Most Common Drug Abuse,

Medical Effects of Drug

Abuse, & Treatment Methods
of Drug Abuse
Caitlyn Sonnier and Gabby Howe
 Most Common Drugs of Abuse

I. Cannabinoids (Marijuana)
II. Depressants
III. Dissociative Anesthetics
IV. Hallucinogens
V. Opioids and Morphine Derivatives
VI. Stimulants
VII. Other Compounds (Anabolic Steroids, Inhalants)
VIII. Emerging Drugs (Synthetic Cathinones- Bath Salts, Desomorphine- Krokodil)
I. Cannabinoids (Marijuana)

❏ Medical Marijuana Use:

❏ Can be used as an alternative to:
❏ Manage pain
❏ Anxiety
❏ Depression
❏ Migraine Headaches
❏ Sleep Problems
❏ Synthetic Oral Medications (THC):
❏ nabilone (Cesamet) and dronabinol (Marinol)
❏ Nabiximol oromucosal sprays
❏ (Sativex)
❏ Some children and adolescents with drug-resistant epilepsy have experienced a decrease in seizure
occurences with CBD added into their therapy.
I. Cannabinoids (Marijuana)

B. Different Forms of Marijuana

❏ Inhaled
❏ Cigarette forms called joints
❏ Cigars hollowed out and filled with cannabis called blunts
❏ Can use hookah pipe or bong which filters the smoke through water
❏ Vaping- fine mist is inhaled instead of smoking the cannabis to reduce a person’s exposure to carcinogens
❏ Dabbing uses hash oil (most potent type) in a wax form
❏ Oral
❏ Edibles are when marijuana is added to foods or beverages
❏ Topical
❏ Provides medicinal benefits without cerebral stimulation
❏ Topical creams, oils for localized pain relief or reduction of inflammation to an area
❏ Alternative
❏ Suppositories
II. Depressants

❏ A drug that suppresses the central nervous system to calm or sedate the patient
❏ Taken to relieve anxiety, promote sleep, and manage seizure activity
❏ Examples
❏ Downers
❏ Sleeping pills
❏ Ludes
❏ Rophies
❏ Alcohol
III. Dissociative Anesthetics

❏ Form of general anesthesia that promotes dissociation from the environment but not
necessarily complete unconsciousness; sometimes used for short diagnostic or surgical
procedures
❏ Examples of new psychoactive substances (NPS):
❏ Synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, ketamine, piperazines, and some plant-based drugs such as khart,
and kratom
❏ Street names such as angel dust and Special K
IV. Hallucinogens

❏ Chemical substances that produce mind-altering or mental perception-altering properties

❏ Act on central nervous system leading to the user seeing and hearing phenomena that DO
NOT exist
❏ 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or Ecstasy, Molly
❏ MDMA is classified as a stimulant but is known for its hallucinogenic effects
❏ Examples
❏ LSD
❏ Peyote
❏ Dimethyltryptamine
❏ Magic mushrooms
V. Opioids and Morphine Derivatives

❏ Narcotic substances made from the Asian poppy or produced as synthetic drugs with the
effects of opium: they result in analgesic and euphoric effects
❏ Heroin
❏ Fentanyl
❏ Naloxone (Narcan)
VI. Stimulants

❏ A class of drugs that enhances brain activity

❏ Cocaine hydrochloride
❏ Amphetamines
❏ Methamphetamine
❏ Meth users are resistant to local anesthesia
VII. Other Compounds

A. Anabolic Steroids
a. Used to build muscles and for increased performance
b. May produce a feeling of well-being or euphoria, followed by lack of energy and irritability
c. Short term effects:
i. may lead to mental problems such as paranoia
ii. extreme irritability
iii. Delusions
iv. impaired judgment
v. violent outbursts
d. Long-term effects:
i. Depression
ii. Kidney decline or failure
iii. Liver damage
iv. Enlarged heart
v. Hypertension
vi. Elevated blood cholesterol
vii. Increased risk of stroke and heart attack
VII. Other Compounds

B. Inhalants
❏ A breathable chemical vapor that produces psychoactive effects
❏ Capable of producing intoxication, abuse, and dependence
❏ Inhalants can come in different forms
❏ Solvents
❏ Aerosol sprays
❏ Gases
❏ Nitrites
❏ Toxic Reactions
❏ Vomiting
❏ Headache
❏ Hypotension
❏ Dizziness
VIII. Emerging Drugs

❏ Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts)

❏ Contain two man-made stimulants:
❏ Mephedrone
❏ Methylone
❏ They effect the brain much like ecstasy, similar to cocaine but 10X more powerful
❏ Part of a drug group called “NPS”
❏ Bath salts can produce effects such as:
❏ Paranoia
❏ Hallucinations
❏ Increased sex drive
❏ Panic attacks
❏ Excited delirium
❏ Inexpensive alternative to methamphetamine or cocaine
VIII. Emerging Drugs

❏ Desomorphine (Krokodil)
❏ Synthetic opioid developed in the U.S in 1932 for surgical procedures
❏ 8-10X more potent than morphine
❏ Discontinued because other medications were more effective and longer lasting
❏ Krokodil
❏ Street name in Russia
❏ Homemade production of krokodil is inexpensive compared to heroin but very toxic
❏ User will mox 5-10 codeine tablets with paint thinner, gasoline, or lighter fluid, hydrochloric acid, iodine and red
phosphorus
❏ Injected but not filtered
❏ Necrosis of the area occurs
❏ Painful, causing non healing ulcers
❏ Can cause osteonecrosis
 Medical Effects of Drug Abuse

I. Cardiovascular Effects
II. Neurologic Effects
III. Gastrointestinal Effects
IV. Kidney Damage
V. Liver Damage
VI. Musculoskeletal Damage
VII. Respiratory Effects
VIII. Prenatal Effects
IX. Infections
Cardiovascular Effects and Neurologic Effects

❏ Cardiovascular Effects: ❏ Neurologic Effects:

❏ Intravenous drug abuse can lead to ❏ All addictive drugs target the reward centers in
collapsed veins and bacterial infections of the brain allowing the user to experience euphoria
❏ Repeated drug abuse will alter the structure of
the arterial system and heart valves
the brain making it more difficult for the user to
❏ Cocaine causes vasoconstriction in the reach euphoric levels
coronary arteries increasing: ❏
❏ Blood pressure
❏ Atherosclerotic phenomena
❏ Thrombus formation
❏ Myocardial infarction
Treatment Methods

❏ Chronic drug addiction causes changes in the brain involved in reward and motivation,
learning and memory, and control over behavior.
❏ Drug addiction can be treated but it is complex. Successful treatment includes:
❏ Detoxification
❏ Behavioral therapies
❏ Medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol addiction)
❏ Evaluation of treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
❏ Long term follow up to prevent relapse
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

1. Stimulants are a class of drugs that enhance brain activity. Meth users are resistant to
local anesthesia.

a. Both statements are false

b. Both statements are true
c. The first statement is true, but the second statement is false
d. The first statement is false, but the second statement is true

ANSWER: BOTH STATEMENTS ARE TRUE

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

2. LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote, and Dimethyltryptamine are examples of:

a. Depressants
b. Opioids
c. Hallucinogens
d. Dissociative anesthetics

ANSWER: HALLUCINOGENS
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

3. Aerosol sprays can be used as an inhalant.

a. True
b. False

ANSWER: FALSE
REFERENCES:

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts#central-ne
rvous-system-depressants

Wilikins

https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/strategic-plan/nidas-mission/strategicall
y-supporting-conducting-basic-clinical-research