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.

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 & Abuse

WITHDRAWAL 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 Questions

1. 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.