Types of Medicines

1. Types of Medicines • Drug-a substance other than food that changes the way the body for mind functions. • Medicine- a drug that prevents or cures a disease or relieves it’s symptoms. • Prescription Drugs- Medicines that a person can get only by a doctor’s order. • Over-the-Counter Drug (OTC)- also known as prescription drugs, are medicines that a person can get without a prescription. • Both prescription and OTC drugs are legal (not against the law) • FDA- (Food and Drug Administration)- a government agency that decides which medicines should be prescription or OTC

2. Common Legal Drugs(classified by the effects they have on the body) • Analgesics- pain relievers. They block the pain receptors to the body. Ex) Tylenol, Advil, Alieve, Aspirin. • Antacids- relieve heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach. Ex) Tums, Pepsid AC, Prilosec. • Antibiotics- Treat infections caused by bacteria. Ex) amoxicillin, augmentin . • Antihistamines- relieve symptoms of allergies. Ex) Allegra, Benadryl, Zirtec, Claritin. • Cough Medicines- two categories 1. Antitussives- stop the coughing reflex 2. Expectorants- thin mucus so that it can be cleared away by coughing.

3. Decongestants- reduce the swelling of the tissues inside the nose and ease the feeling of being “stuffed up”. HOW MEDICINES ARE PURCHASED Generic Drug- is a copy of a brand name drug. It is a less expensive copy of the drug. Pharmacist- a health professional who is licensed to prepare and sell prescription drugs. The pharmacist is able to answer questions about how to take the drug, side effects, etc. Side Effect- an unwanted reaction to a drug. Reading Labels -Take medicines only under your parents supervision. -Before you take any medicines, read the label. • Make sure you read the warnings to see if your allergic to any of the ingredients, and to learn what side effects are possible. • Labels also explain how the drug should be used.

4. Drug Misuse and Drug Abuse Drug Misuse- is taking a prescription or OTC medicine for medical reasons but using it incorrectly. Examples of drug Misuse: -not following the directions on the drug label. -taking extra doses of a prescription drug. • Stopping a prescription drug before a doctor tells you to. • Sharing someone else’s prescription. • Mixing medicines with alcohol or other harmful substances * Drug misuse is usually NOT INTENTIONAL.

5. Drug Abuse Responsible Drug use is the correct use of legal drugs to promote health and well- being. Drug Abuse- is the intentional use of a drug when no medical or health reasons exist. -some people abuse prescription drugs or OTC drugs. Ex) some people might use a medicine to get high. This has become a problem in the United States, especially among teens. Drug abuse also includes any use of an illegal drug. Illegal Drugs- are drugs whose use, sale, or purchase is outlawed by the government. Some examples of illegal drugs are: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and LSD. Alcohol is considered a drug, but is legal for adults. Use of alcohol with the intention to get drunk is considered abuse.

6. Common Myths about Drug Use Teens commonly think that drug use can help them. • Help fit in with peers • Relax and be less depressed- drugs can actually add stress to your life! • Escape boredom- become involved in other activities: sports, school activities etc. • Rebel against authority: teens may feel angry and want to hurt their parents by engaging in harmful behaviors. Drugs can make you angrier and even violent. • Appear adventurous- drugs can interfere with a teen ability to achieve goals.

7. Risks of Drug Use One of the most serious effects of drug use is ADDICTION Addiction- is the compelling need to continue a behavior, such as drug use, even though it is harmful. Addiction involves 2 types of Dependence: Psychological: when a person develops a mental or emotional need for a drug or other substance. Ex) a person smokes when they are stressed out. Physical : repeated drug use that causes tolerance. Tolerance: a condition in which the body becomes used to a substance and needs greater quantities to produce the same effect. Withdrawal: the unpleasant mental and physical symptoms a person experiences when they are dependant on a drug and stop using it. Overdose: the amount of a drug that is so excessive that it makes someone ill or can cause death.

8. Signs of teen Drug use and Abuse • Using alcohol or other drugs to escape problems. • Withdrawing or keeping secrets from friends/ family. • Hanging out with friends who use drugs and alcohol. • Doing poorly in school • Frequently missing school • Frequent mood swings • Feeling anxious or depressed • Losing or gaining weight for no apparent reason.

9. tobacco Tobacco -is a plant grown for its leaves that can be smoked, chewed, or sniffed for the effects of the nicotine contained in them. Nicotine- is the addictive drug found in tobacco. - nicotine has many effects on the body. • Alters mood • Stimulates the central nervous system • Increased heart rate and blood pressure • Increases risk of health problems. • Tobacco products contain over 4,000 chemicals

10. Tobacco can be found in all of the following forms… • Cigarettes • Bidis- small, unfiltered cigarettes from India that come in a variety of flavors. • Cigars- made from tobacco rolled in leaves. • Smokeless tobacco- is usually placed in the mouth (between the cheek and gums or lower lip and gums). They are sometimes called “spit tobacco” because people spit out the juices/ saliva

11. Tobacco and Your Health • Carcinogens- substances that cause cancer and are found in cigarette smoke and tar. • Tar- sticky fluid formed when tobacco burns. • Cilia- tiny hair like structures that help remove dirt and dust and harmful materials from the body. When cilia become coated with tar, the lungs cannot filter out impurities. • Carbon Monoxide- an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas, also found in tobacco smoke. • Emphysema- condition in which the alveoli become damaged making it harder to breath.

12. Resisting Alcohol Alcohol- is a drug found in some beverages that slows down the central nervous system and harms body organs. Typically, an alcoholic drink contains 1/2ozof alcohol and is equivalent to: 1 ½ oz hard liquor = 5oz wine = 12oz of regular beer Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)-The percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood when he/ she drinks. What Factors Influence a Person’s BAC? • The amount of alcohol consumed • The length of time a person has been drinking • A person’s weight, height, gender and tolerance • The use of other drugs • The amount of food in a person’s stomach • Mental State

13. BAC- Continued • A person’s BAC is an indicator of how much his or her abilities have been impaired or damaged. • At a BAC of .05 percent, a person’s coordination and judgment have already been affected. What is the Legal Limit of Alcohol Consumption in PA? .08% Ways Alcohol Harms the Body Alcohol Poisoning- (intoxication) the condition of being drunk. It can lead to alcohol poisoning which can cause coma and death. Cardiovascular Disease- alcohol can damage the heart muscle and increase blood pressure and stroke. Central Nervous System- drinking destroys brain cells, a persons ability to learn, remember, and think is reduced.

14. Alcohol Harms the Body • Liver Disease- Drinking alcohol can lead to Cirrhosis- a condition in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. • Birth Defects- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome- is the presence of birth defects in a baby born to a mother who drank alcohol. • Immune System Damage- Drinking alcohol weakens the immune system. • Obesity- Alcohol increases the number of calories a person consumes. Alcohol is very high in calories and has NO nutritional value!!

15. ILLEGAL DRUGS STIMULANTS • Increases the speed of the body’s functions- speeds up heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. • Amphetamines- cause sleeplessness, shakiness, headaches, blurred vision, paranoia, and hallucinations. • Methamphetamine- short term feeling of elation followed by depression. Can cause brain damage, and malnutrition. • Cocaine- highly addictive stimulant made from leaves of coca plant. As drug wears off, user feels pain. People who inject are at risk for HIV and hepatitis from sharing needles. • Crack- form of cocaine that is smoked. HALLUCINOGENS • Drug that distorts the senses. • Changes the way the brain perceives time, reality, and the environment. • Users feel, hear, and see things that are not real. • Flashbacks are common long after the drug has been taken. • LCD- lysergic acid diethylamide is an example. Fatal injuries, flashbacks, and severe mental illness may occur after use. • PCP- phencyclidine. Can interfere with hormone secretions that affect growth, development and learning.

16. ILLEGAL DRUGS con’t NARCOTICS & CLUB DRUGS • Narcotics- drugs that relieve pain. • Prescription- codeine and morphine • Heroin- highly addictive narcotic- can be smoked, snorted, or injected. • Gives user intense feelings of happiness, slows mental functioning, slows speech, and vomiting are common side effects. • Physical and psychological dependence occur quickly. • Users are at increased risk for HIV and hepatitis. • Club Drugs- commonly used in night clubs. People often think they are not as harmful as mainstream drugs. • Ecstasy- stimulant and hallucinogen. Produces a feeling of energy and can cause long term damage to the brain. DEPRESSANTS • Depressants- slows down the body’s functions. • Alcohol is a depressant- slows down the functions of the body and mind. INHALANTS • Drug that is inhaled into the lungs. • Alters the functions of the mind • Enter the brain quickly and produce a strong but short-lived “high”. • Short terms effects- feeling fear, decreased blood pressure, distorted perceptions, headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination • Long term effects and cause kidney and liver damage.

17. ILLEGAL DRUGS con’t MARIJUANA • Illegal drug made from the hemp plant. • Contains THC, chemical compound producing changes in a person’s body and mind. • Short term effects can last for days and can include: memory loss, distorted perception, decreased muscle strength, loss of coordination, increased HR, and anxiety. • Long term effects- risk of lung and mouth cancer, respiratory infections, and emphysema. Also affects learning, memory perception, and judgment, and is addictive. • Marijuana is a gateway drug- most people who use other illegal drugs have tried marijuana first. ILLEGAL DRUGS & SOCIETY Family Problems- • People lose family members to illnesses caused by drug abuse and overdosing. • Innocent people die in drug- related shootings, car crashes, and other violent acts. • Families are split apart because of a members drug addiction. • Other families become poor • Teens may not finish school, lose friends and struggle with mental, emotional, and physical problems and are unable to cope effectively.