JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS


WHAT ARE DRUGS?
If you were to ask yourself, "what exactly are drugs and which ones are harmful?" it is possible you would say, Marijuana, Heroin and Ecstasy, and that these drugs could kill you. This is a narrow perception of what drugs there are and the effect they have on our society. Any substance which changes the way your body and mind works can be classified as a drug.

There are many other types of drugs which are commonly used and which you may have used yourself at one time or another. Many drugs such as nicotine, caffeine, pain killers and alcohol,
can cause serious damage to your health. We often don't classify these substances in the same way as other drugs, they are often called habits because they are legal and because they have been accepted in our society. In reality they are all drugs.

WHY DO KIDS EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS?
CURIOSITY
EMOTIONAL FACTORS
PHYSICAL REASONS
Young people are curious about most things.
Attempting to increase self esteem.
Attempting to feel relaxed.
Wanting to try something different.
Trying to escape from an upset.
Blocking pain - increasing energy.
Looking for new challenges.
Avoiding making decisions.
Getting a buzz or new sensation.
Reducing anxiety.
Reducing sensations.
PEER PRESSURE
INTELLECTUAL REASONS
REBELLION
Trying to fit in as one of the crowd.
Reducing boredom.
Wanting to assert adulthood.
Overcoming shyness.
Attempting to understand self better.
Asserting identity.
Escaping loneliness.
Satisfying curiosity.
Enjoyment/fun.
Aiding communication.
Trying to see the world in a new way.
Doesn't want to listen to advice.

EFFECTS OF SOME ILLEGAL DRUGS

HEROIN
Heroin 'smack', 'skag', 'hammer', 'h'' or 'horse' is usually manufactured from morphine or codeine by a chemical process and can be a much stronger drug. Heroin found on the street is usually in powder form.
Depending on purity and how it was refined the Heroin can be many different colours. white powder is generally more refined than brown or pink `rocks' which appear like a lumpy powder.
Immediate Effects
Heroin is a depressant drug, and causes the central nervous system to slow down.
Some of Heroin's immediate effects include: sleepiness, shallow breathing, itching, vomiting or a feeling of nausea, the pupils of the eyes dilate (become smaller).
With large doses of Heroin, the pupils of the eye narrow to pinpoints, the skin feels cold to the touch, central nervous system function and breathing will slow down to a very dangerous level, the person can easily fall into a coma and die.

The heroin that is found on the street is more than likely mixed with other substances to reduce the strength of the Heroin. Many users suffer an accidental overdose or die because there is no way of knowing the strength or purity of the street Heroin.
The major problem with heroin use is the way it is used. Heroin is usually injected and the sharing of injecting equipment such as needles and syringes, tourniquets,filters and spoons, greatly increases the chance of contracting infections such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV (AIDS) and blood poisoning.
Effects of long term use.
People who regularly use Heroin over a long period of time may experience serious health problems such as . . .
Hepatitis B and C, abscesses, tetanus, damaged or collapsed veins, chest, bronchial and heart problems, severe loss of appetite,constipation, malnutrition, pneumonia. In woman constant use can lead to infertility and irregular menstruation, in men it can lead to impotence.

MARIJUANA
The drug marijuana is the dried flower clusters, stems and leaves of the Indian hemp plant (cannabis sativa).
It is otherwise known as "weed", "Maryjane", "ganja", "pot", "tea" as well as a number of other slang names.

Small Doses - Immediate effects
The reaction from the use of marijuana differs with each user, as some may become secluded, happy, silly, sad or talkative. Marijuana does relax the body and mind, however it slows the user's reaction time, which is why people under the influence of the drug take a huge risk at driving. Marijuana lowers sex hormone and fertility levels in both male and female, and also increases the heart rate by as much as 50%. Another effect of the drug is that colours seem brighter than usual and music becomes more intense. Users of the drug tend to experience mood swings quite frequently, panic, periods of depression, hallucination and fear of death can and do occur

Large doses - Immediate effects
Large doses of cannabis can produce:
Anxiety or panic, a feeling of detachment from reality, hallucinations and confusion, restlessness, a feeling of excitement.
Cannabis impairs short term memory, your ability to think logically, motor skills(movement), and your ability to perform complex tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
Regular use of marijuana may play a role in causing cancer (particularly lung cancer) and problems with the immune or reproductive systems. Studies also show that someone who smokes five joints a day may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

Long Term Use of Marijuana
In the long run, marijuana users become psychologically dependent on the drug as it represents a way to avoid facing the problems and stresses of life. It also damages the brain, reproductive system, heart and lungs. The smoke from the drug irritates the lung tissue much more than the smoke of well-filtered cigarettes. It is able to do this much damage to the lungs as it contains more tar and benzopyrene (a cancer-causing agent), than tobacco cigarettes.

Though most of the immediate and long-term effects of marijuana have been stated, scientists are still doing studies on the drug in order to detect any other harmful effects that it might possibly contain. Though marijuana is an extremely addictive narcotic, there are many victims who have recovered from the addictive use of the drug and have since remained abstinent.

Respiratory Effects of Marijuana
When a person smokes marijuana tiny particles and gases are formed. Many of the substances found in Marijuana smoke are cancer-causing substances such as benzopyrene and benzanthracene, the concentrations of these substances is nearly double to that found in tobacco smoke.
Smoking one cigarette of marijuana leaves 4 times as much cancer-causing tar deposits in airways as one tobacco cigarette. Marijuana users have an increased risk of developing acute and chronic bronchitis, injury to the airways, asthma and sinus problems. Marijuana is also a suspected cause of the lung disease emphysema.
While users of marijuana usually smoke much less often than tobacco users, Marijuana 'joints' are not filtered and the smoke is held in longer and drawn into the lungs more deeply, this often causes chronic irritation to the lungs and airways.

Mental Illness
Mental effects caused by marijuana can include anxiety leading to panic, flashbacks, depression, paranoia, feelings of aggression, delusions, confusion, delirium, hallucinations induced by toxic psychosis, psychotic disorder (insanity), insecurity and depersonalisation.
Recent research has indicated a strong link between the heavy use of marijuana and depression. The effects of habitual use was higher in young women. Daily users of Marijuana ran seven times the risk of suffering anxiety and depression.
In the more severe psychiatric cases, users may have to be admitted to a hospital emergency room.
The 1997 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) study of 200 long-term marijuana users in Australia found 40% had been prescribed medication for a psychological problem, had consulted mental health professionals or had been admitted to a psychiatric hospitals.


Signs of Marijuana Use
Users of Marijuana will often display some of these `danger signals', recognising these may help you identify a drug problem in a family member or friend.

* Drug paraphernalia such as bongs and pipes, cigarette papers, seeds, plastic bags and small tins.
* A strong smoky pungent smell on the persons clothing.
* Wearing sunglasses at inappropriate times, use of eye-drops, bloodshot eyes.
* Loss of interest in activities such school, sport.
* A noticeable change for the worse in the persons behaviour and general attitude, achievements at school or work.
* Bursts of anger and hostility, sudden mood swings.
* Rebellious behaviour
* Withdrawal from friends, isolation, secretive behaviour.
* Unexplained disappearance of valuables or money from the home.
* Short-term memory loss, short attention span, difficulty concentrating.




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