DRUGS

WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO ?

A drug, is any substance that, when absorbed intothe body of a living

Organism, alters normal bodily function. Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person’s body works
by altering emotions andthoughts.

Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a particular substance. Drug dependence
is the body’s physical need, or addiction, to a specific agent. Over the long term, this dependence results
in physical harm and behavior problems which causes tolerance and cross tolerance. Thus, it creates a
vicious cycle.

1. GATEWAY DRUGS

•Are legal drugs that a non-drug user might try, which can lead him/her to more dangerous drugs such
as marijuana and shabu.

• Teenagers who engage in early smoking & drinking have higher chance of using and

Experimenting with dangerous drugs of abuse.

2. DEPRESSANT DRUGS

•Slows down a persons central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves).

• Doctors commonly prescribe depressants to help people who have anger management issues, stressed
orvtensed. Depressants relax muscles and nerves.

•These drugs make patients feel sleepy

And light headed.

Examples are; alcohol,

Barbiturates & tranquilizers.

A barbiturate is a drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant, and can therefore produce a
wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to total anesthesia. They are also effective as anxiolytics,
hypnotics, and anticonvulsants.

BARBITURATES

3. STIMULANT DRUGS
°Speed up a persons central nervous system.

•Has the opposite effect of

Depressants.

•Makes a person’s energy high

•Side effects are depression and tiredness.

Examples are amphetamines

(shabu, caffeine, nicotine,

Cocaine)

Amphetamine is a potentcentral nervous system stimulant that is used in the treatment of Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD), narcolepsy,and obesity.

Amphetamines

•Methamphetamine

(SHABU) is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is mainly used as a

Recreational drug and less commonly as a treatment fo attention deficit hyperactivity

Disorder and obesity.

•Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is the world’s most widely
consumed psychoactive drug. Unlike many other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in
nearly all parts of the world.

Nicotine is a potent parasympathomimetic

Stimulant and an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants.

•Cocaine, also known as coke, is a strong stimulant mostly used as a recreational drug. It is commonly
snorted, inha’

As smoke, or as a solutiinjected into a vein.

HEALTHYPLACE
 4. NARCOTICS

• Are drugs which relieve pain and induce sleepiness.

•These are prescribed to patients with mental disorders or with patients dealing with severe pain like
cancer.

•These drugs are illicit and dangerous if taken.

•Examples are cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

•Heroin, also known asmorphine among other names, is an opioid most commonly used as a
recreational drug for its

Euphoric effects. Medically it is used in several countries to relieve pain.

HEROIN

• Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis

Sativa or Cannabis indicaplant. The plant contains the mind- altering chemical THC and othersimilar
compounds. It is also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast number of other
slang terms.

5. HALLUCINOGENS

°Drugs which distort reality and facts.

Affects all senses; makes a user feel, hear, see things that don’t exist in the time being.

•Came from the word hallucinate (to perceive illusions)

• Examples are: Lysergic Acid

Diethylamide, psilocybin (obtained

From mushrooms and mescaline

•Lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as acid, is a psychedelic drug known for
Its psychological effects.

•Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as psychedelic mushrooms, are avpolyphyletic group of mushrooms
that contain the

Psychedelic compounds psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. Common colloquial terms include magic
mushrooms and shrooms.

6. INHALANTS

•Found in ordinary household chemical products and anesthetics.

•Readily available and accessible to young children

•Inhalant toxins are similar to those of alcohol, the only difference isvthe foul smell.

• Abuse can lead to delusions, brain

Damage, liver damage, comatose

And death.

• Examples are acetone, rugby

(solvent), spray paints, cleaning

Fluids and air conditioner fluids

(Freon).

ElastoSeal

•Examples are acetone, rugby(solvent), spray paints, cleaning fluids and air conditioner fluids

(Freon).

6 CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS

ARE:

1.Gateway Drugs

4.Narcotics

Z.Depressant Drugs 5.Hallucinogens

3.Stimulant Drugs

6.Inhalants