Illicit DrugsChapter 22

Illicit drug use is EXPENSIVE• Illicit drug use is estimated to have cost the US economy more

than $193 billion in 2011 (National Drug Intelligence Center- NDIC). Excessive alcohol consumption (70+% binge drinking) cost the US economy $223 billion a year (CDC) = $416 BILLION/YR

• Crime (criminal justice costs, crime and victim costs) • Health (specialty treatment costs, hospital/ER costs, non-

homicide, insurance costs)• Lack of Productivity (decrease in work productivity,

hospitalizations, incarceration costs, morbidity costs)

Illicit drugs are used ILLEGALLY in the US• These illicit drugs have been around for a long, long time. They

are legal for recreational use in some countries, but are illegal in most countries due to their dangerous side effects. Most illicit drugs are either smuggled in from other countries, or they are synthetically prepared here in the US (illegally). Oftentimes, accidents (explosions) occur while “home chemists” attempt to make the drugs in home based labs, and people are badly injured, permanently disfigured or end up dead

• The drugs we will be learning about are illegal because A) they are used for an unintended purpose, or B) have no medical value to them

Substance Abuse (#1 and 2)

• Substance abuse: Using a medicine or an illicit (illegal) drug for non-medical purposes

• Illicit drug use: Illegal act and is punishable by fines/incarceration/community service

• Once convicted of substance abuse, you now have a criminal record • When applying to college or for a job, you now have to check the

YES box when asked “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?”

• Remember: Due to different chemical levels in our brains, any amount of any drug can easily kill- we will never know ‘how much is too much’

Illicit Drug Use is DANGEROUS

(#3) With your neighbor, brainstorm a list of 8-10 outcomes of illicit drug use in our society…(Make sure to include all three areas of the health triangle!)

GO!!

Illicit Drug Use is DANGEROUS• Inc. health insurance for everyone• Death to self/others• Legal fees/public defender- our cost!• Impulsive behaviors/ lack inhibitions• Dreams/aspirations are gone• Desperation (prostitution/crime) • STD’s and unintended pregnancies • Babies at risk in utero/born into unsafe situations/significant

deformities and learning disabilities• Families significantly impacted • divorce, abuse, neglect, poverty/financial issues, emotional roller

coaster

Illicit Drug Use is DANGEROUS• Heart and respiratory diseases• Destroys liver and kidneys• Increased violence/crime• Addiction• Loss of relationships/friendships• Causes mental illnesses (organic)• Death

There are 4 Psychoactive Drugs Groups:

• Stimulants- increase the function of the CNS • Depressants- decrease the function of the CNS • Narcotics- pain relievers (analgesics); also decrease the

function of the CNS • Hallucinogens- creates imaginary visions in the brain; alters

mood; impairs thinking process; significantly distorts all senses

Categorize the following drugs into the correct psychoactive drug group:

• GHB Codeine Crack Heroin• Opium Mescaline Barbiturates• CocaineMethamphetamines PCP• Psilocybin Ecstasy Rohypnol Tranquilizers• DXM Morphine Oxycodone LSD• Amphetamines Ketamine

Answers: Stimulants Depressants Narcotics Hallucinogens

• GHB Codeine Crack Heroin• Opium Mescaline Barbiturates• CocaineMethamphetamines PCP• Psilocybin Ecstasy Rohypnol Tranquilizers• DXM Morphine Oxycodone LSD• Amphetamines Ketamine

(#6) Marijuana is a gateway drug• Marijuana can easily ‘open the door’ to other drug use. It’s not

uncommon at all for drug users to start with tobacco, alcohol/marijuana. About 86% of all teens who use illicit drugs start out using marijuana.

(#7) Effects of marijuana on the body

• Stimulant- increases heart rate, BP, breathing rate and appetite

• Depressant- decreases reaction time, body temp., coordination and concentration; blurs vision and slurs speech

• Narcotic- can be used to reduce pain• Hallucinogens- can distort vision, can produce minor

imaginary visions in the brain

• Marijuana does NOT fit into any of these categories, but rather has components of each psychoactive drug group

Is Marijuana Addicting??? (#8)

• YES! Mentally (psychologically). There is no physical addiction present, but walking away from the mental piece is quite difficult.

• Withdrawal symptoms include; irritability, major headaches, shaking uncontrollably and the feeling of “I can’t calm down without it”

Inhalant Abuse (#9)

• Involves common, inexpensive ‘house-hold’ materials • Can easily cause significant brain damage/death• Heavily damages oral cavity/respiratory tract due to chemical

burns• Causes heart/respiratory distress• Easily accessible• Typical abusers are younger teens, although older teens and

young adults also abuse• Examples: white out, glues, some markers, paints/thinners,

hair spray cans, household cleaners and nail polish/remover• Death due to cardiac arrest/respiratory collapse

(#11) Stimulants: • Amphetamines- used to Rx Obesity, Narcolepsy and

Parkinson’s Disease; often abused to ‘stay awake’ or to lose weight

• Methamphetamines-Rx’s obesity and ADHD• Crystal Meth- illicit

• Cocaine- powder, liquid form; oftentimes cut w/ other substances; highs last longer, possibly a few hours

• Crack- pure form of cocaine; impurities are eliminated via a heating process; highs last 15-20 minutes; intense high

(#12) Depressants• Barbiturates- allows the individual to relax; causes sleep; used

to Rx anxiety/some mental illnesses • GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyric acid)- club drug; used as an illicit

drug; Rx’s insomnia and clinical depression • Rohypnol- ‘date rape drug’ used to significantly relax another

individual so they are defenseless; cannot see it, smell it or taste it; easily used in any beverage

• Tranquilizers-allows the individual to relax; causes drowsiness so the person can get rested and is able to better handle their distress

Narcotics (#13)

• Morphine- highly effective pain reliever; used to treat significant pain; highly addictive; used by prescription only

• Heroin- completely illegal substance in US; severe addiction; causes intense highs; leaves individuals desperate for more

• Methadone- blocks the craving for heroin; addiction is fast, but is easier to detox (vs. detoxing from heroin); can deal with withdrawal symptoms easier; ‘lesser of two evils’

Hallucinogens (#14)

• DXM (dextromethorphan)- found in OTC cough syrups; not toxic/addicting at proper dosing; OD is easy if more is taken; creates hallucinations at high doses

• Ecstasy- designer drug; causes hallucinations; body temp. spikes; user’s are unable to rest for days

• Ketamine- used for animal/human anesthesia; mimics PCP• LSD- highs last for hours; creates serious hallucinations; can

become violent to protect themselves • Mescaline (peyote cactus)- imaginary visions; significant

heart/breathing difficulties• PCP- (Angel Dust/Phencyclidine)- ingested, smoked, inhaled or

injected; aggression/violence; ‘detachment’ from reality• Psilocybin- mushrooms; imaginary visions; heart/breathing

issues

Alternatives to using Illicit Drugs (# 15)• Exercise/get active!• Join a group• Find a hobby• Fill up your time with non-drug related activities • Stay busy• Get support from others who aren’t drug user’s• Seek medical/theraputic treatment

Warning signs to drug use (# 16)

• Loss in direction/focus• Residue on body (fingers, mouth)• Burns to face, upper body, hands and arms• Unexplained skin rashes• Drops out of normal activities• Moves from tobacco/alcohol/marijuana to other illicit drugs• Significant work-related productivity decreases• Slower to react to every day situations/tasks/activities• Day to day “tasks” become less and less important

Places to seek help• Any rehab center specializing in narcotic recovery• ER’s • Therapists• Include family members