Alcohol & Substance Abuse

Sabu.VU,sabuvayalarikil@gmail.comMBA, DMS (HMA)

Its defined as patterns of drinking or using drugs (prescription and illicit) that result in harm to a person’s health, well-being, relationships, and productivity. A person who abuses drugs and alcohol is not necessarily an addict. However, abuse of these substances is a risk factor for developing an addiction because continuous abuse can lead to physical and psychological dependence.

Alcohol and drug abuse

Alcohol and drug abuse can lead to short-term and long-term health complications. Men who drink have an increased risk of developing cancer in the mouth, esophagus, liver, and colon. Both men and women may develop neurological problems including dementia, neuropathy, and stroke from chronic alcohol abuse. Psychiatric problems like depression and anxiety are associated with long-term abuse of alcohol.

What's happening…,?

65 percent of people addicted to drugs are able to obtain them from friends and family members.

reference link in htmlhttp://www.projectknow.com/research/alcohol-and-drugs/

Inventor Thomas Edison was one of many people who used legal cocaine-infused patent medicines during the late 1800s. He credited Vin Mariani with helping him work long hours.

Born: August 29, 1958, Died: June 25, 2009,

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson: Eerily similar to Elvis, Jackson – known as the “king of pop” – was addicted to barbiturates. In taking large doses of Propofol for insomnia, Jackson overdosed and died in 2009

Writer Robert Louis Stevenson, known for works like The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, reportedly counted on cocaine, then legal, to help him work. Stevenson was chronically ill with tuberculosis and relied on the stimulating effects of cocaine to help him write his novels.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter S. Thompson is most famous for writing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. A frequent cocaine user, Thompson reportedly had it with sausage and eggs in the morning for breakfast.

Actress Angelina Jolie went public in 2011 with her struggles with drug abuse, which were years in the past at that time. A man who claimed to have been her drug dealer said that in her early 20s she used to buy cocaine from him two or three times a week. By all accounts, Jolie has recovered from her substance abuse struggles.

Angelina Jolie

Steven Tyler, the lead singer of the band Aerosmith, reportedly spent millions of dollars on cocaine over the course of his career. In a 2013 interview, he said that he had "snorted half of Peru."

Steven Tyler

A DRUG IS ANY SUBSTANCE OTHER THAN FOOD WHICH CHANGES THE

WAY THE BODY OR MIND FUNCTIONS

What is drug ?

Types of drugs

Stimulants (uppers) – Speed up the brain and central nervous system. Examples are caffeine (coffee, tea) nicotine (cigarettes), amphetamines, speed, cocaine and diet pills.

Depressants (downers) – Slow down the brain and central nervous system. Examples are alcohol, beer, wine, vodka, gin etc heroin, tranquilizers, sleeping pills.

Hallucinogens – These drugs alter the user’s state of consciousness. (Distort auditory and visual sensations) Examples are LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms, marijuana.

Substance Other Names Immediate Intoxication Effects

Negative Health Effects

Sign of use

Pain Relievers Oxycontin, Oxycodone,Tylox, Perdodan, Percocet, Lortab, Demerol, Darvon, Darvocet, Codeine, Morphine, Methodone

Pain relief; euphoria; drowsiness; respiratory depression and arrest; nausea; confusion; constipation; sedation; unconsciousness; restlessness

Bone & Muscle pain;drowsiness; seizure; coma; respiratory depression; decreased heart rate

Constricted pupils;Pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature down;Droopy eyelids; itching; dry mouth; low raspy voice

Sedatives/ Tranquilizers

Benzos: Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Librium, Klonapin Sleep Meds: Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta

Slurred speech; shallow breathing; sluggishness; fatigue; disorientation and lack of coordination; dilated pupils reduced anxiety ; lowered inhibitions

Seizures; impaired memory, judgment & coordination; irritability; paranoid; suicidal thoughts; sleep problems

Drunk like appearance; disoriented; drowsiness; slurred speech; pulse and body temp. low

Stimulants Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, (as well as cocaine, meth and amphetamines) Caffeine and Sugar are milder stimulants

Increased alertness, attention, and energy

Increased hostility or paranoia; dangerously high body temp; irregular heartbeat; cardiovascular failure; lethal seizures

Pupils Dilated; pulse, blood pressure and body temp elevated; restlessness; excited; runny nose; body tremors; grinding teeth; irritable; loss of appetite; insomnia

Drugs Most Commonly Abused by College Students

ALCOHOL

Alcohol is the oldest and most widely used drug in the world.

About two-thirds of Grade 6 students say they have experimented with alcohol.

By Grade 10, over 90% of young Canadians have tried it.

Leading cause of death for teens and young adults in Canada is motor vehicle accidents-many of which involve alcohol use.

ALCOHOLAlcohol goes directly from your digestive system into your blood and within minutes spreads to entire body, including brainIt spreads evenly throughout body-except brain which gets the highest concentration because it gets more blood than any other part of bodyMore blood equals more alcoholIntoxication (drunkenness) starts in the brain

1.Mouth2.Stomach3.Small Intestine4.Bloodstream5.Liver6.Brain

1. Unconscious or Semi-consciousness2. Difficult to awaken 3. Mental confusion or stupor4. Inability to stand or walk, or can do so only with difficulty5. Slow Breathing

1. Eight breaths or less per minute6. Irregular Breathing

1. Eight seconds or more between breaths7. Irregular heartbeat8. Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin9. Repeated, uncontrolled vomiting 10. Loss of control of bodily functions (i.e. urinate or defecate on self) 11. Fever or chills12. Difficulty speaking13. Paranoid, confused, or disoriented14. Seizures15. Absent reflexes 16. Snoring or gasping for air

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Physical Effects Co-ordination is impaired, clumsiness, slower

reflexes High blood pressure, damage to the heart Liver damage If drinking when pregnant, FASD Life threatening when mixed with other drugs

Mental and Emotional Behave in ways that you normally wouldn’t Increase in aggressive and violent behaviour Problems with school and learning

ALCOHOL and the LIVER

The liver removes poisons – include alcohol from the bodyPeople who drink regularly can have serious liver damage and may even get liver cancerIf the liver is damaged badly enough, it can stop working, causing the person to die.

NICOTINEMost addictive drug Causes more long term health problems than any other drug Adults are smoking less, younger people under 18 smoke more When someone stops smoking they have:strong cravings

irritability (everything gets on nerves)thoughts of it-can’t stop thinking about it

What it does to your body, brain and behavior

Depression Lung cancer Lung diseases Heart disease Skin becomes thinner and

wrinkled

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MARIJUANA Marijuana is the most common illegal drug around Comes from a plant called “cannabis” Some people call it pot, weed, grass, hash, smoke or ganja Cannabis has the chemical “tetrahydrocannabinol” or THC When you smoke a joint the THC goes into the lungs, then into the heart which pumps

into the bloodstream which takes it directly to brain Only takes few minutes for THC to get to brain when you smoke marijuana Eating takes longer to get to brain-passes through digestive system first In brain, activates “receptors” gives you the feeling of being high Marijuana changes physical and chemical balance in your brain

Long Term Effects: Breathing problems Lung cancer Damage cells and tissues in the body that

fight disease Lack of motivation Difficulty processing new information

Short Term Effects: Increase in heart rate, lead to anxiety and

paranoia Distorted concept of time and space Decrease in concentration skills, short-term

memory capacity Feeling tired after the “high” wears off Increase in appetite, weight gain

1. Decrease reaction time2. Difficulty listening and speaking3. Impaired or reduced short-term memory4. Impaired or reduced comprehension5. Impairments of learning & memory perception, problem solving and

judgment6. Altered sense of time7. Reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination such as driving8. Altered motivation and cognition making acquisition of new information difficult9. Paranoia10. Intense anxiety or panic attacks11. Psychological dependence and some experience physical withdrawal symptoms

Signs of Marijuana Poisoning

Recommendations

1. Help students cope with stress, time and work management

2. Target prevention messages to groups at higher risk 3. Academic week for prevention Alcohol & Substance

Abuse4. Involve students in prevention/education efforts5. Train faculty, staff and students to recognize signs and

symptoms of substance abuse