Drug Abuse

Know the Facts About drugs!

• Drug is a contributing factor in at least half of all murders, suicides, and car accidents.

• Heavy drinking along with drunk driving increases your chances of serious injury or death.

• Heavy drinking is also linked with physical fighting, destroyed property, school and job problems, and trouble with law enforcement authorities.

It won’t affect me…

• Drug abuse leads to:– Loss of coordination– Poor judgment– Slowed reflexes– Distorted vision– Memory lapses– Blackouts – Lowered inhibitions

Effects of Drug Use…

Bleeding Pancreas of an Alcoholic, he’s now dead!

How do you think these people turned out?

Signs of drug Abuse

• Problems remembering things you recently said or did

• Getting drunk on a regular basis • Lying about how much alcohol you are drinking • Thinking that drug is necessary to have fun • Having frequent hangovers • Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal • Having "blackouts"--forgetting what you did while

drinking • Having problems at work or getting in trouble

with the law

Who’s drinking?

• 84% of people ages 12 to 17 have chosen not to drink in the past month.

• People who begin drinking

before age 15 are 4 times

more likely to develop

alcoholism than those

who begin at age 21.

Refuse drug:

• The majority of teens don't drink alcohol. It's not as hard to refuse as you might think. Try:

• "No thanks,"

• "I don't drink,"

• "I'm not interested,” or

• “It’s not for me.”

What are the Stats?

• In 1998, 35.8% of traffic deaths of 15- to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related.

• "Binge" drinking means having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. About 15% of teens are binge drinkers in any given month.

• Approximately 100,000 deaths result each year from the misuse of drugs.

Know the Facts!

• One drink can make you fail a breath test.

• In some states, people under the age of 21 who are found to have any amount of alcohol in their systems can lose their driver's license, be subject to a heavy fine $$$, or have their car permanently taken away!

• It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under 21.

Know the Facts About Drugs

• Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States.

• Cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines are illegal in all states and highly dangerous.

• It is illegal to buy or sell ecstasy.

Marijuana

• Street names include pot, herb, weed, boom, Mary Jane, and chronic

• Average age of first use is 14

• The amount of tar inhaled and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are 3-5 times greater than cigarette smokers.

Effects of Marijuana Use• Physical Effects of use: Dry mouth,

nausea, headache, decreased coordination, increased heart rate, reduced muscle strength, increased appetite and eating

• Mental Effects of use: Anxiety, confusion, anger, tiredness, possible suicidal thoughts

Cocaine & Heroin• Both drugs can be snorted, smoked or

injected by needle into a vein.

• Prolonged cocaine snorting can result in sores of the inside of the nose and can damage the cartilage enough to cause it to collapse.

• Heroin is ranked second as the most frequently mentioned drug in drug-related deaths.

Cocaine & Heroin• The IV drug user is at risk for

transmitting or acquiring HIV infection/AIDS if needles or other injection equipment are shared.

• Bad Effects: Infected veins, hepatitis liver disease, pneumonia, heart infections, paranoia, depression, miscarriage, overdose and even death!

• Good News: According to a 1998 study, less than 1% of teens are regular cocaine users. In fact, 98% of teens have never even tried cocaine.

Physical Effects of Drug Use

Same user of Methamphetamines 5 years later

1990 1995

Infection from drug use

Drug Abuse Treatment Can Work

• No single treatment is appropriate for all individuals.

• Treatment needs to be readily available.

• Treatment must attend to multiple needs of the individual, not just drug use.

• Multiple courses of treatment may be required for success.

• Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness.

What’s Your Anti-Drug?

Some popular anti-drugs:  music, dancing, computers, basketball, family, singing, friendship, life, football, track, rock climbing, volunteering.

THANK YOU