Teen Drug Use

8th Grade Health

Mrs. Bauder

What are reasons teens give for using drugs?

• Alcohol

• Tobacco

• Marijuana

• Prescription Drugs

• Inhalants

• Club Drugs

• Steroids *Heroin

Marijuana

Marijuana (Canabis)• aka “Pot”

• Most likely the first illicit drug that young people will use

• Average age of first use is about 14 years

• THC is the main active ingredient

• Medical in some states

How Does Marijuana Effect the Body?

• Impairs - – memory– event recall– judgment– cognitive functions– coordination and balance

• Increased heart rate• Dry mouth• Occasional anxiety, fear or panic

How marijuana affects a person depends on……

• Whether it is smoked or ingested

• Dosage• THC content• Time between puffs• Length of time in one’s

lungs• Previous experience

(tolerance)

Club Drugs

Club Drugs - What are they?• Typically used by young adults at bars,

clubs, concerts, and parties.

• The most common club drugs include Ecstasy (MDMA), GHB, Rohypnol, and Ketamine

Intoxicating Effects of Club Drugs

• Ecstasy– increase awareness of senses, mild

hallucinations, increased energy, loss of judgment

• GBH– relaxation, nausea, loss of inhibitions, euphoria

• Ketamine and PCP– confusion, distortions of reality, numbness

Health Consequences of Club Drugs

• Ecstasy– impaired learning and memory, hyperthermia, rapid

heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, death

• GBH– dangerously slowed breathing, seizures, coma

• Ketamine and PCP– loss of memory, loss of muscle control, dangerously

slowed breathing

Heroin

Heroin: What is it?

• Opiate– derived from poppy plant

• Used as a pain reliever

• Aka: smack

• Can be injected, smoked or snorted

Heroin: How does it affect the body?

• HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

• Dulls senses

• Impairs judgment

• Sleepy

• Dramatically slows thinking process

• Produces many side effects

Heroin: Health Consequences

• HIGHLY ADDICTIVE

• Slows down CNS

• Injection – contract blood borne diseases

• Coma

• Overdose

• Death

Inhalants - What are they?

• Inhalants are legal, everyday products that when inhaled can produce mind-altering effects or a euphoric state.

• nail polish remover• glue• gasoline• household cleaners• nitrous oxide ("laughing gas," which can be found in

whipped cream dispensers and is often inhaled via a balloon)

Inhalant Abuse

• National surveys report that more than 22.9 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lives.

• Inhalants are abused more often by younger children than older children.

• Why?

Long Term Effects of Inhalants

• Regular abuse of inhalants can result in serious harm to vital organs. Can cause

• brain damage

• spinal cord damage

• heart damage

• kidney damage

• liver failure

• muscle weakness

Steroids

• Anabolic steroids– artificial forms of the male hormone testosterone

• Ergogenic drugs– substance that enhances athletic performance

• Two forms– Injectable solutions– Pills

• Motivator - body image concerns

Effects of Steroids

Any Questions????