Substance Use Basics
What is a drug?
any substance which, when absorbed into the body, can alter the body's functions either physically and/or psychologically. Drugs can be legal (alcohol, tobacco, caffeine) or illegal (marijuana, heroin, meth)
What is binge drinking?
Consuming 5 or more drinks in one sitting
What is the addictive drug in cigarettes?
Nicotine
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world.
True.
Prescription drugs provide a safe high because the are regulated.
False; when not taken as prescribed, or taking someone else's prescriptions, these medications can be just as harmful, if not more, as street drugs.
What are some ways to use drugs?
Smoke, snort, swallow, inject, and ingest
Alcohol is the most used and abused drug?
Truth
Tobacco
How long can marijuana stay in the body for?
30 days (a month)
What type of prescription pills are most abused?
Painkillers (hydrocodone and oxycontin) and depressants (xanax and valium)
Do drugs and alcohol affect the brain?
What is alcohol poisoning?
Consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a small period of time. Can affect breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and could lead to a coma or death.
Is chewing tobacco safe to use?
What are some common names for marijuana?
What are some reasons teens are abusing prescription pills?
Prescription pills are widely available, cheap or free, believe they are a safer way to get high and a safer alternative to street drugs.
Boredom, wanting to look cool, peer pressure, stress, curiosity, an escape, friends, social media
What is alcoholism?
The inability to control or stop drinking once you have started, physical cravings, and dependency on alcohol.
You can die from smoking related illnesses without ever smoking.
Yes, you can get cancers from second-hand smoke.
What are side effects of marijuana use?
What are "OTC" drugs?
Over-the-counter medications (sleeping aids, cough syrups, stimulants.) Common side effects include slurred speech, panic attacks, sleep disorders, coma, and loss of consciousness.
What are some health and social risk of drug use and abuse?
Problems with family and friendships, school failure, loss of interest in healthy activities, impaired memory, mental health issues, risk of addiction
What are some long term health risk associated with drinking alcohol?
Cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure and heart attacks) cancers of the throat, stomach, and liver, liver failure, anxiety and depression.
What are some long term health effects of smoking?
Lung, throat, mouth cancers, heart diseases, stroke, and high blood pressure.
What are some health risk associated with marijuana use?
Weight gain, respiratory infections, anxiety, panic attacks, and problems with memory and learning.
What are some health risk associated with prescription drug abuse?
High blood pressure, heart attack, memory loss, confusion, respiratory issues (infections & breathing problems,) coma, and death.