Get the facts: drug abuse puts your whole body at risk.Lesson Plan & Reproducible Preparation: Before the lesson, make two photocopies of the Student Activity Reproducible for a pre- and post-lesson quiz. OBJECTIVE Students will understand some of the serious health consequences of drug abuse and addiction. NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS The National Science Education Standards (NSES) are a set of guidelines for the science education in primary and secondary schools in the United States, as established by the National Research Council in 1996. Life Science; Science in Personal and Social Perspectives WHAT YOU WILL DO * Introduce the topic of drug abuse and health by asking students what they consider the most important health issues facing teens today. Give students time for discussion. * Distribute copies of the Student Activity Reproducible. Tell students to write their name on the paper and answer the questions. Explain that they will answer the questions again after they read the article. * Have students read "Get the Facts: Drug Abuse Puts Your Whole Body at Risk" in their magazines. When they have finished, begin a discussion: What are some of the ways in which drug abuse and addiction affect the health issues you identified earlier? What are some ways you can protect your health with regard to drugs? Why is it important to get the facts about your health? * After the discussion, have students complete the reproducible again. When they have finished, reveal the correct answers. * Wrap up the lesson by asking students: How would you respond to someone who says, "Drugs mesa" with your head a bit; what's the big deal?" or, "I'm healthy; what's there to worry about with drugs?" For further facts about the health effects of drugs on the body, visit www.scholastic.com/headsup. Research shows ... "Drug abuse and addiction can affect almost every system in your body. You probably know that drugs affect feelings and moods, judgment, decision making, learning, and memory. But they can also cause or worsen other health problems--cancer; heart disease; lung disease lung disease Pulmonary disease Pulmonology Any condition causing or indicating impaired lung function Types of LD Obstructive lung disease–↓ in air flow caused by a narrowing or blockage of airways–eg, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis; ; liver function; mental disorders mental disorders: see bipolar disorder; paranoia; psychiatry; psychosis; schizophrenia. ; and infectious diseases infectious diseases: see communicable diseases. such as HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , hepatitis, and tuberculosis. Some of these effects occur when drugs are used at high doses or after prolonged use, and some may occur after just one use." --Nora Volkow, M.D., Director of NIDA NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA National Institute of Dramatic Arts (Australia) NIDA Northern Ireland Development Agency (UK) NIDA Northern Ireland Dairy Association * Tobacco addiction increases risk of lung and heart disease, as well as premature aging of the skin. * Inhalants inhalants, n.pl 1. chemical vapors that are inhaled for their mind-altering effects. 2. in herbology, volatile herbal compounds that are delivered by holding a soaked pad to the nose and mouth, by placing the herbs in steaming water, or spread toxic chemicals throughout the body, and can cause blackouts and hearing loss as well as liver, kidney, and bone-marrow damage. * Methamphetamine can cause cardiac damage, elevated heart rate, and convulsions Convulsions Also termed seizures; a sudden violent contraction of a group of muscles. Mentioned in: Heat Disorders , and can also lead to diseased gums and teeth, known as "meth mouth." * Cocaine has been linked to stroke and heart attack, as well as increased vulnerability to infection. * Drug abuse is linked to the top U.S. medical problems, including heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and mental illness. HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Other Infectious Diseases Nearly one-third of reported AIDS cases have been linked to injection drug use--heroin, cocaine, or any drug that abusers inject. One way that HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases are spread is through the sharing of needles or other injection equipment. But it is not only injection drug users who risk contracting or spreading infections. The intoxicating in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. effects of all drugs of abuse affect judgment and decision making--leading users to engage in behaviors that could have dire health consequences, including the spread of HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. . Mental Health Effects Drug abuse might affect an existing mental disorder mental disorder Any illness with a psychological origin, manifested either in symptoms of emotional distress or in abnormal behaviour. Most mental disorders can be broadly classified as either psychoses or neuroses (see neurosis; psychosis). Psychoses (e.g. or result in one. More than half of those who are addicted to drugs have also had some form of mental illness--either at the same time as their addiction or at some other point in their lives. This is probably not due to chance: drugs affect many of the same brain systems that are responsible for mental disorders. There may also be common genetic and environmental causes of both. What we know from research is that long-lasting changes in the brain caused by chronic drug abuse may lead to depression, aggression, paranoia, and hallucinations Hallucinations Definition Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences that appear to be real perceptions. These sensory impressions are generated by the mind rather than by any external stimuli, and may be seen, heard, felt, and even . Smoking Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing about 440,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Smoking leads to heart disease, lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. , and other lung problems, such as emphysema emphysema (ĕmfĭsē`mə), pathological or physiological enlargement or overdistention of the air sacs of the lungs. A major cause of pulmonary insufficiency in chronic cigarette smokers, emphysema is a progressive disease that commonly and chronic bronchitis chronic bronchitis n. Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane, characterized by cough, hypersecretion of mucus, and expectoration of sputum over a long period of time and associated with increased vulnerability to bronchial infection. . Tobacco addiction is a direct result of nicotine--one of the many chemicals found in tobacco products--which acts on receptors in the brain and the body. Tobacco smoke also affects other body systems, changing their functions and ultimately leading to disease. Prenatal exposure to tobacco can have long-lasting effects on the next generation; and even second-hand smoke second-hand smoke Passive smoking, see there is linked to diseases in those exposed. Read the Label Prescription medications may be mistakenly thought of as safe because they are prescribed by a doctor for an illness--but if they are not prescribed for you, then they are not safe for you. Abuse of prescription opioids, such as Vicodin[R] and OxyContin Ox·y·con·tin A trademark for the drug oxycodone. oxycodone hydrochloride ETH-Oxydose, OxyContin, OxyFast, Oxy-IR, Oxynorm (UK), Roxicodone, Supeudol (CA) Pharmacologic class: Opioid agonist [R], can lead to addiction. Taking a single large dose could cause severe respiratory depression (includes difficulty in breathing or stopped breathing) that can lead to death. The same holds true for abuse of prescription central nervous system depressants Central Nervous System Depressants Definition Central nervous system (CNS) depressants are drugs that can be used to slow down brain activity. Purpose , such as Xanax[R] and Valium[R]. Abuse of prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin[R] or Adderall[R], can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Further, taking high doses of a stimulant may result in dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for heart system failure or fatal seizures. Factivate--for Your Life Get More Facts! Find out more about the medical consequences of drug abuse and addiction at: www.scholastic.com/headsup www.teens.drugabuse.gov www.drugabuse.gov Check Up! See a doctor for regular checkups. Be sure to mention if you abuse drugs--this is confidential information your doctor needs to know. A prescribed medication might interact badly with a drug of abuse. Get Up! Do some type of physical activity every day for overall good health. Eat Healthy! Eat balanced meals, limiting your intake of fats and sweets, to give your body the energy it needs. Hydrate hydrate (hī`drāt), chemical compound that contains water. A common hydrate is the familiar blue vitriol, a crystalline form of cupric sulfate. Chemically, it is cupric sulfate pentahydrate, CuSO4·5H2O. ! Drink liquids throughout the day, especially while exercising. To nourish your body, reach for water instead of sugared drinks. Cover Up! Wear protective gear and sunblock sunblock Public health An opaque substance, usually formulated from zinc or titanium oxides, designed to completely prevent solar radiation from reaching the skin. See SPF rating. Cf Sunscreen. when outside to block damaging rays. Speak Up! Talk to your parents or to another trusted adult about your health-related questions. Ask questions and insist on answers. What do you know about the health effects of drug abuse? Answer the questions below to find out what you know about the health effects of drug abuse and addiction. 1. A prescription medication a. is always safe because a doctor prescribes it. b. is safe to take, even if prescribed for someone else, as long as you have the same symptoms. c. is sate to take, even if prescribed for someone else, as long as you follow the directions. d. is not safe for you if it has not been prescribed for you. 2. Diseased gums and teeth can result from a. methamphetamine b. cocaine c. Vicodin[R] d. opioids 3. Which of the following can be a harmful effect of opioids like Vicodin[R] and OxyContin[R]? a. "meth mouth" b. severe respiratory. depression c. bone-marrow damage d. hearing loss 4. Blackouts, hearing loss, and liver, kidney, and bone-marrow damage are effects of a. inhalants b. methamphetamine c. cocaine d. nicotine 5. Premature aging of the skin can result from use of a. tobacco b. cocaine c. opioids d. inhalants 6. Effects of drug abuse can occur a. when drugs are used at high doses b. after prolonged use of drugs c. after one use d. any of the above 7. The risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases is greatly increased by a. injection drug use b. risky behavior due to drug abuse c. both a and b d. none of the above 8. The main chemical found in tobacco that causes addiction is a. tar b. caffeine c. nicotine d. menthol menthol, white crystalline substance with a characteristic pungent odor. It is derived from the oil of the peppermint plant, Mentha piperita (see mint), or prepared synthetically from coal tar. 9. More than half of people addicted to drugs have also had some form of mental illness. a. true b. false 10. Drug abuse is linked to the top medical problems in the United States. a. true b. false ANSWERS TO REPRODUCIBLE: 1. d; 2. a; 3. b; 4. a; 5. a; 6. d; 7. c; 8. c; 9. a; 10. a |
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