Drug Abuse: An Overview

 

Drug abuse incorporates the use and misuse of both illicit and legal drugs.  Drug abuse is the blanket term for the intentional use of a drug for purposes either recreational or in doses not mandated by appropriate medical use of the drug. 

 

A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk Drug Abuse Consequences:

 

The consequences of drug abuse affect virtually all college campuses, college communities, and college students, whether they choose to abuse drugs or not.

 

·         Death:

             Drug abuse results in deaths of thousands of people between the ages of 18-24 each year. 

·         Injury:

             According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) which is a  federally mandated program to monitor emergency room visits related to drug abuse, over one million emergency room visits due to drug abuse were reported for 2002.  This number is only for non-mortality episodes. 

·         Sexual Abuse:

             Abuse of many drugs increases chances of sexual assault and sexual behavior that would not occur without drug use.  Date rape drugs such as Rohypnol are only one of many drugs that can interfere with the ability to make smart decisions about sexual activity.

·         Unsafe Sex:

             Drug use interferes with the ability to make informed decisions about sexual activity and decreases the likelihood of using protection during sexual activity. 

·         Driving under the influence:

             Alcohol is not the only substance that can lead to impaired ability to operate a vehicle.  Police are trained to look for signs of other types of drug abuse that may impair the driver, and the penalties are equal or worse depending on the substances legality.

·         Drug Abuse and Dependence:

             Drug abuse of any type can lead to drug dependence in certain individuals.  Drug abuse leading to dependence both psychological and physical has far-reaching negative impact on a person's life and the lives of those close to them.

What constitutes drug abuse?

Drug abuse is said to occur whenever the use of the drug causes a problem or problems for the individual user.  These can be as mild as sleeping through classes due to overindulgence the night before, or as severe as an overdose resulting in death.

 

Critical signs of drug abuse:

·         Tolerance, which is the reduction of the effects of a drug due to repeated use.

·         Physical dependence, where physical symptoms known as withdrawal take place which cause pain and other discomfort for the user when the drug is not in their system.

·         Psychological dependence indicated by craving for the drug, ever increasing need to use the drug, and difficulty in stopping use of the drug.

What should I do if I suspect a drug overdose?

• Call 911!  Until help arrives keep the person calm if possible, keep their airway clear if they are unconscious, and cooperate with the authorities by telling them what was drug was used if you know, so an appropriate treatment can be administered as quickly as possible.

What can happen to someone who has overdosed and goes untreated?

• Worst case scenario? Death.  Coma, convulsions or seizures, fever, severe dehydration, possible brain damage, changes in behavior such as paranoia, agitation, aggression.  None of these are good—get them help!

 

Psychological and Physiological signs of drug abuse:

Categories/ Classification	Substances	Physiological and Psychological Effects
Stimulants	Amphetamines, caffeine, tobacco, cocaine methamphetamines, anabolic steroids, amyl nitrate (poppers), ecstasy,	Speeds up brain activity in central nervous system Intense focus
Depressants	Tranquilizers (i.e. valium, Librium), Methaqualone (i.e. quads, ludes), Barbiturates (i.e. downers, goof balls), inhalants (i.e. glue, aerosols, solvents, gases)	Calms down or relaxes brain activity in central nervous system
Narcotics/ Analgesics	Heroin, Morphine, Codeine and Opium	Lowers pain perception  emotionally and physically
Hallucinogens	LSD, Mescaline (i.e. MDA, designer drugs) Phencyclidine (i.e. PCP, angel dust), magic mushrooms	Distorts reality and causes visual and auditory hallucinations
Cannabis	Marijuana (i.e. pot, grass, weed), Hashish (i.e. hash)	Alters users appetite,  perception and mood, mild hallucinogen

 

Psychological signs of drug abuse by drug:

 

Alcohol:  Depression, lowers inhibitions.

 

Anabolic Steroids:  Aggression, “roid rage”, depression.

 

Marijuana or Cannabis:  Confusion, anxiety, sensory distortion (loss of reality (i.e. outside of oneself), perception distortion (i.e. loss of time and space), antisocial behavior, and a gateway drug (conduit) to taking stronger drugs Mood alterations include giggling and/or extreme euphoria. Disorganized thought processes and attention deficit leading to memory loss, fear and paranoia.

 

Amphetamines: Psychological effects include addiction, anxiety, paranoia/psychosis, and depression.

 

Caffeine:  Nervousness and anxiety, inability to sleep.  Commonly used to help college students stay awake but at high doses actually interferes with the ability to concentrate and study.

 

Cocaine:  Highly addictive, extreme psychological dependence, hallucinations, addiction, paranoia, anxiety, intense depression, aggression, violent behavior, restlessness, and inability to sleep or eat. 

 

Crack Cocaine:  Loss of interest in others, severe mood disturbances, aggressive and paranoid behavior, depression, psychosis, and need for money that can result in criminal behavior.

 

Heroin, and other opiates:  High rate of psychological addiction, restlessness, insomnia, depression, apathy, loss of judgment and inhibitions, and tolerance to the drug requiring ever-higher dosages to obtain the same “high.”

 

Rohypnol (the date rape drug “roofies”):  Complete/partial amnesia, aggression, loss of memory, lack of inhibition, and prolonged blackouts.  Often used by sexual predators to render victims unconscious and unable to remember what happened.

 

Inhalants:  Reduced ability to think, tiredness, lack of coordination, violent behavior, mood swings, irrationality, confusion, and dependence.  Called huffing; it is inhaling aerosol products (generally any household product).  It depletes several different brain receptors in the neurotransmitter system depending on the substance used.  It must be noted that an individual can possibly die following one bout of inhalation.

 

GHB:  Relaxed, uninhibited feelings, euphoria, insomnia, memory loss, intoxication.

 

Tranquilizers (i.e. valium, benzodiazepines):  Relieves tension/anxiety, create a feeling of calm, easy to become psychologically dependent, some of the most widely abused prescription drugs.

 

Ketamine (veterinary anesthetic, Special K/used at raves):  Out-of-body experiences, visual “flashbacks”, paranoid/delusional thinking, aggressive behavior, and amnesia.  Sometimes causes paralysis.

 

Ecstasy (MDMA):  Panic, confusion, psychosis, inability to cope emotionally with the overstimulation brought on by the drug.

 

Club Drugs:  Initial psychological effects of club drugs generally create feelings of euphoria; however, these feelings can lead to memory loss and behavioral problems resulting in impaired judgment, including violent acts such as crime and sexual assault.

• LSD:  Intense visual and auditory hallucinations which can be frightening, flashbacks that can occur even years after the drug use.

·         Methamphetamine:   Addiction, anxiety, paranoia/psychosis, depression, hallucinations, the sensation of insects creeping on or under the skin

• Ecstasy:  Depression, anxiety.  Ongoing use damages serotonin level in the brain, which regulate mood, appetite, pain, learning and memory.  Serotonin levels take a long time to rebuild after supplies in the brain are depleted due to drug use.  Death or brain damage from overheating is not uncommon.

 

Prescription drugs:  Psychological effects vary widely depending on what was taken; how much was taken, and if the drug was taken alone or mixed with another prescription or non-prescription drug.  Use by teens and young adults has increased simply because they are easily available.  This type of usage is particularly dangerous as it could result in an allergic reaction causing possible anaphylactic shock resulting in death, overdose when amounts are misjudged, or unanticipated drug and/or alcohol interactions.

 

Legal ramifications of drug abuse:

Drug penalties are given according to the substance and the amount possessed by the individual. Controlled substances are assigned classifications according to their potential for harm and their medical or recreational usage.  The following penalties are for the state of Arkansas.  

 

Controlled Substance Schedules:

Schedule I:

                   - High potential for abuse

                   - Not for medical use and used for recreational purposes only

                     Examples: Heroin, marijuana, MDMA (Ecstasy)

Schedule II:

                   - High potential for abuse

                   - Currently accepted medical use

                   - Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence

                     Examples: Morphine, cocaine, methamphetamine

 

Legal ramifications of being caught with controlled substances classified in Schedule I or II, with possession of less than 28 grams can lead to imprisonment no less than 10 years, but not more than 40 years, and can be fined an amount not exceeding $25,000.00. These are class Y felony charges.

 

Schedule III:

                   - Potential for abuse is less than schedules I and II

                   - Currently accepted medical use

                   - Abuse may lead to moderate physical dependence and high                               psychological dependence

                     Examples: Steroids, barbiturates, dronabinol (THC)

 

Legal ramifications of being caught with controlled substances classified in Schedule I, II or III, with possession of less than 28 grams can lead to imprisonment no less than five years, but not more than 20 years, and can be fined an amount not exceeding $15,000.00.  These are class B felony charges.

 

Schedule IV:

                   - Low potential for abuse relative to schedule III drugs

                   - Currently accepted medical use

                   - Abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence                         relative to III

                     Examples: Benzodiazepines, (Xanax, Valium), Phenobarbital,                              Chloral Hydrate, Fenfluramine

 

Schedule V:

                   - Low potential for abuse relative to schedule IV

                   - Currently accepted medical use

                   - Abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence                         relative to IV

                     Examples: Mixtures having small amounts of codeine or opium                           (Tylenol 3, hydrocodone)

Legal ramifications of being caught with controlled substances classified in Schedule I, II or III, with possession of less than 200 grams can lead to imprisonment no less than three years, but not more than 10 years, and can be fined an amount not exceeding $10,000.00.  These are class C felony charges.

 

If a Henderson student is in possession of any controlled substance not prescribed by their physician, they are subject to all of the legal penalties listed above in addition to probable expulsion from the university.

 

Academic performance and drug abuse

 

Problems fulfilling academic responsibilities are one of the most common consequences of illicit drug use.  Students who use drugs often miss class, do not complete assignments and often end up on academic probation or drop out of school altogether due to poor academic performance.  Being a drug user and a good student are virtually incompatible with each other, and there are both strong legal penalties and school penalties regarding illicit drug use. The best way to avoid these consequences is to avoid the use of illicit drugs in any form.  The college experience does not have to include experimentation with drug use, and often leads to long-lasting negative consequences for the user.

 

Web Links for Additional Information:

 

Site with toxicity calculator for alcohol use: http://www.unm.edu/~shc1/htalcoholpoison.html

 

Site with toxicity calculator for caffeine use:

http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine

 

Site with information regarding drug abuse helplines:

http://www.webmd.com/hw/emotional_wellness/shc99dru.asp

 

Site with shocking before and after photos of meth users:

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/faces/photo_2.html

 

Site with information regarding first aid for drug overdose:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000016.htm

 

Site with in-depth information on drug abuse:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001945.htm

 

 

 

References

Bowen, Shannon (2004, July 9) Psychological Effects of Drug Abuse, JOMC50, J. Ivory.

Bratter, Thomas E., and Gary G. Forrest. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Strategies for Clinical Intervention. New York: The Free Press, 2000.

Drug Abuse Warning Network: Drug-related visits to hospital Emergency Rooms.  Retrieved December 1, 2006. https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/default.asp

The DAWN Report: Club Drugs. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies; 2000

Drug use. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 1, 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-40526

Ksir, Charles, Hart, Carl L., and Ray, Oakley. Drugs, Society and Human Behavior.  Eleventh Ed.  McGraw-Hill, Boston, 2006. 

Teen Drug Abuse (2006), Teen Drug Abuse, Teen Help; http://www.teendrugabuse.us/methamphetamine.html

The Dangers of Club Drugs (2006), Teen Drug Abuse, Teen Help; http://www.teendrugabuse.us/club_drugs.html

The Dangers of Drug Use:  Side Effects of Commonly Used Drugs (2006), Drug Rehab Advice Center, http://www.drugrehabadvis.org/durg-use-side-effects.html

The Silent Epidemic (2006), Teen Drug Abuse, Teen Help; http://www.teendrugabuse.us/inhalants.html

This article was completed as a part of a project for Substance Abuse Prevention taught by Dr. Lynn Leggett at Henderson State University, Fall 2006.  It was compiled by Terri Boone, Malissa Cleek, Braden Echols, Rebecca Langley, Jeramie Teach, and Jackie Zeagler.

 

Any questions regarding content can be sent to Rebecca Langley at rebeccal@hsccs.org.

 

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