Drugs
Addiction:
A chronic, relapsing disease, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use as well as neuro-chemical and molecular changes in the brain.
Definitions:
Drug: A drug is any substance, other than food, which when taken into the human body that modifies physiological and psychological reactions.
Tolerance:
Tolerance means that, over time and with regular use, a user needs more and more of a drug to get the same effect. Tolerance increases the physical health hazards of any drug simply because it can result in increased drug use over time.
Physical Dependence:
An adaptive physiological state that occurs with regular drug use and results in a withdrawal syndrome when the drug use is stopped.
Psychological Dependence:
Psychological Dependence exists when a drug becomes so central to a person’s thoughts, emotions, and activities that it is extremely difficult to stop using it.
Stimulants:
Stimulants are drugs that stimulate the CNS and increase activity of the brain and spinal cord. They produce an increase in energy, increase in alertness and produce feelings of euphoria. (Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine).
Depressants:
Drugs that act on and slow down the action of the CNS, diminishing or stopping vital bodily functions (The term depressant is misleading because depressants tend to elevate the person’s mood initially). For example heroin or alcohol.
Hallucinogen:
Are drugs that act on the CNS and produce mood changes and perceptual changes varying from sensory illusions to hallucinations. (Acid, mushrooms).
Dissociative Anaesthetic:
A drug-induced state where the user experiences a feeling of separation of the body and mind. People in this state may experience euphoria, anxiety, decreased awareness of pain, and illogical thought.
OVERVIEW OF DRUG STATISTICS
GENERAL STATISTICS
Deaths Associated to Illicit Drug Use:
*In 1995, 804 people died (695 men and 108 women) as a result of illicit drug use
*Of the deaths in 1995, 90 were attributed to Diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis, 78 to cocaine
Alcohol Statistics:
Tobacco Statistics:
Marijuana Statistics:
Cocaine:
LSD, Speed, and Heroin:
MARIJUANA The Basics:
MARIJUANA The Basics: *Other names: Grass, hash, joint, weed, cannabis, hemp, skunk *Marijuana is grown from the Cannabis or Hemp plant *There are 3 types of Cannabis plants
ALCOHOL The Basics:
TOBACCO The Basics:
METHAMPHETAMINE The Basics:
HEROIN The Basics:
COCAINE The Basics:
ECSTASY: The Basics:
ACID The Basics:
MUSHROOMS The Basics:
GHB The Basics:
STEROIDS The Basics: