Say No To Drugs
Drug Side Effects- Stimulants
Stimulants
- Speeds up Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord).
- Also known as "uppers".
- Causes heart rate and breathing to speed up; can become very jittery, shaky,and paranoid.
- Examples: MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamine (speed, crank), caffeine, cocaine, crack, diet pills, marijuana, steroids.
- Prescription stimulants are normally taken in pill form,
- Some people who abuse them crush the tablets and snort or inject them witch can cause complications because insoluble fillers in the tablets can block small blood vessels.
Ecstasy
- Clenched teeth, grinding teeth, dangerously high body temperature.
- Ecstasy is usually swallowed in pill form, but can also be crushed and snorted, injected, or used in suppository form.
- Ecstasy comes in a tablet form that is often imprinted with graphic designs or commercial logos.
- Ecstasy produces problems similar to those found among amphetamine and cocaine users.
- An illegal synthetic drug, which acts as a hallucinogen and stimulant.
- 2.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in the year prior to being surveyed
- Adverse health effects can include nausea, chills, sweating, teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision.
Marijuana
- More carcinogens then cigarettes; kills brain cells.
- Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
- Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. It is made up of dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant.
- A mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. The mixture can be green, brown, or gray.
- The most common method is smoking loose marijuana rolled into a cigarette called a “joint” or “nail.”
- Within minutes of inhaling, a user begins to feel “high”
- Monitoring the Future Study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
Methamphetamine
- "Meth"; highly addictive;; severe dental problems, high body temperature, violent behavior.
- It is long lasting and toxic to dopamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system
- It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder taken orally or by snorting or injecting, or a rock "crystal" that is heated and smoked.
- Increases wakefulness and physical activity, produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature.
- All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
- Long-term use can lead to mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and severe dental problems.
- The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.2% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders, and 1.0% of 12th graders had abused
Steroids
- Most anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone.
- Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, some of which are irreversible.
- Some people, especially athletes, abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle and enhance performance.
- Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in "bad" cholesterol.
- For men-Testicles may shrink, infertility, breasts may develop
- For women- growth of facial hair and/or chest hair, voice deepens
- For everyone- excessive acne, mood swings, paranoia, "roid rage".