Drug Abuse
Tyler Martin, Juan Ventura, Karina Rocha, Jonathan
Pestrella
Marijuana
Aka: Pot, budha,
ganja, grass, weed,
herb, mary jane.
The most common
illicit drug
Effects on the Brain
THC acts on certain cells in the brain called cannabinoid
receptors which cause a series of cellular reactions resulting
in a “high”
The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in
parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts,
concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated
movement.
Marijuana's impact on learning and memory can last weeks
after the effects have worn off. As a result someone who
smokes everyday may be functioning at a suboptimal
intellectual level all of the time.
Effects on the Brain (cont)
Studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana
use and increased rates of:
Anxiety
Depression
Suicidal Ideation
Schizophrenia
Physical Effects
Marijuana smoke contains 50-
70% more carcinogens than
tobacco smoke.
Marijuana users inhale more
deeply and hold their breath
longer than tobacco smokers
resulting in more exposure to
carcinogenic smoke.
Marijuana smokers have the
same respiratory problems as
tobacco smokers, such as daily
cough, acute chest pain, and a
heightened risk for lung infections.
Physical Effects (cont)
Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-200% shortly after
smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours.
In one study, it is estimated that marijuana users have a 4.8-
fold increase of heart attack in the first hour after smoking.
This may be due to the increased heart rate as well as
marijuana's effect on heart rhythms, causing palpitations and
arrhythmias.
Cognitive Effects
Marijuana can cause the following:
Distorted perceptions
Impaired coordination
Difficulty thinking completely
Social Effects
Research demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to
cause problems in daily life or make existing problems worse.
Heavy marijuana users reported that the drug impaired
several important measures of life achievement including
physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and
career status.
Several studies associate workers’ marijuana smoking with
increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers
compensation claims, and job loss.
Percentage of 12th Graders Who Have
Used Marijuana
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Lifetime 47.8 46.1 45.7 44.8 42.3 41.8 42.6
Past 36.2 34.9 34.3 33.6 31.5 31.7 32.4
Year
Past 21.5 21.2 19.9 19.8 18.3 18.8 19.4
Month
Daily 6.0 6.0 5.6 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.4
Crystal Meth
Aka: Crank, ice,
speed, glass.
One of the most
addictive substances
on the planet.
Effects on the Brain
Meth has shown to cause the release of high levels of
dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain cells.
Consumption of this compound also has a neurotoxic effect
on the brain cells that store dopamine and serotonin, another
substance that is responsible for neurotransmission.
Over time, the levels of dopamine and serotonin become
lower which means more of the drug is to required to produce
the same effect as before. Higher consumption eventually
leads to overdose and death.
Former addicts have difficulty experiencing happiness in daily
life because their brains simply have no dopamine and
serotonin left.
Effects on the Brain (cont)
Even minute consumption of meth will cause
wakefulness, increased physical activity,
decreased appetite, increased respiration,
hyperthermia, and euphoria. Effects of meth on
the CNS (central nervous system) also include
irritability, insomnia, confusion, paranoia, and
aggressiveness. Since it is known that it is difficult
for nerve cells to be regenerated after having
been damaged, use of the drug can cause severe
permanent damage to the CNS.
Ingredients in Meth
Ingredients include:
Drain cleaner
Anhydrous ammonia( fertilizer)
Iodine
Matches-Red phosphorus
Ephedrine( Cold medicine)
Ether (anesthetic agent)
Drano
Brake fluid
Lighter fluid
Hydrochloric acid
Gasoline additives/rubbing alcohol
Paint thinner
Battery acid
Ingredients in Meth (cont)
Lithium from car batteries
Freon( refrigerant)
Propane
Camp stove fuel
Chloroform
Muriatic acid (pool
cleaner)
Phosophine gas
(pesticides)
Physical Effects
Physical effects can include: Anorexia,
hyperactivity, dilated pupils, flushing,
restlessness, dry mouth, hypotension,
hypertension, hyperthermia, diarrhea,
constipation, dizziness, twitching, insomnia,
numbness, palpitations, tremors, dry/achy
skin, convulsions, heart attack, stroke, and
death.
Physical Effects (cont)
Frequent use of large amounts of amphetamines
may eventually result in mental illness, suicide
and violent death. Meth-induced psychosis is a
paranoid state that may develop after ingestion or
the injection of large doses of methamphetamines
.
Meth use increases self-confidence, which often
ignores the reality of personal limitations. Meth
users may experience "Superman Syndrome," in
which they attempt to perform tasks they are
incapable of performing.
Social Effects
Significant numbers of American youth
engage in heavy meth use and these
numbers continue to increase. Causing
damage to property and causing injury to
themselves are among the most common
problems associated with meth use.
Statistics show that between 1998 and
2002, death from methamphetamine
overdoses rose 125 percent.
Cognitive Effects
As mentioned, meth causes the user to
believe he/she can perform tasks beyond
their capabilities.
Resulting in injury to themselves and often
times the people around them.
Other Facts
The number of 12-17 year olds admitted to
treatment for meth addiction more than doubled
between 1994 and 2004.
More than 85% of meth in the US comes from
superlabs in California and Mexico. Mexican drug
rings often use safe houses on Indian
reservations to facilitate distribution into North
Dakota.
In 2005, nearly 6.2% of high school seniors
reported using methamphetamine at least once.
Heroin
Aka: Dope, dragon,
smack, snow.
Derivative of the
opium poppy.
Effects on the Brain
As with other opioids, heroin is used as both a pain-killer and
a recreational drug and has an extremely high potential for
abuse. Frequent and regular administration is associated with
tolerance, moderate physical dependence, and
severe psychological dependence which develops
into addiction.
Once injected the heroin quickly progresses through the
blood-brain barrier to bind with brain opiates. This appears to
be one of the reasons that heroin is so addictive because of
the speed that it is transmitted into the brain.
At higher doses still, the user will nod off into a semi-
conscious state.
Effects on the Brain (cont)
Addicts becomes mentally addicted to the
drug. The mind itself craves the rush and
the high, not just from a physical
standpoint, but from a mental standpoint as
well. Even many years after a heroin addict
finally obtains sobriety they will still
mentally crave the drug because the
thinking of the brain has actually been
permanently changed and altered.
Withdrawal
The withdrawal syndrome from heroin may begin within 6 to
24 hours of discontinuation of the drug; however, this time
frame can fluctuate with the degree of tolerance as well as
the amount of the last consumed dose. Symptoms may
include: sweating, malaise, anxiety, depression, priapism,
extra sensitivity of the genitals in females, general feeling of
heaviness, cramp-like pains in the limbs,
excessive yawning or sneezing, tears, rhino rhea, insomnia,
cold sweats, chills, severe muscle and bone aches; nausea
and vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and fever.
Physical Effects
Because heroin is a depressant most people will
become tired and sleepy after usage. The mind
becomes clouded and foggy. Response time is
non-existent. Making normal activities such as
driving extremely dangerous if not impossible.
Cardiac function and breathing slows. Many
people die from a heroin overdose because of the
depressed state of the cardiac and respiratory
system.
Cocaine
Aka: Blow
Snorted to produce
almost immediate
effects. But “crack”
cocaine is smoked.
Derivative of the coca
leaf typically found in
areas in South
America such as
Columbia.
Effects on the Brain
Cocaine is a powerful nervous system
stimulant. Its effects can last from 15-30 minutes
to an hour, depending upon the method of
ingestion.
Cocaine increases alertness, feelings of well-
being and euphoria, energy and motor activity,
feelings of competence and sexuality.
Blood flow is sluggish and abnormal compared to
the brain of a non-user. Such an abnormality may
underlie memory loss, learning problems,
attention deficits, and even strokes.
Physical Effects
Increased blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and body
temperature.
Can cause seizures, strokes, respiratory failure, heart
attack, convulsions and death.
Cocaine and crack can damage the liver's ability to detoxify
blood, while reducing the production of critical enzymes
needed for normal body functions.
The blood supply is reduced to the intestines, resulting in
nausea, diarrhea, painful cramps, inflammation and
possible death.
Bloody nose, and inner nose damage
Other Facts
It is estimated that about two million
people are cocaine addicts in the United
States, and that between 22 and 25 million
people have used cocaine at least once.
Cocaine use is also found along racial
lines. The most common group of cocaine
abusers are American Indians and/or
Alaskan natives.