UNIT 3

Lesson 8

The Nature of
Gateway Drugs
 Gateway Drugs
Are those drugs that
are easily accessible
to young people.
Using them can be
precursor to the use
of other drugs later
in life.
Stimulant
Is a substance
that stimulates
the brain and
makes the other
function of the
body active.
This is the reason why adults who
drink coffee feel more energetic
and alert.
 Depressant
Has the opposite
effect of
stimulant. It is a
substance that
slows down the
activity of the
brain. When adults drink alcohol, they cannot
think, speak, and act clearly and properly.
The drugs considered as gateway drugs are:

Caffeine
 it is a chemical
commonly found in
coffee, tea, cola or
soda, and
chocolate.

Tobacco
Alcohol  it can be
 beer, wine, liquor, smoked in a
whiskey, mixed cigarette, pipe,
drinks, and even or cigar. It can
soda contain varying be chewed or
amounts of alcohol. sniffed through
the nose.
Effects of the most
common gateway
drugs
Caffeine
Caffeine works by stimulating the Central Nervous System(CNS), heart, and,
muscles. It can also raise blood pressure and increase urine flow, which may
cause dehydration.
Too much intake of caffeine has many side effects. Amon them
are the following:
 Palpitations (rapid pounding of heartbeat)
 Headache
 Heartburn ( reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus)
 Jitters/Anxiety ( stimulates hormones such as adrenaline
that causes the body to shake)
 Insomnia
 Diuresis ( increase in the need to urinate due to
increase blood flow)
This table shows common food and drinks that have caffeine, and
the amount of caffeine they contain.

FOOD/DRINK AMOUNT OF AVERAGE AMOUNT

FOOD/DRINK OF CAFFEINE PRESENT
Soda/Cola 12 oz. 45-55 mg
Chocolate 1 oz. (29.57 ml.) 20 mg
Iced tea 12 oz. 70 mg
Regular Coffee 5 oz. 115 mg
Alcohol
Consumption of alcohol causes
nervous disorders such as visual
disturbance, slurred speech, and
loss of balance. Because alcohol
does not have to be digested, it
immediately enters the
bloodstream and carried to every
part of the body. It interferes
with oxygen supply to brain. Brain
cells are seriously damaged after
a few moments without oxygen.
Consumption of alcohol can lead to Too much or excessive intake of alcohol can
the following short-term effects: lead to serious long-term effects such as:

 Dizziness/headache  Damage of brain cells which may result to

epilepsy or seizure
 Distorted hearing
 Ulcer
 Decreased coordination
 Stroke
 Blurred vision
 High blood pressure
 Memory lapses
 Inflammation of stomach lining
 Stomach ache, vomiting
 Inflammation of pancreas

 Throat cancer

 Liver cancer
Tobacco
a green, leafy It can be
plant that is smoked in a
grown in cigarette,
warm places. pipe or
After it is cigar.
harvested, it
is dried,
ground up,
and used in
different
ways.
Nicotine is one of the chemicals present in cigarettes and its smoke.
It is the chemical that makes tobacco addictive. It is a stimulant
drug that causes temporary pleasant feeling.

Tar is a term used to describe the

toxic chemical particles left behind
from a burning cigarette. This
substance forms a tacky brown or
yellowish residue. It paralyzes and
can kill cilia, which are tiny hair-like
cell organs that line the trachea and
help trap pollutants. When cilia are
disabled, toxins in tar can travel
deep into the lungs.
Smoking cigarettes can cause the Smoking tobacco does not only affect the
following: user’s health, but also others around who
might inhale the smoke. This smoke is called
 Bad breath secondhand smoke, which poses greater
 Yellow to brownish teeth danger to the health of the non-smoker than
to the user.
 Periodontitis (gum disease)
Smoking during
 Diseases/disorders in respiratory pregnancy is
especially dangerous
 Liver cancer to the developing
baby. It can result
 Lung cancer
to premature
 diseases/disorders in the delivery, limited
circulatory system (heart) mental ability,
trouble with
learning, and low
birth weight.