manufacturing & sales
Billions spent in prevention, education, treatment & Rehabilitation
Other Costs: Cost of imprisoning thousands of people for drug-
related crimes Medical Costs for drug-related illnesses & injuries Premature deaths from drug-related homicides &
accidents Lost work productivity because of drug dependency
Key Questions1. How is an over-the-counter drug different
from a prescription drug?2. Define drug abuse. Give an example.3. Briefly describe how psychoactive drugs
affect the brain.4. What is a side effect?5. List three (3) health risks & two (2) other
risks that drug abusers face.