Substance Abuse

Journal – Tobacco After reading the Article “Goal for High School Smoking is Unmet” respond to

the following questions

Smoking Journal• 1. Why has the number of anti-smoking

advertisements decreased?

• 2. How is that affecting the number of smokers or those who pick up smoking?

• 3. What could we do as GV students to help promote anti-smoking to our fellow student?

• 4. Why do you believe students are still smoking today even though they usually know the risks?

Teens and Tobacco

Why do teens use tobacco?• Influence of friends: teens may feel pressure

to be a part of the group.• Influence of family: teens see parents who

are smokers and relate that behavior to being an adult.

• Influence of media: tactics are used by the media to glamorize tobacco use.

Media Influence

• Legal tactics: advertisements on websites and in magazines, advertisements in stores where cigarettes are sold, direct mail, and tobacco companies sponsor events and offer discounts to keep prices low.

• Illegal tactics: advertisements on the radio, TV, and billboards, cartoon images that might attract children or teens

Tobacco Products

• Tobacco products are made from the dried, processed leaves of tobacco plants.

• Tobacco plants naturally produce a chemical that acts as an insecticide to protect the plants’ leaves from insects.

• This insecticide is nicotine, a very addictive chemical found in tobacco products.

Products

• Products that are smoked: cigarettes, clove cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

• Smokeless Tobacco products: chewing tobacco (“dip or chew”) and snuff.

Tobacco users take in nicotine whenever they use cigarettes, cigars, pipes or smokeless tobacco!

Chemicals in Tobacco Products

• Nicotine is a stimulant drug. • Stimulants increase activity in the nervous

system. • Once nicotine is in the bloodstream, it reaches

the brain within seconds. • Nicotine affects your breathing, movement,

learning, memory, mood, and appetite. • People who use tobacco frequently begin to

rely on this feeling from nicotine. • This is what causes addiction.

Tobacco ProductsThere are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco products.

• Some of them include: – Tar– Carcinogens– carbon monoxide– Ammonia– Propane– Acetone– Formaldehyde– Stearic acid (candle wax)– Cadmium (batteries)– Arsenic (weed killer) – Naphthalene (mothballs)

The Magical Amount!

Risks of Tobacco Use:Respiratory Diseases

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – a disease that results from gradual loss of lung function.

• Chronic Bronchitis – airways are constantly inflamed and mucus production is increased, resulting in difficulty breathing.

• Emphysema – a disorder in which alveoli in the lungs can no longer function properly.

Risks of Tobacco Use• Cardiovascular Disease: raises blood pressure,

increase cholesterol, hardening and thickening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), blood clots, which can all cause a heart attack or stroke.

• Cancers: lung cancer, oral cancer (leukoplakia), esophagus, larynx, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, blood cancer, as well as many other sites.

Secondhand smoke and smoking while pregnant can cause the same health problems as smoking first hand.

Journal -Private• 1) Describe how a parent or other family member

influences your decisions about alcohol.

• Myth: Alcoholics sleep on park benches and wear shabby clothes.

• Fact: Alcoholics come from all cultures, backgrounds, and levels of education

2) In what ways does the media contribute to this myth about alcoholics? How else does the media shape people’s perception of alcoholics?

Facts about Alcohol

• Alcohol is not always thought of as being a drug, but it is.

• A drug is a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behaviors.

• Alcohol is a powerful depressant.

• A depressant is: a drug that slows the brain and body reactions.

• It can cause confusion, decreased alertness, poor coordination, blurred vision, and drowsiness.

Facts about Alcohol

• When people drink alcohol faster than the body can break it down into harmless compounds, they become intoxicated. In some cases, they may even blackout.

• Intoxication: is the state in which a person’s mental and physical abilities are impaired by alcohol or another substance.

• Blackout: a period of time that the drinker cannot recall.

Alcohol and the Body (How it all works)

• -Alcohol is absorbed through all parts of the gastrointestinal tract through

diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of fluids from an area of higher

concentration to an area of lower concentration.

• -The area that does most of the absorption is the small intestines due to its

large surface area. This is where most of the alcohol finds its way to the blood

stream.

• -Many factors effect alcohol absorption but food consumption is a big

influence on that timing.

• -If one were to eat food closer to the time of alcohol consumption, it would

take longer for the alcohol to be absorbed into the blood, and therefore have

any noticeable effects on the person. This is because the food is blocking the

alcohol’s passageway into the small intestines from the stomach.

Alcohol and the Body (How it all works)

• - Once the alcohol hits the bloodstream, the alcohol

becomes evenly distributed throughout the body.

• -95% of the alcohol ingested by the body is metabolized by

the Liver, which means it is eliminated. However, on

average it is only removed at a rate of 1 drink per hour.

• - The last five percent is released through urine, sweat,

feces, breath, and saliva.

Proof and Percent

• - Percent (ABV – Alcohol by Volume)– It simply represents

the amount of volume of ethanol, which is the alcohol in

consumable drinks, compared to the entire volume of the

drink. It is expressed as a percentage.

• - Proof –To compute a liquor’s proof you simply multiply

the ABV or Percent by 2.

• -80 proof is most commonly described as the “normal”

amount. Therefore, if you drink alcohol with more than 80

proof, it would be considered more than one drink.

Serving Sizes

• 1 Beer= 12 ounces (Typically 4-5%)• 1 Glass of Wine= 5 ounces (Typically 12-16%)• 1 shot of 80 proof liquor= 1.5 ounces

Understanding BAC and DUI’s

• -BAC is the acronym for Blood Alcohol Content. It is shown in

decimal form to describe how much alcohol is currently in one’s

bloodstream.

• -While someone who drinks often can build up a tolerance to

alcohol (meaning they don’t show effects as much as someone

else), they still will have the same BAC as someone who has the

same number of drinks and weighs the same.

• -All the myths regarding changing your BAC are false. The only way

to decrease your BAC is TIME.

Understanding BAC and DUI’s

• -A breathalyzer is a small device used to measure someone’s blood

alcohol content through their breath. This works because blood is

pumped through the lungs and during this process, some blood is

transferred over to the Alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs). When

someone blows into the breathalyzer, their exhale is full of this

Alveolar air, and this is directly related to the amount of alcohol in

the blood.

• - It is important to note that drunk driving STARTS at .08. So if you

have a .08 and are operating a vehicle even 21 and over, you will be

arrested for a DUI (driving under the influence).

Consequences of Underage Drinking• Consequences of Underage Drinking

• -Facts you should know and understand:

• “If you are under the age of 21, the possession, consumption,

transportation, and manufacture of alcohol is illegal. This means that even

if you did not drink anything, you can still be charged with an underage

offense. The consequences for underage drinking (18 Pa.C.S.A. 6308A)

violations are as follows:

• 1st offense: 90-day license suspension

• 2nd offense: 1 year license suspension

• 3rd offense: 2 year license suspension”

• -It is important to note that you can still be arrested even if you personally

have not consumed any alcohol. Possession is a vague term but to be safe,

you shouldn’t be at a party where underage drinking is occurring.

No License under 16?

• When you apply for license suspension will go into affect!

• $500 fine• Alcohol education classes• Counseling• Parents notified and pick you up

Consequences of Underage DrinkingYouth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience:

•-School problems (worse grades or higher absence rates)

•-Social problems (fighting, lack of participation in activities)

•-Legal problems

•-Physical problems (hangover or increased illnesses due to an impaired immune system)

•- Unwanted, Unplanned, and Unprotected sexual activity

•-Disruption of normal growth and sexual development

•-Physical and Sexual Assault

•-Higher risk for suicide and homicide

•-Alcohol-related car crashes and other unintentional injuries such as burns, falls, and

drowning

•-Memory problems

•-Abuse of other drugs

•-Changes in brain development (could be life-long)

•-Death from alcohol poisoning

Risks of Underage Drinking

Alcoholism and Abuse

– -Alcoholism is when you have signs of physical addiction to alcohol and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities.

– - Alcohol may control your life and relationships.– -Alcohol abuse is when your drinking leads to

problems, but not physical addiction.

Factors Affecting BAC:Gender

• Males will generally have a lower BAC than females. • In males, a larger amount of alcohol gets

metabolized in the stomach before it enters the blood stream and the liver is also more efficient in metabolizing alcohol.

Body Size & Food Consumption• Smaller people (by weight and height), feel the

effects of alcohol more than larger people. • They will have a higher BAC after a similar number of

drinks.

Factors Affecting BAC:Body Size & Food Consumption

• Smaller people (by weight and height), feel the effects of alcohol more than larger people.

• They will have a higher BAC after a similar number of drinks.

Long Term Risks of Alcohol

• Brain Damage destroys nerve cells in the brain, which can impair memory and concentration.

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome a group of birth defects caused by the effects of alcohol on an unborn child.

www.nlm.nih.gov

Long Term Risks of Alcohol

• Liver Damage – interferes with the liver’s ability to break down fat (metabolize), heavy drinking can cause the liver to fill with fat, causing cirrhosis which can lead to liver failure.

Long Term Risks of Alcohol• Heart Disease – increased

blood pressure and heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and a buildup of fatty deposits in the heart muscle.

• Digestive Problems – cancers of the mouth and stomach, recurring diarrhea, chronic indigestion, heartburn or ulcers.

Alcoholism• A disease marked by a

person being unable to control their use of alcohol

• Physically, an alcoholic’s body requires alcohol to function.

• Psychologically, alcoholics consider drinking a regular, essential part of coping with daily life.

The Stages of Alcoholism

• Stage 1 – Problem Drinking: social drinkers who start to use alcohol to relieve stress or escape from problems in their life.

• Stage 2 – Absolute Dependence: the drinker becomes totally dependent on alcohol. He or she can usually not stop after one drink, and feels a constant need to drink.

• Stage 3 – Late Stage of Alcoholism: when alcoholics lose their mental, emotional, and physical health. Their entire life revolves around drinking; they become isolated from society and begin to experience serious health problems or may even die.

Treating Alcoholism

• Acknowledging the Problem – the alcoholic must acknowledge the problem and ask for help.

• Detoxification – this process involves removing all alcohol from the person’s body. The alcoholic will then suffer from withdrawal, which is symptoms that occur when a dependent person stops taking a drug, such as, irritability, rapid heartbeat and sweating.

• Rehabilitation – the process of learning to cope with everyday living without alcohol. Alcoholics will receive counseling to understand their disease and behavior.

Parent or Adult…

• Who supplies, gives, sells, makes or sells False Ids, does not watch as teens drink at party/house (even their own child!!!!)

• Will be responsible for each underage• $2,500 fine each teen, supplying alcohol to

minors, destruction of minors and any medical or vandalism fines

Journal:Discussion

Read “Bitter Pill” Pg. 20-22

1. List 3 Risks to the use of MDMA…

2. Explain what you found to be the most disturbing possibility or side effect of this drug?

Legal and Illegal Drugs

Proper Use• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs – a medicine that

is sold legally in pharmacies and other stores without a doctor’s prescription.

• Prescription drugs – a drug that can be obtained only with a written order from a doctor and can only be purchased at a pharmacy.

• By using the instructions on the label or following the doctor’s orders to treat a medical condition, is the proper use of these drugs.

Legal and Illegal Drugs

• Drug Misuse: the improper use of medicines (prescription or OTC drugs). Examples would be taking more than the prescribed amount or not taking a drug for the correct period of time.

• Drug Abuse: when a drug is intentionally used improperly or unsafely. Examples would be abusing prescription pain killers or OTC cough medicines to cause a “high”, rather than to treat pain or a cough.

Dangers of Drug Misuse and Abuse• Side effects – unwanted physical or mental effect

cause by a drug.

• Tolerance – drug use needs increasingly larger amounts of the drug to achieve the original effect.

• Dependence – the body develops a chemical need for the drug and can’t function normally without it.

Withdrawal symptoms

• group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol.

• In order to experience the symptoms of withdrawal, one must have first developed a physical/mental dependence “chemical dependency”

• ex: nausea, vomiting, headaches, fever, paranoia, seizures, death

Risk Factors

• A number of factors make it either more or less likely that a teen will abuse drugs.

• They include family factors, social factors, and personal factors.

Commonly Abused Drugs: Depressants

• Slow body functions by decreasing heart and breathing rates and lowering blood pressure.

• Examples - Barbiturates, Sedatives, Painkillers, Tranquilizers, Opiates, Heroin, Morphine, Codeine, Alcohol, GHB

• Common Side effects – poor coordination, slurred speech, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, impaired judgment, memory problems, and drowsiness

Depressants

Commonly Abused Drugs: Stimulants

• Increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and alertness.

• Examples – Amphetamines, Speed, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Ecstasy

• Side effects – restlessness, rapid speech, increased respiration, convulsions, stroke, loss of appetite, nausea

Stimulants

Commonly Abused Drugs: Hallucinogens

• Overload the brain with sensory information, causing a distorted sense of reality.

• Examples – LSD (“acid”), Psilocybin (“mushrooms”), PCP (“angel dust”), Ketamine, Mescaline (“peyote”), Ecstasy

• Side Effects – hallucinations, flashbacks, eliminated sensation of pain, schizophrenia

Hallucinogens

Commonly Abused Drugs: Marijuana

• Is one of the most frequently abused psychoactive drugs.

• Its main ingredient changes the way information reaches and is acted upon by the brain.

• Side Effects – distorted perceptions, difficulties with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia

Commonly Abused Drugs: Club Drugs

• Strength and quality of these drugs is unpredictable and their effects are different from person to person and are very dangerous.

• Some people are unknowing victims of these drugs; they are often referred to as “date-rape” drugs.

• Examples – Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine

Club Drugs

Commonly Abused Drugs: Inhalants

• A breathable chemical vapor that produces mind-altering effects.

• Examples – glue, household cleaners, nail polish remover, markers

• Side Effects – increased heart rate, depressed brain function, cardiac arrest, suffocation, loss of consciousness, death

Commonly Abused Drugs: Steroids

• Synthetic drugs that are similar to the hormone testosterone.

• Side Effects in Males – enlarged breasts, sterility

• Side Effects in Females – facial hair growth, deepening of voice

• Overall Side Effects – stunted growth, mood swings, hair loss, acne