Alchohol

Depressant

alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.
most of the absorption is done within
the stomach and small intestine. Once in
the bloodstream, alcohol can cross the blood-brain
barrier, and have effect on the brain.

Whole Body

Brain

Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways. Can cause Blackout, dizziness, shakiness, craving, or sweating, slurred speech, coordination problems

Heart

Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmias, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Liver

Steatosis, or fatty liver, Alcoholic hepatitis, Fibrosis, and Cirrhosis

Behavior/ Psychological

Aggression, agitation, anxiety, compulsive behavior, discontent, euphoria, guilt, loneliness, or self destructive behavior,

Gastrointestinal

Nausea or Vomiting

Short term

Weaken immune system to fight off infections, illnesses, and diseases.

Long term

Can cause the pancreas to synthesize toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion.

Strong correlation between alcohol drinking and several types of cancer.

-Head and neck cancer
-Esophageal cancer
-Liver Cancer
-Breast Cancer
-Colorectal Cancer

Potential harm, injury, or death.

Three types of alcohol.
-Isopropyl
-Methyl
-Ethyl
Ethyl is the only form
that can be consumed by humans.

Most common form is through alcoholic beverages
Examples: Beer, Wine, vodka, Etc .

By oral consumption of alcoholic beverages

Consumption

Regulation age in the USA of alcohol consumption and purchase is 21
Underage consumption is allowed for religious and medical purposes.

Drinking while driving is prohibited
It is illegal to drive with a
Blood Alcohol concentration (BAC)
of 0.08% or Higher.

a depressant and hallucinogen

THC the main chemical in marijuana. THC binds to receptors in the brain "Receptors known as cannabinoid receptors (CBr) or THC receptors.

Psychological effects

-Increased heart rate--dose dependent effect (different time course of effects depending on how you take drug)
-Red eyes
-Dry mouth
-Bronchiodialation
-Heavy marijuana smoking could lead to pulmonary dysfunction

Behavioral Effects

-Euphoria
-Relaxation "mellowness"
-Hunger-munchies
-Stimulation
-Mild paranoia
-Hallucinations (high doses)
-Decreased verbal exchange
-Cognitive impairment

Affects memory, judgement, decision making and perception; timing, movements & coordination

Can also lead to Cancer, lungs & airways, immune system issues.

Leaf form rolled up to smoke, or grinder down to use in a bong, and baked into edibles.

Slang terms of forms: Joint, blunt, edibles, dope.

smoking it as a cigarette, in a pipe or a bong, or eating it in baked goods.

Smoked or consumed.

23 states have laws legalizing marijuana in some form.

Legal for recreation use in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. Must be 21 years of age to use.

Stimulant

caffeine is a signal molecule and must bind to a receptor protein associated with the cell.
Caffeine acts in different ways in different tissues because it interacts with different receptors.

physiological effects

relaxes smooth muscle, especially bronchi
dilates blood vessels in body
constricts blood flow in brain
increase HR and BP
increase gastric acid secretion and GI motility
diuresis
increase metabolism

Psychological effects

aggravation of anxiety disorders
side effects: nervousness, irritability, insomnia, fatigue
caffeine intoxication

Physiological concerns

increase incidence of heart attacks, increase risk of coronary artery disease, ulcers, fluctuations in women's hormone levels affects pregnancy

In specific foods and beverages.
Common forms are coffee, tea, chocolate. But also can be found in pill form.

Caffeine is used as a quick source of energy. Many people use caffeine to a sense of feeling awake and more alert, but also used as a form of migraine medication.

Consumption

Age regulation in certain states of purchasing energy drinks

Nicotine is the main chemical in tobacco;
Nicotine is classified as a stimulant.

Nicotine stimulates neurotransmitters in brain, leading to more brain activity.

Lung cancer, heart disease (heart attacks), strokes (caused by blood clots), mouth and throat cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, stomach cancer
Lung damage from tar build up. damage air sacks. Leads to shortness of breath, lung infections. Leads to emphysema.

Lung, lip, mouth, and throat cancer. Can lead to stroke and heart attacks.
pregnancy issues, such as stillbirth, premature births, children functioning issues.

Smoked tobacco: Cigarettes and cigars.
Smokeless tobacco: Chewing tobacco.
Vaporized tobacco.

Smoked, sniffed or chewed, giving a sense or relaxation from the nicotine.

Smoked tobacco, or smokeless tobacco is placed on the inside of the lip.

12 states have raised the legal age to 21 to purchase tobacco.
The other 38 states have 18 years old as the legal age of purchase.

Stimulant

Meth produces an excessive release of dopamine.
Causes euphoric feeling, followed by a crash, and a need for greater drug use. Damages nerve terminals in the regions of the brain that contain dopamine and serotonin.

Short term

Can make user feel a sense of euphoria, when the drug wears off there is a crass, leads to more use, weight loss, nausea, increased irritability, hallucinations, anxiety, and paranoia.

Long term

Increased heart rate and blood pressure, damaged blood vessels, leads to heart attacks and strokes, liver/kidney/ lung damage, and memory loss due to brain damage.

Meth causes mass physical change. It changes ones physical appearance, Due to skin rashes, meth mouth, loss of hair. It effects internal organs causing stroke, heart attack, and death.

Powdered meth, crystalized meth, tablets, liquid meth.

Is used to give a sense of a eutrophic high, it is used by smoking, snorting, or by injection. Most common is smoked.

Meth is smoked, injected,
snorted, or taken in pill form.

The street drug meth was made illegal in 1970 in the USA.
But there are controlled prescription sales of pharmaceutical drugs that contain ephedrine and pseudoephedrine.

Depressant

In the brain it cause the GABA Neurotransmitter to be released. The transmitter acts as a release to calm nerves.

seizures, delusion, withdrawal symptoms, drowsiness, vertigo, weakness, dizziness, ataxia, fatigue, constipation, Cardiovascular collapse.

Dependence of the drug, Depression, suicidal tendencies. Long term memory loss, and emotional changes.

Prescription drug in pill form.

Therapeutic Use

relief of anxiety, relief of panic attacks/panic disorder, relief of anxiety associated with depression

Oral consumption of pill

Available by prescription only in the USA.

Opioid

Heroin enters the brain rapidly, and binds to opioid receptors in areas that are focused on feeling pain and pleasure. This controls the users heart rate, sleeping, and breathing.

Short Term

Dry mouth, warm flushed skin, heaving felling of arms and legs, nausea, severe itching of skin, clouded mental consciousness, Going back and fourth between the state of consciousness, and semiconscious.

Long Term

Collapsed veins from injection, damaged tissue in the nose from snorting, infection of heart lining and valves, liver and kidney disease, and mental disorders

symptoms

Restlessness, severe muscle and bone pain, sleep problem, cold flashes, severe heroine craving, uncontrollable leg movement, and diarrhea and vomiting.

Potentiality of contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other bacterial infections of the skin, heart, and bloodstream. Liver and kidney damage, addiction overdose, and death.

White powder heroin, brown powder, and black tar

Users use heroin in multiple ways such as by injection, snorting, sniffing or by smoking, some may mix heroin with other drugs such as cocaine. This practice is known as speedballing.

Injected, smoked, snorted

Illegal under the 1970 Controlled substances act.

Hallucinogen

Psychedelics are made up from certain plants and chemicals, these plants and chemical compounds disrupt communication between chemical systems and the brain.

Effects brain functionality by prematurely flooding the brain with serotonin. The serotonin neurotransmitter is responsible for mood regulation, sensory perception, sleep cycles, hunger, body temp, sex drive and muscle control.

Short Term

Hallucinations, dry mouth, anxiety, paranoia, intense feelings and sensory feedback, fluctuation in heart rate, and distorted sense of time.

Long Term

Speech problem, memory loss, visual disturbances, mental problem, flashback, bladder ulcers, kidney problems, and other mental problems.

Abuse of Hallucinogenics can leave the body to be unable to produce the right amount of serotonin.

LSD, Ketamine, Bath salts, Ect.

Psychedelics are hallucinogenic drugs, the primary function of hallucinogenic drugs are to alter moor, perception, and to alter the state of consciousness.

Injection, oral, inhalation, sublingual (chewing), and Transcutaneous (contact with skin).

Many Psychedelic drugs have been deemed illegal under the UN Convention on Psychotropic substances in 1971.