Marijuana & Nicotine
True or false: Nicotine is a drug
True: Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances and cause more long term health problems than any other drug.
T/F: The prescription painkiller morphine, is essentially heroin.
True: although the quality, purity and dose are not the same, heroin is an opioid made from morphine, a commonly prescribed painkiller that is highly addictive.
True or False: alcohol is a drug.
TRUE. A drug is any substance, other than food, that is taken to change the way the body or the mind functions. Drugs can occur naturally or can be produced in a lab.
T/F: Commonly used Inhalants are often found household items
T: things like paint thinners, cleaning fluids, gasoline, glue, white-out and felt-tip markers are examples.
Why people use drugs
To fit in/feel part of a group, to forget problems, to escape reality, to loosen up, to be rebellious, to feel more sociable, out of curiosity, out of boredom, to try to feel happy and to have fun, a belief that everyone is doing it.
True or false: Most addicted smokers began smoking when they were teenagers.
True: Nicotine is highly addictive, which means it is very difficult to stop once you start. But not impossible! Some people spend hundreds to thousands of dollars a year to maintain the habit.
T/F: Cocaine and crack come from the same source.
True: Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant and comes in the powdered form that is snorted, smoked or injected. Crack is a derivative of cocaine and is sold as a solid rock that can be smoked. Both are highly addictive and extremely powerful.
True or False? Alcohol is a depressant.
TRUE. Alcohol depresses the brain centers that control behaviour.
It slows down the activity of your central nervous system, and slows your heart rate.
T/F: the effects of inhalants only last a few minutes
T: which is why people who abuse inhalants often keep inhaling repeatedly over the course of several hours - which is very dangerous.
What you can do to help you deal with a situation where you might be inclined or pressured to use drugs.
1. Avoid the situation
2. Give a reason
3. walk away
4. Be assertive
5. Be a broken record
True or false: teens and young adults who vape are 4 times as likely as their non-vaping peers to take up smoking traditional cigarettes.
True: Vape contains varying levels of nicotine, among other toxic chemicals, that is highly addictive and the more one uses of it, the higher their tolerance so they need more to feel the same effects.
T/F: fentanyl & oxycontin are prescription opioids, therefor they are not going to hurt you.
False: Both fentanyl and oxycontin are serious medications that can be prescribed by Doctors for patients who have chronic and acute pain, and are closely monitored. When taken recreationally these opiates are extremely dangerous.
True or False? When a person stops drinking suddenly after drinking heavily, they can get sick.
TRUE. Physical dependence occurs when the body gets used to having alcohol in the system. Withdrawal symptoms (sickness) may happen if drinking is suddenly stopped.
T/F: Death by choking is a reality from this type of inhaling.
"Huffing" - from an inhalant-soaked rag stuffed in the mouth
You might use this option to deal with your situation if you feel you won't be able to say no, or to resist the offer or pressure to take drugs.
Avoid the situation
T/F: Some short term effects of Marijuana are: increased heart rate, possible anxiety or paranoia, decrease in concentration skills & short term memory capacity, forgetfulness, and feeling tired.
True: people have various reactions to marijuana, some people report feeling relaxed while others start to feel their anxiety spikes and even become paranoid.
True or false? Nearly 3 million people older than 12-years old abused OxyContin
TRUE. OxyContin is the most potent prescription opioid available.
T/F: getting into fights with family are the number one harm for young people when drinking alcohol.
F: the number one concern is the person not remembering what they said/did.
T/F: inhalants found in common household items are safe
F: Inhalants are extremely harmful and in some can lead to brain damage, organ damage or death caused by choking. Because inhalants can cause brain damage beyond repair, this can lead to permanent abnormalities in thinking, learning, and memory.
How does this effect us socially?
When someone clearly states their needs, wants and feelings they are being...
Assertive. Being assertive includes 3 steps:
1. Stating your answer;
2. Giving your reason;
3. Showing understanding;
T/F: Aside from THC (the active chemical that gets you high) there are more than 400 other chemicals in marijuana.
True: many of these same chemicals are found in tobacco smoke. Prolonged use of marijuana has the same effect on the lungs as smoking cigarettes.
T/F: Fentanyl is a powerful opioid that is cut into many street drugs and is very easy to overdose on. Many of the people overdosing are recreational users experimenting, rather that hard core users.
True: Fentanyl is 80 times more powerful that morphine and 100 times more powerful than heroin and the risk of accidental overdose is high. People who are using recreationally have a lower tolerance, meaning their bodies and brains are completely unprepared for the powerful dose. It is impossible to know if fentanyl is present without testing they drug.
One of the most common concerns when it comes to youth alcohol use.
Impaired driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young people. 1/5 Teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2016 were under the influence of alcohol.
Alcohol interferes with the skills that are essential for safe driving, including vision clarity, motor coordination, reaction time, attention and concentration.
T/F: Inhalants are addictive
T: Using inhalants can lead to uncontrollable use. Some long term symptoms of users are: weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of co-ordination, irritability, and depression.
T/F: It may seem sometimes like everyone is doing drugs/drinking alcohol, so why not?
F: the number of young people who use drugs and alcohol in the CV is higher than the average in BC, but not everyone is doing it.
How do these stats effect the way you think about D&A?