A drug is any chemical taken into the body that alters normal body processes.

There are many reasons to take a "drug" into your body, some of them good and some of them bad. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for insuring that "consumer" drugs are safe. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Website has lots of useful information. All "over-the-counter" medicines have a label providing critical information. Understanding how to use this drug label may save your life.

What is the most widely used drug in the world?   Think caffeine is harmless? See stoned spiders.

1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, better known as caffeine. C8H10N4O2

is an alkaloid found in coffee tea and chocolate.

The amount of caffeine varies from beverage to beverage:

• from 110 to 150 mg in 6 oz (180 ml) of coffee
• from 2 to 5 mg in an equal amount of decaffeinated coffee
• from 20 to 46 mg in 5 oz (150 ml) of tea
• from 30 to 60 mg in a 360-ml (12-oz) of soft drink

• Stimulation of the central nervous system and of gastric acid secretion
• Elevation of free fatty acids in plasma
• Increase of basal metabolic rate
• Decrease of total sleep time
• Increase blood glucose level

Caffeine produces a physical dependence in the body and total withdrawal from the drug causes one or more of the following symptoms within 12 to 36 hours:

headache (most common) fatigue drowsiness anxiety depression

Lab #1

End Of Instruction practice test question #40

Classes of Drugs: including the body's response to the drug.

1. Stimulants: (28 min)

   	Actions	Examples
   	Speeds nerve actions Increase heart rate Increase blood pressure	Cocaine - C17H21NO4 . HCl Amphetamines - Methamphetamine Nicotine - C10H14N2 Ritalin - Methylphenidate

2. Depressants:

   Actions	Examples
   Slows nerve actions Drowsiness Decreased coordination	Sedative-Hypnotics Barbiturates - (seconal and nembutal) Benzodiazepines - (diazepam, "valium") Tranquillizers - (methaqualone, "quaalude") Ethyl Alcohol - C2H5OH

   Using alcohol in combination with barbiturates is extremely dangerous. The combined effect of both drugs can slow the body functions to the point of death.

3. Narcotics:

   Actions	Examples
   Suppress nerve actions Decreased respiration Inability to concentrate.	All narcotics are derived from Opium, however meperidene (Demerol) is a synthetic. Heroin, C21H23NO5 and other Opiates

4. Hallucinogens: (29 min)

   Actions	Examples
   Disrupt nerve actions Perceptual distortions Altered senses	Hallucinognes       (D-lysergic acid diethylamide, "LSD") Marijuana       (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, "THC") - C21H30O2

5. Inhalants:

   Actions	Examples
   These substances are toxic Disorientation Memory loss	Inhalants MSDS for Gold Paint MSDS for Gasoline MSDS for Hair Spray MSDS for Lighter Fluid MSDS for Liquid Paper

Two other "groups" of drugs:

1. "Club" Drugs:

   The term Club Drugs refers to a wide variety of drugs being used by young people at dance clubs, bars, and dance parties. Different club drugs have different effects on your body. Some common effects include loss of muscle and motor control, blurred vision, and seizures. Club drugs like ecstasy are stimulants that increase your heart rate and blood pressure and can lead to heart or kidney failure. Other club drugs, like GHB, are depressants that can cause drowsiness, unconsciousness, or breathing problems.

   Club drugs like GHB and Rohypnol are used in date rape and other assaults because they are sedatives that can make you unconscious and immobilize you. Rohypnol can cause a kind of amnesia users may not remember what they said or did while under the effects of the drug, making it easier for others to take advantage of them.

   Because club drugs are often produced in makeshift laboratories, it is impossible to know exactly what chemicals were used to produce them. How strong or dangerous any illegal drug is varies each time. Club drugs can kill you. Higher doses of club drugs can cause severe breathing problems, coma, or even death.

2. Steroids: (29 min)

   Steroids, also known as anabolic ("building") steroids, include the male hormone testosterone, and its artificial derivatives. Steroids are used for treatment of certain diseases such as specific types of anemia and cancers. Non-medical use of steroids is strictly illegal. However, because of their performance-enhancing properties, steroids have been illegally used by both athletes and nonathletes since the late 1950s to improve their athletic ability and to look better.

   Numerous health hazards are associated with short-term use of steroids. Long-term effects are largely unknown, but there is growing concern over possible psychiatric effects. Researchers report that steroid use can cause severe mood swings which can lead to violent behaviors. Users also may suffer from paranoid jealously, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility. Fatalities due to suicides, homicides, liver disease, heart attacks, and cancer have been reported among illicit users. Further, because the true quality of "off the street" steroids is not known, users place themselves at even greater risk for harm if they choose to use these.

Test what you've learned about drugs.

Are you vulnerable to stress?

A lot of what you learn "on the streets" about drugs is not scientifically accurate. Street knowledge can be useful in some ways, but not when it comes to making informed decisions about drugs. On the other hand, a lot of misinformation is provided by well-meaning people wanting to encourage young people to not use drugs. The information provided on this page is scientifically accurate.

 
Test your knowledgeabout alcohol.  

Trace alcoholthrouogh the body.

Each of these contains the same amount of alcohol.

A 12 oz bottle of "6 point" beer, a 5 oz glass of wine, and 1.5 oz of 80 proof distilled spirits all contain about 1/2 oz, 12 grams, of ethyl alcohol - C2H5OH.

What is moderate drinking?     How much alcohol is too much?

Alcohol's Effects On The Body Depend On: Body Size Gender Food Medication Sleep or Illness Warning Signs of a Drinking Problem.

According to the National Safety Council: someone dies in an alcohol-related crash every 33 minutes. Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill some 15,000 people a year. Alcohol is a factor in well over 1/3 of all traffic crashes.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning The Person May: be unconscious and cannot be awakened have cold, clammy, unusually pale or bluish skin be breathing slowly or irregularly: less than eight times a minute or ten seconds or more between any two breaths vomit, while passed out and does not wake up during or after How Can You Help? If you suspect alcohol poisoning, call 911 Do not leave the person alone Keep trying to wake them Turn him or her on their side Watch their breathing: If you know CPR, perform as needed

Drug abuse: the excessive use of any drug.

Drug addiction:

Psychological addiction - an emotional dependence.
Physical addiction - a dependence caused by changes in body chemistry.

Withdrawal: the physical or mental reaction to lack of the drug.

Pathology of Drug Abuse: pictures of internal damage done by drugs.

 
Controlled Substances:

Federal drug trafficking penalties.

Public Law 91-513, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, referred to as the Federal Controlled Substances Act, establishes groups of controlled substances for enforcement.

Five schedules of controlled substances have been defined as follows (the composition of these schedules may change by amendment to the Controlled Substance Act):

• Schedule I Substances: Drugs in this schedule are those having a high potential for abuse, having no currently accepted medical use in the United States, or a lack of accepted safety.

  Some examples are: heroin, marijuana, LSD, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, tetrahydrocannabinols, morphine methylsulfonate, and nicocodein.

• Schedule II Substances: The drugs in this schedule have a high potential for abuse, a currently accepted medical use in the United States, and their use may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Most of Schedule II Substances have been known in the past as Class A Narcotic Drugs.

  Some examples are: opium, morphine, codeine, dihydromorphinone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine), pentopon, meperidine (Demerol), cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan). Also included in this Schedule is any compound which contains in any form the substance of methamphetamines as an injectable liquid.

• Schedule III Substances: The drugs in this schedule have an abuse potential less than those listed in Schedules I and II, and include those drugs formerly known as Class B Narcotics, and non-narcotic drugs.

  Some examples are: glutethimide (Doriden), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methyprylon (Noludar), methylphenidate (Ritalin), nalorphine, and barbiturates (except phenobarbital, methylphenobarbital, and barbital). Paregoric is now listed in this schedule, as well as amphetamines and methamphetamines (except an injectable liquid).

• Schedule IV Substances: The drugs in this schedule have an abuse potential less than those listed in Schedule III.

  Some examples are: barbital, phenobarbital, methylphenobarbital, chloral hydrate, ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), ethinamate (Valmid), meprobamate (Equanil, Miltown).

• Schedule V Substances: The drugs in this schedule have an abuse potential less than those listed in Schedule IV, and consist of those preparations formerly known as Exempt Narcotics, with the exception of paregoric (Camphorated Tincture of Opium). Paregoric is now listed as a Schedule III Controlled Substance.

Drug Descriptions from the DEA.

Drug Photos from the DEA.

Oklahoma Drug Facts from the DEA.

Concept Understanding: What does caffeine do to your blood pressure? Is there a danger of getting cancer from inhaling lighter fluid? Nicotine promotes the release of a natural hormone in your body that inhibits pain. What is the name of this hormone? Do an Internet search for "nicotine lollipops". Write a paragraph detailing what you learned. At what rate does the body metabolize alcohol? What does alcohol do to the nervous system that causes the "morning after" hangover and shakiness? THC is the "active" ingredient in marijuana. What does THC stand for? What is the maximum federal fine for an individual's first offense for trafficking less than 100 kilograms of marijuana? Marijuana is considered a schedule I controlled substance while Class A narcotics like opium are only class II controlled substances. Why is this?

Research Links:

• TeensHealth - The Nemours Foundation
• Drug Information - Indiana Prevention Resource Center
• Drug Fact Sheets - Missouri Dept of Mental Health
• Drug Facts - Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Alcohol & Drug Facts - National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
• Drug Information - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
• Drug Abuse Information - National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Stop Drugs - California Department of Justice
• Street Drugs - www.streetdrugs.org
• Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse - Addictions & Life Organization
• RxList - The Internet Drug Index
• Get It Straight - A youth publication from the DEA
• Alcohol Information - Institute of Alcohol Studies
• Addiction and Abuse - The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
• Description and Natural History of Hemp - Cyberbotanica
• Marijuana Legislation - The Marijuana Policy Project
• Drug Law Enforcement - U.S. Dept of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Drug Control - Office of National Drug Control Policy
• Drug Control - National Drug Strategy Network
• Behavior Treatment with Drugs - Psychopharmaceuticals
• Tobacco and Smoking Issues - Tobacco BBS

Nicotine is a stimulant, increasing heart and breathing rate.
It is not relaxing, it has the opposite effect on the body. The reason a smoker feels relaxed is because of the body's physical addiction to the drug.

Considering size and muscle mass, females are generally affected faster by alcohol than males.