8th-Chapter 11: Lesson 11.2 Drug Abuse pg. 343

Learning Outcomes

After studying this lesson, you will be able to

• the short-term and long-term effects of drugs on the brain and body.

• mental, social, and legal consequences of drug abuse.

• the health risks of commonly abused drugs.

Health Effects of Drug Abuse

As you know, are substances that cause and changes in the body. These substances are often and can cause serious .

occurs when a person uses , illegal drugs. People take them to experience a , fit in with friends, or escape from reality or negative feelings. Drug abuse can lead to substance use disorders (Figure 11.8). The more a person uses a drug, the more the person is at risk of developing a on the drug. A person with a substance use uses a drug despite harmful or negative consequences.

List the Stages of Substance Use Disorder.

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

Stage 5:

How Drugs Affect the Brain

People often think it is to experiment with drugs, but this is untrue. can lead to regular use and addiction.

Many drugs cause a by triggering the brain to release lots of , a chemical that causes . In response, the brain starts producing less dopamine naturally, leading to and pleasure without the drug. The body develops tolerance and then . In this way, using drugs easily leads to addiction and a substance use disorder.

Many illegal drugs interfere with the brain region that regulates . As a result, people who abuse drugs have . They are more likely to engage in . Drugs can negatively influence people's regarding sexual activity. Drug abuse also impairs a person’s ability to drive, causing more .

Other Health Effects

and addiction can cause symptoms in most body systems because drugs are carried in the throughout the body. In the , drugs can cause , hypertension, blood clots, and heart infections. In the respiratory system, or damages the lungs and increases the risk of infections.

Contaminated can transmit human immunodeficiency virus ( ), which suppresses the immune system. They can also , a viral liver infection which may lead to permanent damage in the digestive system. Certain drugs cause vomiting and stomach pain and bleeding. In the urinary system, drug abuse can permanently damage the .

The use of drugs while pregnant can cause miscarriage, , and in the baby. People who use drugs have a risk of , or taking more of a drug than the body can process. Overdoses can someone within hours or minutes.

Mental, Social, and Legal Consequences

Like , drug abuse and addiction can lead to . Drug abuse interferes with and makes people more likely to engage in . Drug abuse also makes conditions and illnesses worse. When people use drugs to handle symptoms of mental illnesses, they are not treating the . Lack of treatment and the consequences of drug abuse cause more symptoms.

People who abuse or are in possession of drugs may also

• , such as getting arrested

• , such as being suspended or expelled from school

• , such as not coming to work, failing drug tests, and getting fired

• , such as losing friends, having conflict with family, or experiencing violence due to criminal activity

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates drug abuse and addiction costs society approximately each year. Because of drug abuse, the criminal justice system spends time and resources handling . Businesses suffer from productivity loss and theft. Unemployment and homelessness are other potential issues that stem from .

Young people can find alternatives to using or misusing medications, drugs, or other substances. These alternatives, such as playing games with friends or joining a sports team, will have a much more positive impact on social and mental health.

Marijuana

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. is an addictive drug made up of dried parts of the cannabis plant (Figure 11.10). People may marijuana. They may also in tea or consume it as an (food mixed with marijuana). Taking marijuana in affects the brain more slowly, which can make someone consume more. Slang terms for marijuana include weed, pot, dope, hash, herb, Mary Jane, and Aunt Mary. (sometimes called synthetic marijuana) do not come from cannabis, are manmade, and are even more dangerous than marijuana.

The active ingredient in marijuana is a mind-altering chemical called THC. Upon entering the bloodstream, THC travels to the brain and causes a high. THC affects the parts of the brain that control pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and movement. Another chemical in the marijuana plant is CBD. CBD is similar to THC, but does not affect thinking or cause a high.

Marijuana can be manufactured to have up to four times the concentration of THC. This is called marijuana concentrate, or THC extraction. Slang terms for marijuana concentrate include wax, honey oil, and dabs. Marijuana concentrate is similar in appearance to honey or butter, and is usually smoked or vaped.

Negative Health Effects

Using marijuana may lead to addiction and a substance use disorder. Marijuana is commonly called a gateway drug. This is because people who use it are more likely to abuse other drugs.

People who use, misuse, or have an addiction to marijuana experience effects. These signs and symptoms may include poor coordination, difficulty thinking and solving problems, and issues with learning and memory. For this reason, certain tasks, like driving, can be very dangerous while a person is under the influence of marijuana. The effects of marijuana on learning and memory can or weeks after the immediate effects wear off.

Marijuana use and addiction can lead to issues with the vessels and rate. A person’s risk of a heart attack in the first hour after using marijuana is five times higher than usual.

People who marijuana may experience the same respiratory conditions as people who smoke or vape nicotine. Minor respiratory issues include a daily , , and an increased risk of . Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains carcinogens, which increase risk for developing cancer.

Legalization of Marijuana

Until recently, marijuana was to sell, buy, and use across the United States. Today, many states and the District of Columbia allow adults with a doctor’s prescription to and use marijuana in that state for medical purposes only. Marijuana can ease the symptoms of conditions, including seizures, muscle spasms, and the nausea caused by chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

Although marijuana is still illegal according to the federal government, in 2014, became the to allow those over age 21 to buy a limited amount of marijuana for nonmedical use. Since then, 14 other states and the District of Columbia have also marijuana use and sale for adults over age 21. Several conditions still limit use in these states. Some states regulate how much marijuana people can possess at one time. In some states, using marijuana is legal for residents, but not for nonresidents. You may still face for using or misusing marijuana when underage or if in a state where possessing or using marijuana is still illegal.

There is much debate about whether marijuana should be legal. Scientists continue to conduct research about medicinal uses for marijuana. The majority of people in the United States who use marijuana do so illegally.

Cocaine

is a stimulant that comes from the leaves of the coca plant (Figure 11.11). People who use cocaine it through the nose, dissolve it in water and it, or smoke or vape it. Some people may process this illegal drug into a solid form, known as , which they smoke, vape, or inject. Slang terms for cocaine include blow, bump, coke, crack, flake, candy, rock, and .

causes a fast, . The high wears off quickly, however, and the user feels nervous and depressed. Cocaine is because its high does not last very long. A person is likely to use cocaine more than once to achieve that intense high again. The more a person uses cocaine, the more it becomes.

can have both short- and long-term negative effects on the body. These effects include high body temperature, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, headaches, organ damage, , abdominal pain and nausea, , and loss of sense of smell. Using cocaine just one time can lead to due to a heart attack or stroke.

Methamphetamine

is an extremely stimulant that speeds up brain function. Like cocaine, it causes an intense high. Once the high wears off, a person craves the drug. Some people develop addictions the first time they use this drug. Slang terms for methamphetamine include meth, ice, crank, , and speed.

Some people take in powder or pill form. A common form of methamphetamine is , which looks like clear crystal chunks (Figure 11.12). People may smoke or vape it, inhale through the nose, inject, or swallow crystal meth.

When people use , they feel energized. They can often engage in continuous activity without stopping for sleep. Users also experience irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, sweating, blurred vision, and dizziness. Methamphetamine's short- and long-term health effects include the following:

• and behavior and mood swings

• difficulty thinking and memory issues

• , severe anxiety, and paranoia

• broken or rotten teeth known as meth mouth (Figure 11.13)

use of crystal meth can lead to brain damage, malnutrition, tooth decay, skin sores, coma, stroke, and death. Using too much methamphetamine at one time can also result in brain damage, coma, stroke, and death.

Hallucinogens

are drugs that alter the way people view, think, and feel about situations, thereby causing hallucinations. are things that seem real, such as a sound, image, or smell, but do not really exist.

The most common hallucinogen is , which is a colorless, odorless substance that is often soaked into pieces of paper. People lick or swallow this paper to take the drug. People may also swallow hallucinogens as or .

People who use experience negative short-term signs and symptoms. These include trouble sleeping, panic, increased blood pressure and breathing rate, and . Long-term negative health effects include memory loss, difficulties with and , and seizures. People may also experience flashbacks, or recurring effects of these drugs. Flashbacks can happen suddenly, without warning, within a few days, or more than a year after using the drugs. In some cases, even a single use of a can lead to death.

Heroin

The drug known as comes from , a prescription opioid. for heroin include smack, horse, big H, brown sugar, and hell dust.

Pure heroin is a , but people often mix or “cut” it with other substances. Some substances used to cut heroin may be poisonous. People may not know what is in the heroin they use. For example, heroin cut with fentanyl (a prescription opioid 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine) can cause sudden death due to overdose (Figure 11.14).

People usually inject, snort, , or smoke heroin. Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, called speedballing. By mixing heroin, an opioid, with crack cocaine, a stimulant, people hope to achieve a more and avoid the negative effects. In reality, speedballing is extremely dangerous and often leads to death by overdose.

Once a user takes heroin, the drug rapidly enters the brain. Users feel a sudden, intense “high” that quickly wears off. Many negative short-term signs and symptoms soon follow the high. These include , flushed skin, difficulty thinking, and semiconsciousness. Heroin is highly addictive. People experience constant cravings for the drug, making it to stop using heroin.

People who have and try to stop using heroin experience severe withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can begin within a few hours after taking the drug. may include vomiting, cold flashes, uncontrollable leg movements, muscle aches, sleep issues, and severe cravings for the drug.

Many long-term health effects occur from using heroin (Figure 11.15). Death can occur, even after one use, if a person takes too much heroin. This is because heroin is a type of opioid and can slow breathing until it stops. The lack of to the brain can cause a coma, permanent brain damage, or death.

Long-term effects of heroin use include heart infection, liver and kidney conditions, pneumonia, and depression. may result from using an infected needle.

Club Drugs

The term refers to several different types of drugs young people may abuse at parties, bars, and concerts. These drugs include ® (roofies), (gamma hydroxybutyrate), and (ecstasy, or Molly). Club drugs often come in capsule, tablet, liquid, or powder form. Some types may also be ground and inhaled or injected into the body.

often have no smell or taste. Sometimes, people may slip these drugs into someone else’s food or drink without the person knowing. This can lead to highly situations. For example, these drugs are known as date rape drugs because criminals sometimes use them to commit sexual assaults. Club drugs have many short- and long-term health effects (Figure 11.16).

Inhalants

are chemicals that people breathe in to experience some type of high. Common inhalants are often substances found in the (Figure 11.17). These substances are inhaled into the nose or mouth in several ways. Chemical fumes may be sniffed or snorted from a container, which is called huffing. can also be sprayed directly into the nose or mouth. Slang terms for inhalants include whippets, poppers, and snappers.

cause a high that lasts just a few minutes, so people tend to use them more than once to maintain the feeling. Inhaling chemicals can the body’s supply of oxygen. This damages the body’s cells, especially brain cells. Other symptoms of using inhalants include slurred speech, memory issues, lack of coordination, muscle spasms and tremors, dizziness, and hallucinations.

Inhalant use and addiction can also cause serious, side effects. These include hearing loss and damage to the brain, central nervous system, , and . Using inhalants—even once—can cause death due to heart failure or .

Exit Ticket:💡 Something interesting I learned today was .