Drug Test

Effects of Marijuana

• The effects of marijuana can vary depending on the individual and the amount consumed.

• Common short-term effects: relaxation, altered perception of time, increased appetite, and impaired memory and coordination.

• Long-term effects: respiratory issues, cognitive impairment, and potential addiction.

  Effects of Drugs

• Stimulants:

  a. speed up the function of the central nervous system (messages between brain & body are much faster)

  b. makes someone feel more alert, energetic, awake, & confident

  c. heart beats faster

  d. blood pressure rises

  e. body temp increases

  f. reduced apetite

  g. agitation

  h. sleepiness & seizures

  i. OPPOSITE OF DEPRESSANTS

• Depressants:

  a. slows down the function of the central nervous system (messages between brain & body much slower)

  b. effects concentration & coordination

  c. relaxes body

  d. less inhibitions (mental or psychological barriers that prevent someone from expressing themselves freely or behaving in a certain way)

  e. slows down reaction time

  f. drowsiness, nausea, & mood swings

  g. unconsciousness

  h. OPPOSITE OF STIMULANTS

• Opioids:

  a. acts on opioid receptors in brain

  b. depresses the central nervous system (messages between brain & body slow down while also stimulating the release of dopamine)

  c. highly addictive as the activate the reward center of the brain

  d. pleasure & pain relief

  e. slows breathing & heart rate

  f. overdose (OD) can lead to death

• Psychedelics (Hallucinogens)

  a. produces change in perception/mood & cognitive processes

  b. affects the body’s senses, thinking processes, emotions and perception of time

  c. auditory/visual hallucinations

• Cannabinoids

  a. chem. substances join to the cannabinoid receptors of the brain (creates a “dimmer switch” affect)

  b. interferes w/ the body’s ability to regulate how cells communicate w/ each other

  c. feelings of:

  • euphoria

  • anxiousness

  • paranoia

  • spontaneous laughter/excitement

  • dry mouth

  • incr. appetite

  • quiet/withdrawn mood

• Dissociatives

  a. psychedelic drug

  b. distorted feelings & sensory perceptions

  c. feelings of detachment from reality

  d. auditory/visual hallucinations

  e. euphoria/happiness

  f. pain free/numb

  g. unaware/unconscious

  h. feeling of being in a hole

• Empathogens

  a. causes the release of dopamine (feel good hormone) & serotonin (happiness hormone) in the BRAIN

  b. incr. friendliness, empathy, and connection

  c. energy, arousal, overheating

  d. TOXIC LEVELS can cause OD and death

  Ecstasy

• Chemical name: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

• Classification: Stimulant and hallucinogenic drug

• Effects: Increased energy, euphoria, enhanced sensory perception

• Long-term effects: Memory problems, depression, anxiety

• Risks: Dehydration, overheating, serotonin syndrome

• Legal status: Illegal in most countries

  
  Effects of Alcohol

• Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that affects the central nervous system.

• commonly consumed in the form of beer, wine, and spirits.

• The long-term effects: liver damage, cardiovascular problems, weakened immune system, and increased risk of certain cancers.

• Short-term effects: impaired judgment, coordination, and memory, as well as increased aggression and risk-taking behavior.

• Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to addiction and various health problems and can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time, increasing the risk of accidents

  Illicit/Licit Drugs of Depressants & Opioids

• Depressants:

  a.