Risky Driving: Effects of Drugs

You can find drugs everywhere, likely including in your own community. Drugs are chemicals or substances that change the way your body works. When you put them into your body (often by swallowing, inhalation, or injection), drugs find their way to your bloodstream and are transported to various parts of your body. Drugs that reach your brain may intensify or dull senses, alter your sense of alertness, and sometimes decrease physical pain.

Some people need drugs to deal with illness or pain, but the drugs you will learn about in this topic include substances that are abused by users. Perhaps people you know are using various kinds of drugs, or are tempted to try them. You may even think that they sound exciting or could be a way to escape from challenges in your life. Learning facts about drugs, however, will help you understand the critical health risks associated with them.

Medical drugs can be helpful or harmful, depending on the kind taken, how much is taken, how often it is used, how quickly it gets to the brain, and what other drugs, foods, or substances are taken at the same time. The effects of drugs can vary based on differences in body size, shape, and chemistry. In some cases, people take too many drugs at once, either purposefully or accidentally, and overdose. A drug overdose causes a heightened level of the drug's effects in the body, including symptoms like problems with body temperature, pulse rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Someone may become very tired or fall into a coma. Confusion, chest pain, extreme skin temperature, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also occur as a result of an overdose. Furthermore, an overdose can cause severe illness, damage to organs, or death.

Common Drugs

Weed, blow, molly, crystal. Have you heard these terms? They are street names for commonly used drugs. Now that you know the categories of drugs and the consequences of using them, it is time to look into the effects and risks of commonly used drugs.

Open this chart and study the common drugs. Pay attention to their street names, drug categories, uses, effects, dangers, and addictive qualities. Many of the drugs described can easily hook a first-time user. How many of the drugs do you already know? Have you encountered them? Use the chart to answer the questions in this non-graded interactivity. You may print out the chart if needed. Click the player button to begin.

Drug Addiction and Other Consequences

Many consequences exist when using drugs. Each of them can result from the emotional disturbances caused by drug abuse.

Getting Help

When you strive to accomplish goals, clearly set them and make a plan. For example, if you feel committed to staying drug free, make calculated and intentional decisions to avoid drugs before they are offered. People often use drugs because they see others using them, are pressured by friends or family members, want to fit in, are seeking a thrill, or even see drugs as glamorous because of their portrayal on television, movies, and in song lyrics. Moreover, the refusal skills you learned earlier in this module are the same skills you can use to refuse drugs.

If you did not plan to resist drugs, have stumbled upon recreational use, or have developed a dependency, there are many self-help techniques, support groups, and treatment clinics to help you out of trouble. The first thing you can do is talk to a trusted adult about the details of your drug use and abuse -- your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor.

Resources

Treatment Clinics Treatment clinics are facilities that help people overcome and recover from addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. There are treatment clinics across the country, and the SAMHSA: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration can help a person find a treatment facility. Visit SAMHSA and see what facilities are available in your area. Support Groups Support groups bring people with similar problems together for discussions and to offer support to one another. There are numerous support groups available for people with drug and alcohol addictions. Self-Help Books and other literature available at bookstores, libraries, and local health departments give guidance to people who want to overcome addiction.

Whatever method you choose to stay or become drug free, remember, you do not have to do it alone. Your friends, family, and others out there who are concerned with your well-being can give you the support you need to refuse drugs. The cost of substance abuse goes much further than the monetary costs related to medical and legal ramifications. The higher cost is paid by the person abusing substances and his or her family and friends in the form of mental, emotional, and physical stress.

Steroids and Athletic Performance

Drugs meant to help a person’s body can have negative effects on the body as well. Some people who want to perform better in sports, fitness, weight training, and exercise take steroids. Some steroids are found naturally in your body to support functions such as fighting stress and promoting growth and development.

Anabolic steroids are artificially produced hormones that have testosterone-like effects. Anabolic steroids stimulate muscle tissue to grow and mimic the effect of naturally produced testosterone on the body. Steroids have become popular because they improve endurance, strength, and muscle mass. However, research shows that steroids do not necessarily improve skill, agility, or athletic performance.

Anabolic steroids can cause a variety of problems and have long-lasting side effects. When you think about people who take steroids, you may first think of male athletes. Some girls also take steroids to increase their athletic performance.

Hover over the text below to see the general side effects of anabolic steroids, as well as side effects specific to females and males.

 

Effects of Drugs Review

Now that you have studied the effects of drugs, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Click the player button to get started.