DRUGS ROLE OF DRUGS As biologists explore the structure and function of the various systems that make up the human body, they discover the complex series of chemical reactions that form the basis of each life process.  Understanding the chemistry of the body has enabled scientists to alter it by administering naturally occurring or laboratory-synthesized chemicals called drugs.  The wise use of drugs can alleviate suffering by curing or controlling many kinds of diseases.  But the unwise use of drugs can cause great harm because many drugs taken for non-medical purposes have the potential to destroy human lives. OBJECTIVES:  Define the term drug. Name four ways drugs can be administered.  List five common types of prescription and nonprescription drugs. Describe the potential consequences of a drug interaction.  Describe the consequences of the overuse of a drug. 1. A DRUG IS A CHEMICAL COMPOUND THAT AFFECTS THE STRUCTURE OF A BODY PART OR THE FUNCTIONING OF A BIOLOGICAL PROCESS. 2. There are thousands of different Drugs and the affect many different parts of the body. 3. Aspirin, antibiotics, and cold remedies are all Drugs.   4. Some Drugs are synthesized in Laboratories, while other Drugs are derived from Natural Sources.  Many Drugs are Refined from Plant or Animal Tissue. 5. Drugs can be introduced into the body in a variety of ways: A.  Some Drugs enter the digestive system, taken orally, in the form of pills or liquids, and then enter the bloodstream. B.  Drugs can be injected into the bloodstream with needles. C.  Drugs can be taken in through the nose. D.  Drugs can be taken in the form of lotions or patches. 6. The method of administering a Drug depends on its chemical nature and the organ to be treated. 7. ALL DRUGS (LEGAL AND ILLEGAL) HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO HARM IF THEY ARE USED IMPROPERLY, OR ABUSED.   8. The word "DRUGS" is also to include substances that affect the Functioning of the Brain and Nervous System.  The SALE and POSSESSION of most of these drugs, called PSYCHOACTIVE OR MIND ALTERING DRUGS, ARE ILLEGAL. 9. MARIJUANA, HEROIN, AND COCAINE ARE EXAMPLES OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, ALSO KNOW AS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. 10. TOBACCO and ALCOHOL are commonly used Drugs in many parts of the world.  These substances DO AFFECT the way the body functions and are, therefore, DRUGS OR “SOCIAL DRUGS”. 11. ALL Drugs have the potential to be Misused and Abused. 12. A DRUG IS BEING USED PROPERLY WHEN IT IS TAKEN FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND IN RECOMMENDED AMOUNT. 13. WHEN IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE, A DRUG IS BEING MISUSED. 14. Taking a Drug prescribed for someone else, or for a different ailment, is DRUG MISUSE.   15. When a Drug is Deliberately taken in Excessive Quantities, it is being ABUSED. 16. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DEFINES DRUG ABUSE AS EXCESSIVE USE OF A DRUG FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN ACCEPTABLE MEDICAL USE. 17. DRUG ABUSE CAN BE DEFINED AS USING ANY DRUG IN A WAY THAT MOST DOCTORS WOULD NOT APPROVE. 18. BECAUSE ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE NOT USED AS MEDICINES, AND USE OF THESE DRUGS IS CONSIDERED DRUG ABUSE. 19. THE TERM SUBSTANCE ABUSE INCLUDES THE TAKING OF SUBSTANCES THAT ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE AS MEDICINES. NONPRESCRIPTION OR OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS (OTC) 1. Drugs that are available to anyone who cares to buy them are called NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS OR OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS. 2. The Drugs that fill the shelves of Pharmacies are Over the Counter Drugs. 3. Over the Counter Drugs are not completely Safe or Harmless.  They are SAFE only when used according to the instructions on the label.  Still some may have Unpleasant SIDE EFFECTS. 4. Possible Side Effects are listed in the "WARNING" section of the label. 5. In the U.S., a Drug must be Tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it becomes available for sale. 6. The FDA approves a drug for a Specific Use Only after the drug has been extensively tested. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS 1. Many Drugs require a PRESCRIPTION, WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM A DOCTOR OR DENTIST, in order to be purchased.   2. The physician or dentist specifies the DOSE, that is the Amount of the Drug to be Taken and the Number of Times Per Day that the Drug Should be Taken. 3.  Why some Drugs require a Prescription: A.  A Drug may be very dangerous if taken improperly or in combination with other Drugs. B.  Some drugs may be safe only if a person is under doctor's supervision. C.  A drug may require a prescription if people who are NOT Physicians cannot accurately diagnose the problem for which the drug is to be used. 4. YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE A PRESCRIPTION DRUG THAT WAS NOT PRESCRIBED FOR YOU.  YOU MIGHT BE TAKING THE WRONG MEDICATION OR HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE MADE WORST BY THE DRUG'S SIDE EFFECTS.   5. ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO THE EXPIRATION DATES ON DRUGS, A DRUG THAT HAS PASSED THE EXPIRATION DATE MAY BE INEFFECTIVE OR EVEN DANGEROUS. 6. DRUGS PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR CAN BE ABUSED. 7. WHEN ABUSED, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.  ELVIS PRESLEY DIED FROM ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OVER MANY YEARS. ILLEGAL DRUGS 1. Laws regulate the Sale and Possession of Drugs.  It is ILLEGAL to Possess Prescription Drugs if the Drug WAS NOT Prescribed FOR YOU.   2. MOST PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA CANNOT BE SOLD OR USED FOR ANY PURPOSE.  THESE DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM ILLEGAL DRUG DEALERS.   3. Drug users can develop a DEPENDENCY on Prescription Drugs, Illegal Drugs, and legal substances such as ALCOHOL and TABACCO . 4.  People with a Drug Dependency DO NOT FEEL "NORMAL" WITHOUT THE DRUG AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO FUNCTION WHEN THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN THE DRUG.   5. THEY BEGIN TO CRAVE THE DRUG!   6.  DRUG DEPENDENCY CAN BE PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, OR BOTH.   7. FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENT PERSON, TAKING THE DRUG BECOMES A STRONG HABIT. OFTEN PEERS OR SOCIAL GROUPS ENCOURAGE THE HABIT.   8. FOR A PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT PERSON, THE BODY CHEMISTRY IS CHANGED SO THAT THE DRUG IS NEEDED FOR NORMAL FUNCTIONING.   9. PHYSICAL DEPENDENCY ON A DRUG IS CALLED DRUG ADDICTION.   10. BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP THE DRUG.   11. People with a Drug Addiction often find it takes a LARGER and LARGER DOSE to Produce the Desired Effect.   12. The Addict's Demand for the Drug INCREASES as the drug continues to be used.   13. When Addicts STOP using Drugs, they go through WITHDRAWAL, a period when the body must adjust to functioning without the Drug.   14. Pain, Nausea, and Fever are common withdrawal symptoms.  Severe muscle spasms may also accompany withdrawal.   15. Withdrawal from certain drugs is so severe that the process must take place in a hospital under medical supervision.   16. Even Mild Drugs, such as the Caffeine in Coffee, Cola, and Tea, can produce withdrawal symptoms.   17. People who drink as little as TWO cups of Coffee or Three Colas per day experience Withdrawal if they suddenly give up the Habit.  The symptoms range from mild headache to those resembling the flu.   DRUG INTERACTION   1. Although Simultaneous use of more than one Drug is common, some Combinations of Drugs are inappropriate because the chemical interactions between them.   2. One drug might add to the Effect of the other Drug, resulting in symptoms of Overdose, or one Drug might Cancel the effectiveness of the other Drug.   3. In some cases, Drug interactions can lead to more serious problems and can even cause DEATH.   4. A physician or pharmacist must closely monitor anyone taking more than one drug simultaneously.   5. A Prescribing Physician MUST BE INFORMED of the NAME AND DOSE OF ANY DRUGS-PRESCRIPTION OR NONPRESCRIPTION-THAT A PATIENT IS TAKING OR HAS TAKEN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.   6. Overuse of both prescription drugs and nonprescription drugs can lead to serious problems.   7. Anyone who is taking any drug for an Extended Period of Time SHOULD Consult a doctor.   SOCIAL DRUGS   Two drugs that are often used by people in a social context are nicotine, found in all tobacco products, and alcohol.  The leaves of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum, are dried and crushed, then smoked in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.  Tobacco is also chewed and snuffed.  Ethanol- the alcohol found in beer, wine, liquor, and certain other beverages- comes from the anaerobic respiration of sugars in fruits and grains.  Both tobacco and alcohol have gained wide social acceptance, but that acceptance has come at a great price.   OBJECTIVES:  Describe the effects of nicotine on the body.  List three diseases that can result from smoking or chewing tobacco.  Explain what can happen to the fetus of a pregnant woman who smokes.  Distinguish between a stimulant and a depressant.  Define blood alcohol concentration, and name three factors that affect it.  Explain what can happen as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.   TOBACCO   1. SMOKING IS A VERY WIDESPREAD FORM OF DRUG ABUSE.  MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM SMOKING RELATED ILLNESSES THAT FROM PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OTHER ADDICTIVE DRUGS.   2. TOBACCO IS CONSIDERED THE MOST DEADLY OF THE ADDICTIVE DRUGS.   3. MANY PEOPLE WHO SMOKE FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES CAN EXPECT TO DIE FROM A SMOKING RELATED CAUSE.   4. Tobacco Smoke contains many Harmful Chemicals, such as Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Cyanide, and Ammonia Gas.   5. THE CHEMICAL IN TOBACCO THAT SMOKERS ARE ADDICTED TO IS NICOTINE.   6. NICOTINE IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE DRUG THAT ACTS AS A STIMULANT.   7. A STIMULANT is a Drug that INCREASES the Activity of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.   8. When tobacco is inhaled, nicotine is absorbed into the Bloodstream through the lining of the Mouth and through the Lungs.   9. Nicotine is quickly transported throughout the body, penetrating the Brain, all other Organs, and, in Pregnant Women, The Fetus.   EFFECTS OF TOBACCO   1.  Nicotine INCREASES Blood Pressure and Heart Rate, while decreasing the oxygen supply to body tissues and the blood supply to the hands and feet.   2. Nicotine is an ADDICTIVE DRUG.  In ADDICTION, the user becomes more Dependent on the Drug and Cannot Function Comfortably without it.   3. Nicotine is a POISON-60mg of Nicotine is a lethal dose for an adult.   4. There are More Than 2,000 Potentially Toxic Chemicals Compounds produced when tobacco is burned.  Collectively, these are called TARS.   5.  TARS are Complex Mixtures of Chemicals and Smoke Particles produced by burning tobacco.   6. TAR IS A THICK, DARK, STICKY SUBSTANCE IN SMOKE THAT IS CARCINOGENIC, OR CANCER CAUSING.   7. Carbon Monoxide, a poisonous Gas released by Car Exhaust, is also in Tobacco Smoke.   8. These Substances are associated with a variety of Health Problems. Most of these Health Problems affect the Respiratory and Circulatory Systems.   9. In recent years, the number of Smokers has gone down to about 33 percent.  Smoking is on the decline for several reasons:       A.  SMOKING IS NO LONGER CONSIDED "COOL" OR “FASHIONABLE”.       B.  SMOKING CAUSES: BAD BREATH, FOUL SMELLING CLOTHING, HACKING COUGH, AND FACIAL WRINKLES.       C.  MOST PEOPLE ARE NOW AWARE OF THE LONG TERM HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING TO THE RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY SYTEMS.   10. In 1986, the Surgeon General determined that Secondhand Smoke, the Smoke exhaled by the smoker and inhaled by someone else, causes Health Problems to Nonsmokers.   11. Laboratory studies have shown that people exposed to Secondhand Smoke are at risk for the same diseases as people who smoke.   12. Children whose parents smoke at home are especially at Risk.  Researchers have recently found that exposure to Secondhand Smoke increases the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in infants up to age 12 months.   13. Smoking is now BANNED in Many Public Places, Airplanes, and Federal Building; there are now fewer places where smokers CAN Smoke.   TOBACCO AND THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM   1. One of the FIRST Problems Smokers develop is the DESTRUCTION of the CILIA that line the Respiratory Structures by TARS.   2. Smoking initially Paralyzes the Cilia, making them unable to move MUCUS.  The Mucus accumulates in the Lungs, producing "Smokers Cough".  Eventually, smoking destroys the Cilia Completely, increasing the smoker's RISK of Respiratory Infection.   3. ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN RISK ASSOCIATED WITH SMOKING IS LUNG CANCER.   4. Lung Cancer is one of the DEADLIEST Forms of Cancer.   5. LUNG CANCER IS RARE AMONG NONSMOKERS, BUT VERY COMMON AMONG SMOKERS.   6. More than 90 percent of all Lung Cancer Deaths can be attributed to Smoking.   7. OTHER CANCERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH TOBACCO USE, PEOPLE WHO CHEW OR SNIFF TOBACCO RUN A HIGH RISK OF GETTING CANCER OF THE MOUTH, LIP, GUMS, AND THROAT.  THESE CANCERS HAVE EVEN BEEN DETECTED IN TEENAGERS.   8. Many Smokers contract CHRONIC BRONCHITIS OR EMPHYSEMA IS A DISEASE THAT IS MOST UNIQUE TO SMOKERS.   9. Emphysema begins when Scar Tissue develops in the Lungs, from the destruction of the walls of Alveoli, or Air Sacs.   10. There is NO CURE for Emphysema; people with the disease have to struggle for every breath they take for the rest of their lives.   TOBACCO AND THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM   1. BOTH NICOTINE AND CARBON MONOXIDE CONTRIBUTE TO A SMOKER'S RISK OF HEART DISEASE.   2.  As Nicotine circulates in the Bloodstream, it can affect the performance of nearly every system of the body.   2. HEART ATTACKS ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG SMOKERS.  Approximately 25 percent of ALL Heart Attacks are associated with the use of tobacco.   3.  The Narrowing of Blood Vessels caused by Nicotine REDUCES the amount of Blood that Circulates throughout the body.   4. The Heart has to Pump HARDER to Force the blood through the system, so Blood Pressure RISES.   5. Carbon Monoxide complicates the work of the Circulatory System by BINDING to Hemoglobin at the sites used by Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, causing the Blood to Deliver LESS Oxygen to body tissues.   6. LESS OXYGEN MEANS LESS ENERGY; SMOKERS TEND TO TIRE MORE EASILY THAN NONSMOKERS DURING EXERCISE.   7.  FOR PEOPLE WHO QUIT SMOKING THE CHANCES OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK RETURNS TO NORMAL AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR.   OTHER SMOKING RELATED PROBLEMS   1. Tobacco-induced cancers can also occur far from the Respiratory System.  Smoking is associated with cancers of the Bladder and Pancreas and may be associated with other type of cancer as well.   2. Cancers associated with smoking likely result from the effects of Tars on Body Tissue.   3. The consequences of smoking during PREGNANCY are SERIOUS.   4. Pregnant women who smoke are TWICE as likely as nonsmoking mothers to suffer MISCARRIGES.   5. Smoking mothers babies tend to have LOWER BIRTH WEIGHTS and are TWICE as likely to DIE in the First Few Months of Life.   6. The Infants of Nursing Mothers who Smoke may have concentrations of Nicotine in their Blood as High as those of their Mothers.   7. QUITING THOUGH IS VERY DIFFICULT!  THE ADDICTION TO NICOTINE AND THE HABIT OF LIGHTING UP AND SMOKING A CIGARETTE ARE A HARD COMBINATION TO BREAK.   8. QUITING GETS HARDER AS THE YEARS GO BY, NO ONE EVER REGRETS HAVING STOPPED SMOKING.   9. SO IF YOU SMOKE, THERE WILL NEVER BE A BETTER TIME TO QUIT THAN RIGHT NOW!   ALCOHOL   1. SCIENTISTS USE THE WORD ALCOHOL TO IDENTIFY A CLASS OF ORGANIC MOLECULES THAT HAVE A HYDROXYL, OR OXYGEN-HYDRODEN, GROUP AT ONE END.   2. ALCOHOL IS GENERALLY A DEPRESSANT.   3. A DEPRESSANT is a Drug that DECREASES the Activity of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.   4. There are many kinds of Alcohol, including Methanol and Isopropyl Alcohol.  Even in small amounts, most Alcohol can cause Blindness, Nerve Damage, and Death.   5. Alcoholic Beverages (Beer, Wine, and Mixed Drinks) contain ETHANOL (C2H5OH), the product of Yeast Fermentation.   6. The use of Alcohol is Legal by people older than the Drinking Age.  Because it is Legal, many people believe that Alcohol is Less Dangerous than Illegal Drugs.  But people DIE From Alcohol Consumption EVERY DAY.   7.  Drivers who have consumed Alcohol are Much more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents than are Sober Drivers.  Alcohol is a factor in Nearly 50 percent of ALL Fatal Crashes.   8. ALCOHOL RELATED CAR ACCIDENTS ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG AMERICAN TEENAGERS (15 to 24 years of age).   9. Many Tragedies stem from the Impaired Judgment that Invariably Results from Drinking.   10. Like other drugs, alcohol can contribute to serious and even FATAL Drug Interactions.  When Alcohol is Combined with other Depressants, such as Tranquilizers or a Narcotic Analgesic, the Cumulative Effects of the TWO Drugs can Slow the Cardiac and Respiratory Systems to the point of Causing DEATH.   THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL   1. ALCOHOL IS A DEPRESSANT THAT AFFECTS THE BRAIN AND LIVER.   2. After being Swallowed, some Alcohol is excreted by the Kidneys or exhaled from the Lungs.  Some is Broken-down by Enzymes in the Stomach, the Rest is ABSORBED by the Stomach and Intestines, where it enters the BLOODSTREAM and is transported to the BRAIN and other Organs.   3. Men typically have more Alcohol Digesting Enzymes in their stomach than Women.  For this reason, Women ABSORB a Higher Percentage of the Alcohol into their BLOOD.   4. ALCOHOL IN THE BLOOD IS EVENTUALLY BROKEN DOWN BY THE LIVER. 5.  But first the Blood carries the Alcohol to the Brain.  The Effect Alcohol has on the Brain depends on the BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, OR BAC.    6. BAC CAN BE ESTIMATED OR MEASURED BY ANALYZING EXHALED AIR.    7. TWO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES –       A. TWO 12 OZ BEERS       B. TWO 3 1/2 OZ GLASSES OF WINE       C. TWO 1 1/2 OZ SHOTS OF LIQUOR   CONSUMED IN ONE HOUR - WILL RAISE THE BAC AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 0.06 - 0.08 PERCENT – DUI RANGE!   8. People who Drink alcohol Frequently can suffer Liver Damage.  In the presence of Alcohol, the Liver accumulates Fat and Develops Bands of Scar Tissue that IMPAIR NORMAL Functioning.  This Fatty Liver is a condition that occurs in 75 percent of all Alcoholics.   9. THE CONDITION RESULTING FROM THE FORMATION OF SCAR TISSUE IN THE LIVER IS CALLED CIRRHOSIS.   10. MANY PEOPLE WHO REGULARLY ABUSE ALCOHOL DIE FROM CIRRHOSIS, OFTEN BEFORE AGE 30.   11. Many drinkers develop ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS an inflammation of the liver.   12. MANY OTHER HEALTH RISK ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL USE,  ULCERS, AND FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME.   13. Like many Drugs, Alcohol passes through the Placenta and thus can Affect a Fetus.   14. Children born to women who drink during Pregnancy may suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).   15. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a cluster of physical and mental disabilities associated with exposure of the developing fetus to alcohol.   ALCOHOLISM   1. ALCOHOL IS AN ADDICTIVE DRUG THAT PRODUCES BOTH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL DEPENDENCY.   2.  ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY IS CALLED ALCOHOLISM.   3.  IF AN ALCOHOLIC SIMPLY STOPS DRINKING, THAT PERSON IS NOT REALLY CURED OF THE ADDICTION; THEY MUST ALWAYS WORK AT STAYING SOBER.   4. WHAT IS AN ALCOHOLIC?  MOST EXPERTS AGREE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED A DRINK IN ORDER TO RELAX OR HAVE FUN, THOSE WHO DRINK IN THE MORNING, OR PEOPLE WHO FORGET WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THEY WERE DRINKING ARE WELL ON THE WAY TO ALCOHOLISM.   5.  IF A PERSON CANNOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WITHOUT SATISFYING THE NEED OR CRAVING FOR ALCOHOL, THAT PERSON IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE AN ACOHOL ABUSE PROBLEM.   6. Heredity seems plays a large part in alcoholism, Since it tends to occur within families from one generation to another.   7. IN ANY CASE, PEOPLE CANNOT POSSIBLY BECOME ALCOHOL DEPENDENT UNLESS THEY DECIDE TO START DRINKING.   8. The Surgeon General RECOMMENDS that pregnant women drink NO Alcohol at all.  Alcohol crosses the placenta freely and causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is characterized by mental retardation and various physical defects.   9. Alcoholics and Heavy Drinkers go through Withdrawals similar to withdrawal from other addictive drugs, when they Stop Drinking.   10. Symptoms of alcohol Withdrawal can be severe; it can cause Delirium Tremens, or DTs.  This condition produces Hallucinations, Seizures, and Sometimes DEATH.   ABUSE OF DRUGS   When used correctly, both prescription and nonprescription drugs can be beneficial.  However, many drugs are abused, that is, taken for non-medical reasons.  Drug abuse includes taking a drug in doses greater than prescribed or for a longer time than recommended, as well as taking a drug that is obtained illegally or without a doctor’s prescription.   OBJECTIVES:  Define the term tolerance.  Explain the physical basis of drug addiction.  Describe the process of withdrawal.  Identify five types of psychoactive drugs.  List one example of each type of drug, and describe how it affects the body.   DRUG ADDICTION   1. ADDICTION to a Drug Involves Physiological Changes in Neurons, Especially those in the Brain.   2. Physical Addiction Results in Changes in Body and Brain Chemistry that in turn creates a demand for a Steady or Increasingly Large Supply of the Drug.   3. As a person becomes Addicted to a Drug, their body may become Less Responsive to the Drug.  The Addict has developed TOLERANCE, which means Increasingly Large Amounts of the Drug are Needed to attain the Sensation Previously Achieved with a Smaller dose.   4. This Rise in the EFFECTIVE DOSE, the Dose that results in the desired feeling, is a Deadly Situation for users of some drugs, particularly Depressant Drugs.   5. As Tolerance Increases, the addict MUST TAKE Higher and Higher Doses of Drugs, Approaching the LETHAL DOSE.   6. The Lethal Dose of a Drug is the Amount of Drug that Will Cause the user to DIE, and IT DOES NOT CHANGE AS TOLERANCE BUILDS.   7. If the Drug Supply is cut off, the addict will go through WITHDRAWAL, a Physical and Mental Response to the Lack of the Drug.   8. The Symptoms of Withdrawal Vary, Depending on the Drug being used and the duration of use.   9. Symptoms may include Nausea, Headache, Insomnia, Breathing Difficulties, Depression, Mental Instability, and Seizures.   10.  Withdrawal from Addiction to some Depressant Drugs, such as Alcohol and Barbiturates, CAN BE LIFE THREATENING.   11.  Addicts undergoing Withdrawal are often Hospitalized so that their responses can be monitored.   12.  Although Drug Users develop an emotional Dependence (Habit) on a Drug, Tolerance and Withdrawal are Physiological Effects.   NEURAL CHANGES – ADDICITON   1. The Excitatory Effect (HIGH) sought by users of Cocaine is probably due to the Drug’s action on Neurons in the Brain that Use the Neurotransmitter DOPAMINE and NOREPINEPHRINE (NE).    2. Cocaine acts by Binding to Presynaptic Reuptake Receptors.  Cocaine stops the Removal of the Neurotransmitter Molecules from the Synaptic Cleft.   3. As a result, a large number of neurotransmitter molecules collect in the Synaptic Cleft, these excess neurotransmitter molecules in the Synapse Excite the Postsynaptic Neuron (Receiving) to an Abnormal Degree, increasing Firing Rate.   4. This Excitatory Response in Dopamine and NE neurons in the Brain provides the Sensation sought by the Drug User.   5. In response to the surplus of Neurotransmitter, Postsynaptic Neurons Reduce their Number of Receptors over time.  This is the body’s attempt to restore Homeostasis in these Neurons.   13.    The reduction of Receiving Neurons is what causes users to take larger and larger Doses to obtain the same effects – Tolerance.   DRUGS OF ABUSE   1. The Nature of a Drug Determines its Effects on the Body.   2. Psychoactive Drugs Affect the transmission of NERVE IMPULSES to the BRAIN (THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM).  They can change Behavior, Emotions, and Perceptions of Reality.  They also have an Effect on such Body Functions as Breathing and Heart Rate.   3. Most Drugs are Classified According to their EFFECT on the Body.  Some Drugs have LOCALIZED Effects and work only on a certain part of the Body, Others are SYSTEMIC, Affecting several Body Systems.   STIMULANTS   1. DRUGS THAT INCREASE THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE CLASSIFIED AS STIMULANTS.   2. STIMULAMANTS SPEED UP THE HEART RATE AND THE TRANSMISSION OF NERVE IMPULSES, AND THEY INCREASE BLOOD PRESSURE.   3. CAFFEINE in Coffee, Cola, Tea, and Chocolate, is a Stimulant that occurs naturally in the plants from which the products are made.   4. COCAINE is a Stimulant derived from the LEAVES of the COCA PLANT.   5. Cocaine is used LEGALLY for a few medical purposes, such as a Painkiller during Nasal Surgery.   6. Most Cocaine is sold ILLEGALLY as a White Powder that is Sniffed through the Nose.  Users often cause severe Damage to their Nasal Passage.   7. Cocaine can also damage Nerves, the Circulatory System, and it can lead to a Stroke.   8. OVERDOSING ON COCAIN IS A REAL POSSIBILITY.  THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM COCAINE AND THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY ROOM ADMISSIONS FOR DRUG REACTIONS INVOLVING COCAINE HAVE INCREASED GREATLY.   9. HIGH DOSES CAN CAUSE SEIZURES AND CARDIAC AND RESPIRATORY ARREST.   10. During the 70's and 80's, Cocaine became a popular Drug, especially among Wealthy Young People.  The HIGH COST of the Drug RUINED MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.   11. THE EFFECTS OF COCAINE CAN BE SO POWERFUL THAT A LONG-TERM USER MAKES OBTAINING THE DRUG MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, INCLUDING FOOD, SLEEP, SEX, AND CAREER.   12. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY THAT COCOANES PRODUCES (EUPHORIA) IS PARTICULARILY DIFFICULT TO BREAK.   13. A SMOKABLE, less-expensive form of Cocaine called CRACK was developed during the 80's.  The LOW Price of Crack made it available to many more people.   14. CRACK IS MORE POWERFUL THAN ORDINARY COCAINE BECAUSE THE DRUG'S EFFECT ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PEAKS JUST A FEW SECONDS AFTER SMOKING.   15. THE BRAIN IS FLOODED WITH A CONCENTRATED DOSE OF THE DRUG, PRODUCING AN INTENSE HIGH.  THE EFFECTS WEAR OFF QUICKLY, LEAVING THE USER SEEKING ANOTHER DOSE.   16. CRACK IS VERY ADDICTIVE.  THOSE WHO TRY IT USUALLY DEVELOP A DEPENDENCY AFTER ONLY A FEW USES.   17. USERS OFTEN DESCRIBE THE FEELING OF EUPHORIA THAT FOLLWOS INTAKE OF THE DRUG AS A RUSH.  SNORTING (INHALING) PRODUCES THIS EFFECT IN A FEW MINUTES, INJECTION WITHIN 30 SECONDS, AND SMOKING IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS.   18. THE RUSH ONLY LASTS A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IS REPLACED BY A STATE OF AROUSAL, WHICH LAST FROM 5 MINUTES TO 30 MINUTES.   19. THE USER THEN BEGINS TO FEEL RESTLESS, IRRITABLE, AND DEPRESSED.  TO OVERCOME THESE SYMPTOMS, THE USER IS APT TO TAKE MORE OF THE DRUG, REPEATING THE CYCLE UNTILL THERE IS NO MORE DRUG LEFT.   20. CRACK AND COCAINE ARE VERY DANGEROUS.  BOTH DRUGS PUT AN ENORMOUS STRAIN ON THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.   21. EVEN A YOUNG, HEALTHY COCAIN USER CAN SUFFER A DEADLY HEART ATTACK OR STROKE, THE FIRST TIME THE DRUG IS USED.   22. AMPHETAMINES, COMMONLY CALLED "SPEED" OR "UPPERS", ARE STRONG STIMULANTS.   23. A person who uses Amphetamines Feels Very ENERGENTIC, but the effects Quickly wears off after a person uses up his Reserve Supply of Energy.   24. Once the body has used up its Energy, it feels Very Tired.  This Deep Tiredness encourages more use of the Stimulant, and leads to a Strong Dependency on the Drug.   25. Amphetamine users can go Without Sleep for an entire Week or More.   DEPRESSANTS   1. DRUGS THAT SLOW DOWN THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE CLASSIFIED AS DEPRESSANTS.   2.  DEPRESSANTS HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF STIMULANTS ON THE BODY.   3. Depressants are sometimes prescribed by Doctors for Anxiety, Stress, or Sleeplessness.   4. BARBITURATES  "DOWNERS" are strong depressants that are sometimes prescribed as Sleeping Pills.  Barbiturates are Dangerous if used for too long or in too large a dose.  Their action as a Depressant can result in Coma or Death.   5. TRANQUILIZERS are another type of Depressant.  They are milder, and used to relieve stress and produce a "Tranquil" State.  Tranquilizers can lead to Both Psychological and Physical Dependency.    HALLUCINOGENS   1. DRUGS THAT AFFECT THE SENSORY PERCEPTIONS BY THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE CLASSIFIED AS HALLUCINOGENS.   2. These drugs caused the user to perceive reality in a Distorted Way.   3. A HALLOCINOGEN USER MAY SEE OR HEAR THINGS THAT ARE NOT THERE, EXPERIENCE FEELINGS THEY HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE, AND REACT TO BOTH NEW AND FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS IN UNPREDICTIBLE WAYS.   4. LSD OR "ACID" (LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE) AND PCP (ANIMAL TRANQUILIZER) ARE TWO POWERFUL HALLUCINOGENS USED BY PEOPLE.   5. LSD is the Most Powerful Hallucinogen.  Acid, as this drug is commonly called, INTERFERES with the Normal Transmission of Nerve Impulses in the Brain.  Effects VARY from person to person, virtually ALL People who used LSD regularly have had a "BAD TRIP" in which their Hallucination become Frighteningly Real.  Some LSD users have lost touch with reality after only a Single dose of the Drug.   6. PCP (Phencyclidine) produces feelings of Strength and Great Power.  Also known as Angel Dust, PCP can result in nightmarish Illusions that may last for many Days.  High doses produce Seizures and even Heart Attacks.  Users often become extremely violent and are a danger to themselves and others.   7. Other Hallucinogens include, ECSTASY, MESCALINE, PEYOTE, AND PSILOCYBE MUSHROOMS.   8. HALLUCINOGENS HAVE NO MEDICINAL USE, THEY ARE ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES.    NARCOTICS   1. THE WORD NARCOTIC IS OFTEN USED TO REFER TO ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS.  THE ONLY TRUE NARCOTICS ARE DRUGS DERIVED FROM OPUIM.   2. OPUIM IS A NATRUAL PRODUCT FROM THE FRUIT OF THE ASIAN POPPY PLANT, Papaver somniferum.   3. NARCOTICS ARE POWERFUL DRUGS USED TO RELIEVE PAIN AND INDUCES SEDATION AND SLEEP.   4. THE TERM "NARCOTIC" COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD MEANING "TO MAKE NUMB".   5. NARCOTICS ARE THE MOST ADDICTIVE AND DANGEROUS GROUPS OF DRUGS.   6. In the Brain, Narcotics bind to special Receptors that Block Pain and Produce a Feeling of Euphoria, or Satisfied Pleasure.   7. Our body produces natural chemicals called Enkephalins to relieve pain and produce mild euphoria.  Opium has a Chemical Structure Similar to that of Endorphins.   8. Opium can bind to Enkephalin Receptors in the brain, Having the Same Effect on the body as Enkephalins.   9. Enkephalins in the body are released in very small quantities, while opium-derived drugs can be taken in large quantities, producing stronger effects.   10. MORPHINE  (CODEINE) is an opium derivative used as a painkiller.  MORPHINE IS A HIGHLY ADDICTIVE AND DANGEROUS DRUG.   11. HEROIN is a powerful synthetic narcotic.  HEROIN IS DERIVED FROM MORPHINE.  Heroin users usually inject the drug directly into the bloodstream.   MARIJUANA   1. MARIJUANA  "GRASS OR POT", a Hallucinogen, IS THE MOST COMMONLY ABUSED ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE IN THE U.S.   2. MARIJUANA IS THE DRIED LEAVES, SEEDS  AND FLOWERS OF THE Cannabis sativa PLANT A SPECIES OF HEMP.   3. Not everyone who Smokes Marijuana is affected in the same way, Generally, the drug brings about a Dreamy State, with some mental confusion and short-term memory loss.   4.  When Smoked, or when Heated and then Eaten, Marijuana produces feelings of Disorientation in Space and Time.  Continue use of Marjuana CAN LEAD to Addiction and Suppressed Activity Level referred to as AMOTIVATIONAL SYNDROME.   5. THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN ALL FORMS OF MARIJUANA IS 9-TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC).   6. Marijuana is often referred to as a Gateway Drug - leads to other drug uses.   7. HASHISH OR HASH, is a potent form of marijuana made from the flowering parts of the plant.