10 Kinds of Drug Abuse

8/2/2019 10 Kinds of Drug Abuse

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10 kinds Of

DrugAbuse

Submitted to: Mrs. Nob MAPEH Teacher

Submitted by:

Precious Glory G. LlagasIV ± Einstein

Carmen National High School



Alcohol

Many people enjoy a drink without it leading to an addiction. People who have

developed a more serious problem with alcohol use may shy away from thinking of themselves as addicts; after all, alcohol is a legal substance and readily available to

adults.

What is Alcohol Addiction?The line between having a few drinks as part of a social experience and having an

addiction to alcoholic beverages comes down to whether drinking is something you

"have" to do as opposed to something that you "want" to do. A person who enjoys a

drink controls their consumption and in the case of an alcoholic, the drinking controlsthem.

Signs of Alcohol Dependence

Signs that your use of alcohol may have moved from social drinking to an addiction

include:y An increased tolerance for alcoholy Difficulty in stopping drinking even when you want toy Withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop drinkingy Spending a lot of time thinking about drinking, consuming alcoholic beverages, or

recovering from a bout of drinkingy Negative consequences from drinking, such as relationship difficulties, DUI or arrest for

public intoxication, or job loss, yet continuing to drink anyway

Inhalants



An inhalant is a chemical substance that you breath. It has mind altering

effects. Most people who abuse inhalants are between the ages of 14 or 15. A

drug that enters the body through breathing is an inhalant. Inhalants are more

commonly used by teenagers than any other age.More than a thousand

substances have vapors that can be abused as inhalants. Most inhalants are

cleaning products. These cleaning products remove fatty substances from the

brain cells which cause brain damage. The first time a person uses an inhalant it

can kill them. Doctors think the reason for death is heart failure which is caused

by an irregular heart beat. Inhalants also cause hearing loss, suffocation,

damage to the nerves and bone marrow. Inhalants cause brain damage, lung

damage, coma or even death.Someone who has taken inhalants acts as if they

are dizzy or drunk, Their senses are mixed-up and the world around them may

seem abnormal.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drug addiction is a growing problem that many people don't take asseriously as they should. Since the medications were originally prescribed by a doctor,they feel that prescri ption drug abuse is different than when the person is using streetdrugs. Prescription drug addicts are addicted, in the same way that those who gethooked on cocaine, heroin, or other types of illegal drugs are.



What is Prescription Drug Addiction?

A prescription drug addict uses medications in a way other than for which they wereoriginally prescribed or to a much greater extent. They come to depend on the drugs tofeel better in some way, and experience cravings for them in between doses. Theprescription drug use continues in spite of negative consequences for the user,

including relationship difficulties, problems on the job, or the risk of physical harm frominappropriate use.Signs of Prescription Abuse and Dependence

The signs of addiction to prescription drugs include the following:

y Complaining of vague symptoms to get more medicationy Lack of interest in treatment options other than medicationsy Mood swingsy Seeing several doctors and/or pharmacies to get more pillsy Past history of drug addictiony On and off relief from anxietyy Using more than the recommended dose or dosage frequency of the medicationy Using prescription pills prescribed for others

Nicotine

The reason cigarette smoking is such a hard habit to break is because nicotine is a highly-addictivesubstance. Every time you take a drag off of a cigarette, your blood pressure and heart rate increase

for a short time. Nicotine is one of the hardest addictions to break.

What is Nicotine Addiction?Nicotine is one of the chemicals that are present in tobacco products, and it is responsible for giving

smokers a "rush" within about 10 seconds of taking a drag of the cigarette. The effect doesn't last for very long, which is why a person with a nicotine addiction keeps lighting up.

Signs of Nicotine DependenceMost people who smoke become addicted to nicotine. Someone who has become addicted to nicotine

may have cravings for cigarettes, have difficulty stopping smoking, and have nicotine withdrawal

symptoms when they try to do so. Some people feel irritable when they don't have a cigarette, whileothers find it hard to concentrate without them.



Causes of DependencyNicotine causes addiction because it affects the brain by making it produce an increased amount of a

chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that has a lot to do with how a person feelspleasure. When dopamine levels drop, the nicotine addict may feel down or even depressed and lights

up another cigarette to feel good again.

Effects of Use A person who smokes puts an extra strain on their heart every time they have a cigarette. Cigarettesalso contain carbon monoxide, which makes it more difficult for your body to get the oxygen it needs.

To compensate, blood flow to the extremities is reduced.Smokers have bad breath, stained teeth and fingers, and a lowered resistance to colds and the flu. The

nicotine addict's sense of smell and taste are less sensitive than a non-smoker's are. Appetite isreduced as well.

Caffeine

Caffeine is used in a number of products that we consume. You will find it in coffee, tea, softdrinks, chocolate, as well as several kinds of medication. Over 80 percent of the Earth'spopulation eat, drink, or consume caffeine on a daily basis.

What is Caffeine Addiction? A caffeine addict is someone who doesn't just enjoy their morning coffee or a sweet chocolatetreat. They feel that they can't get through the day without consuming caffeine. Without it, theydon't feel alert.

Signs of Caffeine Dependence

Caffeine addicts display these kinds of symptoms:y Difficulty concentrating without caffeiney Dizzinessy Fatiguey Frequent headachesy PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)y Pronounced mood swingsy Trouble staying awake during the day

Causes of Dependency

Caffeine increases the level of stress hormones in the body. As a result, you feel an increasedsense of alertness between 30-45 minutes after ingesting it. This substance also raises the

levels of dopamine in the brain in the same way as other drugs, such as cocaine,amphetamines, or heroin, do.Since caffeine is a stimulant, addicts may find it difficult to get to sleep at night. The personfeels tired when they get up in the morning and reaches for a cup of coffee or other source of caffeine to feel awake enough to get through the day. Over time, this pattern of behavior turnsinto a vicious cycle. If you are drinking six cups of coffee a day or more, you may start todevelop a tolerance for caffeine.



Effects of UseWhen someone ingests caffeine, it has a number of effects on his or her body, including:

y Elevated moody Raised blood pressurey Increased attentivenessy Increased blood sugar levelsy Irritated stomach lining

Steroids

Athletes and body builders who want toincrease muscle mass may be tempted

to use steroidsto get bigger, faster. They may not

realize that the sense of well-being theyexperience when using them is from the

'roids themselves. An addiction tosteroids may be more

difficult to recognize than someoneusing a substance to achieve a "high"though there are typically signs that can

be detected.

Steroids are produced in the human bodynaturally. The anabolic steroids you hear of athletes using are testosterone, and used tobuild muscle quickly. Originally developed totreat males who didn't produce sufficienttestosterone and to build up muscle inconcentration camp survivors, athletes

started experimenting with them in the1940s. Steroids may be injected, takenorally, or rubbed onto the skin as a cream or a gel.

What is Steroid Addiction?Someone who is addicted to steroids may start using because they want to improve their appearanceor their performance on the playing field. Over time, they become more dependent on the "roids", but ina different way than someone who is addicted to heroin or opiates might get hooked. Rather thanexperiencing a rush or a high when taking them, the steroid user discovers that they feel better whenusing them than without them.

Signs of Steroid AbuseSigns that someone has become addicted to steroids are as follows:

y Continuing to use steroids in spite of negative consequencesy Preoccupation with getting the next dosey Steroid use becomes something the user can no longer controly Abnormal speed of muscle growth and workout intensityy Withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using steroids

Causes of Dependency



Doctors say that increased teen steroids abuse is tied to young people's increasing obsession withbody image. A need for enhanced athletic performance is another major contributor to experimentationwith anabolic steroids. These two factors combined represent the largest causes of dependency sinceas one improves their physique or heightens their athletic abilities they are seldom willing to consider stopping since the thought of a reversal of these two perceived improvements is unacceptable. Theaddiction becomes self-perpetuating while they see "gains" but as with most drug addictions eventuallythe abuser must continue use just to "maintain".

Opiate

Codeine, morphine, and heroin are allpowerful painkilling drugs derived fromthe opium poppy. Not only can they alleviatepain, but they also produce a feeling of euphoria, which opens up the door toaddiction. Someone who is in the throes of anaddiction to these kinds of drugs may lose the

ability to make good decisions for themselves.They also run the risk of contracting HIV/AIDSif they are using needles to inject themselves.Often, a visit to a drug detox center isnecessary even before entering a treatmentfacility for opiate addiction treatment.

Opiates are narcotics, and drugs in this category tend to make the user feel sleepy (downers), asopposed to energized (uppers). Many are powerful and can severely "numb" the user.

As medication, opiates are used to relieve moderate to severe pain. The term opiate refers to any of thenarcotic alkaloids found in opium, as well as all derivatives of such alkaloids.

Common Opiate Use

People with chronic pain, cancer, or whoare recovering from surgery may beprescribed these medications. Opiatesinclude such prescription medicationsas:

y Codeiney Morphiney Oxycodoney Oxycontiny Percocety Percodany Ultramy Vicodin

What is Opiate Addiction? A person has an opiate addiction when they develop a dependence on the medication. They continueto take the medication to avoid going through opiate withdrawal symptoms or because they want tocontinue to experience the euphoric effects of the drug.

Signs of Opiate DependenceSigns of addiction to opiates include:

y Having to take larger doses of the medication to get the desired effecty Spending a lot of time focusing on the drug, using it and being able to take it again and againy Depression and/or suicidal thoughtsy Unkempt physical appearance, including weight loss in some casesy Social withdrawal

Causes of DependencyOpiate addicts get hooked on the medication because of the way it acts on the user's brain. If the drugis used regularly and to excess, the brain stops producing natural painkillers called endorphins. As aresult, the person who is addicted to opiates experiences a physical dependence on the drug.

Effects of Use





Marijuana

More than three million people in the UnitedStates use marijuana on either a daily or analmost-daily basis, making it the most popular illegal drug in the country. There are more than200 different names used to describe theleaves, stems, and flowers of the hemp plant,which are dried and rolled prior to beingsmoked. The question of whether marijuana isaddictive remains a popular debate with

opposing viewpoints.

The most common method for using marijuana is to place the dried leaves,

stems, and flowers of this plant onto rollingpaper and make it into a cigarette, to besmoked. It can also be smoked in a waterpipeor "bong", or other metal or glass pipe. Thisdrug can also be put in food products or mixedwith coffee or tea.

What is Marijuana Addiction? A person who is living with an addiction tomarijuana is unable to stop using it, even when

they want to. The urge to use is simply too strong.Couple the dependence on the drug with the fact that it is cheap and relatively easy to get, and you will

see why so many people become addicted.Signs of MarijuanaDependenceSigns that use of marijuana has moved from therecreational stage to a more serious problem aresimilar to those of other addictions, and include:

y Spending a large portion of time thinking aboutmarijuana

y Focusing on getting more and finding the money toget it

y Need to use a larger amount to get the same effect

Causes of Dependency An individual who is addicted to marijuanabecomes dependent on the drug because it affectsthe pleasure centers in the brain. Repeated use

makes it more difficult for the person to remember events, learn new ideas or skills, and adapt tochanges appropriately. This impairment can lead to depression, and the marijuana addict may continueto use the drug as a way to deal with the feelings of emptiness and hopelessness that accompany this

disorder. The side effects of marijuana use may

also lead to anxiety when the person tries to quit.

Effects of UseMarijuana addicts claim that using the drug gives

them these effects, which last for two or threehours after the drug is ingested:y Ease in social situationsy Euphoriay Feeling of relaxationy Sexual arousaly



Methadone

Methadone is a medication given to people beingtreated for heroin and other types of addiction. It is acontroversial choice, with those opposed to thismethod pointing out that addicts are trading one type of addiction for another. The drug is taken orally when

being given to treat addictions, but it may also beinjected. Some people continue to use methadone for years after they stop using heroin.

What is Methadone Addiction?Methadone addicts are the in throes of a physicaladdiction to the drug, which is a synthetic opiate. It has

the same characteristics as other drugs in this class, and is used to replace other medications, such asVicodin, Oxycontin, and Percocet, as well as heroin. A person who becomes addicted to methadonemay feel that they can't function throughout the day without it.

Signs of Methadone DependenceMethadone abuse may take a number of forms. Here are some signs that a user has developed anaddiction:

y Lying to the doctor about symptoms to get a higher dose of the drugy Combining methadone with alcohol or other substancesy Taking more of the drug than the label indicatesy Using methadone while continuing to use heroin

Causes of DependencyPeople who use methadone experience similar effects than if they were using other opiates, albeit not

to the same extent. Methadone works on the pleasure centers in the brain and creates a feeling of well-being. A heroin addict may continue using methadone to avoid going through withdrawal symptomsmuch in the same way they originally continued to abuse heroin.

Effects of UseMethadone addicts experience these kinds of symptoms when they take the drug:

y Contentmenty Drowsinessy Warmth

The person's body temperature, heart rate, and respiration drop. Blood pressure is lowered, as well.His or her ability to operate a motor vehicle or heavy equipment may be impaired as a result.

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10 Kinds of Drug Abuse