Alcohol: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Common Forms
Liquid
How It's Used
Taken orally in the form of a liquid
Classification
Depressant
How It Works
Babies are born with this when their mother drinks while they are pregnant with the baby
Effects
Brain damage
Facial features
Poor boundaries
Attention deficits
Abnormally smaller brain size
Learning deficits
Concerns
Women being uneducated about FAS
Women not knowing about the pregnancy and drinking alcohol
Women knowing about the pregnancy and still drinking alcohol
Women being educated on FAS and still chooses to drink alcohol while pregnant
Cannabis
Common Forms
Cannabis Sativa
Cannabis Indica Plant
How It's Used
Hand rolled cigarettes
Pipes or water pipes (bongs)
Marijuana mixed in food (edibles)
THC-rich resins
How It Works
THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and the blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body.
Effects
Altered sense
Altered sense of time
Changes in mood
Impaired body movement
Difficulty with thinking/problem solving
Impaired memory
Hallucinations (when taken in high doses
Delusions (when taken in high doses)
Psychosis (when taken in high doses)
Concerns
Second hand smoke
Lower self satisfaction
Poorer mental health
Poorer physical health
More relationship problems
Routes of Administration
Oral
Regulation
In US: must be 21+ years old to purchase and use
Caffeine
How It's Used
OTC medication is used in place of coffee.
Vivarin (caffeine pill)
Zantrex-3 (weight loss supplements)
Excedrin (migraine relief)
Common Forms
Coffee
Tea
Energy Drinks
Soda
Chocolate
Effects
Increases blood pressure and heart rate
Acts as a diuretic
Mobilizes intercellular calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum
Classification
Stimulant
Concerns
Regulation
No FDA requirement for food and beverages to have the amount of caffeine on the product's label
Energy drinks have "upper limit" for which they cannot exceed for caffeine (400mg)
Warning labels are optional
How It Works
Adenosine acts as a central nervous system depressant
Every hour we are awake adenosine rises in our brain and we feel tired
Caffeine blocks adenosine from making us sleepy
Meth
How It's Used
Injecting with a needle
Smoking
Snorting
Taken as a pill
Ingested
Routes of Administration
Nasal
Parenteral
How It Works
Circulates the brain
Always ends up in the bloodstream
Regulation
Illegal in the U.S. since 1970
OR: Unlawful manufacture of methamohetamine
OR: Unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine within 1,000 ft of school
OR: Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine
OR: Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 ft of school
OR: Unlawful possession of methamphetamine
Concerns
Increased wakefulness and physical activity, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing
Decreased appetite
Anxiety
Confusion
Insomnia
Hallucinations
Violent behavior
Weight loss
paranoia and delusions
Premature delivery, heart and brain problems, low birth weight and separation of placenta from the uterus
Severe dental problems, organ failure, death due to stroke
Property damage from fires, explosions, decontamination costs, and loss of rent.
Increased costs for medical services and emergency room use for meth users and producers
Classification
Stimulant
Effects
Affects the brain structures that contain dopamine the most
Tricks neurons in the brain to thinking it is dopamine
Consistent use of meth results in difficulty in feeling pleasure for things
Common Forms
Crystal
Benzedrine
Depressant and Inhalant Use
How It's Used
Inhaling or ingesting volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites
Routes of Administration
How It Works
interferes with neurotransmitters
Regulation
Not regulated by Controlled Substances Act
38 U.S. states have restrictions on the sale and distribution to minors of commonly used inhalants
Concerns
Reduces ability to experience pleasure
Problems with memory
Heightens learning potential
Unhealthy habits common to brain circuitry
Inhibits perceptual abilities
Effects
Disinhibition
Dizziness
Talkativeness
Slurred speech
Disrupted sleep
Nausea
Vomiting
Slowing down psychomotor skills
Sedating
Muscle relaxation
decreased anxiety
Common Forms
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Opiates
Tabacco
Effects
Classification
Concerns
Increasing amount of youth smoking e-cigarettes or vaping
Regulation
1971: Cigarette Ads banned from TV and radio
1997: Federal workplaces now smoke-free
1998: Master Settlement Agreement
2018: FDA requires health warning statements on tobacco products/advertisements
How It Works
Routes of Administration
How It's Used
Common Forms
Cigarettes/cigars
Pipe
Smokeless
Hookah
E-cigarettes/Vape pens
Opiods
Effects
Classification
Concerns
Regulations
How It Works
Routes of Administration
How It's Used
Common Forms
Psychedelics
Effects
Changes sleep patterns
Changes in digestion
Changes in cognitive abilities
Changes in heart rate
Classification
Concerns
Possibility of toxicity and overdose
May result In physical harm because of changed perception/judgement
Serious mental health issues
Regulations
How It Works
Subtopic
Routes of Administration
How It's Used
Common Forms
Acid
DMT
Mescaline
Mushrooms
MDMA
PCP
Ketamine