Drug Abuse in the United States

Drug Abuse in the United States:

Drug Abuse in the United States A Closer Look

Commonly Abused Drugs:

Commonly Abused Drugs Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens Marijuana Club Drugs Inhalants Steroids

Depressants:

Depressants Depressants slow brain and body reactions Types: Barbiturates, CNS Depressants, Opiates

Most Common Depressants:

Most Common Depressants Alcohol Some Prescription Medicines

Stimulants:

Stimulants Stimulants cause brain and body reactions to speed up. Types: amphetamines, methamphetamine, cocaine, nicotine

Most Common Stimulants:

Most Common Stimulants Methamphetamine (or “Meth”) Cocaine Cigarettes

Hallucinogens :

Hallucinogens Hallucinogens distort thought, perception, and mood Users often cannot tell what is real, and suffer from severe memory loss, especially during a hallucinogenic episode

Most Common Hallucinogens:

Most Common Hallucinogens LSD (“Acid”) Psilocybin (“ Shrooms ”) PCP (“Angel Dust”)

Marijuana:

Marijuana May act as a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogen Has many lasting negative health effects Can be deadly if combined with alcohol or other depressants

Club Drugs:

Club Drugs First gained popularity at clubs and raves Often slipped into drinks with sexually deviant intentions Most common: Rohypnol (“ Roofies ”)

Steroids:

Steroids Performance-enhancing drugs to make users bigger, faster, stronger Gaining popularity in the professional athlete arena Usually injected, but can be taken in pill form

Inhalants:

Inhalants EXTREMELY dangerous – can die from 1 st time use Mostly readily available products that many homes have in their cabinets

Where do drugs come from?:

Where do drugs come from? Your own home (inhalants, prescription drugs) Your local community (marijuana, methamphetamine) World-wide drug trades

Homemade Meth Lab in KY:

Homemade Meth Lab in KY

World Drug Trade (Opiates/Cocaine):

World Drug Trade (Opiates/Cocaine)

References:

References Beechtree News (2010). Home meth lab. Image retrieved from www.beechtreenews.com . Drug Free. (2010). Inhalant picture. Image retrieved from http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/inhalants . Oregon Live. (2006). Before and after meth pictures. Images retrieved from www.oregonlive.com . U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. (2009). Various drug pictures. Images retrieved from www.justice.gov . U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. (2009). Powdered cocaine. Image retrieved from www.alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/ig/cocaine/cocaine02.htm . Wikipedia. (2010). Graphic of worldwide drug trade. Image retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_ drug _ trade .