ROLE OF DRUGS

Types of Drugs

Depressants: Drugs that act on the central nervous system and slow down brain activity. Impaired co-ordination, balance and judgment are common.

Examples Volatile substances or sniffable

substances (eg glues, gases, aerosols) Alcohol Tranquillizers

Types of Drugs

Stimulants - Drugs that act on the central nervous system and increase brain activity. Some give feelings of alertness, greater energy and confidence. They may also reduce appetite, leading to hunger when the drug's effects have worn off, and tiredness or exhaustion if there has been a long period of activity.Cocaine Crack Ecstasy Alkyl Nitrites Amphetamines Nicotine

Types of Drugs

Hallucinogens - Drugs that act to change the way users experience the world through the five senses. Sometimes this involves seeing, and hearing things which aren't there.Cannabis LSD Magic mushrooms Ketamine

Types of Drugs

Analgesics Drugs that have a painkilling effect.

Heroin (and other opiates/opioids)

Types of Drugs

Anabolic steroids - Drugs that promote muscle growth and increase lean body mass. These drugs mostly have legitimate medical uses and are often misused by those wishing to enhance their athletic performance or strength.

Drug Schedules

Drug Schedules

Gateway Drugs

A term for drugs that lead to abuse of other substances. Marijuana, for instance, is considered by

some to be a gateway to harder drugs.

Role of Drugs

Drugs can lead to violent crimes◦ Individuals who are addicted to drugs

may commit crimes to support their habit◦ Individuals who are under the influence

of drugs may commit crimes while high due to lack of inhibitions and reasoning skills

Vocabulary

Addiction: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice

Narcotics: An addictive drug, that reduces pain, alters mood and behavior, and usually induces sleep or stupor.

Fighting Drugs

War on Drugs

The War on Drugs was started in 1971 by President Richard Nixon.

During the 1960’s drug use became more main-stream among middle class whites, prompting Nixon to call drugs “public enemy number one”

Goal is to decrease amount of drugs produced in the U.S. and decrease amount of drugs brought in from outside the U.S., decreasing number of people using drugs.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

Attempt by President Clinton to crack down on sales of prescription drugs on the Internet

Internet drug sales are often unregulated and are dangerous because drugs can be bought without a valid prescription

Policy also sought to fund drug testing and treatment programs

National Drug Control Strategy Strategy introduced by George W.

Bush with the goals of: Stopping abuse before it begins with

education and community activism Healing current drug users with

treatment resources (methadone) Attacking the economic basis of the drug

trade through border control, enforcement, and prosecution

Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana : the debate Point:

Marijuana can be used medicinally to numb pain, relieve the eye pressure of glaucoma, calm muscle spasms, and ease discomfort of AIDS and cancer patients but it is illegal in most states

Counterpoint Marijuana has some chemicals that are 20

times more powerful than tobacco. It is also widely believed to be a gateway drug. It is stronger than it once was. Impairs thinking.

Medical Marijuana

California Proposition 215: Also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was an attempt to legalize marijuana for patients that were “seriously” ill.

The goal was to allow them to use marijuana without being arrested or imprisoned for it.