tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs

VOCABULARY:

• nicotine: the highly addictive drug found in tobacco leaves

• stimulant: a drug that increases the action of the central nervous systems, heart, and other organs and “speeds up“ the body

• carcinogen: a substance that causes cancer

• carbon monoxide: a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas

• cilia: small, hairlike branches within the lung that move foreign particles out

• alveoli: air sacs in the lungs that allow for gaseous exchange

• ethanol: the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages

• fermentation: the chemical action of yeast on sugars

• isopropyl alcohol: the alcohol in rubbing alcohol to treat wounds

• depressant: a drug that slows down the central nervous system

• metabolism: the process by which the body breaks down substances

• diuretic: something that makes you want to pee

• intoxication: the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced

• blood alcohol concentration or bac: the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage

• alcohol abuse: the excessive use of alcohol

• binge drinking: drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting

• alcohol poisoning: a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose

• fetal alcohol syndrome or fas: a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

• alcoholism: a disease in which a person has a physical or psychological dependence on alcoholic drinks

• alcoholic: an addict who is dependent on alcohol

• drug: a chemical that causes a change in the mind and/or body of the user

• synergism: when two drugs combine to produce a more powerful effect than expected

• antagonism: when two drugs combine to cancel each other out

• abuse: the excessive misuse of a drug

• dopamine: a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward

• risk factors: increases someone’s chance of being addicted

• protective factors: lowers someone’s chance of being addicted

• trigger: an event or a situation that prompts the person to think about using drugs or alcohol

• cravings: the intense desire to use drugs that follows a trigger

the risks of tobacco

• smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the us.

• once an individual starts smoking it is very difficult to quit.

cigarette smoke

• cigarette smoke is a carcinogen which contains tar and carbon monoxide

• this can damage a person’s respiratory systems and cardiovascular systems

• tar damages a smoker’s respiratory system by

  • paralyzing and destroying cilia

  • destroying the alveoli

  • damaging lung tissue

alternatives to cigarettes

• pipes, cigars, vapes, and hookah

  • contain more nicotine and produce more tar and carbon monoxide than cigarettes

  • increased risk of lip, mouth, and throat cancer

• smokeless tobacco

  • delivers higher levels of nicotine

  • increased cases of cancers of the throat, larynx, esophagus, stomach, and pancreas

short term effects

• changes in brain chemistry

• increased respiration and heart rate

• dulled taste buds and reduced appetite

• bad breath and smelly hair, clothes, and skin

long term effects

• chronic bronchitis

• copd

• emphysema

• lung cancer

• coronary heart disease and strokes

effects on body systems

• nervous system

  • addiction

  • high risk of stroke

• respiratory system

  • coughing

  • chronic bronchitis

  • emphysema

  • lung cancer

• circulatory system

  • increased heart rate

  • increased blood pressure

  • hardened arteries

  • decreased blood flow

  • high risk of heart attack

  • high risk of stroke

consequences:

• legal

  • selling to someone under 18 is illegal

  • prohibited on school property

• social

  • impacts appearance: bad breath, yellow teeth

  • second-hand smoke

• financial

  • 3,000 dollars a year

  • total economic cost was about 97 billion dollars a year

benefits of living tobacco-free:

• better health, fewer health risks

• less stress, a sense of freedom

• looking and feeling better

the risks of alcohol

• can impact judgment and make you make bad decisions

• slows brain function

• makes it easy for people to take advantage of you

• long-term health problems - liver, heart, etc.

• can cause addiction

• consuming alcohol as a minor can impact brain development

• expensive as heck

• can die of alcohol poisoning

alcohol is involved in:

• 33% of suicides

• 50% of homicides

• 62% of assaults

• 68% of manslaughter cases

• 41% of traffic fatalities

• 50% of all drowning

• domestic abuse, child abuse, neglect, and workplace injuries

types of alcohol:

• ethanol: the type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages

  • produced through fermentation of fruits, vegetables, and grains

• fermentation: the chemical action of yeast on sugars

  • water, flavoring, and minerals are mixed with ethanol to produce beverages such as wine and beer

• isopropyl alcohol: the alcohol in rubbing alcohol to treat wounds

immediate effects:

• depressant: a drug that slows down the central nervous system

• affects motor skills

  • slow reaction time

  • impairs vision

• diminishes clear thinking and judgment

• alcohol travels through the bloodstream to the brain

• liver metabolizes the alcohol in the bloodstream and makes it less active

  • metabolism: the process by which the body breaks down substances

• kidneys filter the neutralized particles and other waste products from the blood and produce urine

• alcohol is a diuretic.

intoxication:

• intoxication: the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced

• affected by

  • body size

  • rate of consumption

  • stomach contents

• blood alcohol concentration or bac: the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood, expressed as a percentage

• after 0.08 bac, the person is legally intoxicated

1 drink

• 1.25 oz of hard liquor - 30-40% alcohol

• 12 oz of beer - 3-8% alcohol

• 4 oz of wine - 9-15% alcohol

• all equal!!

• but what about mixed drinks like margaritas?

• there’s no way of knowing!!!

• proof: double the percentage of ethanol by volume

short term effects:

nervous system:

• brain: becomes less able to control the body

• memory: thought processes disorganized, memory, and concentration dulled

• judgment: altered and coordination impaired

cardiovascular system:

• heart: at low intake increases heart rate and blood pressure, at high intake decreases

• blood vessels: expand and body temperature lowers

digestive system:

• stomach: increase stomach acid causing nausea and vomiting

• liver: toxic chemicals are released

• kidneys: increase urine output

respiratory system:

• lungs: fill with carbon dioxide

• breathing: depress nerves that cause involuntary reactions such as breathing, breathing slows

alcohol abuse

• alcohol abuse: the excessive use of alcohol

  • 25% of all youth are exposed to alcohol abuse

• binge drinking: drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks in one sitting

  • can be fatal

  • can cause alcohol poisoning

• alcohol poisoning: a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose

• effects of alcohol poisoning

  • mental confusion, stupor, coma, passing out

  • slow respiration - 10 seconds between breaths

  • hypothermia and lower body temperature

  • severe dehydration and vomiting

• call 911 if someone has alcohol poisoning

long term effects:

nervous system:

• brain: addiction, loss of brain functions, brain damage

cardiovascular system

• heart: damage to heart muscles, enlarged heart, high blood pressure

digestive system

• liver: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis

• stomach: ulcers and cancer

• pancreas: blockage

fetal alcohol syndrome or fas

• fetal alcohol syndrome or fas: a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems

• effects of fas

  • deformities of the head, hands, and feet

  • heart, liver, and kidney defects

  • leading cause of intellectual disabilities

• no safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant

alcoholism

• alcoholism: a disease in which a person has a physical or psychological dependence on alcoholic drinks

• alcoholic: an addict who is dependent on alcohol

  • influenced by genetic and environmental factors

• symptoms:

  • craving

  • loss of control

  • physical dependence/withdrawal symptoms

  • tolerance/needing more to feel the same effects

• stages of alcoholism

  • abuse: a person drinks and becomes intoxicated regularly

  • dependence: expressing a physical need for alcohol

  • addiction: alcohol becomes the most important thing to a person

• treatment

  • admission: acknowledging that they have a problem

  • detoxification: a process in which the body has to learn to live without alcohol

  • counseling: getting help to recover

  • recovery: the process of learning to live a life without alcohol

  • sobriety: living without alcohol

vaping:

• originally meant as an alternative to smoking

• has become more targeted to teens

• juul delivers nicotine at higher levels than other e-cigs, thereby making it easier to get addicted

• peer pressure plays a large role in addicting teens

• e cig use among minors has increased by 78 percent from 2017 to 2018

• smoking has gone down, but e-cig use has gone up

• juul probably deliberately marketed their products towards teens

categories of drugs:

• stimulants

• depressants

• marijuana

• opioids

• hallucinogen (psychedelics)

• club drugs

stimulants:

• stimulant: a substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body

  • speeds up messages travelling between the brain and the body

• legality:

  • illegal stimulants include mdma, cocaine, certain amphetamines such as meth, and bath salts aka synthetic stimulants

  • non-prescribed legal stimulants include caffeine and nicotine

  • prescription stimulants include methylphenidate and certain amphetamines, which are usually prescribed to treat adhd, narcolepsy, and obesity

• intended effects:

  • more energetic

  • more focused

  • more alert

  • a strong sense of euphoria

• side effects:

  • dopamine reward system affected, which leads to addiction

  • sleep deprivation/insomnia

  • restlessness

  • loss of appetite

  • agitation

  • altered perception of reality

  • hallucinations

  • psychological effects such as psychosis or depression

• how is it used?

  • pills or capsules meant to be swallowed

  • smoked

  • snorting (has larger effect)

  • injecting (can give a “rush“)

• other names:

  • r-ball

  • skippy

  • the smart drug

  • vitamin r

  • jif

  • kibbles and bits

  • and more

• bonus information:

  • 53% of stimulant deaths in 2019 involved meth

  • the us produces and consumes 85% of the world’s methylphenidate

  • there were 30,173 stimulant related deaths in 2019, and that number is only increasing

  • synthetic opioids are often mixed with stimulants, and in 2019, 63% of stimulant deaths involved opioids

depressants:

• depressant: a substance that reduces or slows down neurological or functional activity

  • slows down messages traveling between brain and body

• legality:

  • there are a lot of govt. regulations on depressant products

  • most are legal, such as alcohol

  • many are controlled, so can be managed by govt.

  • non-medical use of some is unlawful

• intended effects:

  • medical: reduced insomnia, reduced panic attacks, reduced pain, and reduced seizures

  • non-medical: enhanced mood, reduced anxiety/stress, confidence

• side effects:

  • drowsiness

  • withdrawal symptoms

  • mood changes

  • slurred speech

  • tolerance and dependence

addiction, the brain, and behavior

• drug: a chemical that causes a change in the mind and/or body of the user

• legal drugs: prescription or otc (over the counter)

  • use: correct use of the drug

  • misuse: taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed, even for a medical reason

  • abuse: the excessive misuse of a drug

  • synergism: when two drugs combine to produce a more powerful effect than expected

  • antagonism: when two drugs combine to cancel each other out

• addiction:

  • addiction is a chronic problem that can be difficult to treat, but recovery is ALWAYS possible

  • addiction is a complex brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug use despite bad consequences

  • addiction can develop with the use of a variety of substances

• drugs and alcohol affect the brain and behavior by interacting with the brain’s reward system

  • a network of structures that are involved in producing feelings of pleasure and reward

  • drugs mimic this sensation

• when a person uses drugs or alcohol, these substances cause a surge of dopamine in the brain

  • dopamine: a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward

• this dopamine surge is what reinforces the behavior of drug use, leading to a cycle of repeated us and the development of an addiction.

• risk factors and protective factors can determine whether you are more likely to get addicted to drugs

  • risk factors: increases someone’s chance of being addicted

  • protective factors: lowers someone’s chance of being addicted

• in addition to affecting the brain, drugs can also have a range of effects on behavior, including

  • impaired judgement

  • impulsive behavior

  • aggression

  • social withdrawal

  • increasing the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis

• the addiction cycle:

  • trigger: an event or a situation that prompts the person to think about using drugs or alcohol

    • stress

    • emotional pain

    • social situations

    • environmental cues

  • cravings: the intense desire to use drugs that follows a trigger. symptoms include

    • racing heart

    • sweating

    • anxiety

  • continued use: using a drug to stop cravings

  • loss of control: experiencing negative effects from a drug

  • guilt: feeling bad about consuming the drug, whether it be from society or from within

  • withdrawal: removing yourself from the drug, not taking it