Basic facts
Definition of a drug
It is any substance except food whose frequent use causes changes in the body or mind and can lead to addiction.
Depressants
„Downers”, alcohol, sleeping pills, and some tranquillisers
Inhalants
– glues, paint thinners, aerosol sprays
are sniffed or huffed , give immediate results, are very dangerous because they can lead to sudden death
Psychological effects (5 at least)
•disorders of emotions, irritability, instability
•bad concentration or a memory disorder
•feeling lazy or extremely active
•change the hierarchy of values, interests
•the overall degeneration - personality, loss of ability to have meaningful relationships with people
•psychotic disorders - hallucinations, delusions, psychomotor disturbances, inappropriate emotions
Primary prevention
It takes places in families. Child needs to get a true information about taking drugs. It is good if children have free-time activities and are is not left to do what they want.
Parents should spend time with their children, listen to them, help them build their self-esteem, good values and relationship.
At school there are so called PEER PROGRAMES – inform pupils about topics like drugs, addiction, bullying.
Name some legal and illegal drugs
Legal drugs: alcohol, tobacco, medicines, ...
Illegal drugs: heroin, hashish, cocaine, LSD, marijuana, methamphetamine, ...
Narcotics or opioids
- heroin, morphine, and opium
these reduce the feeling of pain, cause feelings of euphoria
Steroids
these prescription drugs are usually given orally or by injection to treat a variety of medical problems
often they are used illegally by athletes and others who want to improve their physical performance (disqualified).
Biological effects
•the overall deterioration of the body, poor eating habits (loss of menstruation in women)
•non-hygienic habits, poor dental and body hygiene
•liver, kidney, digestive illnesses, the nervous system becomes weaker
•risks of infectious diseases – hepatitis, HIV
Secondary prevention
It is important to recognize when the child or teenager starts experimenting with drugs.
Parents should notice if their teenage son or daughter shows the signs of taking drugs (keeping secrets, changing appearance, losing weight, keeping things connected with drugs, etc. and take them to a specialist.
Teenagers often don´t want to stop because they don´t have any health problems.
Name some natural and chemical drugs
Natural drugs – marihuana, hashish, magic mushrooms, cacti, frog skin extract, etc.
Chemical – wide range of types of drugs, e.g. LSD, ecsasy, heroin, cocain, medical drugs, etc.
Stimulants
- caffeine, cocaine, and methamphetamine
these stimulate or speed up the central nervous system
Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs
drugs are that people use to treat themselves but can also be abused it taken excessively
Social consequences
•not taking interest in school, work, absence from work or school
•changing friends, leaving the old ones, befriending the similar type of people
•being withdrawn – not speaking with family, close people, locking doors
•sometimes starting a criminal career because they don´t have money
Terciary prevention - treatment
Treatment can be done by detox , that takes place in a medical institution. Medical personnel helps to overcome the worst moments of abstinence symptoms. Another way is resocialization when the person learns to live better. It takes place in communities, not psychiatric clinic. (protected homes, K-centres)
Another way is accepting there are addicted people and try to lessen negative effects on society. It can be in Drop-in centres.
There is also substitution treatment. It´s means opiates are substituted by less dangerous substance such as metadon or subutex.
What drugs are socially tollerated?
Alcohol, nicotine, sometimes marihuana
Hallucinogens
- LSD, magic mushrooms and some other mushrooms, peyote, and mescaline
these distort sight and sound, people can hear or see things that are not there.
What are the signals that someone might be addicted?
having bloodshot or dilated pupils
*skipping class, declining grades, problem at school
*missing money, valuables, prescriptions
*acting isolated, withdrawn, angry or depressed
*dropping one group of friends, choosing another
*loss of interest in old hobbies, lying about new interests and activities
*demanding more privacy, locking doors, avoiding eye contact
The worst consequence
death
Why do people take drugs?
üway to be accepted by a group
way of coping with the stress
to lessen pain if the person is ill
way to relax
early use of drugs
to improve athletic performance
Canabinoids
–marihuana, hashish
they have some of the effects of depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens