Drug Abuse Effects on the Brain

Drug Abuse Effects on the Brain Prescription Drugs (05 • Unlike some illicit drugs and alcohol, 01 Inhalants stimulants are used at equal or greater frequency by young females vs. males. Use is often to lose weight, stay awake to study, or perform better on exams. • Increased alertness, attention, energy. • Irregular heartbeat • Dangerously high body temperature • Potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures Inhalants spread toxic chemicals throughout the body, and can cause blackouts and hearing loss as well as liver, kidney, and bone-marrow damage. Short Term Effects • Slurred speech • Drunk, dizzy or dazed appearance • Inability to coordinate movement • Hallucinations and delusions • Hostility • Apathy • Impaired judgment • Unconsciousness Marijuana (04 Almost 44 percent of teens have tried marijuana by the time they graduate from high school. -02) Methamphetamine Short Term Effects speech • Heightened sensory perception Euphoria • Drowsiness/relaxation • Impaired short-term memory, attention, judgment, Methamphetamine can cause cardiac damage, elevated heart rate, and convulsions, and can also lead to diseased gums and teeth, known as "meth mouth." coordination and balance Short Term Effects • Increased heart rate • Loss of appetite • Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature • Dilation of pupils • Disturbed sleep patternst • Bizarre, erratic, sometimes • Increased appetite 03 Cocaine violent behavior • Hallucinations, hyper Physically it arouses key receptors (nerve endings that sense changes in the body) within the brain that in turn, generates a euphoria to which users quickly develop a tolerance. Only higher dosages and more regular use can bring about the same effect. Cocaine has been associated to stroke and heart attack, as well as increased susceptibility to infection. excitability, irritability • Panic and psychosis • Convulsions, seizures and death from high doses Short Term Effects • Loss of appetite • Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature • Contracted blood vessels • Increased rate of breathing • Dilated pupils • Disturbed sleep patterns • Nausea • Hyper stimulation • Bizarre, erratic, sometimes • Hallucinations, hyper excitability, irritability • Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs burrowing under the skin • Intense euphoria • Anxiety and paranoia • Depression • Intense drug craving • Panic and psychosis • Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time) violent behavior One dollar out of every $14 of Illicit drug users make over 527,000 expensive emergency room visits each year for drug related complications. Drug offenders account for more than one-third of the growth in the state prison population and more than 80 percent of the increase in the number of federal prison inmates since 1985. the nation's health care bill is spent to treat those suffering from smoking-related illnesses. Behavior Problems linked to drug More than 75 percent of domestic violence victims report that their assailant had been drinking or using illicit drugs at the time of the incident Drug abuse is linked to the top U.S. medical problems, including heart disease, cancer, HIVIAIDS, and mental illness abuse include, but are not limited to paranoia, hallucinations, aggressiveness, addiction, impaired judgment, impulsiveness, and loss of self-control Sources: http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/get-the-facts-drug-abuse-puts-your-whole-body-at-risk http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/inhalants/effects.html http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/get-the-facts-drug-abuse-puts-your-whole-body-at-risk http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/cocaine.html http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/get-the-facts-drug-abuse-puts-your-whole-body-at-risk http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/cocaine/effects-of-cocaine.html http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuselcommonly-abused-drugs/health-effects http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/health-effects http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuselcommonly-abused-drugs/health-effects http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/health-effects http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects/ http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects/ http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects/ http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects/ http://headsup.scholastic.com/articles/get-the-facts-drug-abuse-puts-your-whole-body-at-risk http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects)/ AmericanScreening Complete Drug Testing Solutions