This is a Slideshow consisting of 23 photos from NDFW events. Click a photo to learn more about that event. It also has 3 links that link to the act MTV website, the Music Cares website, and the Discovery Health website.
Transcript for 2011 Chat Day
The transcript is in reverse chronological order (earlier questions are at the bottom of this page)
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Joni Rutter: In addition to stopping drug abuse, the goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and community. According to research that tracks individuals in treatment over extended periods, most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs, decrease their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning. Unfortunately, when relapse occurs many deem treatment a failure. This is not the case: successful treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases. For the addicted patient, lapses to drug abuse do not indicate failure—rather, they signify that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted, or that alternate treatment is needed.
For more information, see www.drugabuse.gov/PODAT/faqs.html#faq3.
Joe Frascella: I would encourage them to stop using drugs by having them become aware of the negative consequences drug use has on their brain and bod. You can refer them to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php . If they are unable to stop using drugs talk to them about treatment.
When someone has a drug problem, it's not always easy to know what to do. If your friend is using drugs, encourage them to talk to a parent or another trusted adult such as a favorite teacher or a school guidance counselor. If they don't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different problems. Or if they're ready to think about treatment, your friend can check SAMHSA's Treatment Facility Locator for programs in your area (http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov -- there are programs out there just for adolescents. You can also contact these resources yourself and get advice on how to help your friend.
Since you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend -- that means finding ways to offer advice without being judgmental, showing support by listening, and finding ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it. Thanks for your question. I hope this helps.
More information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov . Take care of yourself and remember you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only support them.
For more information on treatment, check out:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
Jim Bjork: Too many factors to say for sure. How pure is the sample? Is the user experienced such that their body is accustomed to it? Joe Frascella: Hi - great question. If you know someone who is using drugs and want to help them stop, it's not always easy to know what to do. You can inform yourself with the harmful effects of drug abuse and addiction (see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/) and then try to encourage him or her to talk to a parent or another trusted adult, like a school guidance counselor, minister, friend, or family member. If your cousin doesn't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different kinds of problems. Or they can contact the Treatment Referral Helpline (1-800-662-HELP). Or you can contact these resources yourself for advice on how to help your cousin. Because you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend/cousin that is not judgmental -- you don't want to make your friend to feel like they're being judged, you can show support by listening, and find ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it. Good luck and I hope this helps.
Jim Bjork: Nope. The mushrooms that contain psilocybin are not found in grocery stores. Sorry!
Joe Frascella: Yes they can. Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants, are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine? For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
Explore what happens when teens use prescription drugs such as pain killers here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/choose-your-path/
Marsha Lopez: Hi, what a good question! According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 19% of high school seniors and 16% of college students report they are current smokers. So overall they're pretty similar---most people who smoke start in high school so if you can avoid it in high school it would be a smart heath strategy!
Dave White: Ingesting marijuana still produces a 'high' as with smoking. However, it takes longer to get into your system and since you don't know how much you're getting, it could ultimately be more dangerous and cause more paranoia and psychosis, as some emergency room reports have indicated.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. People say they use drugs because they think it will be 'fun.' Some say they use them to relieve stress. Either way, drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine. Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
Jim Bjork: Because drugs can act FAST to the brain-- and predictably-- for people experienced with them. They do so even at the risk of becoming addicted, unfortunately.
Joe Frascella: Drug and alcohol treatment do really work. Quitting using alcohol and drug abuse/addiction can be very difficult, but treatment is quite effective.If you know someone that has a drug problem, it's not always easy to know what to do. If your friend is using drugs, encourage him or her to talk to a parent or another trusted adult such as a favorite teacher or a school guidance counselor. If they don't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different problems. Or if they're ready to think about treatment, your friend can check SAMHSA's Treatment Facility Locator for programs in your area (http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov -- there are programs out there just for adolescents. You can also contact these resources yourself and get advice on how to help your friend.
Since you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend -- that means finding ways to offer advice without being judgmental, showing support by listening, and finding ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it. Thanks for your question. I hope this helps.
Joni Rutter: It's both tiring and invigorating! I've been here since 8 AM and it is now 5:58!! Thanks for asking your questions--it was a lot of fun.
Jim Bjork: Depends on the drug. Some hallucinogens are the worst. Lots of news stories on suspects high on PCP (phencyclidine) wrestling 8 cops etc. However, in terms of causing radical personality change, many drugs could do that, such as in the process of addiction.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. We have some great research to answer this. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
Dave Thomas: Lots.Check out this site:
www.teens.drugabuse.gov, a Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities.
Jim Bjork: Yes, most drugs have side effects that could cause a lot of problems to the body, or even kill if taken in large amounts. Even Tylenol could permanently damage the liver if overdosed. Also anti-cancer drugs can have severe side effects, such that the only reason people take them is that they will die from the cancer otherwise!The other risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it.
Dave Thomas: Yes, unless it is prescribed by a doctor.
Joni Rutter: Good question! Drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine. Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
Dave Thomas: 'high' is a funny term, but you can get kicks from all sorts of things. Gambling, the internet...You can absolutely get a natural high by doing things that you enjoy, such hanging with friends and eating great foods (but not too much). You may also want to consider exercising (believe it or not!). Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which produce a sense of euphoria (well being). So, participating in a sport is an excellent way to boost your mood.
One of the great things about natural highs--besides the fact that they don't put you at risk for addiction and other bad consequences--is that they don't have 'aversive' side effects or withdrawal effects. For example, stimulants make people high, but they also make people nervous, edgy, and sometimes paranoid. Opiates cause physical discomofort and blah feelings as they leave the body. With natural highs, you just get the high--well, maybe some sore muscles the next day.
Aaron White: Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Gaya Dowling: That's a great question. Despite what many people think, marijuana is indeed addicitve. Approximately 9% of people who smoke marijuana eventually become addicted to it--moreso when they start as teens. People can also experience a number of withdrawal symptoms (signifying addiction) when they try to quit, including irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings. The effects can last several weeks but will eventually get better. For more information check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html and our updated teen booklet on marijuana: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
Steve Grant: Probably trial and error by people. Probably lots of error since many many types of mushrooms are toxic and can be fatal, and there is really only a few species of mushrooms that can get you high.
Joni Rutter: Good question. I wish they wouldn't. We just have to be smart about what we read--don't believe everything! For more information on tobacco/nicotine addiction, go to: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
Joe Frascella: Ah, you don't need any drugs to make your brain work 100% of the time...it already is! Your brain is always working, doing many things to keep you alive and functioning...even when you sleep. Never underestimate your brain's power! Keep it healthy...
Richard Denisco: Hi,You can find the information on the DAWN survey at the SAMHSA website!
Cora Lee Wetherington: Drug use can affect people in so many ways. It can affect their mental health, their phyical health, the ability to do well in school, their ability to function in the jobs, it can land them in prison, and it can kill. And it can seriously impair their relationships with those they love most. Drug addiction does not just affect the addicted individual. It affects their family also. People can become devasted by seeing how drugs are affecting a family member they love dearly. It can be very difficult to cope with an addicted family member. This is why treatment is so important, not only for the addicted person but also for the family members. There are many support groups for family members and often addicted individuals and their family can benefit from family therapy.
Joe Frascella: Great question! Behavioral treatments have been shown to be quite effective at treating drug addiction. We are developing many different behavioral treatment approaches that will be effective and implementable - now even computerized. The particular techniques vary within the different approaches of behavioral treatment and are usually dependent on the particular kind of problem. Common approaches include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviors; questioning and testing cognitions, assumptions, evaluations and beliefs that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting. Relaxation, mindfulness, and distraction techniques are also commonly included. In very general terms, these approaches give the individual strategies for effectively dealing with their addiction and the associated symptoms (for example, with cravings, obsessive thoughts).To find information on treatment programs, go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs on a scale of 'worse-ness.' The drug that is used by a person is the worst--so it's a case-by-case basis. The reason for this vague answer is because people are different, and addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.No matter what, all drugs are bad for your body. For more information on specific drugs and their actions on your body, see: www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html.
Aaron White: Drinking is really hard on the liver. It's hard to say how long it will take for a person who drinks heavily to experience liver failure since this all varies from person to person.What we do know is that heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.
For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).
Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.
If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. There are many reasons that people start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. For smoking, stress is a common reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop. And, it's not cool. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction: www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/. Aaron White: The kind of alcohol in the beverages people drink is all the same. So the effects wouldn't be different by mixing differet types of drinks. It would just taste weird. You can learn more here:
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Jim Bjork: Probably because the heroin molecule binds with (attaches to) specialized matching molecules on or inside of nerve cells, that in turn triggers a series of events in the cell, to tell it to either shrink or self-destruct (a process called apoptosis). However, at this point, because brain scans are of healthy living people, we don't know what is going on at the microscopic level. We would need to take brain slices of deceased users to investigate that, which is complicated....
Joni Rutter: Yes. Even water can kill you. The dose makes the poison. All drugs can kill you at a given dose. Check this out: less than a drop of nicotine will kill you on the spot. It is one of the most toxic substances known! For more information, see: http://drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/consequences.html.
Susan Weiss: Marijuana is not an approved medicine--only the FDA can approve medicines and marijuana has not met the standards required for approval. These are rigorous clinical trials for its safety and benefits to treat a condition relative to its risks. However, marinol is an approved medication that contains THC marijuana's active ingredient in pill form. It is used for treating nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and extreme weight loss associated with AIDS. Scientists are studying other ingredients in marijuana or other ways to affect the system that marijuana acts on for possible effects on pain, obesity, addiction and other problems.
Aaron White: Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
If you know someone who might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help.
To learn more, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
Steve Grant: Good question. Kind of. Heroin is a chemical version of opium, which come from the sap (milk) of the poppy. Marijuana is generally the leaf of the cannabis plant with no additional chemical modification or extraction.
Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives.
Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.
Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Joni Rutter: Hey Kmassey: Ecstasy, also known by its chemical name methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA, for short), is a type of amphetamine, but it also produces effects similar to some hallucinogens. MDMA affects the brain by increasing the activity of at least three neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of brain cells): serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. MDMA causes these neurotransmitters to be released from their storage sites in neurons, resulting in increased neurotransmitter activity. We know from studies in animals that MDMA can produce long-lasting damage to serotonin neurons. Serotonin is important in regulating mood, sleep, body temperature, pain and other critical functions. In fact, some of the medications used to treat depression directly target this system. From imaging the brains of people, we find that there are changes in this system too, but we do not know how long those changes last. People who abuse MDMA tend to get depressed or anxious and to have trouble remembering recent events. These effects can be short-lived or longer-lasting depending on how much drug is used, how often, and whether or not other drugs are also being abused (marijuana is fairly common in MDMA users). Some people who use MDMA also have other difficulties with their abilities to make decisions and with their sleeping patterns. Of course, you will likely suffer more severe problems if you use MDMA often or in large amounts.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It really depends on the drug and how long it has been taken for. There is not one answer, but usually the worst of the withdrawal is over in a week. The treatment locater on the SAMHSA.gov website has places where someone can find places to get help.
Aaron White: A single serving of beer, wine or liquor contains the same amount of alcohol. So they would all have the same effects if you drank the same number of servings of each. You can learn more about how much alcohol different drinks contain here: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Jim Bjork: Probably not. Actually smoking cocaine is more risky, because it causes the brain to get the drug and the 'hit' and high faster. This will in turn help the brain associate what's in the scene around the user with the drug high, and increase the risk that the person will get addicted.Repeated intranasal cocaine can damage the membranes of the nose though. However, I think the addiction risk is worse.
Marsha Lopez: hi Paul! Thanks for your question! According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use and 27% were current users of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, smokeless) in 2010. In the same survey, 10% of youth ages 12-17 reported current use of an illicit drug and 11% current use of tobacco products.
Thank you all for your outstanding questions! We are working hard to answer them. We encourage you to learn more about NIDA on our website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/nidahome.html. Dave Thomas: Let's say, hypothetically, you should look for some sort of treatment.To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dave White: You're very brave to ask this. If you need help with an addcition, you can get it by calling 1-800-662-HELP or going to www.findtreament.samhsa.gov. You can also tell a trusted adult who can assist you in finding help.
Gaya Dowling: We support most of the world's research on the health effects of drugs of abuse, including tobacco, illegal and prescription drugs, how to prevent their use, and how to treat people who become addicted. We also take that the results of that research and help to educate people like you about what drugs do to the brain and body to help you make healthy decisions for your own life. Thanks for asking.
Dave Thomas: yup, in time. It is unhealthy to smoke marijuana, and the more you smoke the more unhealthy it is. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health.
Marijuana also affects attention and slows reflexes, which can increase your chances of being in a car wreck. About 14 percent of people who died in fatal car wrecks in one recent year had marijuana in their blood.
Richard Denisco: Hi. Meth is not an ADHD medication. ADHD medication does have a stimulant in it but if taken as directed it is safe. But it must be taken by the person that it is prescribed for and in the amount prescribed. We have more information on our web site you might find interesting: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ADHD.html.
Jim Bjork: Some drugs have essentially zero history of people actually dying from an acute overdose. Cocaine, heroin, and alcohol though (just to name a few, and especially in combination) are particularly deadly culprits. Ecstasy is also particularly dangerous because it's known to cause brain damage.Consider also that people can still indirectly die from drug use if they're driving while drunk or high or otherwise doing stupid, dangerous Darwin Award stuff....
Here are a couple of links to what science has to say about these drugs-- what they do, and their dangers: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/ and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
Joni Rutter: You bet. You can overdose, or it can cause you to do something stupid that could get you killed. It has unpredictable psychological effects. People can experience delusions and visual hallucinations that can be frightening. In fact, 'bad trips' can include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of insanity, death, or losing control. For more information about LSD, visit NIDA's website at www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html.
Steve Grant: Smoking marijuana on a regular basis can have a big effect on your daily life. You will find that it is harder to pay attention to things, and that your memory is not as sharp as it had been. You may find that you start oversleeping, have difficulty waking up in the morning, or take a lot of naps. And worse, you may find that smoking marijuana becomes an increasingly important part of your life, and that you stop doing other things like sports, playing in a band, or even videogames because you spend more and more of your time high on marijuana and not really doing anything else. That's a pretty big effect on your daily life.
Marsha Lopez: Hey, ltrevino , thanks for your question. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors in the US reported they were current smokers (in the past month). That means about 80% don't smoke!
Dave White: It's great that you want to help your family member quit smoking (cigarettes presumably). Both medications and behavioral strategies (like counseling) are used to treat nicotine addiction. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html. Aaron White: Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to give a timeline for addiction to take hold because it depends on the drug and the person. Addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.We know this, though. Once you try drugs, you are at a much higher risk of becoming addicted.
Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation. Joni Rutter: Who told you that? You better find some friends you can trust. Your lungs will turn black if you smoke. Period.
Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
Susan Weiss: Injecting is worse--in part because of the link to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis; followed by smoking and snorting. This is based on how quickly a drug would get to the brain, which contributes to its addictiveness.
Dave White: Hi, jvu. Many people struggle with drug addiction, but with proper treatment, quitting is an achievable goal. How long it takes will depend on a number of factors, including what drugs someone is taking, how much they're taking, and for how long. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html for more info.
Joe Frascella: Spice/K2 is the latest fad drug that is being used. It is a herbal mixture that appears to contain some chemicals that are similar to THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) and other stuff that looks to me like oregano. Other names for “Spice” include K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana. Although Spice products do contain dried plant material, chemical analyses of seized Spice mixtures have revealed different things---including the presence of synthetic compounds and potentially harmful heavy metal residues.Presently, there are no studies on the effects of Spice on human health or behavior, and there is no scientific data regarding their toxic effects in humans. A variety of mood and perceptual effects have been described, and patients who have been taken to Poison Control Centers in Texas report symptoms that include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently banned five synthetic cannabinoids by placing them in Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I status means that the substance is considered to have a high potential for abuse and no known medical benefits; and as such, it is illegal to possess or sell products that contain the substance. This ban went into effect December 2010, and will continue for one year while the DEA continues to gather information about the chemicals.
A number of States have also instituted bans on Spice and Spice-like products and/or synthetic cannabinoid-containing products, and many others are considering legislation forbidding the sale or possession of Spice.
Hope this helps.
Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that the amount of alcohol in your blood, also called blood alcohol concentration (BAC), reaches 0.08g/dL, which is considered legally intoxicated. Aaron White: Drinking just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!!
Steve Grant: Every drug has side effects. It is the job of the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the scientific data that shows how much of a beneficial effect a drug has and how many side effects a drug has, and whether a drug can be prescribed by doctors. Every drug approved by the FDA has a label what lists the side effects of the drug. Next time you get a prescription from your doctor read the label to see not only what side effects the drug produces but also how frequent those effects are. Abused drugs are no different - they also have side effects in addition to their other harmful effects
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for asking. Any smoking is bad for a person and can cause damage. Low dose alcohol for adult--2 drinks for men or one drink a day for women--can have health benifits. but in excess it can cause many medical problems including death. I hope that answers your question.
Dave White: As you know, nicotine is highly addictive, and long-term exposure increases your risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other illnesses. The good news for people with nicotine addiction is that help is available. Both medications and behavioral strategies (like counseling) are used to treat nicotine addiction. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
Joni Rutter: Dude, what does hallucinated mean? Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php. Research shows that, for example, 'shrooms have a substance called psilocybin in them, which is an hallucinogen. These hallucinogens have been linked to negative physical and psychological consequences. The physical effects appear about 20 minutes after ingestion and last about 6 hours. These effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. People say that the hallucinations they experience are indistinguishable from reality. They usually have panic attacks and psychosis...doesn't sound good to me!Some hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens. But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:
Susan Weiss: THC--the active ingredient in marijuana is what makes it addictive. There are receptors in the brain (and the body) where THC acts, and these are found in many areas of the brain, which explains its varied effects--on memory, coordination, and on mood. THC receptors are also in the reward system, and like other drugs of abuse marijuana increases dopamine. This is what makes it pleasurable and what makes people want to take it again and again. Like most drugs, not everyone who uses it will become addicted. The same could be said for heroin and nicotine--but no one would question their addictiveness. There are risk factors that make someone vulnerable to becoming addicted to any drug--early use, frequent use (25-50% of daily marijuana users become addicted), genes, family circumstances, etc. I hope this helps--please check out our marijuana for teen brochure http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ and other resources on our website for more information about marijuana:
Jim Bjork: It can cause lesions or small areas of damage to white matter, the fiber bundles that transmit information between our neurons. In addition, it can cause shrinkage in gray matter in certain areas. Finally, since it causes a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure, it could actually cause a stroke. On a more subtle level, it can change how the brain communicates with itself, as found in scans of brain activity when people are just vegging out.
Aaron White: Red wine contains high levels of a compound called resveratrol, which is good for the heart.
Joni Rutter: There are many. Here's one that most people don't know...steroids cause testicles to shrink!! For more information on steroids, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Steroids.html.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Prescription medications are not dangerous if taaken as prescribed and by the person they are prescribed for. The problems you are hearing about are because people are abusing the medicine. We have a website that you might find interesting: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/.
Aaron White: It takes roughly 1.5 hours for the body to get rid of one serving of alcohol. So a breathalyzer should be able to detect alcohol for at least 1.5 hours times the number of drinks a person consumed (e.g., 10 drinks times 1.5 hours equals 15 hours before the breathalyzer would show 0.00).
Joni Rutter: They are both bad. Here's a long answer but I hope it helps.Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It is one of the oldest known psychoactive substances. Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start. See www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.
Nicotine is the primary addictive component in a cigarette. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted. So why is it addictive? With each puff of a cigarette, a smoker pulls nicotine and other harmful substances into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood. It takes just 8 seconds for nicotine to hit the brain. Nicotine happens to be shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of many chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry messages between brain cells. Neurons (brain cells) have specialized proteins called receptors, into which specific neurotransmitters can fit, like a key fitting into a lock. Nicotine locks into acetylcholine receptors, rapidly causing changes in the brain and body. For instance, nicotine increases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration (breathing). Nicotine also attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release excess dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug.
Jim Bjork: Because it can be home-grown, and is sometimes considered medically beneficial. Also, compared to other, harder drugs, it is not nearly as dangerous in terms of dying from an overdose, although there are a fair number of car accident fatalities where marijuana was involved.
Dave White: lbatrez, virtually all abusable drugs legal and illegal can be addicting because they 'highjack' the reward pathways of the brain. They initially make people feel good but with repeated use, the effects are much less, and more and more drug is needed to produce the same high as at first. At this point the person is addicted--and addicted people do drugs not to feel good anymore, but just to feel normal. It's very hard to stop on your own when this happens, because withdrawal can cause painful physical and psychological effects (see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html for more). As far as getting cancer, you're definitely more suceptible to getting cancer if you smoke cigarettes than if you don't. Thanks for your question.
What is Rohypnol?The correct answer is: C. A date rape drug. It is a kind of drug called a benzodiazepine that is used as a “date rape” drug. If it is dropped into your drink you might be awake but will not remember anything, and you could be helpless against a sexual attack. You should always be careful when out with people you do not trust or know well.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
Aaron White: The US created the 1984 law raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were getting hurt by drinking alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people killed in alcohol-related car crashes. By contrast, kids drink more heavily in places like Europe and Australia, where the drinking age is lower than 21.For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.as
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Children get pain and require pain medications. It is just important to take them as the doctor prescribes--in that case they are safe and legal.
Aaron White: Having a close family member who is an alcoholic increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic. How much it increases the odds depends on a variety of factors, including what age you start drinking yourself (younger age = greater risk).
Joni Rutter: I'm not sure about brain seizures, but here's want I do know about inhalants. They seem harmless, but they can actually be quite dangerous. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers. Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin. Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.
Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Johnson Middle School. We had similar questions about drug use during pregnancy today. We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana does get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school. So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development. Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.htmlHope this is helpful!
Drug addiction can be treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person’s specific circumstances. To find treatment programs, check out this website: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov Aaron White: For teenagers, even moderate consumption of alcohol appears to be harmful. Research shows that having alcohol during the teen years increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home. It isn't clear how much alcohol is needed to directly damage the brain during the teen years, but it is probably more than the amount of alcohol considered to be moderate for adults (no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men). Even if the brain is spared from being damaged by moderate consumption during the teen years, the risk of becoming an alcoholic is increased significantly.
Joe Frascella: Great question! Drinking alcohol and using drugs can have significant negative effects on your brain, your body, your behavior, and your health. Also, keep in mind that it is illegal to take alcohol and drugs. Your brain is developing still and drugs/alcohol can affect the normal development of your brain. You want to do all that you can to keep your brain healthy!Drug and alcohol use can result in addiction to these substances, which can lead to lots of problems and truly change your life, and keep you from achieving all those goals that you might have or want to have.
For more information on drugs and alcohol check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ and http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/.
Steve Grant: Yuck, to tell you the truth, I don't like the smell of gasoline at all. If I spill even a drop on my clothes when filling up my car, I get a bad headache. But some people do like 'huffing' gasoline and other volatile chemicals (like glue or paint thinner) because it makes them dizzy and disoriented, and they consider that to be getting 'high'. Unfortunately, inhalants are one of the types of drugs that really do kill brain cells and cause long term brain damage.
Aaron White: Statistically, yes.
Joni Rutter: Hey...thanks for your question. Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.phpSome hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens. But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:
Aaron White: All drinks containing alcohol have both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Joni Rutter: Hey Ggaibort: Believe it or not, people do sniff drugs. Nasty. Not only does it burn your nose, you may experience loss of smell, a chronically runny nose, nosebleeds, hoarseness, and problems swallowing. And, we have some great research to answer how drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
Joe Frascella: Not quite sure I know exactly what you mean by 'brainwashing' you. If you are asking if drugs can affect the brain and hijack certain brain circuits, there is growing evidence that drugs can do this. It really is the process of addiction where drugs change the brain such that we are no longer in control of our behaviors. The definition of addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drugs are needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
So I think addiction is a kind of 'brainwash'!
To learn more, check out 'The Science of Addiction' at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/.
I think drug users are losers.59% - Yes
32% - No
10% - Maybe
Marsha Lopez: Hi, thanks for your question. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors in the US reported they were current smokers (in the past month). That means about 80% don't smoke! In the same study 14% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders, and 41% of high school seniors reported they were current drinkers and about 5% of 8th, 15% of 10th, and 27% of 12th graders reported they had been drunk in the past month.
Joni Rutter: Hi, and thanks for the question, which I will answer in the context of abusing pain killers. Many people think that since pain killers are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. So it is not really true that they are safer, since more people are dying from them. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
Gaya Dowling: Thanks for the shout out!
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey jvu from Sugar Land Middle School. We do know that using drugs during pregnancy may have harmful effects on the unborn baby and on the developing child. But, the good news is that if a women stops using drugs as soon as she learns she's pregnant, that reduces the liklihood of harmful effects effects occurring. It is important that she needs to stop as soon as possible because the sooner she stops, the less likely her baby will be harmed. And if she has trouble stopping, she should talk to her doctor. To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Jim Bjork: Some drugs have essentially zero history of people actually dying from an acute overdose. Cocaine, heroin, and alcohol though (just to name a few, and especially in combination) are particularly deadly culprits.Consider too, though that people can still indirectly die from drug use if they're driving while drunk or high or otherwise doing stupid, dangerous Darwin Award stuff....
Aaron White: Wow, what a difficult position to be in. It might be helpful for you to find an adult that you trust and talk with them about this. To learn more about how to help someone you care about, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
Marsha Lopez: Hi, thanks for asking. The most popular drug used in high school is alcohol, which has been used by two thirds of high school seniors in the past year, followed by tobacco, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey. Marijuana use is third, reportedly used by about one third of high school seniors in the past year. Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, which rank after marijuana. Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
Joni Rutter: Yes. Many people who are addicted to drugs are also diagnosed with other mental disorders and vice versa. For example, compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders, with the reverse also true. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/comorbidity.html.
Aaron White: That is very hard to know. What we do know is that drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. There are many reasons that kids start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if kids see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop. And, it's not cool. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction: www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/. Joni Rutter: Pain killers are prescribed because when they are used as directed, they help people manage their pain. Unfortunately, people may disregard their doctor's orders and use the drugs in an inappropriate way. Prescription drug abuse is when someone takes a medication that was prescribed for someone else or takes their own prescription in a manner or dosage other than what was prescribed. Abuse can include taking a friend's or relative's prescription to get high, to treat pain, or because you think it will help with studying. Many people think that since they are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
While marijuana is not an FDA-approved medicine, some states have legalized its medical use.
Check out this site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/prescription-drug-abuse-whats-the-big-deal/ (ps...that's me in the video, and I did my own stunts!)
Risk factors for attempted suicide by youth include depression, alcohol or other drug-use disorder, physical or sexual abuse, and disruptive behavior. Aaron White: Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 1. Legal trouble
2. Car crashes and other accidents
3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on
The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Joe Frascella: Acid is one of the street names for LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), which can distort perceptions of reality and produce hallucinations; the effects can be frightening and cause panic. It is sold as tablets, capsules, liquid, or on absorbent paper. LSD is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. We don't have much evidence of addiction. The risk with hallucinogens is more about their unpredictability. Under the influence of hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. These drugs can also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people! LSD can also cause psychosis (visions or illusions) or flashbacks (sudden memories) even a while after the drug is taken. Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect can last as little as several hours and and as long as days, months, or years after taking the drug.
Learn more about hallucinogens at http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens.html.
Jim Bjork: This is what addiction IS! People using because they can no longer help it, even if on some level they know it's getting really bad for them!Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se. They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.
Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. The risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Scientists are hard at work trying to understand what is going on in the brain that causes it to lose control and just seek drugs on autopilot.
There are lots of different kinds of treatments for drug abuse and addiction, and some work better than others. Research has shown that some treatments successfully help people stop using drugs, and also help to solve other problems that tend to go along with drug abuse. It's hard to say why some celebrities keep going back to treatment. What we do know is that people who finish a treatment program that uses evidence based practices tend to have a much better chance of staying off drugs for good--but that often involves major changes in lifestyle -- changing where you hang out and who you hang out with. If people aren't willing to make those changes, they can easily fall back into using drugs. And even those people who do become abstinent can remain at risk for relapse for a very long time, and may require ongoing support from community groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or multiple rounds of drug treatment.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Golder Prep HS. We do not know if marijuana-addicted parents are more likely to hurt their chilren, but we do have scientific evidence to suggest that effective parenting could be impaired in marijuana-addicted parents. For example, we know that marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that in people who've used for a long time, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the short-term effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a sub-optimal intellectual level. So, if you know someone whose parents are addicted to marijuana, encourage them to talk to another trusted adult (a coach, a teacher, a clergyman, another adult relative) to get guidance about how to help the parents. We have a lot of general information about marijuana abuse and addiction. Start with our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
Steve Grant: Hallucinogens like acid (LDS) have a range of chemical structures, but they are all similar in that they interact with a specific site (known as a receptor) in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. These drugs are dangerous because the effects are highly variable and unpredictable. Some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs, even if they have taken them before and not had a problem. These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time. When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Aaron White: Yes! Absolutely. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
If you know someone who might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help.
To learn more, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
Jim Bjork: Because some species of mushrooms secrete or produce a molecule called psilocybin. This molecule affects the brain chemical system that uses serotonin. In this way, psilocybin is like a form of LSD-- a hallucinogen. Long-term damage appears to be minimal in the research literature. However, too much of it can cause panic attacks, especially if taken by accident or otherwise unexpected. Other reactions reported in research studies include violence, aggression, homicidal and suicidal attempts, nasty hallucinations, and convulsions.
Joe Frascella: Wow, what a great question! First, I would say that you might want to educate yourself as to the harmful effects of drugs, how they can interfere with what you do and want to achieve in your life, given the possibilities that drug use can lead to addiction. I guess I would suggest that you convince yourself of the harmful effects of drugs/alcohol, keeping in mind that it is illegal to use. Then I think the answer of saying no will be easier. You might want to practice ways of avoiding drugs and friends who might want to force you to join them in this behavior. Also keep in mind that all drugs of abuse and alcohol affect your brain that is still developing. Do all that you can to keep your brain healthy. You will be happy that you did!!! It IS cool to be drug and alcohol free. Lots of really cool people do not use.Thanks for this thoughtful and important question. For more information on drugs, check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
Steve Grant: Most likely because they are using drugs that are illegal or misusing drugs that are legal. So they could get arrested, get in trouble in school, or punished by their parents if they are caught. Even if a person is taking a drug prescribed by a doctor, they may feel embassed about having to take that drug. Unfortunately, when a person hides the fact that they are taking a drug they are reducing their communication with family and friends, who are in the best position to help them if they have a problem.
Dave Thomas: The most powerful pain killers are prescription opioids. Taking to much can cause depression in breathing, to the point where one stops breathing. Thus, yes, they can kill you, especially if used not as your doctor advised.
Susan Weiss: Unfortunately, we already have 2 major legal causes of premature death and disability--tobacco and alcohol. Adding a third one--marijuana--will not help the problem; it will just add to it. Many people already use marijuana and alcohol together, and there's no research to suggest that people would stop using alcohol if marijuana were more available. Also, there are risks of using marijuana: it can be addictive--someone who uses it a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their lives. About 1 in 6 teen marijuana users become addicted, and 1 in 4 if you use it every day or nearly every day; it can make people less interested in things that used to be important. And because it affects how you think and remember things, and your coordination, you may lose your competitive edge--in sports and in school. And of course smoking anything is not good for the lungs. And, although people don't overdose on marijuana--they do get into car wrecks--almost 14% of people fatally injured in car wrecks test positive for marijuana, often in combination with alcohol or other drugs. For more info on mj, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
Steve Grant: Some drugs do kill brain cells, such as volitile chemicals found in glue and other inhalants, but the bigger problem is that drugs that people take to get high can lead to long term changes in the the way that brain cells function. Recent research has found that there can be profound changes to the structure and function of the brain cells, including changes in the expression of genes. We don't know how long these changes last when you stop taking drugs or even what all of these changes do to overall brain function. So while drugs may not kill brain cells, they do change brain cells and probably not for the better.
Which is about the same size as our brain?The correct answer is: D. Two fists together. Weighing about 3 pounds, the brain is made up of many parts that all work together as a team, each with a specific and important job to do. To get an idea of how big your brain is, make two fists and hold them together, knuckles facing each other, with the heels of your palms touching. More information on the brain and what drugs do to it can be found at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
Dave White: It's commendable that you want to help your dad quit smoking. It sounds like he's trying to protect you from worrying about him. You need to be open and honest with him. Overcoming nicotine addiction can be difficult, but people are doing it every day. I'm sure he'll be successful with your help and encouragement and by letting him know that help is available. For information on tobacco addiction, see this link: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
Marsha Lopez: Hi, oawelton , thanks for asking. The most popular drug used in high school is alcohol, which has been used by two thirds of high school seniors in the past year, followed by tobacco, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey. Marijuana use is third, reportedly used by about one third of high school seniors in the past year. Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, which rank after marijuana. Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
Dave Thomas: Death is a fairly common effect of overdosing on prescription opioids, as they can stop one's breathing. Death is not common with marijuana overdose, but the risk of psychotic reactions goes up with higher doses. I suggest avoiding overdosing on anything!!!
Joe Frascella: If you are asking about cleaning solutions, that would be categorized as the class of abused drugs known as inhalants. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm.Although inhalants differ in their effects, they generally fall into the following categories:
Volatile Solvents, liquids that vaporize at room temperature, present in:
- Certain industrial or household products, such as paint thinner, nail polish remover, degreaser, dry-cleaning fluid, gasoline, and contact cement
- Some art or office supplies, such as correction fluid, felt-tip marker fluid, and electronic contact cleaner
- Spray paint, hair spray, deodorant spray, vegetable oil sprays, and fabric protector spray
One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.
Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.
Hope this helps and for more information on inhalants, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html.
Jim Bjork: I've never been detached from reality, so I wouldn't know, personally. I can say that drug folklore indicates that individual responses to LSD and other hallicinogens can vary greatly, both within individuals and between people (e.g. a 'bad trip'). People sometimes report religious experiences like seeing God.
Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
3. How much they weigh
4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Dave White: iwhite, this is an important question. The use of some drugs can definitely cause long-term health problems and permanent damage to your body. For example, using inhalants chronically can cause serious damage to vital organs including the heart, kidneys, and liver. They can also cause a permanent change or malfunction of the perihperal nerves, called polyneuropathy (see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-day-polyneuropathy/). Stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine can damage brain cells, sometimes permanently (see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html). My advice is to avoid using drugs in the first place!
Joni Rutter: Hey Jprice. Good for you, but you might consider other ways to deal with your dad's cigarette addiction. Drugs can cause people to act in funny ways when they don't get their fix. Check out this site for some advice on helping your dad quit: www.smokefree.gov/.
By age 18, more than 70 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink. Gaya Dowling: Throughout the day, we've had about 50 people helping to answer your questions.
Aaron White: That does not often happen from drinking normal beverage alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol. However, if one accidently consumed methyl alcohol, also known as 'wood' alcohol, blindness can result.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey First Colony Middle School - thanks for the question! We fund the annual Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) that has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Daily Marijuana use increased among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 2009 to 2010. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980s at 6.1%. In 2012, steady declines in cigarette smoking appear to have stalled in all three grades after several years of improvement on most measures.After several years of decline, current and past year use of Ecstasy has risen among 8th and 10th graders. This link will take you to the MTF web page where you can look at the press release with the latest data and if you want, you can even link to the complete survey (charts and all!): http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html For information about drug use among ages 12 and older, our sister agency (SAMHSA) released the latest data in September. This link will take you to the press release that highlights the findings and mentions that illicit drug use has increased from 2008 to 2010, helped by an increase in marijuana use especially among young adults: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1109075503.aspx
Dave Thomas: Most of the prescription opioids can. They are strong pain killers, but the can also kill you if you take too much or in a way they are not suppose to be taken. Always follow your doctor's instructions!
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. There are sleep medications which now are very safe if taken as directed. If they are taken in large amounts they can slow breathing and cause death. It only takes 3 minutes of not breathing to cause fatal brain damage.
Aaron White: Alcohol becomes addicive primarily because affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
You can read more about this at: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
I think drug users are cool.15% - Yes
78% - No
8% - Maybe
Jim Bjork: I do if I can keep on going past them, but mostly because they stink. Reducing my exposure to their cancer-causing chemicals is a bonus. Recent research shows that even second-hand smoke can cause chemical changes in the brain in a form a little weaker than actually puffing a cigarette directly.
Aaron White: That depends on how fast someone drinks, how much they drink and whether there is any food in the stomach. In general, the highest level of alcohol in the blood occurs roughly 45 minutes after consuming a serving, but the effects can kick in after even just a few minutes as the alcohol begins to get into the blood and goes to the brain.
Jim Bjork: 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana. This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain. These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock. While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too. A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory. THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder. Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
Joni Rutter: We scientist people are busy doing research, so we generally don't get into situations where 'random chicks' show up and claim marriage. Besides, our spouses would really be upset!! Some drugs can cause memory impairment. For a list of commonly abused drugs and their effects, go to www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.
Jim Bjork: Certain ones, absolutely. For example, certain anti-anxiety drugs, when taken in large doses, especially in combination with alcohol can depress the brain's circuit telling the body to breathe, causing death.
Joe Frascella: Yes, drugs can be very dangerous and can result in significant negative medical and health consequences, and also can result in death. As for affecting your mental health, certainly drugs are capable of producing psychological, psychiatric and neurologic problems such as psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks, seizures.For more information on the effects of drugs, check out 'Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction' at http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/. Additional resources can be found on NIDA's website, www.drugabuse.gov.
The effects of LSD (acid) are pretty scary! LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite. Learn more about LSD here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html Marsha Lopez: Hello, Allthatremains , let's get this project done! According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, fewer than 1% of Americans ages 12 and older reported nonmedical use of OxyContin® in the past year and 0.2% reported they were current users (past month). That translates to about 1,869,000 people and 564,000 people, respectively. Abot 4 in ten high school seniors say they have abused Oxycontin. The number of new nonmedical users of OxyContin® in 2010 aged 12 or older was 598,000, with an average age at first use of 22.8 years among those aged 12 to 49. Oxycontin belongs to a class of drugs called opioids. Vicodin also is an opioid. Together---there are more overdose deaths from Oxy and Vicodin than from heroin and cocaine combined!---about 15,000 deaths.
Jim Bjork: Ecstasy is worse. Some research indicates it can permanently damage the neurons in the brain that communicate using serotonin, in a brain system that helps us feel happiness. As a result, even former ecstasy users can have problems with depression even after they stop using. Acid (LSD) does not have that severe a damage profile, but I think it could still cause lapses in orientation and judgement that could get someone in a bad situation.
Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.
Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often. Aaron White: That's tough to estimate. We only know about the cases where people actually die from drinking too much. We don't know how many people go to bed drunk but wake up just fine the next day. We do know that if a person drinks alcohol shortly before going to bed, the alcohol in their stomach can continue to be absorbed while they are sleeping and the amount of alcohol in their bodies will keep going up. So, it is possible to go to sleep after drinking and then die from alcohol poisoning in your sleep. Indeed, in 1999, something similar to this happened to a student at Duke University. Rahim Bathe went out with his friends and drank a bunch of alcohol right before heading home to bed. After he put himself to bed, the alcohol in his stomach was absorbed and his blood alcohol concentration reached a dangerous level. He threw up while sleeping but, because his brain was so impaired by the alcohol, he did not wake up. He inhaled the vomit and nearly drowned in it before eventually coming to and sitting up. Unfortunately, the vomit he did inhale caused an infection in his lungs. He died in the hospital a week later.
Steve Grant: Hallucinogens have a range of chemical structures, but they are all similar in that they interact with a specific site (known as a receptor) in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. These drugs are dangerous because the effects are highly variable and unpredictable. Some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs, even if they have taken them before and not had a problem. These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time. Aaron White: Drinking just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!!
Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Jim Bjork: Cocaine is a type of drug called a 'stimulant'. It increases the amount of a chemical (neurotransmitter) called dopamine that neurons use to communicate with each other. These dopamine neurons are concentrated in the reward centers of the brain--this can result in a 'high' or improved mood, but can also lead to addiction over time, and people can feel depressed when they don't have cocaine in their system.
Aaron White: Most likely no. Methane is a colorless, odorless gas given off by animals and other sources in nature and contributes to global warming. I can't imagine that someone could become addicted to methane.
A 2010 study found that a small percentage of high school students abuse OxyContin- 2% of 8th graders, 5% of 10th graders and 5% of 12th graders. However, OxyContin abuse can lead to dangerous addiction for those who use. Dave Thomas: Tobacco is the deadliest drug -- 440,000 deaths each year in the United States. Take a look at our web site for more information about the dangers of tobacco. We have more info. about nicotine online on our teen site -- go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php. This site contains a lot of info. about drug abuse and addiction and includes some neat games and interactives, so take a look at the whole site -- teens.drugabuse.gov. Many drugs that don't kill you, mess up your life in general. Thus, depending on how you define 'worst' the answer changes... Bottom line, they all are bad for various reasons...
Steve Grant: This is a very controversial question. These drugs are often called psychotomimetic because they produce effects that seem similar to psychotic disorders, such as delusional thinking or sensory distortions. However, further studies found that the effects of these drugs are different in many ways from pscychotic disorders. But what is most dangerous about these drugs is that the effects are unpredictable. Some people have severe adverse reactions when they take these drugs, even if they had taken them before and not had a problem. These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted by them for a long time.
Dave White: 120136 sounds like a Van Halen album (look it up). OK, maybe not. Anyway, many people start smoking for reasons like peer pressure or to try something new, or often because they grew up around a lot of smoking. After people smoke for a while, they become dependent on cigarettes and have a really hard time quitting. As you know, smoking is really bad for your health and very $$-so best not to start. See http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/tag/smoking/ for more...
Dave Thomas: Yes, abusing drugs can kill you. Smoking cigarettes results in close to half a million deaths a year. Abusing prescription opioids accounts for nearly 15,000 deaths a year. The list goes on and on!!!!www.teens.drugabuse.gov, a Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities.
Joni Rutter: Hey Yvigil. It depends. Drinking and drugs are certainly a bad combination. For example, mixing alcohol with certain medications can result in very serious health effects. Cocaine alone is bad, too -- and it can be even more dangerous if combined with alcohol. According to data from the 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), almost one million emergency department visits involved an illicit drug. Cocaine alone was involved in 422,896 ED visits. Alcohol (either alone or in combination with other drugs) was involved in 658,263 of all drug abuse emergency department visits. Better to just say away from them altogether.
Joni Rutter: You bet. Especially drugs that are smoked. People can be affected by second-hand smoke.
Aaron White: It certainly can. In the long-term, alcohol can damage the brain, particular if the person drinking is under the age of 21. The teenage years are a very important time for brain development. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Many teens abuse prescription drugs. How do most get them?The correct answer is: B. They get them from a friend or relative. Most high school seniors who abused prescription drugs got them for free from a friend or relative; very few get them from the Internet.
Aaron White: In general, no. All alcoholic beverages contain the same key ingredient -- ethyl alcohol.
Aaron White: First of all, if you're under age 21, drinking is not good for you and it is illegal. Even moderate consumption of wine (up to 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men) can affect your brain development, and may also increase your risk of having alcohol-related problems later in your life. For people 21 and older, moderate consumption of wine appears to be okay and might even help the heart stay healthy. Drinking at levels beyond moderation, however, increase the risk of cancers and other diseases.
Jim Bjork: They often start in order to fit in socially, because friends and others around them all do.They keep smoking in part because for some people it soothes their nerves, and for schizophrenics, nicotine can make their disordered minds work more clearly.
All too often, people keep smoking even though they would rather not, because they are addicted to smoking. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing cigarettes or alcohol, and ultimately the high or other mood effect. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin.
Steve Grant: Hallucinogens like LSD, mescaline and psilocybine ('shrooms) work by interacting with a site in the brain (known as a receptor) that is impacted by a chemical (known as a neurotransmitter) that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. While hallucinogens like psilocybine and LSD do not lead to addiction in the usual sense, for one thing the body becomes tolerant to these drugs very quickly so you can't take them every day, or even every week, some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs. These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
Susan Weiss: there is no evidence for that.
Joni Rutter: Hey cramirez -- AGAIN. You are on fire with the questions. Good job. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start.
For more proof, just check out this story . . . Leonard Kevin 'Len' Bias (November 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986) was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat) induced by a cocaine overdose. He is considered by some sportswriters to be one of the greatest players not to play at the professional level. Cocaine can definitely kill you.
See http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.
Joe Frascella: Some drugs can. For example:anabolic steroids can lower sex drive
marijuana can lower sperm count
ecstasy and poppers are often abused to enhance sexual arousal.
Thanks for a great question.
Heading to college? Learn the facts about drinking in college here:http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/snapshot.aspx
Susan Weiss: Probably not. Whatever economic gains might come will be offset by the health and other costs that will result from the increased availability and use of marijuana. These are difficult calculations to make, and there remains a lot of disagreement about the numbers. As a public health agency, we at NIDA are especially worried about the effects on young people--who's brains are still developing and who need to be at their best to succeed in school and thereafter. More marijuana availability, and even less perceived risk associated with its use could have serious consequences--we're still learning what early exposure to marijuana does to brain development and to vulnerability to other drug taking as well.
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Joni Rutter: You can definitely die from heroin if you take a high dose. For more information on heroin, go here: www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html.
Joe Frascella: It’s hard to answer this question directly. It is not generally thought that junk foods are necessarily addictive, although there is growing evidence that for some people certain foods can be 'addictive'. We do know that nicotine is a very addicting drug and the use of nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products kills more people than any other drug. For more information on smoking and nicotine, check out this link: http://www.smokefree.gov/.
Aaron White: The laws vary greatly from state to state, but in most states, this is illegal. There are about 16 states that do allow parents to serve alcohol to their underage children. Check out this map to learn more about the laws in your state:http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/Furnishing_Alcohol_to_Minors.html
Steve Grant: Yes, age does affect the way drugs and medicines act in the body. Unfortunately, most studies of medicines are conducted in adults, so we don't know exactly all the ways age can change the way a medicine works. We do know that older people may inactivate or absorb drugs at a different rate, making it likely that they would need more or less than a younger adults. And the brains of children and teens are still developing, and we don't know how drugs may impact brain development. If you look on the package of prescription or over-the-counter drugs (like cold medicine), you will often see that the different amounts are recomended for different ages. We do know that harmful drugs, like marijuana or cocaine, can have a strong effect on young people because their brains are still developing.
Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to give a timeline for addiction to take hold because it depends on the drug and the person. Addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.We know this, though. Once you try drugs, you are at a much higher risk of becoming addicted.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It is really hard when someone you care about is hurting themselves. You can help him by getting him to get help. It would be great if you could talk to a responsible adult at school or in the family. There is a treatment locater on the SAMHSA.gov website where he could get help: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. He could also go to a 12-step group or AA to get help. Best wishes to you and grandpa.
Jim Bjork: Hi! Thanks for writing!Drugs (of abuse) are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems. Jim Bjork: Actually, most of them, if you take more than your body can handle. Cocaine is particularly dangerous because it is a stimulant that increases heart rate and blood pressure and could cause a heart attack or stroke. Heroin and alcohol, especially in combination, could cause problems by depressing the respiratory system, causing the brain to stop telling the lungs to breathe. These are just a couple of examples.
Dave White: So, what is your mom smoking? Cigarettes or marijuana? Either way, it's fantastic that you want to help your mom stop smoking. Smoking puts your mom at risk for cancer and many other things she really doesn't want...but studies have shown that when someone stops smoking, their health risks rapidly decrease--sometimes to levels as if they had never smoked. Overcoming nicotine or marijuana addiction can be difficult, but with help and encouragement, and by letting her know that help is available, she can definitely do it. For tobacco addiction, see this link: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. There are many strong pain medications and it depends on the dose or amount you take. Morphine is the standard medication that all medications are compared to. Some more powerful medications are oxycodone, fentanyl and dilaudid to name a few. If you overdose, you can stop breathing. It only takes 3 minutes to become brain dead; and you can die. You might be interested in our website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Gaya Dowling: People tend to begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons: to feel good (most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure), to feel better (because they think it will make them feel less anxious, depressed, or stressed), to do better (because they think it will improve concentration or athletic performance), or because they are curious and want to fit in. At first, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects with drug use. They also may believe that they can control their use; however, drugs can quickly take over their lives. Over time, if drug use continues, pleasurable activities become less pleasurable, and drug abuse becomes necessary for abusers to simply feel 'normal.' Drug abusers reach a point where they seek and take drugs, despite the tremendous problems caused for themselves and their loved ones.
We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week. Jim Bjork: This is not really known. What we DO know is that when pregnant women smoke tobacco, the babies frequently have smaller brain size than normal, and also show a greater likelihood of having behavior problems as young children. But we don't know why this is- whether neurons die, or they just fail to grow as they should. Serious stuff. As for people damaging their OWN brain by smoking, brain scan studies comparing smokers with non-smokers show that certain parts of the brain have different shapes or thickness of gray matter in smokers, and also the white matter, which is like the superhighway of nerve cells connecting to one another.Honestly, the greater risk is probably cancer than lost neurons. Also, as adults age, they naturally lose neurons over the lifespan.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Bethanne in Iowa. I think you are correct that many people start smoking or using drugs because they they think it's cool or may help them in some way. And you know, in short run, smoking or using drugs can have effects that people like, and not just the highs they produce. Both, for example, might make someone feel less stressed or may make them fit in better with a certain group of people. But, as you know, even in the short term, drugs can kill such as through accidents or overdoses. Far too often, people do not think about the consequences that drugs can have because they are focusing on the short-term benefits. That's why Chat Day and the drug abuse information found on NIDA website is so imporant. And for smart people like you, it is important for you to share this information with your friends and loved ones who need the facts. Check out our site for teens (including the newest part of that site that covers prescription drug abuse that's called PEERx). www.teens.drugabuse.gov and www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/. Susan Weiss: I wish they would. They are making efforts though. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given regulatory authority over the tobacco industry--that means they can begin to set policies that will reduce the harmfulness of tobacco products. It's just beginning, but we can hope that eventually we will see a world without tobacco and nicotine addiction and all the resulting illnesses and suffering that goes with it.
Dave Thomas: I do not know about all drugs, but smoking really makes one's breath stink. I think the concept is, stinky in-stinky out. That is not scientific, sorry, but that is the basic idea...
Marsha Lopez: Hello, Iowa! The most commonly used drug in America is alcohol, with more than half of Americans ages 12 and older asked in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reporting they currently drink alcohol. If you are asking about illicit drugs, the most commonly used is marijuana, with about 7% responding they currently use (past month) marijuana.
What drugs are associated with risky sexual behavior that could lead to HIV infection?The correct answer is: E. All of the above. All drugs of abuse can affect judgment and decision-making, which can lead to risky behaviors like having unprotected (or even non-consensual) sex. This puts people at risk for acquiring HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Check out NIDA's Learn the Link site at http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/learn/overview.html
Steve Grant: Probably not. Your nose is very sensitive and can detect very small amount of chemicals. In fact, the nose is so sensitive precisely so that you get an 'early warning' when there may be something harmful in the environment. If the smell bothers you, though, just move away.
Joe Frascella: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone. “Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and “androgenic” refers to increased male sexual characteristics. “Steroids” refers to the class of drugs. These drugs can be legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS.Some people, both athletes and non-athletes, abuse AAS in an attempt to enhance performance and/or improve physical appearance. AAS are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles rather than continuously. “Cycling” refers to a pattern of use in which steroids are taken for periods of weeks or months, after which use is stopped for a period of time and then restarted. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids in an attempt to maximize their effectiveness, a practice referred to as “stacking.”
The immediate effects of AAS in the brain are mediated by their binding to androgen (male sex hormone) and estrogen (female sex hormone) receptors on the surface of a cell. This AAS–receptor complex can then shuttle into the cell nucleus to influence patterns of gene expression. Because of this, the acute effects of AAS in the brain are substantially different from those of other drugs of abuse. The most important difference is that AAS are not euphorigenic, meaning they do not trigger rapid increases in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for the “high” that often drives substance abuse behaviors. However, long-term use of AAS can eventually have an impact on some of the same brain pathways and chemicals—such as dopamine, serotonin, and opioid systems—that are affected by other drugs of abuse. Considering the combined effect of their complex direct and indirect actions, it is not surprising that AAS can affect mood and behavior in significant ways.
Hope this is helpful. For a good description of steroids, check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
Marsha Lopez: Thanks for your question! According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use in 2010. After alcohol, which more than half the population uses, marijuana is the most frequently used drug, used by about 7%, followed by psychotherapeutics, cocaine and hallucinogens (see table below).
Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives.
Marsha Lopez: According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 7% of Americans ages 12 and older report they currently (past month) smoke weed.
Aaron White: The legal drinking age was raised to 21 because too many young people were being hurt by alcohol. Raising it to 21 resulted in a big reduction in the number of young people being killed in alcohol-related car crashes. The decision to raise the drinking age to 21 was made before researchers started studying the teenage brain and how alcohol effects it. Now we know that the brain keeps growing until after the age of 21 and that alcohol can damage the teenage brain. So, it turns out that a drinking age of 21 makes sense from a brain standpoint, too! For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question-- that is a tough situation. Please see our site that has much information and will be a great starting point for you: www.smoking.drugabuse.gov.
According to a 2010 study, 13.8% of 8th graders drank alcohol in the past month. Jim Bjork: LSD is shorthand for 'Lysergic acid diethylamide,' also called 'acid.' LSD is a type of drug called a hallucinogen, and works in part by stimulating the brain's serotonin chemical system to bring about visions and other experiences that aren't real. For some interesting facts about hallucinogens, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php. Aaron White: It appears that alcohol triggers vomiting in two different ways. One is by irritating the stomach. There also is an area of the brain that monitors the contents of the blood for toxins. If the level of alcohol in the blood reaches a high enough level, the area triggers vomiting. Regardless of which way vomiting is triggered, it is an indication that the body feels threatened by the high level of alcohol in the system and is trying desparately to get rid of the alcohol to protect itself.
Jim Bjork: It depends. For some kids, it's about trying to be cool and 'fit in' with their friends who are either trying out drugs or even using them regularly. This is especially true for smoking. Young people with histories of behavior problems, may have 'impulsive' or sensation-seeking personalities, and are at particular risk for trying drugs, using drugs regularly, and eventually becoming addicted to drugs.
Steve Grant: 'shrooms are a specific species of mushroom that contain the chemical psilocybin. Psilocybin produces effects similiar to LSD. It interacts with a type of receptor in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. You can either smoke or eat these drugs - but either way they are harmful. While hallucinogens like psilocybine and LSD do not lead to addiction in the usual sense, for one thing the body become tolerant to these drugs very quickly so you can't take them every day, or even every week, some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs. These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
Jim Bjork: Hiya. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se. They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. The risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Scientists are hard at work trying to understand what is going on in the brain that causes it to lose control and just seek drugs on autopilot.
There are lots of different kinds of treatments for drug abuse and addiction, and some work better than others. Research has shown that some treatments successfully help people stop using drugs, and also help to solve other problems that tend to go along with drug abuse. It's hard to say why some celebrities keep going back to treatment. What we do know is that people who finish a treatment program that uses evidence based practices tend to have a much better chance of staying off drugs for good--but that often involves major changes in lifestyle -- changing where you hang out and who you hang out with. If people aren't willing to make those changes, they can easily fall back into using drugs. And even those people who do become abstinent can remain at risk for relapse for a very long time, and may require ongoing support from community groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or multiple rounds of drug treatment.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. The medications have addicting properties. This is minimized by taking the medication only when prescribed and as prescribed. Check out our website: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/.
Dave White: Hi ckelly, this is a very important question. Despite what many people think, marijuana is indeed addicitve. Approximately 9% of people who smoke marijuana eventually become addicted to it--moreso when they start as teens. People can also experience a number of withdrawal symptoms (signifying addiction) when they try to quit, including irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings. The effects can last several weeks but will eventually get better. For more information check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html and our updated teen booklet on marijuana: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
You have heard about binge drinking---but do you really know what that means? We have alcohol experts on the chat who can answer your questions about it. Dave Thomas: These are a lot of types of cough drops. I would check the package and not eat more than they recommend. Why not just eat candy for fun??? I mean yesterday WAS Halloween!!!
Gaya Dowling: Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
Marsha Lopez: I can tell you that about 10 people out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. under the age of 24 die from drug overdoses. So in a city of a a million people, 100 people under the age of 24 will die from overdoses. But that doesn't even count the number of people who take drugs and drive, killing themsleves and other people, or get into fights while high and kill someone.
Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Aaron White: Yes, absolutely. Here are the key risk factors:Having a family history - Both the genes related to having a family history of alcohol use and being raised in a home where you see others drinking increases your risk for alcohol problems.
Starting to drink early - Someone who has their first drink at age 14 is around twice as likely to become an alcoholic at some point in life as someone who starts drinking at 18.
Joe Frascella: Brief answer is to understand that drugs can be quite harmful to your body, brain, and overall health (for information about the dangers of drug abuse see www.teens.drugabuse.gov). Also understand that repeated use of drugs can result in addiction, which is a changed brain...a brain disease. With addiction, it is very difficult to control one's drug use, which can have severe negative consequences, both medically and legally. If stopping is difficult, I would suggest that you seek help, as it is often very difficult to stop without some help. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
For more information on facts on drugs, real stories, and interactive activities check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov. If you need help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dave Thomas: Methamphetamine is well know to have a very awful impact on people's teeth. It reduces the amount of saliva around your teeth - causing what is often called 'meth mouth' (google it- totally gross!). For more information on meth and other drugs, check out the Sara Bellum blog at www.teens.drugabuse.gov/blog.
I know someone who started smoking and wishes he could quit.57% - Yes
31% - No
12% - Maybe
Susan Weiss: Well for one thing, the numbers of people who are in treatment for marijuana addiction--about 350,000 in 2009. Among youth, more than 2/3rd of those in treatment are there for marijuana addiction. But there's more, marijuana has similar effects on the reward system of the brain as other abused drugs; and long term users experience a withdrawal syndrome when they quit--making it hard to quit. Still, not everyone who uses becomes addicted--some people are more resilient. But the same could be said for heroin, and no one would question its addictiveness.
Marsha Lopez: Good question. According to the University of Michigan's 2010 Monitoring the Future survey around 29% of 8th graders, 41% of 10th graders, and 50% of high school seniors reported they have tried drugs (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders) at least once in their lifetime. Is that more teens than you were expecting or fewer?
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. None of the pain medications sold over the counter in the US are addictive. They can cause other problems if not taken as directed. Some countries sell weak codiene pills which can be addictive--but these are not sold in the US.NIDA's teen prescription drug site might be interesting: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx.
Marsha Lopez: We don't quite keep statistics that way but I can tell you that about 10 people out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. under the age of 24 die from drug overdoses. So in a city of 500,000 people, 50 people under the age of 24 will die from overdoses. But that doesn't even count the number of people who take drugs and drive, killing themsleves and other people. Plus--- it doesn't count people who get into fights while high and kill someone with a gun, a knife or with thier fists etc.Those are harder statistics to get.
To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. There are many reasons that people start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. For smoking, stress is a common reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop. And, it's not cool. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction: www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/. Jim Bjork: When pregnant women smoke tobacco products, the babies frequently have smaller brain size than normal, and also show a greater likelihood of having behavior problems as young children. But we don't know why this is- whether neurons die, or they just fail to grow as they should. Serious stuff. As for people damaging their OWN brain by smoking, brain scan studies comparing smokers with non-smokers show that certain parts of the brain have different shapes or thickness of gray matter in smokers, and also the white matter, which is like the superhighway of nerve cells connecting to one another.
Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has its main effects in the brain. The effects of meth on the brain can lead to memory loss, learning impairment, movement disorders, and addiction. Use of crystal meth can lead to cardiac (heart) and neurological damage. Behaviorally, meth can lead to aggression, violence, and psychotic behavior. For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html.Ecstasy, a drug which has both stimulant and psychedelic properties, is often taken for the feelings of well-being, stimulation, and the distortions in time and sensory perceptions that it produces. MDMA first became popular in the 'rave' and all-night party scene because it allowed users to have increased energy and endurance, so people use this drug to dance all night. However, there are some negatives that one must be aware of relative to the rave scene...and that is, the drug can result in dehydration, exhaustion, and hyperthermia (increased body temperature) that can be fatal.
Hope this helps. There is certainly much more information on MDMA/ecstasy at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html
When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Joni Rutter: Thanks for your great question. Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. It alters brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--marijuana can cause someone to do something dangerous when they are high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having their grades drop, or seeing their athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term marijuana is addictive. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp.
Steve Grant: I'm not going to tell you, because you already are successfully avoiding those places <grin>. Seriously, you should avoid associating with other kids who use drugs, including any parties that they may have.
Joni Rutter: Hey cramirez. Great question -- you know your stuff! Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted. So why is it addictive? With each puff of a cigarette, a smoker pulls nicotine and other harmful substances into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood. It takes just 8 seconds for nicotine to hit the brain. Nicotine happens to be shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of many chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry messages between brain cells. Neurons (brain cells) have specialized proteins called receptors, into which specific neurotransmitters can fit, like a key fitting into a lock. Nicotine locks into acetylcholine receptors, rapidly causing changes in the brain and body. For instance, nicotine increases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration (breathing). Nicotine also attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release excess dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug. Nicotine may be the primary addictive component in tobacco but it’s not the only ingredient that is biologically important. Using advanced neuroimaging technology, scientists have found that people who smoke have a significant reduction in the levels of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain and throughout the body. This enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of dopamine, other neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, and in a variety of bodily functions. Having lower amounts of MAO in the brain may lead to higher dopamine levels and be another reason that people who smoke continue to do so—to sustain the pleasurable feelings that high dopamine levels create.
About 80% of 12th graders don’t use cigarettes, and about 91% of 12th graders don’t use smokeless tobacco. Aaron White: In the US, people prefer beer, then wine, then liquor.
Steve Grant: Overdoses of drugs taken to get 'high' don't cause blindness or deafness, but more typically produce death by supppressing breathing, or by causing heart attacks or stroke. Some medications that are used to treat diseases can produce hearing and vision impairments, but physicians are trained to manage those risks.
Aaron White: A good but tricky question. There really isn't a specific amount of alcohol a person has to drink to become addicted, and only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
If you think your friend or his step-brother might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help.
To learn more about how to help a friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
Susan Weiss: why would you want to? that can only be bad.
Jim Bjork: Usually a chemical called Toluene, which can be found in model airplane glue, for example. Huffing is dangerous though, due to all the chemicals being snorted, not just the ones that might give someone a high. Repeated or long-term use can cause damage to the brain (some permanent) that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-can-inhaling-sharpie-markers-make-you-high/.
Dave Thomas: Vicodin is a combination of two analgesic products hydrocodone and acetaminophen and is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone is an opioid, and a strong a pain killer, but opioids also have abuse and addiction potential. All opioids should only be used as prescribed by a doctor.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It often depends on the drug and how long you have been using or have been addicted. In general, it is a much easier road to travel to get help. Help has many forms from AA or 12 step groups to formal treatment. You will be evaluated and get the level of help you need. On the SAMHSA website there is a treatment locater that will help someone find a treatment evaluation: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
Dave White: Hey wramirez, doing drugs can definitely affect different aspects of brain function. For example, marijuana use can impair short-term memory and cause problems with thinking and problem-solving. You can still be intelligent, but drugs can definitely keep you from fulfilling its potential.
Some people mistakenly believe that “everybody’s doing it” and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves. Well, they need to check the facts, because that’s just not true. According to a 2010 study, about 8% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 21%of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey. Susan Weiss: The medicines that doctors prescribe have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use to treat certain medical conditions. That means they have been through rigorous clinical trials showing them to be safe and have benefits for that condition that exceed their risks. The problem is abuse of these medications--if the medication is not prescribed for you, then it may not be safe for you. A doctor takes into account not just the patient's symptoms or disease, but also their age, what other drugs they may be taking, and what other health problems they may also have. That helps the doctor prescribe a medication safely. Taking someone elses prescription medications or taking them at higher doses or by other routes of administration can be very dangerous--the evidence being increases in treatment admissions, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths linked to presciption drug abuse--especially opioid painkillers.
Dave Thomas: Sharpie ink includes propanol, butanol, and diacetone alcohols. These are part of a class of chemicals called inhalants. This class of drugs is huge, and includes lots of cleaners, glues, and gasses. Their primary way of getting a person high is to restrict oxygen to the brain!For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Kris Bough: Not exactly. People use patches to help them quit smoking because they contain one of the most addictive substances in cigarettes (nicotine) which is released more slowly and steadily absorbed and distributed throughout the body/brain. This more slow and steady uptake and distribution helps a person avoid the need for a cigarette and in some instances quit for good. Also, you aren't inhaling the awful smoke from cigarettes, which contains thousands of chemicals! Good luck and thanks for your question!
Dave Thomas: I assume you are talking about abused drugs. Most abused drugs are either stimulants or depressants and impact behavior. Stimulants tend to increase behavior whereas depressants tend to depress behavior. 'Impairment' depends on the context. Stimulants will make a person jittery, and impair tasks that require fine motor skills. Depressants make a person slow and sleepy, thus driving cars or operating machinery is problematic.
Jim Bjork: Hiya. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se. They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Marsha Lopez: The most commonly used drug in America is alcohol, with more than half of Americans ages 12 and older asked in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reporting they currently drink alcohol. If you are asking about illicit drugs, the most commonly used is marijuana, with about 9% responding they currently use (past month) marijuana.
Dave Thomas: Doctors prescribe nicotine gum or patches as medication to help people quit smoking. Nicotine in these forms is much safer than cigarettes, which contain at least 4000 other chemical in addition to nicotine, some of which contribute to cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. However, like other medications, nicotine has side effects, and people should see their doctors before starting to use it.
Steve Grant: Depends, some drugs decrease your appetite and some increase your appetite, especially for sugary foods.
Which of the following is associated with teenage drinking?The correct answer is: D. All of these, plus school failure and injuries, are associated with teenage drinking.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
Joe Frascella: I don't think that's the right approach. If someone chooses to abuse drugs, that is a bad decision. There are a number of reasons that lead someone to make that bad decision initially. However, keep in mind that with continued drug use, addiction can occur, which is no longer a voluntary action on the part of the abuser. The person's brain changes, and he or she is no longer able to control their drug use.You might want to consider talking with the person about his or her problem and suggest that they get help as drugs clearly can have many harmful effects on the brain, body, and on one's behavior. You can help them find a doctor, therapist, support group or treatment program by visiting the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or calling 1-800-662-HELP.
The more you know about substance abuse, the more you will be able to help. A great place to start is NIDA's website: www.drugabuse.gov. In particular, check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.html, a helpful summary of treatment approaches.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey Riverside Junior High, thank you for asking that question. It is a very important question. Lots of things happen to the baby (and then later on to the developing child) when the mom smokes during pregnancy. Carbon monoxide and nicotine from tobacco smoke may interfere with the oxygen supply to the fetus, which can impact brain development. Nicotine readily crosses the placenta and concentrations in the baby can be as much as 15 percent higher than maternal levels. Nicotine concentrates in the baby's blood, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. Altogether these factors can have severe consequences for the baby in the womb and infants and children of smoking mothers. Smoking during pregnancy caused an estimated 910 infant deaths annually from 1997 through 2001 and neonatal care costs related to smoking are estimated to be more than $350 million per year. The adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy can include growth retardation of the fetus and decreased birthweight. The more a woman smokes during pregnancy, the greater the reduction of infant birthweight. These newborns also display signs of stress and drug withdrawal consistent with what has been reported in infants exposed to other drugs. In some cases, smoking during pregnancy may be associated with spontaneous abortions and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as learning and behavioral problems and an increased risk of obesity in children. In addition, smoking more than one pack a day during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk that the affected child will become addicted to tobacco if that child starts smoking. So, you can see that a women who becomes pregnant should never start smoking, and if she is already a smoker when she becomes pregnant, she should stop immediately. If she has trouble stopping, there is help.Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
Joni Rutter: Hey, SSHS18 in Nevada. Nope, we're all kickin' it with coffee. Seriously, Dude, smoking a joint is illegal and it's dangerous. Did you know that people who smoke joints can experience extreme anxiety (panic attacks) or psychotic reactions (where they lose touch with reality and may become paranoid)? And people can and do injure themselves because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination. For example, marijuana affect the skills you need to drive (e.g., concentration, reaction time) so people can injure themselves and others if they drive while under the influence. For more information on marijuana, see: www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html. Thanks for sending us your question and keeping it lively! Marsha Lopez: The group that dies the most from overdoses is people from age 25-54---with the highest rate being from 45-54. Many of these are people who started drug use when they were younger, became addicted, led a difficult life of addiction, and eventually their luck ran out. Others are people who started abusing prescripton drugs ---mostly painkillers---and became addicted. Some are people who had tried to quit drugs, and when they relapsed, took such a high dose it killed them.
Richard Denisco: Thanks for the question mwise. It is hard when a family member you care about smokes. You can not make them do anything but you sure can help them. We have some advice for you on this website: http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
Jim Bjork: Angel Dust is a slang term for phencyclidine (also called 'PCP'). This is a type of drug call a hallucinogen. It can cause hallucinations (visions and experiences that aren't real) and great confusion, and can promote aggressiveness and suicidality. It is not used that often, which is a very good thing! For more information about PCP, this is a great website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal5.php.
Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine COMBINED? For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php Jim Bjork: A mind-altering herb, common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. See http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/salvia.html for some interesting facts.
Joni Rutter: With computers, who uses white out anymore? I'm guessing you mean white out is used to get high from inhaling. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers. Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin. Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.
Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
Aaron White: No, not at all. In fact, every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Steve Grant: Yes, very much so. And chronic use can lead to heart disease as well as dysfunction of many other parts of your body, including your brain. Its better to stay away from steroids!
Stimulants like cocaine cause the body’s blood vessels to narrow, constricting the flow of blood, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. The heart may work so hard that it temporarily loses its natural rhythm. This is why there have been many cases of people dying suddenly from heart attacks after using cocaine. More information on stimulants can be found here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim2.php Aaron White: This actually is not the case. Anyone involved in a drunk driving accident can be seriously injured or die.
Lori Ducharme: Great question, and it's great to see teens who really want to help the people they care about. Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make quitting easier. Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Aaron White: There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.
Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories. It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
Lori Ducharme: If you are worried about your own personal safety, then ignoring the problem is never a good idea. Before you can effectively help a family member, you first have to help yourself. For starters, don't put yourself in a situation that can end badly -- for example, don't get in a car with someone who's high, no matter what. Find an adult ou trust -- a school guidance counselor, a favorite teacher, one of your friends' parents -- and seek advice from them, or a place to stay if necessary. Take care.
Steve Grant: Yes, very much so. Shakespeare said it best when he said that alcohol 'increases desire, but takes away performance' That is pretty much the same story with all drugs. And sex may initially seem better under the influence of the drugs, but over time taking the drugs can become more important than sex. Worse yet, drugs can impair parts of your brain involved in judgement and decision making, so you may be more likely to engage in risky sexual actvities that can increase the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, herpes, and many other terrrible diseases.
Wow! We are impressed by these great questions---we are answering them as fast as we can! Aaron White: That would be extremely dangerous. Because babies are so small, even a small amount of alcohol could be enough to kill them by suppressing activity in areas of the brain critical for keeping them alive.
Aaron White: Alcohol is dangerous because it affects every organ system in the body, especially the central nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Jim Bjork: Certain kinds of drugs, like pot or LSD are called hallucinogens, work in part by stimulating the brain's serotonin chemical system. In addition, certain drugs release dopamine, such as amphetamine and cocaine, where too much sudden release of dopamine could cause hallucination. For some interesting facts about hallucinogens, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php.
Kris Bough: Cigarettes contain over 4000 different chemicals including 'tar'. Tar may stain your teeth over time. Be kind to your teeth...don't smoke! For more info, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Joni Rutter: Great question! It is actually the nicotine in tobacco that is addictive. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Nicotine attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release extra dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted. Hope this helps.
Marsha Lopez: Hello, Bethanne C! According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use in 2010. Though that translates to nearly 23 million people, it still means that more than 90% of Americans aren't using!
Lori Ducharme: Hey there. First, don't panic. It's good that you recognize this effect and you can now protect yourself better when you are working on your hobby. Paint and glue and other similar volatile substances are called inhalants and are breathable chemical vapors. Some people intentionally inhale them because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, you can experience a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. However, we don't want anyone to give up a hobby they love -- just be careful. If you read the instructions on your materials, they will surely say that you should only use them in a well-ventilated area -- you need open windows and fresh air circulating, or you can buy a mask that is made to help filter the air you're breathing. And find a new space to work if needed -- it's not worth accidentally harming yourself. See http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php for more, and here's a blog on the subject: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/national-inhalants-poison-prevention-week-march-20-26-2011/. Kris Bough: Yes. Smoking weed affects your judgment and impairs your coordination--take an example of driving while being impaired by weed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s study: in 2009, among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit --including marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter), an increase from 13 percent in 2005. Also, marijuana use canlead to emphysema, which can be deadly. For more info, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php#what_is_it, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/ Interested in learning more about pregnancy and drug abuse? Check out NIDA's Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse fact sheet: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html Marsha Lopez: Hey, zpacker, good question. The Monitoring the Future Study is a National survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes. In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders). About 1/4 of high school seniors reported they had used in the past month. Is that more students or fewer than you were expecting? And if you read between the lines you will see that most kids are NOT doing drugs.
Susan Weiss: One reason is that they are becoming more and more available--the numbers of prescription drugs have been rising, and people who report non-medical use (or abuse) of these drugs most often report getting them from friends or family members. So they are available, and many people mistakenly believe they are safe since they are prescribed by a physician. But they are not safe if they are not taken as directed or if they are not prescribed for you. As a result we are seeing increases in treatment admissions, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths resulting from prescription drugs--especially opiate painkillers.
Aaron White: Drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A developing fetus does not get drunk the same way an adult would, but a range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. The main change is a change in the person's behavior; they are either more active or more sedated than usual. All of us have a day or two that we are a little different but you can tell when it is continuous and affects grades, the person does not want to go out with friends, is secretive and/or changes their friends. There are other physical signs like needle marks, but that is extreme and behavior change is the most common.I have been to parties where parents serve alcohol to kids.31% - Yes
53% - No
15% - Maybe
Marsha Lopez: The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes. In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders). In the same study 29% of 8th graders, 52% of 10th graders, and 65% of high school seniors reported having used alcohol at some point in the past year and about 12% of 8th, 30% of 10th, and 44% of 12th graders reported they had been drunk in the past year.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. First, the good news: Smoking is at historically low levels among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, according to NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study. The bad news is that the decline in youth smoking appears to be leveling off. In 2010, rates for smoking in the past month were reported as 19.2 percent for 12th graders, 13.6 percent for 10th graders, and 7.1 percent for 8th graders. Use of smokeless tobacco had been showing a decline over the past decade—until 2009, when use began to rise. According to the study, in 2010 current use of smokeless tobacco among 8th graders was 4.1 percent and 7.5 percent among 10th graders. Among 12th graders, 8.5 percent reported using smokeless tobacco in the last month, a number not seen since the late 1990s.There are many reasons that people start smoking. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. So, they may have been from a family of many smokers, or they are around environments that encourage smoking. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. Stress is also a reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that smoking is addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop. And, it's not cool. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question, Inhalants are some of the most dangerous drugs around. They are one of the few classes of drugs that cause irreversible brain damage the first time they are used. See: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html for more info.
Kris Bough: Inhalants - like those coming from sniffing glue - are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale to get high. The substances inhaled are often common household products that contain volatile solvents, or aerosols. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. For more info, please check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/inhalants.html; Want to know what other teens think about inhalants? Check out - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php Marsha Lopez: Nicotine and alcohol are the most commonly used drugs, but marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health more than 17% of Americans ages 12 and older report current (past month) marijuana use.
Lori Ducharme: Well, our treatment system would be a lot less expensive if slapping worked, but we don't have any evidence that it would succeed as a long-term strategy! Recovery from drug addiction is a complex process -- NIDA scientists have spent years researching medications as well as behavioral (counseling) strategies that work for people with drug addiction problems. To learn more about science-based drug abuse treatment, check out our publication, 'Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment,' at http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html.
Do the actors in your favorite movie smoke? Research says that teens who see a lot of smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking themselves. Sometimes characters smoke to look edgy and rebellious; but sometimes it’s just about “product placement”— the tobacco industry trying to get into your head and your pockets. Richard Denisco: Hey and thanks for the question. Desomorphine is some bad stuff. It is not common in the US, thank goodness but I found some interesting information on the English version of the Russian website Pravda:'Desomorphine is widely spread in Russia nowadays. It is much more dangerous than heroine or other types of opium drugs. A heroine addict has a chance to become cured of his or her addiction - it is possible in 3 of 100 cases. Desomorphine kills all of its victims and it kills them very quickly. A heroine addict may live up to six or seven years. The life of a desomorphine addict is much shorter - two years maximum. Some may take it for five years, but many people die after taking their first dose of this drug.'
Susan Weiss: Not sure--but about 14% of fatal accidents involve marijuana. That's the most common reason for weed fatalities.
Marsha Lopez: Are you good at math? Every year, 36,000 people die from accidental drug overdoses---so that means about 1000 people a day.
Dave White: Heroin belongs to a class of drugs called opiates. Opiate withdrawal refers to the wide range of phsyiological (fever, nausea, diarrhea, increased sensitivity to pain) and psychological symptoms that occur after stopping or dramatically reducing opioids like heroin, morphine, and oxycontin which have been taken for a long time or in large quantities. These drugs can cause physical dependence, which means that the person eventually needs to rely on the drugs to prevent symptoms of withdrawal (eg., the shakes, sweats). Over time, one also needs to take more drug to produce the same effect. For more information on heroin and heroin withdrawal:http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html
Aaron White: Drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Aaron White: Not sure!
Aaron White: Yes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, your heart will stop beating and you can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. You can also die from injuries sustained while doing dangerous things while drinking.
Steve Grant: Hard to say when it was first used, but there is archeological evidence that marijuana may have been used thousands of years ago.
Want to know more about depression? Check out this fact sheet http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml and topic page http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.
Susan Weiss: yes, lots of them. THC--tetrahydrocannabinol--is the one that is most well known because its the main chemical that gives marijuana its effects on mood and memory, etc. But there are other cannabinoids also found in marijuana and other chemicals that have not been identified or studied for their health effects. Different plants have different amounts of these chemicals.
Aaron White: All alcoholic beverages contain the same key ingredient -- ethyl alcohol. However, the other ingredients can differ greatly. For instance, wine is made from grapes and so contains grapes. Beer is made from grains and thus does not contain grapes. Vodka is made from potatoes and so is quite different than wine and beer.
Aaron White: There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.
Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories. It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
Joni Rutter: Yes...just like all other drugs of abuse. The DEA has banned methylone, and this drug is not regulated by the FDA. This mean you are taking a huge risk if you take it.
Lori Ducharme: Hey JKing -- 'rehab' is usually how we refer to some kind of formal drug treatment program, which can involve either inpatient (overnight, many nights, under medical supervision) or outpatient (counseling, a couple hours at a time, one or several days a week). The intensity of the treatment varies depending on the person, the drug(s) involved, and how big the problem is. But in all cases, rehab provides people with a variety of supports to get their lives back together -- these can involve one or more medications to ease withdrawal symptoms or help prevent relapse to drug use; behavioral (counseling) therapy that teaches new skills such as how to deal with 'triggers' that may tempt someone to use again; and even support services to help people get the rest of their lives stable-- like getting legal assistance if they need it, finding job training, etc. The best programs consider how drug abuse affects all of these aspects of a person's life and tries to get them back on track. Thanks for your question!
Joni Rutter: I usually just inhale air--what are you inhaling?? There are drugs, called inhalants that can make you dizzy if you inhale them. They seem harmless, but they can actually be quite dangerous. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers. Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin. Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.
Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
Kris Bough: All drugs of abuse can have long-lasting effects on the body and brain. But, if a person is able to quit, these effects can gradually begin to return to normal over a period of several weeks to months. The damage done to the body or brain depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect the way the brain functions and how brain cells send and receives messages. A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). Also, hallucinogens can cause people to have flashbacks, without warning, well after using them (sometimes up to a year or more after)!
Jim Bjork: What causes the brain to feel like it 'needs' or craves more drug are probably two things. First, it could be cues in the environment, like a familiar liquor store, or a corner or other location of a dealer, that the brain has come to associate with the drug taking and ultimately, the 'high'. This is a powerful brain circuit once it's been trained into the brain. Second, it could be the down feelings of being in withdrawal from a drug when a person is completely hooked on it. In other words, feelings of depression or anxiety.It is crucial that people never get to that point! Most recreational drug or alcohol users never lose control like this, but tragically, all too many do.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hello Gilder Prep. I just answered a similar question from another student at your school. So here's what I said: We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana do get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school. So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development. Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.htmlHope this is helpful!
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question, Many people think that since they are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. So it is not really true that they are safer since more people are dying. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Kris Bough: Emphysema is sometimes also referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and can result in the destruction of the lungs over time. COPD develops over time as a consequence of a person's smoking cigarettes or other drugs (e.g., crack cocaine, marijuana). Other risk factors for COPD can include exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution. For more info, please check out: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/ We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week. Richard Denisco: Hi jprice. If you get addicted you cannot just go get more, you will have to slowly wean off the medicine or you may just not be able to get any and have to go 'cold turkey' which is very unpleasant. The best thing to do is not get addicted. Take only if prescribed and take as directed. Take a look at our site on prescription medications: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Marsha Lopez: Good question, srose , but kind of a hard one to answer. The use of drugs can be associated with dying in various ways. Deaths related to drugs can be due to overdose, suicide, homicide, accidents, and infection or other chronic illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2008 that there were more than 36,000 deaths due to drug overdose (both intentional and unintentional). And---did you know that there were more overdoses from prescription drugs than from heroin and cocaine combined? Additionally, about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
Susan Weiss: Yes--but they may require additional medical monitoring. People who are in chronic pain for example may need to be treated with opioid medications, however they would need to also be in treatment for their substance abuse problem and would need additional monitoring by their prescribing physician to prevent a worsening the patient's condition. Also, people may need other types of (non-addictive) prescription drugs to help them recover from their addiction--e.g., drugs to treat a co-occurring mental disorder, like depression.
Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey Golder College Prep HS. You've asked a really interesting question, one for which we do not have an answer. We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana do get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school. So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development. Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides. Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives.
Aaron White: Not always, but drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Steve Grant: Nope. Burning material produces chemicals that are harmful the body. Even the so called 'e-cigarretes' still deliver nicotine, which is both addictive and has harmful physiological effects. In fact, tobacco plants evolved to produce nicotine to kill the insects that feed on the tobacco plant. So that should give you some idea of whether any cigarrette is good to smoke. Ruben Baler: While anabolic steroids can enhance certain types of performance or appearance, they are dangerous drugs, and when used inappropriately they can cause a bunch of severe, long-lasting, and in some cases, irreversible negative health consequences--like heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure, and serious psychiatric problems. Not worth it. See http://www.steroidabuse.gov/ for more.
Aaron White: Yes, it certainly can. In females, alcohol alters the levels of the hormone estrogen, which can affect menstrual cycles. In males, alcohol decreases levels of testosterone, which can contribute to decreased growth. The long-term consequences are not known.
Kris Bough: Addiction is when a person begins to seek a drug compulsively, that is at the expense of school work, a persons job, cost, and/or the medical consequences of their continued use. For more info, please see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#behavior
Jim Bjork: Some sleeping pills are more dangerous than others. This is why it is very important to use them under a doctor's supervision. If you have concerns about this, or are using sleeping pills recreationally, stop. If you have sleep problems, it is important to consult a specialist like a neurologist, who might prescribe an overnight observation and monitoring of your sleep.
Dave Thomas: 'High' is hard to define real well. When marijuana is smoked, the chemical THC gets into the brain and changes activates CB1 receptors, special molecules that detect the presence of cannabinoids. This activation changes brain function and produces the subjective impression of being high.
Adderall can be an effective medication to treat ADHD, but it can be dangerous when taken by those who are not prescribed it. What percentage of high school seniors report taking Adderall for non-medical reasons?The correct answer is: D. 6.5%. According to NIDA's 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, approximately 1 in 15 high school seniors reported taking Adderall in the past year for non-medical reasons, meaning they used someone else's prescription or they took it to get high. See more at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html
Steve Grant: OMG, I feel like now I'm back in school faced with an impossible multiple choice question. Let's see, you can die from an overdose of alcohol, meth or heroin. Even if you don't overdose, excess alchohol can destroy your liver. Meth can ruin your teeth and lead to heart disease. Cigarettes can cause heart disease, emphysema and lung cancer, and heroin withdrawal is the worse kind of sick you can ever imagine. Marijuana smoking can also lead to lung disease, and long term use can lead to sleep problems. So let me ask you, which do you think is worst ?
Joni Rutter: Hi Fkhan....great question. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It is one of the oldest known psychoactive substances. Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.
Kris Bough: All drugs of abuse can have long-lasting effects on the body and brain. But, if a person is able to quit, these effects can gradually begin to return to normal over a period of several weeks to months. The damage done to the body or brain depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect the way the brain functions and how brain cells send and receives messages. A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). Also, hallucinogens can cause people to have flashbacks, without warning, well after using them (sometimes up to a year or more after)! Carol Krause: Wow we have a lot of savvy kids asking questions today. These shows are allowed to show teens using drugs because we live in a country that protects freedom of speech and expression. A lot of people think TV shows and movies are 'art' and we whould not limit artistic expression. However, some of the producers of these shows use stories that they think will attract kids and get good ratings---including stories about drugs and sex. However, even though a lot of these shows are popular with teens, they do not necessarily reflect the way all teens feel. And thank goodness we have smart teens like you who understand what is going on!
Ruben Baler: No, just dumb risk-taking.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy provides information specifically for young people. Go to http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ to find an interactive drug prevention site for youth. Dave White: As you probably know nicotine is highly addictive, there are medications and strategies that can help someone get past the addiction. NIDA is working to increase the number of options, too--for example, by developing and testing anti-nicotine vaccines. For more information see:http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/
Ruben Baler: Yes, in the short-term, marijuana has been shown to cause memory loss and problems with learning. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more.
Jim Bjork: Steriods are thought to help most by building up muscle mass, such as by reducing how the body can break down muscle, or by speeding up the recovery time from muscle micro-tears that happen as a normal part of strength training, enabling the weightlifter to lift more often, without as much recovery downtime. This might have an advantage in brute strength, but not in coordination. In other words, steroids probably won't help a baseball player hit the ball more often, but will help him swing harder to hit the ball harder. But there is a down side when steroids are used for such non-medical purposes, because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. Examples of other effects are increased risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible.
Athletes probably do have a short term advantage, but the risks of use are severe and are not worth it, in my opinion.
Ruben Baler: Yes, drugs like alcohol and marijuana can impair your perception and motor coordination, both of which you need to drive well and react appropriately. For example, marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers who die in accidents (around 14 percent of drivers), often in combination with alcohol or other drugs. Combining marijuana with drinking even a small amount of alcohol greatly increases driving danger, more than either drug alone. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more.
Dave White: Hi there - Once a person has stopped putting Meth into their body, the body reacts because it is used to having the drug to function. In most cases it takes between twenty four and forty eight hours for the drug to process through a person's system after the last dose is taken. While Meth withdrawal symptoms can be very intense, they are generally psychological in nature. The person going through the withdrawal process will experience symptoms of anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, and intense cravings for the drug. Check out these sites to learn more about Meth and drug treatment:http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Dave Thomas: This is an important question. Some people think that a drug must be okay if doctors use it. They don't stop to think that doctors also cut people open. Doctors can prescribe drugs safely because they know how the drugs work, who they can help and hurt, and how much is a safe amount. They also monitor patients during therapy to make sure problems aren't starting to happen. People who take drugs on their own usually don't know what the drugs do in their bodies, whether they have some condition that makes the drug dangrous for them, or how much is too much. By the time they know that they have a problem, it may already be serious and difficult to reverse.
People who take opiates such as oxycontin or codeine without a prescription risk addiction and, if they overdose, potentially death. These drugs also cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous when driving or in other situations that require alertness. People who take stimulants such as amphetamine without a doctor's prescription risk addiction and potentially permanent reductions their memory and thinking ability.For more information check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Michelle Leff: Good question. I'm not sure about the number of teen deaths associated with drug abuse, however, a recent CDC report estimates that the rate of drug overdose in Maryland was 11.9 deaths/100,000 persons in 2008.
Joe Frascella: Great question! Nicotine is among the most addicting drugs. Smoking gets so intertwined with many of life's behaviors that it becomes an integral part of someone's everyday behavior. So, in addition to the physical addiction, there are strong psychological and behavioral issues that make it very difficult to quit smoking.That said, many people are successful at quitting. For more information on quitting, talk with your doctor, or call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669). You can find more information on nicotine addiction at: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
Bethany Deeds: Howdie Bethanne--thanks for submitting a terrific question.Parents can have a tremendous positive influence on teens’ decisions to not drink and use drugs by communicating risks of drugs/alcohol, role-playing how to avoid peer pressure, encouraging their children to participate in extra-curriular acivities, etc. It isn't always easy to talk about serious subjects, so sometimes parents and kids might be uncomfortable. It helps to get the facts and we have great resources online. Go to www.teens.drugabuse.gov for science-based information that parents can share too. There are teacher and parent resources on our main website as well: http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html
Carol Krause: You must be a really smart kid---a lot of teens do not make that connection. More than 50,000 people die from illnesses related to second hand smoke, including lung cancer.
Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that alcohol and pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana. Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet.
Susan Weiss: Someone who has schizophrenia can certainly also be smart, but their illness can sometimes mask that. John Nash is an example--he won the Nobel prize in economics and also suffers from schizophrenia. 'A beautiful mind' is a book/movie that tells his story.
Carol Krause: Good question---have you been reading the biographies of our scientists that we have been posting throughout this CHAT? We have a strong foundation of science behind our answers here today. Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. Our scientists are among the most knowledgeable in the world about drug abuse issues, and keep up-to-date on studies about prevention, treatment and the effects that drug abuse and addiction have on our health status, our culture and our world. Most of our scientists have advanced college degrees, usually Ph.Ds or M.D. degrees, which take many, many years of education and years of work in labs and clinics. Because each scientist answers CHAT DAY questions independently, there might be some variations in how they answer. However, science has taught us a great deal about drugs in recent decades, and we are committed to sharing that information with the younger generation. We might not be as LOUD as the pro-drug messages you hear in music, the movies or on the Internet, which are usually there to sell records and tickets. We, on the other hand, are selling nothing but science. Our Web site, drugabuse.gov, is filled with science-based information on drugs.
Steve Grant: Yes, heroin is very bad for you. It is highly addictive, even though you may not think so at first. Addiction creeps up on you slowly, and by the time you realize it, you can be in way over your head. Worse yet, when you stop, the withdrawal syndrome can be the worst kind of sick you have ever had (google 'cold turkey'). If you don't stop, heroin will cause many problems and there is always a risk of dying from an overdose everytime you take it. If you are ever offered heroin, run away as fast as you can and don't look back.
Dave Thomas: It is unhealthy to smoke marijuana, and the more you smoke the more unhealthy it is. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health
Dave Thomas: It is always a big gamble to buy drugs on the street. You really cannot be sure what you are getting. Very often they are not what sellers say they are or are contaminated with other chemicals. Dosage is also an unkown: for example, there are many reports of people getting sick or dying from heroin doses that were stronger than they could tolerate.
Joni Rutter: Hello Bethanne in Iowa. Thanks for your question. There are many reasons that people start smoking. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. So, they may have been from a family of many smokers, or they are around environments that encourage smoking. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. Stress is also a reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that smoking is addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop. And, it's not cool. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. Some people think becoming addicted to a drug is just a character flaw, but it’s not. The first time people use drugs, it’s usually a conscious decision they’ve made. But once people become addicted, they are dealing with a difficult brain disease. Dave Thomas: The high is mostly the result of your brain not getting enough oxygen, not a good thing!!!Propane is classed as an inhalant, along with chemical vapors from liquids like paint thinner, gasoline, and glue. All inhalants are very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing inhalants may result in addiction and death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs).
You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Ruben Baler: Either way, you put yourself in danger--check out our book for teens to dispel some of the myths about drug use: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Yes, prescription medications can be dangerous if not taken as directed. In fact, more people died in the US of prescription drugs than died in car accidents in 2009. Please take a look at the information available at our site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/the-facts.
No---everybody is NOT doing it. Only about 20% of 12th graders say they have smoked pot in the past month. Susan Weiss: No--but it does change how the brain works. All drugs do, especially when you use them over and over.
Dave White: jcarson, the short-term negative effects of weed (marijuana) can include distorted perceptions of reality, an inability to think clearly, and loss of coordination. Some folks also experience increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and even panic attacks! Long-term use can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral effects. And despite what people think, it can even be addictive! Prolonged weed use has been associated with a number of mental conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, depression), even though it's not known if it can actually cause mental illness. For more information check this link out:http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
Jim Bjork: 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana. This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain. These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock. While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too. A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory. THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder. Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
Jim Bjork: Here's one example- 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana. This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain. These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock. While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too. A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory. THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder. Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.Other drugs like meth or ecstasy artificially stimulate the happiness parts of the brain that normally use a chemical called serotonin. They can make a person feel great while high, but then, the brain makes adjustments, such that the user can feel real down and depressed if the drug is no longer present.
Steve Grant: Caffeine is the most well know xanthine alkaloid. But I have to say that I am impressed by your question! Xantine alkaloids are found many plants and foods, including tea and chocolate. Sounds like you are on your way to a career in neuropharmacology!
Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives.
I have had someone offer me a prescription painkiller when I had no pain.21% - Yes
73% - No
7% - Maybe
Kris Bough: This is a great question!How quickly a drug spreads throughout the body depends on many things, specifically on how the drug is injested (e.g., by mouth in a pill [slower] or injected directly into the blood stream [much more quickly]). Some drugs, for example, like nicotine, if smoked, can reach the brain within 10-15 seconds!!
Carol Krause: Meth is a stimulant---we have lots of information at http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html
Susan Weiss: there is no difference
Kris Bough: Yes. Smoking, for example, is highly correlated with lung cancer. In fact, smokers are about 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer and about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Also, chewing tobacco and alcohol, for example, can lead to oral cancers of the mouth and throat. For more information, check out: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/DietandPhysicalActivity/alcohol-use-and-cancer
Steve Grant: The chemicals in glue can make you dizzy and disoriented, which I guess some people would consider to be a high of some sort. But huffing glue is really, really dangerous. Seriously. I don't usually say that drugs kill brain cells, but in this case it is true. Toulene and other chemicals in glue are very toxic and can quickly lead to long term brain damage, and even death.
Aaron White: Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!!
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Mixing drugs and/or medications is just not good to do. The interactions are unpredictable and if you mix sedating drugs with allergy medication you can get more sedation and possibly stop breathing. See this for more info: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
Aaron White: Alcohol is considered a 'central nervous system depressant', meaning it slows down brain activity. As a result, it can make a person feel very sleepy.Interestingly, while alcohol makes people sleepy and might even make them fall asleep faster than normal, alcohol actually disrupts sleep. People who sleep after drinking alcohol do not sleep as long or as deeply as people who do not have alcohol before going to sleep. So, while alcohol does make people sleepy, it is not good for sleep.
Young people consume more than 90% of their alcohol by binge drinking. To learn more about peer pressure and alcohol use, check out this website: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp Carol Krause: Run for your life! All kidding aside, the decision you make could be a huge turning point in your life. It's like the fork in the road you read about in fairy tales. The path you take is truly important. First ask yourself why your friend wants you to take drugs--is it to help you have a good future or is it for a selfish reason? I think you know the answer to that. Second, ask yourself what kind of person you want to be---one who thinks independently or one who gets talked into doing things, even though it could harm your health and get you into all kinds of trouble.Third, ask yourself if you are willing to risk your health just to please a friend who is trying to drag you into the no-win world of drugs. When in that situation, simply say---'no thanks, not today'...and then try to get out of the situation. I have also known kids who 'blame' it on their parents. 'My mom would kill me and I can't risk it right now' is also a good answer. You do not have to judge your friends to get out of the situation. But if this starts happening you have to ask yourself if the person who is pressuring you is really a friend.
Aaron White: Different countries have different views on when it is appropriate to allow kids to start drinking alcohol. It appears that having a higher drinking age has helped protect young people in the US from alcohol-related harms. It turns out that kids not only start drinking at younger ages in European countries compared to the US, they also get drunk at earlier ages and are more likely to binge drink than teens here. Other research tells us that kids whose parents let them drink at home are more likely to develop problems with alcohol than kids who can't drink at home. Taken together, the facts tell us that the 'European model' is not one that would produce the desired results here.
Marsha Lopez: What an interesting question! I can safely say using weed does not help you have better health. Using marijuana for medical reasons has been in the news a lot lately, although it is not currently approved by the FDA for treating any medical condition. There are recognized medical benefits to some of the active ingredients in marijuana, and scientists are making use of their knowledge about those ingredients, and the body systems that they effect, in order to develop new medications for a variety of symptoms and diseases , including pain, obesity, and addiction. A pill form of THC (an active ingredient in marijuana) is already available for certain conditions, such as nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it is unlikely that smoked marijuana will be developed as a medication because of its negative health effects, including the risk of addiction. Smoking weed affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. Repeated drug use affects both the brain and other parts of the body in negative ways and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences (anxiety, depression, lung and airway difficulties). You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp.
Aaron White: In 2010, 14% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders, and 41% of 12th graders drank at least a serving of alcohol in a given month.
Aaron White: Yes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, your heart will stop beating and you can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. You can also die from injuries sustained while doing dangerous things after drinking.
Dave Thomas: It's methamphetamine. It's chemical composition is N-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine.
Joe Frascella: ABSOLUTELY! People can become addicted to marijuana -- in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users. Addiction means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives. There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers. Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse. Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school. Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives. You should know that drug addiction is a treatable disease - with medications (in some cases) and behavioral or psychosocial therapies. Treatment should focus on a person's individual needs, since many people who are addicted to drugs also have other serious problems, including other mental illnesses. Drug addiction is often chronic (long-term), with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. But relapse doesn't mean failure, just that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted to ensure long-term recovery.
For more information on drug treatment, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html.
To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Bethany Deeds: Hello GMG Community School! Fanastic question! A student may start out taking drugs voluntarily, but as time passes and drug use continues, something happens that makes a person go from being a voluntary drug user to a compulsive drug user. Why? Because the continued use of drugs changes how your brain functions. Moreover, research has shown us that our genes together with our environment play key roles in weather a person becomes addicted or not. So if one has a family member who uses drugs that person is likely more vulnerbale to drug use/abuse problems--though a precise measure is not known. Here's a link to information about the brain and addiction: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
Dave Thomas: Over a thousand people die each month in the US from prescrition pain killer overdoses. Halucinations are rare from prescription opioids. NIDA puts out a publication that answers a lot of questions about teen drug use. Check it out! http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-overview2010.pdf
Kris Bough: People inhale the fumes from sharpies to get high. These are called inhalants and are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, you can experience a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. My advice, put the cap back on! Steve Grant: Any drug that you are thinking of taking that wasn't prescribed by your doctor, or even taking more of a prescribed drug or taking it more often than your doctor advises is dangerous. Illegal drugs can be particularly dangerous because you don't really know what chemicals you are actually taking. It's better to stay away from any drugs unless they are prescribed for you by your doctor Dave White: Hey there! The active chemical in mushrooms or 'shrooms' is psilocybin. It's a hallucinogen, which can distort perception and can cause an inability to tell fantasy from reality. One can also experience panic attacks and psychosis if too much is taken. Physical effects can include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and a lack of coordination. The only mushrooms I would consider eating are those on the salad bar! For more information on mushrooms, click on: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php
Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence. To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
Lori Ducharme: Great question, and it's great to see teens who really want to help the people they care about. Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make quitting easier. Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Did you know the types of cells in the brain are called neurons? Your brain has about 10 billion neurons. Bethany Deeds: Hello Kentucky! Drug abuse research has shown that in general if use increases, known harms (negative health consequences) can also increase. What we don't know is whether these rates of dependence will increase proportionately with a rise in use or increase or at a faster or slower rate. FYI. In the United States, a number of states have chosen to decriminalize marijuana for medical uses; however, since all other medicines must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on their safety and efficacy--marijuana has not met these standards. There are recognized medical benefits to some of the active ingredients in marijuana, and scientists are making use of their knowledge about those ingredients, and the body systems that they effect, in order to develop new medications for a variety of symptoms and diseases including pain, obesity, and addiction. A pill form of THC (an active ingredient in marijuana) is already available for certain conditions, such as nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it is unlikely that smoked marijuana will be developed as a medication because of its negative health effects, including the risk of addiction.Currently,the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in all states. This link has some topline data about the increase in marijuana use in 8th, 10th and 12th graders from the latest NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
Aaron White: Yes, they can. There really isn't a specific amount of alcohol a person has to drink to become addicted, and only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Jim Bjork: The ritual. The physical act of reaching for a cigarette and holding it between the fingers. If it was all about the nicotine, then people on the nicotine patch should be able to quit smoking without a problem, but they often can't. The brain can be prone to going on 'autopilot' and just acting without thinking when we're exposed to certain cues in the environment that come to be linked with eventually getting high, such as the sight of a liquor store, or a corner where the dealer hangs out.
Dave Thomas: I assume you mean extra chemicals added to the marijuana, not just the chemicals naturally in marijuana. In either case, yes, it is unhealthy to smoke marijuana. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health. Kris Bough: This question has been a really popular one today! Scientists don't like to rank drugs from best to worst as most drugs of abuse, legal (e.g., nicotine) or illegal (e.g., cocaine), can dramatically affect your normal body functioning. For example, drugs can impact normal cardiovascular functioning (e.g., cocaine), adversely affect liver function (e.g., alcohol), adversely gastrointestinal functioning (e.g., heroin, opioids), cause cancer (tobacco kills 400,000 people a year in the U.S.) and of course all affect normal brain functioning. Actually almost any chemical - even water! - can be toxic to your body if taken in high enough concentrations. Food too (think of high-saturated fatty foods) can also be very harmful to your body. Be safe and thanks for participating in Chat Day!
Dave Thomas: Yes! About 440,000 Americans die each year from diseases related to smoking.
Aaron White: They both contain the same drug -- alcohol. A single serving of each - for beer, this is a 12 ounce serving of 5% alcohol and for wine, it is a 5 fl ounce serving of 12% alcohol - has the same amount of alcohol and therefore has the potential to produce the same amount of harm. There is some research to suggest that wine might contain specific chemicals not contained in beer that could make wine healthier. However, for the most part, a single serving of wine and a single serving of beer are equal in terms of risks.
For more information on standard drink amounts for different types of alcohol, check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Susan Weiss: Depends on the drug. For marijuana--psychosis; methamphetamine/cocaine--psychosis; cocaine--panic disorder; alcohol--depression. Also for some drugs there is weaker evidence, but for example, marijuana use is more common in people with anxiety and depression.
Dave Thomas: Yes, you can. Cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol can all increase one's chances of getting cancer. In fact, even being around people who smoke can increase your chances of getting lung cancer. In the US, second hand smoke contributes to about 3000 cases of lung cancer each year.
Jim Bjork: There is not much research yet on this-- at least long term- years after people stop using. However, much of the studies that are out there look promising. It looks like much of the mental and concentration problems go away once people stop using many types of drugs. In addition, some brain scan studies show some recovery of brain structure. Clearly, there are significant benefits to stopping the use. We just don't know the extent of the recovery yet. It may be that some things will recover as though nothing ever happened. Other functions might never fully come back, though.
Richard Denisco: Hi Ibatrez and thanks for the question. Most countries use the same medications as the U.S. Almost all countries have signed a UN agreement to use the same medications. I guess the big exception are places where marijuana is legal or used as medication, but in general the medications around the world are the same.
Jim Bjork: Cocaine not only causes seizures in individuals at risk for abnormal electrical activity of their neurons (i.e. what a seizure is) before they took cocaine, but when used over time, cocaine also causes molecular/chemical changes in the brain that make neurons more electrically responsive and reactive, and more likely to suffer a seizure.
Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids – more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. People ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Dave Thomas: Difficult question. Depends how you look at it. Based on data from the Monitoring the Future school survey, the most commonly used drugs among youth are alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Results of the 2007 survey show that alcohol (44%), tobacco (22%) and marijuana (19%) were the most commonly used drugs by 12th graders in the past 30 days. Recently, prescription medications are used by a concerning number/percentage of students. These drugs are really dangerous when taken outside of a doctor's supervision. For more information on teens' drug use, go to: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html.
However, how much they are abused does not equate exactly to how addictive they are. Other factors like availability and cost impact how many people abuse a given drug. Thus, again, hard to say which is the most addictive.
Aaron White: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe result of exposing a fetus to alcohol. Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Steve Grant: Yes, but that was more than a century ago. When Coca Cola was first invented, part of the formula included leaves of the coca plant which contains cocaine. But when people realized how harmful cocaine is, Coca Cola changed the way it was made so now it doesn't contain cocaine....just lots and lots of sugar. Here's a fun experiment, put a nail in a glass of cola and see what happens over the next day or so.
Lori Ducharme: Absolutely. Drugs don't just make you high or only affect you personally. They can affect everyone around you. Think about it -- drug abuse significantly impairs your ability to make good decisions. If you do something that gets you kicked out of school, or lands you in jail, or uses up all your money, or puts you behind the wheel of a car when you have no business being there -- all of those things affect your personal life and the people around you -- in potentially very serious ways.
Dave Thomas: Here's a resource if you have a family member or someone close to you who is using: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org. Also, if you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.That's a tough situation. Don't forget to take good care of yourself, stay healthy and keep your spirits up as you deal with it. Are there any adults that you would trust to talk to about it? Good luck.
Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. We all get sick and have to take medication. If you are sick, the main thing is to take the medication the way the doctor prescribes it. For more info see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
Which of these statements are false?The correct answer is: The correct answers are A, B, and C. (A) You cannot tell in advance if you will become addicted. It is true that some people are more at risk than others—if you have a family member with drug problems you may be at greater risk since addiction is about 50 percent genetics. (B) Addiction is linked to long lasting changes in the brain, including memory triggers that can induce severe drug cravings and relapse. Recovery is a life-long process for some. (C) An estimated 1 out of every 11 people who try marijuana become addicted to it. For those who start in their teens, the chances go up to 1 in 6; and for daily users, the addiction rate is 25-50 percent. (D) True: Mari¬juana's effects on atten¬tion, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Check out NIDA's Drugs, Brains and Behavior: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
Lori Ducharme: Depending on the person, the drug, and the treatment approach you use, it can be very difficult to get off of drugs. That's because addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease--and drug use fundamentally affects the way your brain functions, which requires treatment that addresses the lasting effects of drugs on your brain, your body, and your social environment. It also involves teaching former drug users new strategies for dealing with 'triggers' that may tempt them to start using again. So, suffice it to say it's harder to stop using than it is to never use in the first place. Really.
Steve Grant: There is no safe place to shoot up heroin. Not only is heroin one of the most addictive drugs, but it produces a terrible withdrawal syndrome (google 'cold turkey') and by injecting drugs you are bypassing your body's immune system defenses and increasing the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis and other serious diseases.
Joni Rutter: Hey, Willie. I don't know a specific number, and why would you not want to see??? Remember that smoking joints is not a good idea for many reasons. Here's something for your eyes...people who smoke joints can experience extreme anxiety (panic attacks) or psychotic reactions (where they lose touch with reality and may become paranoid). And people can and do injure themselves because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination. For example, marijuana affect the skills you need to drive (e.g., concentration, reaction time) so people can injure themselves and others if they drive while under the influence. For more information on marijuana, see: www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html. Hope this helps. Thanks for sending us your question!
Marsha Lopez: Good question. Most smokers initiate smoking between the ages of 12 and 25. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 when they started smoking, the average reported age of smoking initiation was around 19 years old.
Steve Grant: If you mean the 'bath salts' that people buy to get high, these are chemicals that are similar to amphetamine. They have all the adverse effects that stimulants have, such as increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, since these chemicals are not legal and not regulated by the FDA, you really don't know what is in them. This means you are taking a big risk if you take them. People often 'snort' these chemicals the way they take cocaine, but they can be smoked. Either way you may take them, you are taking a big risk.
Many of you have written in thanking our scientists for answering your questions all day. We want to say thank you to all of you for asking such great questions! Aaron White: Any form of alcoholic beverages can be quite dangerous for teenagers, but the specific side effects depend on how much you drink and how much alcohol you have in your system. With just a little alcohol in your system, you can experience:
Impaired balance and muscle coordination, which will make it more difficult to walk and drive a car.
As you drink more and you have more alcohol in your bloodstream, you can experience:
Impaired judgment and difficulty making good choices
Difficulty controlling urges, making it more likely that you will do something dangerous
Impaired memory - you can wake up the next day not be able to remember what you did while you were drinking.
Still more alcohol can cause potentially fatal side effects, including:
Difficulty breathing
Low heart rate
Loss of consciousness
Bottom line: most side effects of drinking alcohol can be damaging and even dangerous.
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Marsha Lopez: Good question mirandamartin. Unfortunately, we don't really know the answer to your question. What we do know is that around 29% of 8th graders, 41% of 10th graders, and 50% of high school seniors reported they have tried drugs (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders) at least once in their lifetime, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey in 2010.
Susan Weiss: There are different club drugs that have different effects. Some are stimulants (like methamphetamine), others make you feel separated from reality or your self (dissociative drugs like ketamine), others make you feel warm and fuzzy (ecstasy), but can leave you depressed afterwards. Most have risks associated with them, including the fact that you don't know what your getting, and if you mix them with other drugs or alcohol, serious problems (including death) could result. For more information, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Clubdrugs.html
Michelle Leff: Hi there bobcat763! Thanks for your question. In 2010, almost 20% of teens, aged 12-17, reported past year drug use (The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2010). This translates to about 1 in 5 teens! Unfortuantely we don't have any numbers to give you that include 6th graders.
Dave White: Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but it can be done! There are different kinds of help that are available, including medications and getting tips from professional counselors. The most effective treatment option will vary from person to person. Check out these sites for more information: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp
http://www.smokefree.gov/
http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/
Carol Krause: We love SLMS for participating!
Aaron White: Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgment, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!!
Aaron White: That's a very tough question, and it depends on the particular circumstances, which vary from family to family. But, drinking alcohol does make it difficult for people to think clearly and see the potential consequences of their actions. For other people, alcohol might increase their level of anger and aggression. For others, the alcohol use could be another symptom, like the child abuse, of some serious underlying psychological problems. Regardless, child abuse is never acceptable and anyone who lives in a home where they are abused should find an adult whom they trust and discuss the situation with them.
Carol Krause: Hello Sugar Land-They are essentially the same thing, but crack is a form of cocaine that has been processed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water and then injected. Crack is the street name given to the form of cocaine that has been processed to make a rock crystal, which, when heated, produces vapors that are smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound produced by the rock as it is heated. Basically it can be considered the same thing. Check out teens.drugabuse.gov. Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky. Joni Rutter: I found this website that lists nicotine content: www.erowid.org/plants/tobacco/tobacco_nic.shtml. Don't know about camel crush, per se.
Dave White: Good afternoon cvelasco, it really depends on a number of factors such as the genetics or preexisting conditions (eg., heart issues) of the taker, the circumstances in which they are taking them, what drug they are taking, and how much, but a leading candidate would be nicotine, since cigarettes cause more sickness and death than any other. Smoking contributes to over 400,000 deaths annually in the US. Some people may have a higher vulnerability to becoming addicted to opiates such as heroin and oxycontin, while others might be more susceptible to the effects of stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/
Jim Bjork: Inhalants can cause brain problems at least from what we can tell-- such as by how people who huff show problems in their thinking. This suggest that brain cells are at least being changed and messed with. In fact, huffing (inhaling household products and other chemicals on purpose) is one of the more dangerous 'drugs' in terms of the mental problems it causes while people are doing it. It can also target other body organs and yes, can even kill outright. This is also a problem for people who work in industries with chemicals in the air, who are exposed all the time.See this webpage for more information on inhalants: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-can-inhaling-sharpie-markers-make-you-high/.
Richard Denisco: I assume you mean opioids (pain killers), which are the most often abused prescription drugs. The main way to see if someone is addicted is to notice a change in behavior; the person will get withdrawn, perhaps nod out when talking to you, lose interest in all things that used to be fun, lose interest in school and get worse grades. They may change their friends and steal to get money for the drugs. You get addicted by taking them without a doctor's prescription or, if you have a prescription, taking more than prescribed or for longer than prescribed.
Joni Rutter: Great question!! Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. It turns out that there are many genes that contribute to addiction, and these may depend on the substance that is used. For example, we know that there is a group of genes on chromosome 15 called the nicotinic subunit receptor genes, and there are genetic variants (differences) in these genes that have been strongly linked to heavy smoking.
Aaron White: Yes, because it contains ethyl alcohol, the kind of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. However, it can also make a person extremely sick due to the other ingredients in it. That's why the instructions make clear that hand sanitizer is for external use only.
Aaron White: That depends on the specific laws where the family and friend live. In general, it is not legal to provide alcohol to an underage person who is not your own child. Further, it would be irresponsible to do so based on data showing that drinking during adolescence is associated with a long list of negative outcomes. Research shows that drinkig alcohol when you're a teen increases your chances of becoming an alcoholic later in your life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home.
Joe Frascella: If a doctor is addicted to a prescription drug, he/she cannot legally write a prescription for that particular drug.
Steve Grant: There is no absolute number. Some people say that they knew after their first cigarette that it would be hard for them to stop. Other people got sick the first time they smoked a cigarette, but they kept smoking because they wanted to fit in with their friends or for other reasons. The problem is you never know when you will become addicted - so why even start ?
Dave Thomas: Interesting question!!! We have not figured out all the connections between physical and emotional pain and are working to figure them out. We do know, however, that opioid medications that are directed mainly at physical pain have some positive effects on emotional pain, and antidepressant medications that are directed mainly at emotional pain can lessen physical pain.That said, in most cases, one type of pain or the other is predominant, and the right medication is the one that is directed at that type of pain. A doctor is the best person to determine this. Someone who decides on his own to take a medication for either type of pain is making a mistake. The dangers are not getting the best relief, and other potential adverse consequences.
Jim Bjork: The active molecule in Marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain. These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock. A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.
Jim Bjork: 'THC' is the active molecule in Marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol. This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain. These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock. While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too. A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory. THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov. Dave Thomas: Addiction is when someone uses a drug compulsively despite knowing that it is harming them or their quality of life. All abused drugs can produce this effect in some people. Of course, many medications, such as aspirin, antibiotics that you take for a fever, or asthma medications are not addictive.
Carol Krause: Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
Joni Rutter: Hi Sweatheart97. Thanks for your great question. Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. It alters brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--marijuana can cause someone to do something dangerous when they are high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having their grades drop, or seeing their athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term marijuana is addictive. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp.
Jim Bjork: Not sure about actually killing neurons, but repeated or long-term use can cause damage (some permanent) to brain cells and their myelin that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-can-inhaling-sharpie-markers-make-you-high/.
Susan Weiss: Different drugs produce different severities of withdrawal. Alcohol, opioids (like heroin), and some sedatives have some of the most severe withdrawal symptoms. Marijuana and nicotine are more mild, and similar in the type of withdrawal symptoms they produce. But the problem with even mild symptoms of withdrawal is that they can still prompt relapse--since people crave the drug to relieve the discomfort associated with the withdrawal.
Aaron White: That really depends on the person, but alcohol does affect the parts of the brain that helps us control our urges and think carefully about our actions. Alcohol slows down the following parts of the brain:Frontal lobes, which normally allows us to think about the consequences of our actions and control our urges to do things that are dangerous.
Amygdala, which normally makes us feel fear and anxiety when we are in potentially dangerous situations. With the amygdala slowed down, we are less likely to feel afraid when in social situations or other situations. This can make us feel and act more confident.
While these might seem like positive things, they are not. The effects of alcohol on the frontal lobes and amygdala often lead people to make very bad choices and take chances that they would normally never take, often leading to extremely negative outcomes, such as injuries or death.
Kris Bough: There are lots of side effects from taking steroids...acne, erratic behavior (roid rage), stunted growth, heart problems, liver damage, jaundice, high blood pressure. Oh...let's not forget about the shrunken testicles (ouch!), low sperm count, breast development (double ouch!) and balding in males and masuclization in females (facial hair, deep voice -- yikes!). Some of these effects can be permanent. Not trying to scare you, just giving the facts... Want more information on steroids, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php Steve Grant: Not practically. You would have to conduct a chemical analysis of the marijuana in a laboratory. So really, everytime you think you are smoking marijuana you could be getting other drugs as well.
Joni Rutter: Absolutely. It's called 'drugged driving.'
Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington serves as NIDA’s coordinator for research aimed at promoting the study of women and sex and gender differences into all areas of drug abuse. She also oversees a program of extramural research focusing on a variety of animal and human laboratory areas including vulnerability to drug abuse, the behavioral effects of exposure to drugs during lifespan development, and, of course, sex and gender differences and topics unique to females. When Dr. Wetherington is not at work she’s enjoying reading (currently, Moonwalking with Einstein, a birthday gift from her son), Sirius Radio, the History and Science channels on TV, and being with her family which includes two young adults (Peter and Marianne), two beagles (Abbie and Bodie), and two black and white cats (Spot and Sox). Steve Grant: If you mean the 'bath salts' that people buy to get high, the answer is yes you can overdose, and it can be fatal. These 'bath salts' are chemically similar to amphetamine, and have all the adverse effects that stimulants like amphetamine have, such as increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, since these chemicals are not legal and not regulated by the FDA, you really don't know what are in the chemicals you are taking - that is taking a big risk.
Joni Rutter: Hi Rileymcd. No such place exists. To read more about the adverse health consequences of heroin use, go to www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html.
Susan Weiss: Some people find these programs extremely helpful, especially in supporting their recovery over the long run. There are also treatments that have been shown by research to help people recover from various addictions and medications that can help with some (nicotine, alcohol, and opiates). People need to find the right approach for them, and they may need additional help such as job training, linkage to other medical care etc. NIDA has a booklet that describes the principles of effective treatment that you can find at : http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html
Richard Denisco: When we say pain killers we are usually referring to opioid medications. Other pain medicines like aspirin, acetimenophine and non-steroidal medications reduce pain but are not addictive and not illegal. Opioids are legal with a prescription and safe when taken as prescribed and for medical use. Heroin is illegal under all circumstances-- although it is a pain reliever it is too addictive to be useful.
Lori Ducharme: Hey Illinois! Great question, but unfortunately not one with an easy answer. Treatment is different for different drugs, and for different people. Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease, and so the recovery process can take a long time, or it can involve several episodes of rehab. Treatment is important to help detoxify the brain, and get the recovery process started. A combination of approved medications and behavioral (counseling) therapies are available for use in drug abuse treatment. Even after people complete a treatment program, they will need continued support from local support groups or scheduled check-ins with a recovery counselor. At NIDA, our scientists are working on understanding how to adjust available treatments to make them the best they can be to help people recover from addiction and return to productive lives. Here's an interesting and easy-to-read booklet that will give you a good overview of addiction: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
Some mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD can increase the risk for suicide so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan. Learn more about depression here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml Joni Rutter: Hi ewims. The best way to relieve stress is to do something you love. This should give you MANY ways to relieve stress without smoking.
Marsha Lopez: According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, nearly 9% of the American population ages 12 and older were classified with some type of substance abuse or dependence in the past year. We have also learned from research that about 1 in 6 persons who use marijuana, at least once in their teens, will become addicted. There is a lot we still don’t know about who becomes addicted and why, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different, so it’s a little like playing “Russian Roulette” if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it.
Steve Grant: Yes, smoking anything can be harmful. When you burn something, many chemicals are released into the air and if you breathe in those chemicals, some can be harmful to your lungs.
Joni Rutter: Nicotine patches are transdermal patches that release nicotine into the skin. It is a way to deliver nicotine to a person that is addicted--to help them quit smoking. They can taper their dose over time so that they get less and less nicotine until they are no longer addicted. Too many can be dangerous; nicotine is a stimulant and can cause your heart to beat irregularly. As with any medication, they should be used as indicated on the package or by the doctor. For other alternatives for smoking cessation therapy, see: http://www.smokefree.gov/tools.aspx.
Steve Grant: That is like asking which is worse, a bullet from a pistol or a bullet from a rifle. All drugs have risks and adverse effects. The difference is the risks and adverse effects of prescription drugs have been evaluated in scientific studies. So a doctor knows when she prescribes a drug what the adverse effects are, and she can monitor you to make sure that the risks are kept to a minimum. Of course, even if a drug is legal, if you take it without a doctor's prescription or take more than the doctor prescribes, then you are misusing the drug which can be very harmful. With an illegal drug, not only do you not know whether the drug is pure or whether it is even drug you wanted, but illegal the drugs are considered illegal precisely because there is not evidence that there are enough benefits to outweigh the risks.
When you go college you will experience a lot of changes in your life. Even though you are moving on to new and exciting things it can be stressful. It is important to continue to take care of yourself and if you are receiving treatment now to find out where and how to continue treatment when you get to college. The college counseling office is a good place to start, or check with an advisor. You can call them and arrange to visit them before you start school. Lori Ducharme: Well, it will certainly affect your college life, but not in ways that will make the most of your tuition payments or your time. For a good (non-preachy) overview, check out this info on our teen website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php.
Jim Bjork: Phencycline. This is a type of drug call a hallucinogen. It can cause hallucinations (visions and experiences that aren't real) and great confusion, and can promote aggressiveness and suicidality. It is not used that often, which is a very good thing! For more information about PCP, this is a great website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal5.php.
Joe Frascella: Marijuana has been shown to have direct effects many areas of the brain. It has direct effects on cognitive processes by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory.Marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors'. These receptors are part of a finely calibrated 'endocannabioid' system found in the brain and the body that is involved in a whole host of functions, including pain regulation, reward, metabolism, mood and even immune function (how the body protects itself from infection). Marijuana floods the system, disrupting the finely orchestrated response that evolved over millions of years to do the many functions mentioned above. This leads to the effects that users feel--in the brain the cannabinoid receptors are found in the hippocampus--crucial for memory formation; the cerebellum--important for coordinating movements; the cortex--involved in thinking and judgment; and reward areas--important for motivation. Marijuana disrupts the normal function of those areas and with repeated use the endocannabinoid system starts to adapt--to cope with the artificial situation created by exposure to marijuana. We do know that people can become addicted to the drug (and suffer withdrawal symptoms when they quit--irritability, sleep and appetite disturbances), and that they may suffer cognitively in the long run. Long term users also report decreased life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, relationship problems and decreased career and educational attainment compared to their peers from similar backgrounds.
So evidence is clear that marijuana can 'mess up' the normal functioning of brain cells. For more information, check out:http://www.marijuana-info.org/
Kris Bough: Probabaly not. But depending on the drug being used, different drugs have different potentials for abuse and addiction. Cocaine, for example, is a very addictive drug. The rate at which a person can become addicted also depends in part on their genetic makeup and environment. However, most drugs of abuse can eventally lead to addiction. You should also consider that just because your chances of becoming addicted on the first try are low, your chances for other bad side effects are higher. For example, inhaling high concentrations of fumes from inhalants can cause a person to suffocate...that's bad.
Aaron White: Good question! A 'drink' is defined as one serving of beer, wine or liquor:One serving of beer is 12 ounces of 5% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)
One serving of wine is 5 ounces of 12% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)
One serving of liquor is 1.5 ounces of 40% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)
Richard Denisco: ims702 Methadone causes the same effects as many other opioids. It can cause a dry mouth which can cause dental disease, it will reduce appetite and cause weight loss, and some people say it causes hair loss. It also reduces hormone production and in men can cause impotence. When you are addicted to it, it means you will go through withdrawal if you stop it suddenly. Withdrawal effects are basically the opposite of what the drug causes, so instead of feeling euphoria or feeling good you feel bad and anxious; and you will get back and muscle aches. Heroin addicts on methadone know that methadone can get into the bones and cause bone pain which causes a person to kick. That's why quitting opioids is called 'kicking.' Other unpleasant side effects are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Joni Rutter: We know from scientific research that the earlier you smoke or use other drugs, the more likely you are to become addicted and suffer serious social and medical consequences, like having yellow teeth, lack of physical activity, asthma and other lung problems, as well as increasing your risk for cancers. Smoking causes so many health consequences--it can certainly shorten your lifespan. So....tell your friends that smoking is not good for them! Thanks for your question. Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
Aaron White: Yes, it certainly can. Alcohol has powerful effects on the brain and dramatically slows brain functioning. If you drink enough alcohol, your brain can shut down as a result, sending you into a deep, coma-like state. Alcohol can also shut off vital centers in the brain we need to keep us alive, and even cause death.
I have tried to help a friend stop using drugs.35% - Yes
55% - No
10% - Maybe
Aaron White: Drugs are substances that alter how we think and feel and alcohol does just that. Something does not need to be illegal to be considered a drug. Alcohol can be a very dangerous drug, particularly for teenagers. Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 1. Legal trouble
2. Car crashes and other accidents
3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on
The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to receptors in areas of the brain that signal reward or pleasure. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention and focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, though, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from doing anything to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Susan Weiss: Yes--there's no difference between 'medical marijuana' and other marijuana.
Joni Rutter: Not high, just fat.
Kris Bough: Methamphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug that is similar in structure to amphetamine and acts to stimulate the brain and body. The amount of meth it takes to overdose depends on a lot of factors. First, different people react differently to drugs depending on their genetics and how the drug is put into the body (such as taken as a pill, or snorted or injected directly into the blood stream). It also depends on whether the drug is possibly taken at the same time with other drugs, as other drugs can influence the rate which meth is broken down and/or acts in the brain to ultimately lead to overdose. For more info on meth and to see what othe teens are thinking and blogging about meth, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php
Of the 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse, 27.1% involved nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, 21.2% involved illicit drugs, and 14.3% involved alcohol, in combination with other drugs. Jim Bjork: Some drugs can cause long-term brain damage- both in how brain cells communicate with each other, and lowered activity in general, and reduced (shrunken or less dense) gray matter, as shown by brain scans.The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Joni Rutter: Good question. The long term consequences of smoking are varied. Some people get COPD (including bronchitis and/or emphysema), oral cancer, lung cancer, peripheral artery disease, and heart disease. It's not clear why people get one thing over the other, but a very common denominator for all of these diseases is smoking. It's bad news.
Susan Weiss: Addiction is when the drug abuse gets out of control--and can become the driving force in a person's life, even while they are experiencing dire consequences from their drug use. Its not easy to tell when you are crossing that line from abuse to addiction--and many people don't realize it until its too late. However, there are treatments for addiction, so people can and do recover.
Belinda Sims: Parents who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs often have trouble being good parents. This can put their children at risk for a number negative outcomes, including risk for drug use. It is important to reach out for help in these situations. Talking to another trusted adult in the family, or a teacher or counselor at school can be helpful. Another resource is the substance abuse treatment facility locator, which can be reached by calling 1-800-662-HELP, or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Aaron White: If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation. Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into - here are some tips:Say no and let them know you mean it
Stand up straight and make eye contact
Say how you feel
Don't make excuses
Stick up for yourself
It might also be a good idea to connect with friends who don't drink and so won't put you in this tough position.
To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Carol Krause: Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. We believe in scientific research and are confident that our answers are the best science has to offer. However, because each scientist at NIDA answers these questions independently, there might be some variations in how the science is interpreted. I suggest that you check out several sites at NIDA--including our main site (drugabuse.gov) and our teen site (teens.drugabuse.gov.)
Aaron White: Craving is an important sign of alcohol dependence. If you are not able to withstand the cravings on your own and stop drinking, there are plenty of sources of help. First, find an adult whom you trust - like a teacher, family member, schoool nurse, or family doctor, and talk to them about your problem. It is sooo important to stop while you are still young to avoid doing any further damage to your body and to allow your brain to heal and recover. Here is a link to further information about the signs of alcoholism and suggestions for quitting. While the site is tailored primarily for adults, the resources can provide good starting points for quitting and finding additional help if you are unable to do it on your own.
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Support/ChooseYourApproach.asp
To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov. Marsha Lopez: What a great simple question. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. People begin taking drugs for lots of reasons but common ones include: they want to experience something new, they feel bad and have heard drugs can make you feel good or overcome a void, their family/friends have encouraged them to use drugs, or they're just plain bored or looking for something to do and drugs happen to be available. Regardless of the reasons why people try drugs, they have a powerful impact on our brain, body, and behaviors. Quite often, they can make people very sick and may lead to both short and long term problems. To learn more about drugs and their effects see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
Susan Weiss: It can--similar to alcohol it may initially make you feel better but eventually worsen the depression. Some people lose their motivation or interest in things, and marijuana has definitely been linked to depression--although whether it causes depression is not yet known.
Jim Bjork: Changes can occur quickly AND over time. Quickly due to the person being actually high at the time. However, other changes can emerge over time even when the person is not actively 'high', as the brain itself changes because of the drugs. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually change the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together.
Steve Grant: It is not only possible, but it is likely that you will pass out - although you may just consider that you need close your eyes for a short nap, then you open your eyes again to find an hour went by. You can imagine how bad that might be if you were in school, but just think how much worse it would be if you were driving a car. Also, people who smoke marijuana a lot can find themselves having trouble falling asleep at night when they try to quit using marijuana, and that can lead them to start smoking mariujana again just to get to sleep at night.
Dave Thomas: I am not sure I understand your question. If you are concerned about the safety of the medications your doctor prescribed, you should discuss this with your doctor. If you are concerned about what your doctor is telling you, maybe you should get a second opinion.... Hope this helps.
Lori Ducharme: That's a great question and one that is handled by our sister agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Protecting people from second-hand smoke requires that businesses and communities work together -- that's exactly why you see that many (most) restaurants and other public spaces don't allow smoking anymore. For more information on second-hand smoke, check out CDC's fact sheet at: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/shs_exposure/index.htm.
Addiction is a disease of :The correct answer is: B. The Brain. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease because drugs alter the brain in a way that can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
Jim Bjork: Yes. Brain scans done on teens while they're trying to perform a memory task shows that areas of the brain not usually involved in memory have to get involved to try to get the task done.
Steve Grant: Cocaine prolongs the action of the neurotransmitter called dopamine (as well as other transmitters). Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerve cells use to send messages to each other. The message that dopamine sends is that something just happened that was much better than you expected. So you should remember all the things that led up to that, and pay attention to them the next time they occur. Because cocaine prolongs the action of dopamine, it becomes more important than anything else in your life, and you continue to take cocaine even though it may be bad consequences (like being busted !).
Dave Thomas: It's the chemicals in the ink, which include propanol, butanol, and diacetone alcohols. These are part of a class of chemicals called inhalants. This class of drugs is huge, and includes lots of cleaners, glues, gas... For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Susan Weiss: This is still an open question. Pot may increase the risk of some cancers, but it does not seem to increase the risk of lung cancer. However, many people who smoke marijuana also smoke tobacco and marijuana use may make it harder to quit tobacco.
Joni Rutter: Hello, afrench. Nicotine gum does work. It may not work for everyone, but there are other possibilities for people to get help for quitting smoking. For more information on how to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov.
Aaron White: Yes, very much so. Alcohol has powerful effects on areas of the brain right behind your forehead, called the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are involved in thinking, planning for the future, making decisions, storing short-term memories, etc. Alcohol suppresses, or turns off, the frontal lobes, making it difficult to think clearly and make good choices. Alcohol's effects on the frontal lobes can make it more likely that you will make bad choices after drinking too much.
Lori Ducharme: Hey Bethanne -- good question, although the absolute amount of time someone has been using drugs is not as important as the drugs they've been using, how often, and how it has affected their brains and functioning. But 5 years would seem to indicate that someone has a problem--and that calls for treatment. A variety of science-backed treatment approaches (many of them developed through NIDA-funded research) are available to help people recover from drug addiction. These include a number of FDA-approved medications, as well as behavioral (counseling) therapies that address both the addiction and its physical and social consequences. Most of these treatments are available in treatment programs in communities throughout America (www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov) but also from your doctor. To learn more about the best available treatments for drug abuse, you can check out our publication, Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment, at http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html. I hope this helps!
Like playing games? Try out these Brain Games on our website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/havefun/index.php Jim Bjork: There are several products available to help with this, such as nicotine gum or the nicotine patch. However, there's a lot of research that suggests it's not just the nicotine people get hooked on, it's the whole ritual of grabbing and holding that cigarette. Other people are just able to quit without assistance. Quitting in general is very very hard, which is why we care so much about preventing people from starting in the first place. Nicotine is among the most addictive drugs out there! If anyone you know needs help finding a doctor, therapist, support group or treatment program, visit the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or call 1-800-662-HELP.
David Shurtleff: Thanks for your question.K2, Spice is a fairly new phenomenon, that is thought of as synthetic cannabis. There is no solid indication that this herbal mixture is lethal. But since this mixtures are not regulated nor standardized different batches from different manufacturers could end up containing dangerous contaminants. Recently, there have also been an increase in poison control calls and ER visits related to using k2. My advice, stay healthy and take care.
Carol Krause: Excellent question! Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. Our scientists are among the most knowledgeable in the world about drug abuse issues, and keep up-to-date on studies about prevention, treatment and the effect that drug abuse and addiction have on our health status, our culture and our world. We have a strong foundation of science behind our answers here today. Because each scientist answers CHAT DAY questions independently, there might be some variations in how they answer. However, science has taught us a great deal about drugs in recent decades, and we are committed to sharing that information with the younger generation. Our Web site, drugabuse.gov, is filled with science-based information on this topic.
Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence. To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
Gaya Dowling: They can. Poppy seeds do contain morphine (an opiate) at very low levels so you can come up positive for morphine if you just ate a lot of pastries that contained poppy seeds. The level for opiate testing was raised in part for this reason, so it unusual now for this type of case.
Did you know that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people age 15 to 24? Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can negatively affect a driver's attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences. Aaron White: Well, ounce for ounce, liquor has more alcohol content in it than beer does. So 1.5 ounces of liquor (40% alcohol) has the same alcohol content as 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol). Also, your body absorbs the alcohol in liquor faster than the alcohol in beer because you drink it in smaller amounts. This makes you feel the effects of the liquor faster and more powerfully than you feel the effects of beer. Also, when people drink liquor, they often drink much more alcohol than they think they are drinking.
You can learn more about drink sizes and alcohol content here: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Susan Weiss: People with a mental disorder are generally at higher risk of becoming addicted if they use drugs than people without a disorder. This includes bipolar disorder.
Joni Rutter: Hey...thanks for your question. Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.phpSome hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens. But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:
Steve Grant: The simple answer is the last drug you took. But a serious answer is more difficult. Drugs vary in how long they stay in the body, and some drugs to stay in the body a long time. For example, methamphetamine is degraded by your body much more slowly than amphetamine so it is around for a longer period of time than amphetamine. Similarly, THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana gets stored in body fat and so is present for a long time. A bigger issue is that drugs can cause long lasting changes in the cells in your brain (neurons and glia), and these changes can persist long after the drug has left the body. We really don't know what all of such changes may mean for the functioning of the brain, but why take the chance ?
How many drinks does it take to reach the limit considered “intoxicated” by the legal system? Well, kids reach the legal drinking limit with fewer drinks than adults. Girls age 9 to 17 reach this limit with about 3 drinks. Boys ages 14 to 15 reach this limit with about 4 drinks, and boys ages 16 to 17 reach this limit with about 5 drinks. Of course all alcohol drinking by kids is illegal. Gaya Dowling: Salvia is not currently listed as a controlled substance by the DEA but some states have placed controls on it. Effects of this drug include seeing bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, dizziness, slurred speech hallucinations (seeing objects that are not present). Because the hallucinogenic effects of this drug are unpredictable, so are the risk of injury or death as a result of impaired judgment due to disruptions of sensory and cognitive functions
Jim Bjork: Mid-to-late adolescence, in that this is an age that is behaviorally associated with risk-taking in general, and several research studies show that the earlier in life a person starts to regularly use alcohol or other substances, the more likely it is that that person will lose control of taking the drug in the future. The frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for critical thinking and the inhibition of compulsive behaviors, is not fully developed at this age, which also contributes to the vulnerability at this developmental stage.
Jim Bjork: To experiment, to try to feel good because they are compensating for something bad in their life, or to try to fit in with friends who are using. I was fortunate in growing up that I had stuff like music I was interested in, and never felt a need to get high using drugs or alcohol, and I had friends that weren't really into drugs or alcohol either. For some facts about drugs, check out this website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
Kris Bough: Do you mean like is it insane to inhale dust cleaner in the first place??? Seriously though, inhalants (like dust-cleaners) can contain vapors that people sometimes inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Inhalants can be particularly dangerous as they can displace oxygen from the lungs and cause less and less oxygen to get the brain and other body organs, which could result in suffocation and death. For more info, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php ; Also check out what other teens think about inhalants at http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Joe Frascella: Here are the legal limits:DUI/DWI laws November 2011
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have per se laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a specified level, currently 0.08 percent (0.08 g alcohol per 100 ml blood).
If you need more information on alcohol, check out:
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/alcohol.php
Susan Weiss: There's no convincing evidence for that at this time--either that THC prevents cancer or that it kills cancer cells.
There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Belinda Sims: Hello! Individuals who use drugs often have their first use of drugs (onset) in adolescence. The earlier a person begins to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs the more likely they are to progress to abuse and addiction later on. There are a number of factors that may increase the chances that a young person will use drugs. We call these risk factors. Risk factors may come from one or more sources, including social, environmental, or biological factors, and often more than one risk factor will be present. Just because someone has a risk factor it does not mean that they will use drugs. Youth also have many protective factors in their lives--things that reduce the likelihood of using drugs that could also be social (e.g., positive peer relationships), environmental (e.g., caring and supportive family), or biological (e.g., good self-control). But using drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and other problems, too. Here are some websites you may be interested in.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
Jim Bjork: Both. It can also be taken by mouth, but the hit to the brain is much faster when injected and smoked, and it is thought that the faster a drug gets to the brain, the more likely the user is to become addicted to it.
Jim Bjork: There are several case reports and small studies in the medical literature that suggest this, but this is really controversial. Part of the problem is that these occurrances aren't carefully recorded.
I think teachers do a good job of explaining the dangers of drugs.52% - Yes
27% - No
21% - Maybe
Joe Frascella: Yes, if you know someone who is addicted to drugs, you should try to convince him or her to get professional help. There are many successful treatments and ways that can help people quit using drugs. Some people just decide to quit 'cold turkey' but this can be very difficult for some. We know that drug treatment does work and helps many people with this difficult problem.For more information, and for help, see:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
Steve Grant: I don't know about dumb, but there are enough active chemicals in marijuana smoke to have an effect on your brain, same as if you smoked 'weed' directly yourself. So you can experience the same effects, such as sleepiness and loss of attention, forgetfulness, and an increase desire for food, especially junk food.
Susan Weiss: Yes--its stronger. The amount of THC (its active ingredient) in the marijuana plant has been going up over time from about 3-4% in the 80s to about 10% now. This means that people can get exposed to higher doses more easily with unpredictable effects--especially in a new user.
Jim Bjork: The cocaine molecule is the 'active' ingredent in crack. What makes crack so addictive is that it is typically smoked, and this enables the cocaine molecules to get into the brain VERY quickly compared to snorting it. In general, when a drug of abuse gets to the brain very fast, the high is more intense, and the substance potentially more addictive.
Joe Frascella: Drug addiction is a treatable disease - with medications (in some cases) and behavioral or psychosocial therapies. Treatment should focus on a person's individual needs, since many people who are addicted to drugs also have other serious problems, including other mental illnesses. Drug addiction is often chronic (long-term), with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. But relapse doesn't mean failure, just that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted to ensure long-term recovery.For more information on treatment, check out:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
David Shurtleff: Yep, a change in behavior and personality are common among individuals that are doing drugs. For example, they can stop participating in activities they used to enjoy, start hanginng around different friends, become mood and more. Also, drugs can make people behave in erratic ways, for example, PCP use can lead to really erractic behavior, rapid speech, aggression or intense sweating. Want to know more about the effects of drugs? Go to our site! There's lots of good info! http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/; http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ Are you ready for more poll questions? Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did! Susan Weiss: Yes, mostly in a bad way. Cigarettes affect your breathing which can make it harder to most sports; marijuana messes with your coordination and reaction time; and other drugs, like cocaine and methamphetamine, can hurt your heart and put you at risk for a heart attack.
In 2009, there were nearly 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse. Kris Bough: Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” These chemicals are volatolized at room temperature and can produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous effects. These vapors are in a variety of products including some paints, glues, gasoline, makers, and cleaning fluids. For more information, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Steve Grant: That is a hard question to answer. Smoking anything poses a risk to your lungs because of the harmful effects of chemicals produced during burning. Even the so called 'e-cigarretes' still deliver nicotine, which is both addictive and has harmful physiological effects. In fact, tobacco plants evolved to produce nicotine to kill the insects that feed on the tobacco plant. So that should give you some idea of whether any cigarrette is good to smoke.
Joe Frascella: Yes, it could just like smoking cigarettes yellows one's teeth. Note that smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. Please see the following link for more information on marijuana http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
Richard Denisco: manpanther2223 Thanks for the question. Pain medications or 'opioids' work in a variety of ways on many receptors in the body. Mostly, they do reduce the feeling of pain. But they also work in areas of the brain that reduce the mind's awareness of the pain.
Joni Rutter: For more information on how to get your dad to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov. Good luck! I hope he quits--you'll have him around much longer. My dad quit smoking over 30 years ago, and we just celebrated his 80th birthday.
Aaron White: Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky. Aaron White: Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 1. Legal trouble
2. Car crashes and other accidents
3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on
The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Kris Bough: Hey Sugar Land!The term “designer drugs” refers to drugs that are created in a laboratory (typically, an “underground,” or secret, illegal lab). A designer drug is created by changing the properties of a drug that comes from a plant—such as cocaine, morphine, or marijuana—using the tools of chemistry. The resulting “designer” drugs typically have a new, different effect on the brain or behavior. Check out this site for more info!
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-designer-drugs/
Lori Ducharme: It's great that you want to quit smoking -- that's a decision that will really pay off for you in the long run. The easiest option is to see your doctor -- he or she can help you decide on the quit-smoking strategy that's best for you. In the meantime, we've got some great resources on a website designed just for teenagers that will give you facts about smoking, including effective options for treating nicotine addiction: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Steve Grant: Every drug has harmful effects if taken in large enough amounts. For example, taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver. So the answer depends on how much of the drug you take, and how often you take it. Doctors, nurses, pharmacologists, pharmacists spend years learning the relative benefits and risks that every drug has. But you can easily find out this information yourself these days by searching the internet or reading the label on any legal drug you take. Some drug are harmful even if taken in smaller doses, for example, cocaine is never a good drug to take.
Jim Bjork: OMG Noooooo! MJ can cause paranoia or anxiety in some people. Long term, though, MJ causes reduction in gray matter in certain parts of the brain, and disrupts memory and concentration, and decision-making in some laboratory tasks. MJ users also have to use different parts of the brain to get a mental task done, as though their brains have to work harder-- compared to non-users. MJ is also potentially addictive.
David Shurtleff: their brain is changed- drugs of abuse hijack and rewire the brain so it now 'expects' and 'craves' the drugs, but never fear, research shows that treatment for addiction can work and people can regain their lives!
Which of the following is safe to doThe correct answer is: C. Tweet about texting on Twitter. All of the actions above (except tweeting) can have dangerous health consequences, including addiction. Cocaine can cause heart attacks, seizures; marijuana can impair driving ability, especially when combined with alcohol; ecstasy pills can contain any number of toxic ingredients; and sniffing permanent markers can keep oxygen from getting to your brain. Learn more about these drugs on the NIDA for Teens Web site at http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
Carol Krause: Drugs are bad for anyone who consumes them.
Jim Bjork: If by that you mean that the person is addicted (the person is constantly on the lookout to get their next 'fix' of the drug or takes way too much and can't stop) but this preoccupation with getting and using the drug is kept a secret from family members and friends, then 'yes'. There are a lot of 'functional alcoholics' out there for example, that can stay sober enough to get through a work-day, and seem normal by all appearances, but are truly hooked on alcohol. These addictions don't usually stay hidden for very long, though.
Aaron White: That's an important question. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals discovered in 1938 and manufactured from lysergic acid, found in ergot.
Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often. Lori Ducharme: Thanks for your question. First, let's focus on your friend and her baby. Using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco when you're pregnant can cause serious problems for both the mother and baby, so you want to do what you can to discourage this or get her some help. Effects for the baby range from low birth weight to later effects on development, such as impaired attention, language, learning skills, behavioral problems, etc. These have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana. Here is a link to info on prenatal exposure to drugs: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html. Depending on the drug, your friend is also at risk for very negative health effects, such as those summarized here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/. Using drugs is your choice, but it's really not a good way to spend quality time, and it's really not helpful for you or or her baby.
Joe Frascella: I can only answer this in general, so don't necessarily think that these effects are applicable to you. Here is what the data seem to show: Ruben Baler: I am sorry if that was confusing.The rule is simple: inhaled drugs reach the brain faster than swallowed drugs.
Comparing apples to apples: snorting a stimulant will deliver it to the brain much faster than eating it.
Hope this helps.
Nora Volkow: Because like most drugs it activates the dopamine reward center in the brain, which is the reason that drugs are addictive.
Richard Denisco: Hi mbrennan14. When we consider which drug is more powerful, we consider the effect per miligram of medication. With this measure, alprozolam is more powerful. HOWEVER, which drug is more powerful does not really matter because if you take more of a less powerful drug the effect can be greater. So all can be dangerous.
Excellent questions! Keep them coming! To learn more about NIDA, check out our website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/nidahome.html Steve Grant: Two of the major negative effects of marijuana are problems with memory (you don't remember things as well as you did before using marijuana) and sleep impairments. These can be fatal if you try to drive or do other activities that require concentration and attention. People who use marijuana a lot over a long time often have difficulty sleeping when they stop using marijuana, and their inability to fall asleep may lead them to start using again.
Nora Volkow: They can produce psychosis and they can also affect your heart resulting in heart attacks.
David Shurtleff: Yes and no...while drugs have different side effects, most drugs of abuse target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction.
Jim Bjork: It can damage the chemical circuits in the brain that help regulate our happiness, such that when people aren't high on it they can become depressed. Brain scan studies show that regular meth users have shrunken gray matter in parts of the brain. It can also cause sleep problems and other symptoms. It can also cause 'meth mouth' and advanced tooth decay. Finally, it can impair a person's judgment, making them vulnerable to dangerous situations, especially when it causes irritability and aggressiveness.
Nora Volkow: It can make you psychotic (hear and see things that aren't there, and have trouble knowing what is real and what is not). It also has many bad effects on your body that can lead to heart attackes and even kidney failure.
Marsha Lopez: Hey tacoman63! The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes. In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders). For most types of drugs older students report more use than the younger students, however one exception is the use of inhalants which is used by 8.1% of 8th graders compared to 3.6% of high school seniors.
Jim Bjork: Not holes per se, like swiss cheese. Rather, it causes reductions in gray matter, as neurons either die outright, or shrivel smaller and connect with fewer other cells. We know this from brain scan studies of living volunteers. However, what is actually causing the changes in the brain's structure isn't well-known.
Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol for adults, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence. To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
Carol Krause: An estimated 21.8 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users, which means they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey in 2009. About 1 in 5 Americans aged 18-25 had used illicit drugs in the past month.Great Question!
Richard Denisco: Hi Bethanne -- Minor aches and pains and sore muscles from sports are part of everyday life and do not need medication. Unfortunately our society is such that we are often reaching for a pill for every discomfort. We are fortunate that we have strong medicine for severe pain and injuries; but to use these medications all the time makes them ineffective for when we really need them.
Jim Bjork: In general, drugs affect parts of the brain that govern rewards, mood and emotion--and some of the research suggests that it is these areas that are eventually damaged. Some experiments on specific drugs, such as alcohol, show damage to the frontal lobe, which is unfortunate, since that's the part of the brain that helps us control our behavior-- like drinking!
You should always get help if you have symptoms of depression [or any other illness]. You would go to the doctor if you had a broken arm, right? Jim Bjork: Because meth directly affects the brain's serotonin neurotransmitter system, which is the chemical system we largely rely on to regulate our mood and happiness. The brain and its cells adapt to the meth molecules floating around, such that when the meth is no longer around, it's a big brain bummer.
Nora Volkow: There are smokers that live to be 100 years old but they may have lived to 110 had they not smoked. We know that overall smokers have shorter life spans than non smokers.
Aaron White: Alcohol slows down activity in the brain, including the areas of the brain that tell us that something is wrong. Alcohol makes it harder for nerves to send pain signals to the brain, and we are not as aware of the pain signals that do get through. In this way, alcohol acts a little like the novacaine you would get at the dentist's office.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Golder College Prep High School! The use of alcohol and other drugs like weed can affect your judgment and your sexual decision making. In addition to fertility issues, research has shown that marijuana has been linked in some studies to children's low birth weight, behavioral problems, poor growth and difficulty with language comprehension and memory. Here is some information about prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Marsha Lopez: Great question! In 2010 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health surveyed Americans ages 12 and older, and 27% of them reported that they were current (past month) users of tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco and cigars), and 23% reported they were current smokers. The same survey reported that about 8% of youth, ages 12-17, smoke cigarettes.
Nora Volkow: Yes, genetics plays an important role in vulnerability to addiction
There are many myths about mental illness. Find out more here: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/learn.asp?nav=nav01_1&content=1_1_mythsfacts. Nora Volkow: It increases your vulnerability to become addicted to nicotine.
Steve Grant: Yes, that is the main reason people use marijuana. But marijuana can produces changes in the brain that can linger long after the drug has left the body, and the more you use the more likely the changes will persist. Problem is that you may not like those lasting changes, so best not to start in the first place.
Richard Denisco: Hi Vmartin-- a doctor usually gives steroids to reduce inflammation in injuries or to treat severe asthma; not for body building. Sometimes a doctor does give anabolic steroids to people who are severely ill and are losing weight and muscle. This is usually a cancer patient or someone with a severe degenerative disease. While steroids can have side effects, if they are closely monitored by a doctor these effects are minimized.
Ruben Baler: they can cause significant harm if you drink a lot of it of if they are mixed with alcohol, a particularly dangerous combination. Nora Volkow: yes
Aaron White: Currently, more and more states are requiring that people who have been arrested for driving under the influence do have devices like these in their cars. But, it is difficult to imagine the government requiring people who have not committed any crimes to have such devices installed in their cars.
Nora Volkow: If they have more money it will be easier to buy drugs, and thus more likely to use them. On the other hand a kid from a poor neighborhood may be exposed to more stresses and gang activity that may increase their risk for using drugs.
Hey-we have alcohol experts here! Send us your alcohol questions. Check out the website for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism here: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov Steve Grant: The most telling sign is that the person is pre-occupied with getting more and using more cocaine. The person may lose interest in their friends, or other activities like sports, music, or even videogames. The person may start stealing to get money to buy more cocaine, or lie to their friends and parents about how much they are using cocaine. If you think you know someone who is using cocaine, then you should encourage them to seek help before their use gets out of control. To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin is on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov. You can also find information on the National Institute on Drug Abuse's website at www.drugabuse.gov.
Marsha Lopez: Hi, Svelkova, what a thoughtful question! If your intent is to prevent your friends from trying drugs in the first place, discussing what is on their mind and why they are considering using drugs is a good place to start. Whether they have started using or not, you can encourage them to learn more about how drug use affects the body, brain, and life in general by going to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. If your friends are already using, being aware of when they are under the influence to keep them from driving or engaging in other behaviors (reckless sexual activity or other drug use) will protect them to some extent, but most importantly confiding in a trusted adult will help you deal with the situation which is more than you can shoulder on your own. If you think any of your friends have a problem and are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk to a doctor, parent, teacher, or therapist to find help, or go to http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP for confidential help 24/7. You can't make them stop using drugs but you can provide support, show that there are many ways to enjoy life that do not involve using drugs, and let your friend know you're there to help when ready. I really admire that you want to keep your friends safe, but make sure to keep yourself safe in the process. Good luck! Joe Frascella: Hard to answer this question specifically because it is quite complex. The simple answer is no drugs are good for the pregnant mother and child. Drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior. The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome. And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Belinda Sims: This is a little complicated. I don't think that we have research to answer this question one way or the other. You could speculate that a person in a regular school setting may be exposed to more opportunities for getting pressured by peers to use drugs or to have access to drugs than a person in a home school setting where a parent is present throughout the day. But there are a lot of adults monitoring what goes on during the school day and parents are often monitoring after school so it could go either way. Nora Volkow: Because many kids start smoking marijuana and then go onto other drugs. Also, there is evidence that early use of marijuana can make the person more vulenrable to the addictive effects of other drugs.
Lori Ducharme: Hey Iowa! Great question, but unfortunately not one with an easy answer. Treatment is different for different drugs, and for different people. Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease, and so the recovery process can take a long time, or it can involve several episodes of rehab. Treatment is important to help detoxify the brain, and get the recovery process started. A combination of approved medications and behavioral (counseling) therapies are available for use in drug abuse treatment. Even after people complete a treatment program, they will need continued support from local support groups or scheduled check-ins with a recovery counselor. At NIDA, our scientists are working on understanding how to adjust available treatments to make them the best they can be to help people recover from addiction and return to productive lives.
David Shurtleff: Good question - addiction involves many areas of the brain- those involved in learning memory, reward, pleasure, emotion and these areas involved in inhibitory control. So drugs of abuse can hi-jack all these areas of the brain. BUT it starts with most drugs of abuse directly targeting the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior. but with repeated use drugs hi-jack memory circuits driving drug use and at the same time some drugs impair parts of your brain that control your emotion and ability to control your behavior. so when all these regions of the brain are hijacked by drugs with continued use it leads to addiction - this uncontrollable desire/need to take the drug over and over again creating this vicious cycle of addiction and use of the drug at the expense of everything else in your life- how awful is that??
Bethany Deeds: Hello Skaneateles High School! Thanks for the thoughtful question....The legality of cannabis (aka, weed) has been the subject of debate for many decades and in different societies. Different societies decide to control drugs through varied ways (how is supplied/cultivated, how it can be possessed or not, how it can be sold, etc.). Some countries that have decided to decriminalize cannabis--an example is the Netherlands. However, in the majority of countries cannabis remains illegal. For more information on marijuanahere is a link to our teen web pages: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
David Shurtleff: Hmmm...that's a good questions and one that I don't think you should try to find out the answer to...but anywho, it depends on the person- but generally after the initial effects of a drug like heroin, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours. Remember, overdose is a huge risk with injecting drugs like heroin. Trying to figure out a 'safe' dose is not a game I'd try to play with my life!
Ruben Baler: nope. caffeine is actually a xanthine alkaloid Nora Volkow: Methampethamine is one of the most addictive drugs
Nora Volkow: Yes, they are very harmful since they dissolve the myelin in neurons, which is necessary for neurons to communicate with one another.
Nora Volkow: It is different. High doses of alcohol can markedly impair your behavior but these effects are short lasting whereas the effects of marijuana are much longer lasting. This drug can remain in your body days after having smoked, especially in people who smoke a lot, whereas the effects of alcohol will have cleared in a couple of hours.
Aaron White: All fruit juice can contain small amounts of alcohol, but the levels are so small that they can't be tasted and do not affect the brain or behavior.
Drug addiction can be treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person’s specific circumstances. To find treatment programs, check out this website: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov Aaron White: Blackouts are periods of amnesia during which the brain is not able to make any new memories. Drinking too much alcohol can impair or even shut off your hippocampus, the part of your brain that helps make memories. This causes the concentraition of alcohol in your brain to increase very quickly. If you experience a blackout, that's a sign that you drank too much alcohol - maybe even enough that to potentially cause serious health problems or even death. Blackouts are a warning sign that you are drinking in a very dangerous way. Ruben Baler: these are bad scientists, like the mad ones that want to conquer the world in the james bond movies.bad scientists, bad scientists...
Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. While 'high' on LSD, sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs in people under the influence of LSD. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in large enough doses, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations. The user’s sense of time and self is altered. Experiences may seem to “cross over” different senses, giving the user the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. Some LSD users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings of despair, fear of losing control, or fear of insanity and death while using LSD.
LSD was popular in the 1970's but it people realized it is not really practical to be having frightening hallucinations all the time! I don't know about you but I have enough real-life things causing nightmares in my life---I don't need to create any extra bad dreams!
Jim Bjork: Acid, or LSD is a hallucinogen, that causes people to see and experience things that arent really there. Although it appears no one has ever died from an LSD overdose, LSD may prevent people from making good decisions, thus making the user more susceptible to accidents and personal injury. For example, it may cause temporary confusion. Like being drunk on alcohol, the danger might really come from what a person is DOING while high.
Ruben Baler: nope, that's totally bogus. Dave Thomas: The active ingredient in many prescription pain killers are drugs called opioids. Opioids are powerful pain killers, but have substantial side effects, and have the potential to be abused and to produce addiction. Thus, opioids can be harmful, especially when not used as prescribed.For more information on opioids, take a look at: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
Jim Bjork: Yes. But repeated or long-term use can cause damage to the brain (some permanent) that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-can-inhaling-sharpie-markers-make-you-high/.
The reward structures are part of a larger brain system known as theThe correct answer is: C. Limbic system. The limbic system is a set of brain structures that generates our feelings, emotions, and motivations. It is also important in learning and memory. By controlling our ability to feel pleasure, the limbic system motivates us to repeat behaviors that are necessary for our survival, like eating. But drugs of abuse take over this system, causing people to want drugs more than they want anything else, and teaching them to continually repeat the behavior. You can find more information at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-day-limbic-system/
Nora Volkow: THC--delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
Ruben Baler: the effects of inhaling sharpies can be immediate. this stuff is very dangerous, stay as far as you can.stay smart and healthy
Steve Grant: Yes, heroin can make you pass out, plus it suppresses the breathing reflex, and also can cause nausea and vomiting. If you have never taken heroin before you are particular at risk for taking to much which can cause serious problems, including death. Your brain will be very sensitive to the effects of heroin and you can pass out, stop breathing, and even choke on your own vomit. This is the way a lot of celebraties have died.
Nora Volkow: Because they are getting access to them earlier than they used to. Also they have the belief that other kids are using drugs, and they have peer pressure to get them to try and keep using drugs.
David Shurtleff: Let's just say your friend is smoking and you are sitting next to him....you're not smoking, but you're breathing in the smoke from his cigarette...that's secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is pretty dangerous, containing more that 4,000 substances, several of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals. Secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in those who do not smoke. with and estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers. Children exposed to high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those whose mothers smoke, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects like asthma. It also increases the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in infants. Want to know more about tobacco addiction? Click here for more information - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php Joe Frascella: Thanks for your question. Smoking cigarettes or marijuana would have clear effects on the mother as well as the fetus can be affected by what a mother takes into her body and also the air she breathes. Researchers are looking at the effects of smoking on the fetus - seeing whether fetal behavior is affected by taking ultrasound videos of the fetus - it does look like they might even go through withdrawal, just like their moms! One thing to note about smoking in particular--- because nicotine readily crosses the placenta, it can reach concentrations in the fetus that are much higher than maternal levels. There are some types of drugs that the fetus can get addicted to --opiates such as heroin, viocodin, oxytocin or morphine. When born, many of these infants go through a withdrawal process, and some have to be given methadone because of the discomfort. No mom wants to do that to her baby---it just shows how difficult it is to get off drugs once you start. For more information on this important subject, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/
If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young adolescents abuse. In fact, they are one of the few classes of substances that are abused more by younger adolescents than older ones. Inhalant abuse can become chronic and can cause death. Ruben Baler: yes. Anabolic steroids can in fact be legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS.thanks for the question
stay smart and healthy
Nora Volkow: It depends on the child and the other family members. If the child is alone with that person he/she is at greater risk because an addicted parent will probably not be able to provide the emotional support that a child or adolescent requires.
Wonder why celebrities go in and out of rehab so much? Because it takes time to recover from addiction---and time to find the right treatment. Learn more by reading NIDA’s new booklet for teens- Drugs: Shatter the Myths at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php Nora Volkow: Methamphetamine and crack are probably the most addictive. There are also differences between people regarding who may be more sensitive to addiction to other drugs, such as alcohol.
David Shurtleff: Agreeable or knock you out cold so that you don't remember anything??? I think you may be referring to Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), a drug that is classified as sedative. It's not legal to use in this country. It was reported to to be put in alcohol drinks to unsuspecting drinkers. Rohypnol is often referred to as a date rape drug. It can be added to beverages and ingested unknowingly by an individual because they can't smell or taste it. The drug works by 'depressing' the brain, rendering a person unconscious, unable to move or remember large blocks or periods of time. It is for this reason that date rape drugs are referred to as drug-assisted assault drugs. To learn more about the side effects and medical consequences of these drugs, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/RohypnolGHB.html.
Ruben Baler: caffeine is an addictive drug allright, but it is atypical because it boosts dopamine not in the reward center but in more frontal regions of teh cortex, so its main acute effects are more cognitive than euphorigenic.Hope this helps.
cheers
Lori Ducharme: Unfortunately, while that may be tempting, it will likely just result in making your family member angry. Thinking strategically, for the long-term, you want your family members to feel like they can count on you when they need help, so I would focus on that and try to keep the problem out in the open where you can talk about it and try to help. Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make stopping easier. Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Research shows that drivers on marijuana have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds. Learn more about the effects of different drugs here http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/ Nora Volkow: Depends on how its taken. When its smoked or injected it is very addictive. Its less addicitve when snorted, but even then it can produce addiction.
Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana. Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet. In the case of alcohol in particular, this brain shrinkage increases with age. Even non-users have brains that shrink a little each year as we age, but alcoholism increases this shrinkage.
Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.
Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Ruben Baler: It's not actually the compressed air but the chemical that serves as the propellant: nitrous oxide (or laughing gas)thanks for the question
Carol Krause: Ouch! Who would want to do that? Yes you could die if you do that! You might feel a 'high' but then you have to take more and more just to get the same high and then your whole life is dominated by running around trying to find enough drugs---what a mess! And then you take too many pills because you are desperate for the high and then you overdose. Did you know that more people die every year from painkiller overdoses than from heroin and cocaine combined? Painkiller abuse is no joke.
About 80% of 12th graders don’t use cigarettes, and about 91% of 12th graders don’t use smokeless tobacco. Richard Denisco: Hi Tiffiny N and thanks for the question. It is always hard when someone you care obout is harming themselves. We have some suggestions that can help, but remember it takes time and often many tries to stop smoking. All you can really do is show him you care and bring him this information: http://drugabuse.gov/treatingtobacco.html.
Nora Volkow: Nicotine in the tobacco leaves is the drug.
Belinda Sims: Not necessarily. But someone who uses marijuana is at increased risk for using other, more serious drugs and for lots of other negative consequences. Here are some resources you may want to check out:
http://www.marijuana-info.org/
http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/marijuana.html
Nora Volkow: Yes, they are considered inhalants and make you high in a way similar to alcohol.
Nora Volkow: Yes, many do. The ones that are most damaging to your heart are cocaine and methamphetamine.
I think drug users are losers.59% - Yes
32% - No
10% - Maybe
Nora Volkow: Yes, because it increases the toxicity of the drug. So, for example, its much easier to overdose when people combine alcohol with other drugs like painkillers.
David Shurtleff: Good question - drugs of abuse act on many areas of the brain- those involved in learning memory, reward, pleasure, emotion and these areas involved in inhibitory control. So drugs of abuse can hi-jack all these areas of the brain. BUT it starts with most drugs of abuse directly targeting the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior. But with repeated use, drugs hi-jack the brain, including areas control your emotion and ability to control you behavior, like your ability to control your urge to take the drug in the first place. This creates a vicious cycle of addiction and use of the drug at the expense of everything else in your life- how awful is that??
Belinda Sims: Yes. But it doesn't have to. One thing that teens can do to avoid peer pressure is to get involved with peers focused on positive activities that don't include drinking and drug use. Talking to a trusted adult who can help to support a teen's decision not to use drugs can be helpful as well. Getting the facts about how alcohol and drug use can affect a teen and the consequences that a teen could experience if they get involved with alcohol and drugs, can also help a person decide not to use drugs. Also, it is good to learn skills for how to refuse offers to use alcohol and drugs. There are prevention programs that teach youth these skills. For more information, take a look at these resources:http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf
Ruben Baler: probably not in the short run, but in the long runm regular marijuana users do report significantly lower life satisfaction, which is tantamount to be grumpier. i think.cheers
Nora Volkow: marijuana
Nora Volkow: Cigarettes can increase attention in people that are addicted; smoking marijuana can make you mello and slow.
Dr. Cathrine Sasek is now participating in the Chat. Dr. Sasek does many things at NIDA but her favorite is working on NIDA’s Science Education Program. She has always had a fascination with science, in particular the brain and how it causes changes in how people think and behave, and she enjoys having the opportunity to share this with teachers, parents, and kids. When she is not at work, Dr. Sasek enjoys hiking, taking photographs and entering them in competitions, and playing with her two cats. Aaron White: It depends on several factors, including how old a person is and how much they drink. For people under the age of 21, even moderate consumption of wine (up to 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men) is illegal and unhealthy due to the fact that the brain is still developing and that starting to drink at a young age increases the risk of becoming an alcoholic. However, for people 21 and older, moderate consumption of wine appears to be okay and might even help the heart stay healthy. Drinking at levels beyond moderation, however, increase the risk of cancers and other diseases.
Ruben Baler: that's an easy one:in short: follow your passion!!!
it works every time.
try it
Steve Grant: One reason that drugs may have more of an impact on teens is that the brain is still developing during adolescence. In particular the pre-frontal cortex, which is involved in things like decisions and reasoning, matures during the teen years and even into the early 20's. So taking drugs when you are a teenager may have a lasting impact on the part of the brain that is responsible for many human characteristics. Jim Bjork: Yes. Cocaine and stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure to cause heart attacks and strokes. Heroin and alcohol (and especially a combination of the two) can cause the brain to stop telling the chest to breathe, and people die from overdose for that reason.Finally, driving while intoxicated kills a LOT of people, as another example of how drugs kill.
Nora Volkow: Weed has THC, which is also addictive.
Richard Denisco: Hi KarinaG and thanks for the question. The main change is a change in the persons behavior, they are either more active or more sedated than usual. All of us have a day or two that we are a little different but you can tell when it is continuous and affects grades, the person does not want to go out with friends, is secretive and/or changes their friends. There are other physical signs like needle marks but this is extreme and behavior change is the most common.
Marsha Lopez: Superman, wow, so great to hear from you! There are a few options and talking to your friend is a good place to start, and trying to understand why he is selling drugs might help you convince him there are better ways to go. You also should consider confiding in a trusted adult to help you deal with the situation, as you can use the support as well in helping your friend. If he is using drugs too, that might complicate his judgment even more, and if he's willing there are ways for him to get help on that front through the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Good luck and stay safe! Ruben Baler: hithere is such a long list of ill effects that result from steroid abuse that i will just paste a link here for you to visit.
thanks for the question!!
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
David Shurtleff: Mushrooms are the delectable fungi that I buy at the grocery store and cook with my steaks...mm-mm-good! Just joking, 'Shrooms' are Psilocybin mushrooms that cause hallucinations - profound distortions in the perception of reality. Under the influence of hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Some hallucinogens also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people. Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect can last as little as several hours and and as long as days, months, or years after taking the drug. For more information about drugs and LSD' target='_blank'>LSD, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs pose increased risk of health complications when combined with other prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Find out more facts at NIDA’s website for teens: www.teens.drugabuse.gov Nora Volkow: Many of them do it because of peer pressure, their friends insisting to them that its cool.
Jim Bjork: Yep. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! Recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter! It also can effect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using.
The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more drug over time to get the same high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control and get addicted, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Nora Volkow: We don't know of evidence linking drug use to anorexia or bulimia.
Ruben Baler: good question,the only drug class i am aware of that can actually do this is anabolic steroids, which send a signal to the bones that says 'stop growing'
what a silly way to shortchange yourself.
Nora Volkow: They can. To start with they can make you secretive and paranoid. Also certain drugs make you mello and withdrawn; other drugs can make you more aggressive
The effects of LSD (acid) are pretty scary! LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite. Learn more about LSD here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html Nora Volkow: Yes they can. The most recognized is the risk of cancer that even though reduced, can persist after a person stops smoking
David Shurtleff: Does marijuana affect driving?Yes--it affects the skills you need to drive safely--reaction time, motor coordination, and attention; and has been shown in driving simulator and road tests to impair performance. Further, when combined with even a small amount of alcohol, the effects are worse than either drug alone. Approximately 14% of fatally injured drivers in car crashes test positive for marijuana (sometimes in combination with other drugs).
Why? because the main active ingredient in MJ- THC impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation, THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected.
Ruben Baler: great question.But, don't you always have the power to seek other (better) friends, who would not force you into doing things that you dont want to do.
it looks to me like a no brainer...
good luck in your search
Nora Volkow: Rehabilitation is a program that helps a person stop taking drugs; there are different types of rehabilitation and these are also of different duration. During the period of rehabilitation the person is detoxified from drugs and receives behavioral therapy to teach them how to control their emotions and desires for taking drugs.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Iowa! Drug use often starts in the teenage years....Age and use statistics show that young people usually initiate experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, and marijuana. The age of initiation for each of these substances is generally younger than for any other illicit substance. According to the latest data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the mean age at first use of tobacco is 15; alcohol, 16; inhalants, 16; and marijuana, 17. Below is a NSDUH table showing mean age at first use for specific illicit drugs. To get additional data from NSDUH, go to http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm#5.1Figure 5.3 Mean Age at First Use for Specific Illicit Drugs among Past Year Initiates Aged 12 to 49: 2010
Aaron White: No. The heat would cause the alcohol to vaporize and burn off.
Joe Frascella: Great question! It really depends on several factors, but drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior. The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome. And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Aaron White: You should never consume the kind of alcohol that is in rubbing alcohol, also called isopropyl alcohol. The only type of alcohol safe for human consumption is ethyl alcohol, such as in beer and wine.
A 2009 study showed that 28% of high school students rode with a driver who had been drinking in the past month. What were they thinking? Aaron White: Technically, you can consume ethyl alcohol straight, but its very high concentration of alcohol would likely hurt your mouth a lot. Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. A typical beer contains around 5% alcohol, while liquor contains around 40%. There are forms of distilled spirits that contain as much as 95% alcohol. Drinking it straight is not a great idea.
Jim Bjork: Because it is a sedative/hypnotic drug. It is primarly used to treat severe sleeping problems, where the person does not respond to weaker drugs. In other words, the drug is doing what it is SUPPOSED to be doing. However, because this is such a strong drug, doctors typically do not prescribe it for very long.
Ruben Baler: i don't think so. Richard Denisco: Hi Code G and thanks for the question. In a word Yes. This is one of the common ways young people get medications and it is illegal. Even using medications for reasons other than prescribed is illegal.
Lori Ducharme: Good question! There are questions people can ask to assess whether or not a person has a drug problem. As you can see, you really have to focus on people's behavior, and let that be your clue. These do not necessarily indicate that someone is addicted, but answering yes to any of these questions may suggest a problem, which could require follow-up with a professional drug treatment specialist. These include:- Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who had been using alcohol or drugs?
- Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, to feel better about yourself, or to fit in?
- Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?
- Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
- Do family or friends ever tell you to cut down on your use of alcohol or drugs?
- Have you ever gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?
Joe Frascella: Marijuana, like all drugs of abuse, directly affects the brain. It has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory. How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.' These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation. Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana. Smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users. This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives. There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers. Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse. Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school. Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.
Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
Jim Bjork: Yes, because some research shows that it can damage serotonin neurons in the brain. These neurons help control emotions and a sense of well-being. Using ecstasy increases risk for depression later, even after a person stops using. Some other research on regular users suggest that they have memory problems.
David Shurtleff: 'Tripping' (hallucinations) occur when a person takes a drug like LSD, which are hallucinogens (meaning they induce hallucinations -- which are profound distortions in perception of reality). Under the influence of LSD people can see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist!. It can also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people! Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin, which has a role in regulating perception, mood, body temperature and more.The effects of hallucinogens like LSD are unpredictable and can also be long-term, lasting anywhere from as little as several hours to as long as several days, months, or years after taking the drug. For more information about drugs and LSD, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Richard Denisco: Hi jjean and thanks for the question,Yes many people abuse prescription drugs. They are very powerful and relatively safe if use as directed. But if people experience a high from the medication and want more they can start abusing the medication. In fact more people died in the US in 2009 from prescription drug overdoses than car accidents.
Nora Volkow: We are funding researchers to try to do this. One strategy we are excited about is the development of vaccines--these will keep the drug from entering the brain, and interfere with the drug's rewarding and addictive properties. However there is still lots of work that needs to be done before we succeed.
Which of the following drugs are addictive?The correct answer is: All of the above. All of these drugs, even legal ones like nicotine and alcohol, affect dopamine levels in the brain and can disrupt normal brain function, which can lead to addiction. Learn more: http://drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
Carol Krause: Getting an addicted person to stop abusing drugs is just one part of a long and complex recovery process. When people enter treatment, addiction has often taken over their lives. The compulsion to get drugs, take drugs, and experience the effects of drugs has dominated their every waking moment, and drug abuse has taken the place of all the things they used to enjoy doing. First the person must go through 'detox' which means a doctor or nurse will take care of them while the drugs leave their system. Then, once they are feeling better, they will work with a trained counselor to help identify how they got hooked in the first place, and how to avoid the people and places that tempt them to use drugs. They might be given some medicine that will help with their drug cravings, because the drug has 'hijacked' the brain and has tricked it into thinking it needs drugs all the time. Many people use drugs to 'escape' difficult circumstances at home or elsewhere in their lives. They might have a lot of emotional pain and need to learn to live without the haze of drugs. Rehab takes time because learning all of these things takes practice...sometimes the person will have to return to rehab as part of the recovery process. It takes courage to go into rehab because you will have to change many aspects of your life. You can learn more about use and treatment of drugs in this booklet: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/treatment.html
Ruben Baler: We don't have enough information to say anything categorical about the interaction between marijuana and ritalin. But we do know that marijuana is not a benign drug in otherwise healthy individuals, so it would be silly to expect anything but an even worst outcome if people medicated for their ADHD consume marijuana, at any time.don't you think?
Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that alcohol and pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana. Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet.
Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation. Richard Denisco: Hi cnunez thanks for the question. I know it is hard when all your friends are doing something and I assume you are not. If you are in this situation try to keep some distance because it is easy to get drawn into drug using and it is not worth it. If you want to help your friends, check out this information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Jim Bjork: Because some species of mushrooms secrete or produce a molecule called psilocybin. This molecule affects the brain chemical system that uses serotonin. In this way, psilocybin is like a form of LSD-- a hallucinogen.
Nora Volkow: It can weaken their heart, which for an athlete can be devastating.
Do you have questions about drug cravings? Ask Dr. Steven Grant, a neuroscientist with a background in biology, chemistry, and physics. Although his favorite subjects in high school were English and History, he developed a liking and aptitude for science in college and went on to do post-doctoral work in brain systems and drug withdrawal. The study he is most proud of is a brain imaging study of cocaine craving that demonstrated that substance abuse involved more than the brain areas traditionally thought to be part of drug use, and opened the door to investigating the contribution of other cognitive processes in addiction. In his spare time, he likes to read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction and is interested in the performing arts. He has two daughters—one in college and one who graduated two years ago. Jim Bjork: Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco) have been strongly linked to cancer. The greater reasons for avoiding drugs and alcohol are the brain damage they can cause, and the potential for addiction.
Nora Volkow: Because like other drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, nicotine) it activates the pleasure centers of the brain and increases the chemical dopamine.
Joe Frascella: That would depend on a number of factors...such as, what are the two drugs, how do each of these drugs individually affect the individual, is there something about the drug combination that can create a new drug, etc. Just as there are potential drug-drug interactions with two or medications, there can be the same types of interactions with drugs of abuse. For more information on drug abuse go to: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ Aaron White: The level of alcohol needs to be at least 60% in order for the sanitizer to kill germs. Some products have levels of 70% or more. These levels are much higher than the levels found in distilled spirits such as vodka and gin. Importantly, consuming hand sanitizer is quite dangerous. While it contains alcohol, it also contains a variety of other, potentially toxic ingredients that are not meant to be consumed.
Ruben Baler: these drugs won't really slow a person down, but will allow him or her to pay attention and focus on one task. What these drugs do is inhibit 'mind wandering'.When abused by otherwise healthy, non-ADHD people these drugs will work like stimulant drugs, and depending on the dose and frequency of the use, their effects could vary widely.
You can read about the ill effects of stimulant abuse here:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ADHD.html
thanks for the question.
Nora Volkow: Yes, most people that take drugs only once don't get addicted.
It takes time to recover from addiction— not only for the brain to re-adjust, but to make lifestyle changes to avoid drugs. Think how hard it is for people trying to lose weight—they try different diets, exercise for a while, and lose a few pounds only to gain them back… until they can make lasting changes to keep the weight off. Same with quitting drugs—it may take several rounds of treatment before it sticks. Nora Volkow: We know that it increases the risk for lung diseases as well as cancer. We also know that nicotine reaches the brain with secondhand smoke which may make you more vulernable to nicotine addiction.
Aaron White: Well, it depends on how much alcohol the individual consumes, how fast they drink it and whether they have any food in their stomach when they drink it. If the person drinks several servings of alcohol quickly on an empty stomach, the odds are high they will experience a memory blackout (i.e., not being able to remember what they did while drinking). That's because blackouts are more likely to occur when alcohol gets into the brain very quickly. When this happens, the memory area of the brain, the hippocampus, is easily shut off and the brain then stops recording memories until most of the alcohol wears off.
Lori Ducharme: This is unfortunately a common question today -- it's one that too many teenagers have to deal with. On the other hand, it's great that you're concerned about trying to help your friend. And that's the very first thing you can do -- be a good friend, someone who can be trusted to provide good information, or at least listen when people need to talk. So educate yourself first about drugs and alcohol and the problems they can cause (see our great website for teens at http://teens.drugabuse.gov). Next, encourage your friend to talk to an adult that they can trust -- maybe a teacher or coach or a parent of another friend. If they don't feel comfortable doing that but they are ready to seek help, then you can check out available treatment resources in your community (some are available just for adolescents) at http://findtreatment.samsha.gov. If they're in crisis, then they (or you) can call 1-800-273-TALK to talk to a professional who can help. Most of all, though, be the friend you'd like to have -- you can do a lot of good that way!
Jim Bjork: Marijuana might have contributed to it, because it causes increased heart rate. There is probably no way for the doctors to tell for sure, though.
David Shurtleff: doubt it- psilocybin produces it hallucinogenic effects through the brain's neurotransmitter serotonin- orange juice does not directly interact with serotonin.
Aaron White: I see how that can be confusing. Alcohol is produced when yeast, a single celled organism, eats and digests sugar. So wine is made from the sugar that is naturally present in grapes. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar the yeast feeds on. For example, liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.
Joel Sherrill: hi: This is a really good but really tough question! Drug use and mental health problems can definitely be related, but the relationship is complicated. It is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg question. Sometimes people use drugs when they are experiencing mental health problems in an attempt to feel better, but often use of unprescribed drugs leads to more problems, such as depression. If someone who isn't already having mental health problems starts to use drugs, the drug use can lead to problems (for example, problems at school, and in relationships with parents, family, and or friends), and these stresses can than affect their mental health. Getting high can also lead to using other drugs; and drug use in general affects your brain functioning. Sometimes, effects such as memory problems can be lasting. We don't know everything we need to know about why people become suicidal, but we do know that mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD and alcohol or other drug-use disorders can increase the risk for suicide, so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan. Suicide is often an impulsive act, and use of alcohol and drugs can make people act more impulsively. And at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment. Suicide is preventable. For more information about suicide prevention, resources and where to find help in your area, check out these links: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/selected-suicide-prevention-online-resources.shtml
I think drug users are cool.15% - Yes
78% - No
8% - Maybe
Nora Volkow: Yes, the most frequent cause is from accidents when driving under the influence.
Jim Bjork: Your brother is fortunate to have family members who care about him. It's hard to be in this situation, seeing your brother going down a dangerous path and not being sure what you can do to help. First, let your brother know that someone cares about him. You can let him know you are concerned without being judgmental, and that there are people he can talk with in confidence. He may be more open to talk to a trusted adult or a medical professional if he feels that his privacy would not be violated. There are some resources for him that are anonymous - for example, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. They don't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect your brother with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Because talking with someone about his drug use can be uncomfortable, you may want to ask an adult you trust, like a teacher or coach, to help you figure out how best to help your brother.
Nora Volkow: Because they get exposed to them and perceive this as something other kids are doing and want to feel cool and to fit in.
Richard Denisco: Hi Eve1996 and thanks for the question. The physical signs of addiction depend on the type of drug being abused. I can give you some examples but this is not a complete list. If someone acts different than usual, either more sedated or hyper this is a sign. Addiction can also cause poor grades and nodding out. Methamphetamine can cause heart problems and a loss of teeth--a 20-year-old can look 70! Needle marks are a sign of severe addiction and a high risk of HIV or hepatitis. Please see the attached web page for information on different types of drugs: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php.
David Shurtleff: Smoking cocaine (crack) delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, but do not last long. The high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes. The high from snorting cocaine on the other hand comes on slower and can last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is evidence that suggests that users who smoke or inject cocaine may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves--including becoming addicted--than those who snort the substance, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.
Nora Volkow: We dont know the exact answer, but we know that you will get nicotine into your brain at doses that will affect it. Based on this we believe that secondhand smoke exposure could increase your risk of becoming addicted
We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week. Lori Ducharme: Hmmm. Can't think of any negatives with quitting drugs. You stop risking your life, you're able to remember the last conversation you had, you're able to hold down a job and be a productive member of society, you stay out of jail, your brain can process basic information, the sky is bluer, life is all-around better. So, you've stumped me on that one!
Nora Volkow: Marijuana interferes with the mental state of the person in ways that can hurt others. For example, it can make you paranoid which can lead to more aggressive behaviors, it also can interfere with your motor coordination which can result in accidents that harm the person but also others. In addition, marijuana interferes with memory and learning so it will impair the educational achivement of the person.
Mental illnesses are not as rare of some people think. About 20% of youth will have at least one type of mental illness in their lifetime. Ruben Baler: probably because you stop caring while stoned...what do you think?
Ruben Baler: I assume you are talking about tobacco cigarettes. right? a few ideas come to mind....1) you could go out and start jogging with him on a regular basis, see if he can keep up.
2) you can ask him to see his will, tell him you just want to make sure all his 'things' are in order in case he should die prematurely.
3) ask him for a pop urine test
4) leave disgusting pictures of cancer victims laying around the house for him to discover, maybe one inside the medicine cabinet for him to find first thing in the morning...
i am sure you can come up with more
Hope this helps
cheers and good luck
David Shurtleff: Dopamine!! Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good! Nora Volkow: We don't know exactly how they do it, but we know, for example, that they can dissolve the myelin that covers nerve cells. Myelin helps protect the neurons and speeds the transmission of signals.
Aaron White: Wow. Great question. Having parents who are alcoholics does increase the chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. The odds go up more if you start drinking while you are a teenager. The odds decrease if you avoid alcohol until you are an adult. However, if you do choose to drink at any point in life, you should be aware of the increased risk you face of developing a problem with alcohol and drink only in moderation (up to 1 drink per day for females or 2 for males).
Repeated drug use can reset the brain’s pleasure meter, so that without the drug, you feel hopeless and sad. Eventually, everyday fun stuff like spending time with friends or playing with your dog doesn’t make you happy anymore. Joel Sherrill: hi acalais: It's sad but true, many kids can become very upset and even suicidal when their hearts get broken. Sadly, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. At the time of a relationship break-up or when someone suffers a loss or major disappointment, they might not be able to see that things will definately get better with time. Suicide is often an impulsive act, and at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment.But it's important to remember that suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation. And suicide is preventable. If you or a friend is feeling hopeless or suicidal, it's very important to talk to a trusted adult and get help. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). And check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml
David Shurtleff: Yup- MJ can be addicting--about 9% of users, 1 in 6 of those who start young, and 25-50% of daily users become addicted. Research also shows that MJ use creates a withdrawal syndrome similar to that of nicotine withdrawal, which can make it hard to quit. People trying to quit report irritability, sleeping difficulties, craving, and anxiety. Yep...it's addictive!
Jim Bjork: If by Crank you mean amphetamine, overdosing is usually not fatal, but it can cause increased blood pressure and even hallucinations.
Most teens are smart and stay away from steroids. As part of a 2010 NIDA-funded study, teens were asked if they ever tried steroids—even once. Only 1.1 percent of 8th graders, 1.6 percent of 10th graders, and 2.0 percent of 12th graders ever tried steroids. David Shurtleff: The short answer is Dopamine!! Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good! Jim Bjork: The active ingredient in these mushrooms, a molecule called psilocybin, is very rarely fatal. However, too much of it can cause panic attacks, especially if taken by accident or otherwise unexpected. Other reactions reported in research studies include violence, aggression, homicidal and suicidal attempts, nasty hallucinations, and convulsions.
Nora Volkow: Yes
Nora Volkow: Yes, it interferes with the memory areas in the brain.
Nora Volkow: It decreases your motivation. It can also increase your risk for anxiety and depression.
David Shurtleff: I don't think it's a good idea. While they may help you build muscles, they can also cause long-term damage to your liver, cause high blood pressure. For males, steroids can cause testicle shrinkage (yikes!), baldness, breast development, and infertility. Teens risk permanently stunted height, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Whew!!! It's just not a good idea!
Aaron White: If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation. Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into - here are some tips:Say no and let them know you mean it
Stand up straight and make eye contact
Say how you feel
Don't make excuses
Stick up for yourself
It might also be a good idea to connect with friends who don't drink and so won't put you in this tough position.
To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Nora Volkow: Not necessarily , but their risk will be higher than if they had started using drugs as adults. Also, there is effective treatment--so a person who is addicted doesn't have to be for their whole life.
Belinda Sims: Hi Monica M - MR. This is a tough situation to be in. It sounds like so far you have decided not to do drugs. I would encourage you to keep this up. Also, I think that you should talk to a friend or trusted adult who can support you in your decision to refuse using drugs. Getting some of the facts about drugs and the consequences of using drugs may help you see that you are making a great decision for yourself. Stay strong!These resources may be helpful to you:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
Carol Krause: Yep. Cigarette smoking causes cancers of the lung, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. Aren't those good reasons to never pick up a cigarette?
Jim Bjork: Yes, if you are talking about cigarettes, but probably not nearly as long. Even if lung cancer doesn't kill you prematurely, the increased chance of heart disease will.
A 2010 study found that about 1% of 8th graders, 2% of 10th graders, and 1% of 12th graders had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. That means about 99% of students don’t use methamphetamine! Learn more about meth and other stimulants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php Joe Frascella: Tough question to answer accurately as there is a wide range of differences in the ability for someone to quit abusing drugs such as cigarettes or methamphetamine. Also, it really depends on the level of use, how early in life one starts abusing the drug, what are your genetic vulnerabilities, and what your environment is like. Therefore, you see the answer really depends on the specific question. If you want to learn more about treatment for drugs of abuse, check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html
Jim Bjork: It can. Increased anxiety is probably the most reported effect in clinical research studies.
Jim Bjork: Because of the chemicals and byproducts used in making meth from over-the-counter medications. Sometimes these get spilled. Even if the lab doesn't explode, it will leave toxic chemicals behind in the carpets and floors for the next occupants to deal with....
Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
3. How much they weigh
4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Lori Ducharme: There are many addiction treatment (rehab) programs available in different settings and communities. To find out what's available near you, check out http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. That link will let you search for programs that specialize in various kinds of problems (drugs, alcohol, mental health, etc) -- there are even programs that specialize in services for adolescents. Although some programs require health insurance or the ability to pay their fees, others have sliding fee scales that can make treatment more affordable, or they can refer you to other services in your community. Start with that link, and you'll see lots of options. I hope this is helpful.
Nora Volkow: It is not uncommon for a person who really wants to stop smoking to not be able to. There are medications that can help like Chantix, Bupropion and Nicotine Replacement Therapies. I would enocurage the person to seek help to stop smoking and to keep trying. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts.
Aaron White: More than likely very bad for the baby. Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Research shows that about 1 in 6 of those who use marijuana at least once in their teens will become addicted. Jim Bjork: Yes, by suppressing the part of your brain that tells your chest to breathe. Even if a person doesn't overdose and die, recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter! It also can effect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using. In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more heroin over time to get the same high. A great risk can be the other junk in street heroin besides the heroin itself. Sharing dirty needles is an EXTREME risk to get HIV and AIDS.
Bethany Deeds: Give a shout out to Neshaminy High School in PA! Drug abuse impacts the individuals, their families, and our communities. Everybody knows someone who is affected by drug abuse no matter what their age. Abuse and dependence for different susbstances vary by gender and age across the lifespan. Interested in the details? According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the highest rate of current illicit drug use was among 18 to 20 year olds (23.1 percent), with the next highest rate among 21 to 25 year olds (20.5 percent). If you want to see more data, you can access the NSDUH data at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm#2.1
Lori Ducharme: Well, there's a couple things you can think about. First, what kind of job is this that he can get away with getting high all the time? You're right to worry about him getting caught and arrested, but he also needs to be concerned about his health and about losing his job. Not only would he have a bad employment record, which would make it harder to get the next job, but he also may get sick or become addicted with repeated drug use. And you're right--having a drug arrest on his record will mess up all sorts of future opportunities. There are a couple of resources you can look at -- one is our website designed just for teens, that can provide you with facts on drugs and their effects (http://teens.drugabuse.gov). You can also look for treatment services in your area at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. It's a hard problem to deal with, but you're a good friend for being willing to try. Good luck!
Michelle Leff: The age at which people start using drugs varies depending on the drug. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 the average age at first use for inhalants was 16 years old, 18 for marijuana, 19 for Ecstasy, about 21 for pain relievers, cocaine, stimulants, and heroin, and around 25 years old for tranquilizers. Thanks for your question.
Aaron White: It is a term without any scientific meaning and is used socially as another term for 'drunk' or 'wasted'.
Which is about the same size as our brain?The correct answer is: D. Two fists together. Weighing about 3 pounds, the brain is made up of many parts that all work together as a team, each with a specific and important job to do. To get an idea of how big your brain is, make two fists and hold them together, knuckles facing each other, with the heels of your palms touching. More information on the brain and what drugs do to it can be found at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
Jim Bjork: Recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter! It also can affect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using. In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more heroin over time to get the same high.
Aaron White: That's tough to estimate. We only know about the cases where people actually die from drinking too much. We don't know how many people go to bed drunk but wake up just fine the next day. We do know that if a person drinks alcohol shortly before going to bed, the alcohol in their stomach can continue to be absorbed while they are sleeping and the amount of alcohol in their bodies will keep going up. So, it is possible to go to sleep after drinking and then die from alcohol poisoning in your sleep. Indeed, in 1999, something similar to this happened to a student at Duke University. Rahim Bathe went out with his friends and drank a bunch of alcohol right before heading home to bed. After he put himself to bed, the alcohol in his stomach was absorbed and his blood alcohol concentration reached a dangerous level. He threw up while sleeping but, because his brain was so impaired by the alcohol, he did not wake up. He inhaled the vomit and nearly drowned in it before eventually coming to and sitting up. Unfortunately, the vomit he did inhale caused an infection in his lungs. He died in the hospital a week later.
David Shurtleff: Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A are not currently listed as a controlled substance by the DEA, however, a number of states have placed controls on Salvia divinorum and/or salvinorin A. Effects of this drug include seeing bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, dizziness, slurred speech hallucinations (seeing objects that are not present). Because the hallucinogenic effects of this drug are unpredictable, so are the risk of injury or death as a result of impaired judgment due to disruptions of sensory and cognitive functions
Ruben Baler: caffeine is a drug that can cause dependence but it is a very mildly addictive drug with generally no major ill effects, except for the withdrawal symptoms that many dependent people experience when they miss their caffeine fix.thanks!
Belinda Sims: Hi Middletown High School. Great question! There are a number of drug abuse prevention programs that work to reduce risk for using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Many of these prevention programs can be run in schools, and other places in communities. Some prevention programs are targeted for all youth, to teach them skills that will help them to refuse drugs and alcohol, and some of the programs are for youth who may be at high-risk for using drugs, to lower the likelihood that they will use drugs. This booklet has more information on drug abuse prevention: http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf. You should talk to adults at your school or in your community about what types of prevention programs will fit best where you are.
Nora Volkow: No, it depends on the amount taken, the drugs used and their combination, and the stage during the pregnancy at which the drugs were used.
Jim Bjork: Probably get you kicked off the team if they test for drugs. It could affect your lung capacity if you smoke a lot (wheezing, shortness of breath), and it could also affect your concentration and memory. If you play football, you might not remember the playbook as well, or execute split-second decisions after the snap as well. Really, not a good idea if you want an edge over the competition.
Have you seen the Sara Bellum Blog? It has all the latest information on drugs and drug abuse, and you can comment on what’s written. Check it out at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/ Joe Frascella: The answer really depends on what drug you are talking about, as there are different effects depending on the specific drug.For example, here are some effects for marijuana:
- seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
- seem silly and giggly for no reason;
- have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
- have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
- When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
Other examples, like Methamphetamine, can be quite harmful to your teeth. With continued use, a condition called 'meth mouth' occurs, and it is probably caused by a combination of changes resulting in dry mouth, extended periods of poor oral hygiene, increased consumption of sugared soft drinks, and teeth grinding and clenching. If you want to see some pictures of this, Google 'meth mouth.' A person who ingests crystal meth will experience an increased focus and mental alertness, lack of fatigue and a decrease in appetite. Continued high doses of methamphetamine produce anxiety reactions where a person gets fearful, nervous, and shaky; a methamphetamine psychosis in which the person can become paranoid and hallucinates; an exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue and need for sleep after the stimulation phase; and a prolonged depression, during which suicide is possible. Crystal meth is reported to attack the immune system, so meth users are often prone to infections of different kinds, one being an MRSA infection. This could be a result of long-term sleep deprivation and/or malnutrition. Other side effects of crystal meth use include twitching, jitteriness, repetitive behavior (known as 'tweaking') and jaw clenching or teeth grinding. It has been noted that methamphetamine addicts lose their teeth abnormally fast; this tooth loss may be due to jaw clenching, although heavy meth users also tend to neglect personal hygiene, such as brushing teeth. It is often claimed that smoking crystal meth speeds the tooth decay process by leaving a crystalline residue on the teeth and while this is apparently confirmed by dentists, no clinical studies have been done to investigate. For more information on methamphetamine check out this website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html
Thanks for the question.
Marsha Lopez: Hi, jeffreyk, that's a complicated question to answer. If by social groups you mean certain ethnic or gender groups you can find out all sorts of information from the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future Study (look at Appendix D), which has specific drug information for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders broken down by gender, race/ethnicity, and parental education among others. If you mean social groups like boy scouts or kickball leagues, sorry I can't help you.
Nora Volkow: Yes, and this is because the sensitivity to the toxic effects of drugs varies between people. There are people who cannot break down the drug efficiently, so the body reaches very high concentrations that can be deadly.
Ruben Baler: thanks for your question,As far as I know, the munchies do not extend to the urge to eat human flesh...
Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused. Nora Volkow: Because nicotine act on receptors in brain areas involved with processing of emotions (including anxiety), such as the amygdala.
Jim Bjork: There has not been much laboratory research on sniffed methylphenidate, but what research there is in human subjects (i.e. laboratory volunteers) shows mood effects similar to cocaine. However, snorting methylphenidate also increased heart rate, which could increase risk of a heart attack.
Michelle Leff: Hello IMS! The Monitoring the Future Survey estimated that in 2010, 20.3% of 8th graders used an illicit drug in the past year. These include, marijuana, inhalants, non-medical use of psychotherapeutics, hallucinogens, cocaine and others. The data for 2011 will be released in December 2011. Keep an eye out for it at: http://monitoringthefuture.org . Ruben Baler: thanks for your questioncodeine is an opiate. opiates indirectly raise the levels of the pleasure chemical dopamine in thej brain, which causes euphoria. When these acute effects are repeated over and over, changes in the brain's structure and function can lead to full blown addiction.
be smart and stay healthy
Carol Krause: Based on solid evidence, cigarette smoking causes cancers of the lung, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. That's a lot of cancer. The good news is that fewer people are smoking now and lives are being saved.
Fact: Most people who start smoking in their teens become regular smokers before they’re 18. Nora Volkow: It is estimated that between 20-30% of those that try cigarettes will become addicted
Jim Bjork: Yes! Interactions between alcohol drinking and popping certain painkillers combined can cause the brain to stop telling the heart to beat! Micheal Jackson died from an interaction of a sedative and a painkiller. Of course too much of a single drug can kill you too, like a cocaine-caused heart attack.
Joel Sherrill: hi knguyen: That is a very important and complicated question. Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. We don't know everything we need to know about why people become suicidal, but we do know that mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD and alcohol or other drug-use disorders can increase the risk for suicide, so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan. Suicide is often an impulsive act, and use of alcohol and drugs can make people act more impulsively. And at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment. Suicide is preventable. For more information about suicide prevention, resources and where to find help in your area, check out these links: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/selected-suicide-prevention-online-resources.shtml David Shurtleff: MDMA, which is the synthetic drug referred to as Ecstasy, is a stimulant. MDMA makes a person feel like they have lots of energy and happy, but it also distorts their sense of time, peception and touch. It can also cause bad side effects like nausea, chills, sweating, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. MDMA can also interfere with a person's ability to regulate their own body, which on rare occasions, can be lethal and also toxic to the brain's serotonin nerve cells. Nora Volkow: Marijuana's risks at high doses are on the cardiac system in someone who is vulnerable, anxiety or psychosis (seeing or hearing things that aren't there, not knowing what is real and what is not), and accidents, especially when combined with alcohol.
Ruben Baler: Hello K, i can't really answer a policy question. But I can tell you this: marijuana may be a natural product but kids that smoke marijuana regularly are at increased risk of flunking or dropping out of school, performing at a much lower level academically and also later in the job market and in life in general. And these effects don't even take into account the significant risk of addiction.
All in all, pot is not a good deal.
Don't you think?
Carol Krause: We are the National Institute on Drug Abuse-NIDA. We are one of the 27 Institutes and Offices of the National Institutes of Health...the most famous research institution in the world. We are funded by the U.S. Government ---which means our research is funded by taxpayers like your parents and teachers. NIDA funds most of the world's research into drug abuse and addiction. The people answering these questions are mostly scientists and science writers...we love science and we come to work every day knowing we are helping to find scientific solutions to the problem of addiction.
There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Aaron White: The teenage years are a very important time for brain development. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think well, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Looking for a drug treatment program? Different types of treatments are available to meet your specific needs. You can get referrals to treatment programs by calling1-800-662-HELP (a confidential hotline), or by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on line at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
3. How much they weigh
4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Aaron White: There are lots of reasons people drink. Some people may get messages from movies, TV, and our general culture that drinking can make you feel 'cool.' Others may feel they can escape other problems in their life by drinking. But they cannot - drinking only makes any problems you already have much worse. And there's nothing cool about throwing up in a garbage can or wrecking a car.
Jim Bjork: It depends. If you're talking about cigarettes as the way to get the tobacco and nicotine, this will likely impair the athlete's lung capacity and respiration. Not a good idea if you're trying to get an edge on the competition. The nicotine might improve concentration a little, but this is probably not as effective as having a linebacker or fastball about to take your head off anyway...
Belinda Sims: This is a tough situation for child's development. Parents who are using drugs may have trouble providing the care, attention and support that a developing child will need, whether the child is young or a teenager. This can have negative consequences for a child's development. Also, the child could be at increased risk for using drugs later on. Getting help by talking to a trusted adult would be a good first step for someone in this situation. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Marsha Lopez: Hey, Snoopy! The age at which people start using drugs varies depending on the drug. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 the average age at first use for inhalants was 16 years old, 18 for marijuana, 19 for Ecstasy, about 21 for pain relievers, cocaine, stimulants, and heroin, and around 25 years old for tranquilizers. Thanks for your question, my regards to Woodstock. Nora Volkow: Crack can interfere with the funciton of lymphocytes which are the soldiers of your immune syustem
I think marijuana is good for you because it's a natural herb from a plant.26% - Yes
57% - No
17% - Maybe
Aaron White: For someone under the age of 21, the legal limit is 0 (meaning any alcohol in the body is illegal). For someone above 21, it is still legal to drive a car if the blood alcohol content (BAC) is under 0.08%. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
For boys:
Ages 9-13: About 3 drinks
Ages 14-15: About 4 drinks
Ages 16-17: About 5 drinks
For girls:
Ages 9-17: About 3 drinks
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain - the ones that keep your heart beating and your lungs taking in air - will shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Ruben Baler: very important question.there are huge individual differences among the experiences that different people will derive from using the same drug. THis includes both differences in the desired effects (high) as well as differences in the adverse effects.
stay smart, stay clean
Lori Ducharme: Well, I'm not sure which kids you mean. If these are friends of yours, you can discourage them from using heroin, and then be prepared to just walk away if you need to. If they value your friendship, they may realize that they will lose the pleasure of your company if they're just going to hang out and get high. If these are kids you DON'T know, then you need to leave that to the professionals -- call the local police department and they can go to the park themselves; that's their job. In either case, while your intentions sound great, be sure to watch out for your own safety. Good luck and I hope that helps.
Jim Bjork: Because some of them, especially painkillers, connect with certain molecules in the brain. For painkillers like oxycodone, the body can develop 'tolerance' to the drug over time, where it takes more and more pills to get the same effect, and this is what can really cause the slide into addiction. It's still a bit of a mystery why most people can quit, but some unfortunate people get hooked on them, and scientists are working to discover why!
Nora Volkow: alcohol
Nora Volkow: It depends on what, cigarettes are worse for cancer but marijuana is much worse for your brain.
Aaron White: The concept of a 'gateway drug' is a drug that, once used, opens the door (or 'gate') to the use of other drugs. We do not tend to think about drugs in this way any longer. While it is true that many young people who start drinking alcohol go on to use marijuana and other drugs, this does not make alcohol a gateway drug. It could simply be that kids who decide to use substances use alcohol first simply because it is more readily available.
Drinking and driving can add up to tragic endings. In the U.S., about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes. David Shurtleff: Most anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. Some people, especially athletes, abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle and enhance performance. Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, some of which may be irreversible, like liver damage, jaundice, high blood pressure, increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles (I for one think THAT is bad!), baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Whew!!!
Nora Volkow: yes
Nora Volkow: There is evidence that early use of marijuana increases the risk for addiction to other substances, which is evidence that it may act as a gateway drug.
Jim Bjork: Yes! While people can act differently when they're actually high at the time, continuous use of some drugs like meth or ecstasy can damage brain circuits that help us keep control over our emotions, leading an addict to become really disagreeable or nasty, for example.
Carol Krause: Most anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. They are taken orally or are injected. Some people, especially athletes, abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle and enhance performance. Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, some of which are irreversible. Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. UGH! Who would use steroids?
Ruben Baler: Thanks, such a great question!there are indeed drugs that can help you focus, pay more attention, or study for longer periods of time. These types of drugs are called cognitive enhancers, but no drug that I know of that will make you smarter or more intelligent.
Hope this helps
Nora Volkow: It can kill brain cells because it impairs delivery of blood and oxygen to your brain which can result in the death of cells in the brain.
Jim Bjork: Long-term brain damage. There's damage in terms of how brain cells communicate with each other, and lowered activity in general, as seen in certain special brain scans. Other types of brain scans show reduced (shrunken or less dense) brain gray matter in people who use meth a lot!
Drug abuse by any method (not just injection) can put a person at risk for contracting HIV. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect the way a person makes decisions and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which puts them at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else. Nora Volkow: If your relatives are addicted to drugs it may mean that you may have inherited genes that make you more at risk for addiction, but that does not mean you will become addicted. It means you are at higher risk and should avoid any experimentation with drugs whether they are legal or illegal.
Bethany Deeds: Hello to Skaneateles High School! Alcohol and drug use do follow trends across generations and time. Different generations can abuse different drugs and/or alcohol in different ways. In Volume I of the Monitoring the Future survey (appendix E) there is a chart measuring annual prevalence of use for all seniors of hallucinogens other than LSD. Numbers have gone up and down since 2001 with a high of 5.7 percent in 2004. In 2010, it was 3.7 percent. To access the chart, go to the survey at http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html. scroll down to the 2010 MTF survey and click on Volume I. Then click on Appendix E.
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Joel Sherrill: hi Bruce: Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. We don't know everything we need to know about what causes suicide, but we do know that drug-related suicides are a problem; for example, between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides. There are probably different reasons for alcohol- and drug-related suicides. For example, we know that while people often use drugs because they think it will make them feel good, many drugs (including alcohol) are actually depressants. Also, we know that many times, suicides are impulsive acts, and alcohol and other drugs can make people less inhibited and more impulsive. Especially when people are on drugs or are drunk, they may not realize how final suicide is and how many friends and family members it will affect. Lastly, some people who use drugs might actually be using them because they already feel depressed and hopeless; but using alcohol or drugs or is not a good response to a bad situation. We have good treatments for depression and other problems, including medication and talking to a therapist; these treatments have been shown to reduce suicide attempts. Therapy can help someone consider a different action when thoughts of self-harm arise. If a kid is feeling depressed or suicidal, it's important to talk to a trusted adult and get help from a professional as soon as possible.If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information on suicide prevention, check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml .
Aaron White: A good but tricky question. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
It is also a good idea to find an adult whom you trust and talk with them about your concerns.
Lori Ducharme: I've never really figured this one out. I guess some people think that smoking makes them look more grown-up, or gives them something in common with the 'cool kids,' but it seems like an awful high price to pay to feel 'cool.' Smoking is smelly, it ruins your skin, and of course it leads to all sorts of medical problems that you can't see -- lung cancer, emphysema, etc. So, I'm stumped. Why do some people think that smoking makes them cool? Maybe the tobacco companies are influencing them?? Check out our 'shatter the myths' booklet for more: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf.
Ruben Baler: it sure is, caffeine is a compound that can bind to specific proteins in the brain and influence how the brain works. caffeine can cause dependence and lead to withdrawal symptoms if one tries to abstain from it. Even though the health effects of caffeine dependence are way milder than most any other psychoactive drug, caffeine is definitely a drug, and possibly the most frequently used around the world.
Nora Volkow: They can produce addiction, although it may be a little different from some other drugs like cocaine, alcohol. But it can be hard to quit steroids, and stopping has been associated with depression and suicidal thinking.
David Shurtleff: Wait....do you know of a 5 year old that smokes pot??Sorry...back to my answer, about 9% of MJ users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% if you use the drug daily become addicted to MJ. Also, because marijuana disrupts memory, so you can't learn and remember very well if when high on MJ. Also, heavy MJ users, in a recent study, reported lower life satisfaction, poorer physical and mental health, and decreased educational and career achievement compared to those not smoking. So, it seems the younger one starts smoking weed, the worse the effects on their life and well-being....Tell that 5 year old to put down the weed!
Aaron White: Drinking is really hard on the liver. It's hard to say how long it will take for a person who drinks heavily to experience liver failure since this all varies from person to person.What we do know is that heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.
For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).
Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.
If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.
Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html Dave Thomas: It can be very hard for someone to stop smoking - many people go through several quit attempts before they are successful. Keep in mind that he is probably doing the best that he can and keep offering encouragement and support when you can. The good news is that treatment and resources are available to help people quit. Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
Jim Bjork: If you really mean 'narcotics' (and not just illegal drugs generally), these are frequently depressants that decrease respiration and heart rate. Many narcotics like powerful painkillers cause the body to adapt to them, causing a person to have to take more and more over time to get the same effect on pain or mood.
Nora Volkow: Methamphetamine
Carol Krause: You asked your question at 2:16...It is now 2:40 and 8807 kids have asked questions---fewer than 1000 have been answered...We are sorry that we can't get to everyone, but we hope you are learning a lot by reading the Chat as it goes! Check out the drug facts we are posting while you wait! In about a week, you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Michelle Leff: Thanks for your question. In 2007, there were over 27,000 deaths due to unintentional drug poisoning. However, this number doesn't include suicides, homicides or deaths due to drugged or drunk driving. For example, in 2009, 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. The most recent numbers will be released today from the CDC so if you'd like more information go to www.cdc.gov.
Stephanie Older is online helping our scientists. She is NIDA’s top press officer---and everyday answers a lot of questions from news reporters. Her experience includes work as the media liaison for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and crafting public awareness campaigns for the Social Security Administration and the National Health Council's 'Putting Patients First' initiative. Stephanie holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore as well as a B.A. in communications from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School. Before joining NIDA, she worked as Attorney-Adviser to an Associate Chief Judge at the U.S. Department of Labor. When not handling press inquiries for NIDA, she is busy playing (and of course chasing and picking up after) with her four-year old son Owen and one-year old daughter Tessa. Dave Thomas: Cocaine is a powder extracted from coca leaves and is typically snorted, whereas crack is a crystalized form of cocaine that is typically smoked.
Nora Volkow: Yes but it depends on the drug. Alcohol and marijuana interfere with your reflexes and coordination but other drugs like opiates (prescription painkillers) and benzodiazepines (drugs to treat anxiety, like valium) can make you sleepy and drowsy. Drugs like cocaine can make you aggressive and a risky driver.
Richard Denisco: Hi Wil and thanks for the question. It is much more dangerous to mix drugs and alcohol together than to take either separately; the chance of respiratory depression is much greater. Many of the famous movie people who have died have had a mixture of drugs and alcohol in their systems. So using drugs or alcohol is dangerous, but mixing them together is many times worse.
Jim Bjork: Hard to say. Too much alcohol at once when your body is not used to it will suppress the part of your brain that tells your heart to beat, and would kill you. Too much cocaine at once, and you could have a heart attack or stroke. Over the long term, all are harmful while people keep abusing. Once a person quits, a lot of systems in the body can recover.
Aaron White: Alcohol increases the amount of acid secreted in your stomach. That extra acid can really upset your stomach. Also, beer contains other ingredients beyond alcohol. People who are are sensitive to gluten, a protein found in wheat, can have a particularly difficult time digesting beer.
Dave Thomas: For the most part, doctors give out medications to relieve thier patients' symptoms. Some patients do sell their pills. I guess they need the money. In any case, it's a bad deal for the person who buys the pills, because they can develop addiction or other adverse effects.
Ruben Baler: there is no evidence that we lose cells after smoking. marijuana does affect the way brain cells communicate with each other, and that's the main concern.
Marsha Lopez: Thanks for your question scarlott21. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it looks like the highest rates of current alcohol use among teens (aged 12 to 17) are in the west and north eastern U.S.. Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all top the list. Current smoking rates among teens are highest in some of the northern and mid-west states. For more info check out the links above.
Jim Bjork: Certain parts of it, yes. A more serious issue is that drugs mess up how parts of the brain communicate with each other for best effectiveness at thinking. Alcohol especially shrinks the brain as drinkers age into older adulthood.
Lori Ducharme: Great question. One answer may be because some people are attracted to very high-risk activities -- and drugs like heroin and cocaine are certainly very high risk, and can lead to injury or other medical consequences with just the first use. But once people have started using drugs, the 'extremely addictive' feature is what prevents them from stopping easily. Using these and other drugs actually affects your brain and how you make decisions. Because of the effect on the brain, addiction leads to uncontrollable craving for more drugs as the brain searches for the 'high' that it got before. It becomes a vicious escalating cycle that can be very hard to stop without professional help.
Did you know that mental illnesses are brain disorders? There are differences in the structure and the way the brain functions in people with a mental illness. Ruben Baler: hi there.thanks for the question
its a good one. We don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
Hope this helps.
stay smart
Jim Bjork: yes indeed. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say! Aaron White: If it is two bottles of wine or two bottles of liquor, then yes for sure. If it is two bottles of beer then probably not.
Ruben Baler: no, you can't lose any part of your brain the first time you use pot.
Aaron White: Yes, a person could get drunk off of hand sanitizer like Germ Ex because it contains ethyl alcohol, the kind of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. However, it can also make a person extremely sick due to the other ingredients in it. That's why the instructions make clear that hand sanitizer is for external use only.
Nora Volkow: Because inhalants like rubber cement can affect the brain in similar ways to alcohol
Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. There can be other physiological effects of long term use. For example, alcohol can cause damage to liver cells, and there are known cancer risks with cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Not worth the risk, I say!
Aaron White: That's a tough one and we really don't know the answer yet. However, we do know that heavy drinking during the adult years increases the chances of getting cancers of various types, particularly for women, and that starting to drink at a young age, like 13 or 14, is associated with a much higher risk of drinking heavily during the adult years. So, if you look at it this way, getting started young could indirectly increase your odds of developing cancer at some point in life.
Many teens abuse prescription drugs. How do most get them?The correct answer is: B. They get them from a friend or relative. Most high school seniors who abused prescription drugs got them for free from a friend or relative; very few get them from the Internet.
Ruben Baler: it is actually very common that plants contain chemicals that can cause different effects on the brain. Many are abused because they produce a high, and many of those are addictive.
Jim Bjork: Because nicotine is the active ingredient that people actually WANT. This molecule binds with receptors in the brain to ease nerves and improve concentration. The real health problem is all the tar and other cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco leaf when it's ignited.
Nora Volkow: It depends on what type or relationship you have with them. If they are your friend you should approach them as such and tell them you want to help them. If not you may want to invovle a person that is close to them so they can talk to them. In the end, it is better to offend then than not to offer help.
Aaron White: It is possible. Tolerance is how the body reduces the effects that a drug has on it. Young people who can 'hold their liquor well' may be drinking at rates that put them at risk of developing a range of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol dependence. So you may be able to develop a higher tolerance the more you drink, but you will also experience more of alcohol's negative consequences.
Abuse is when someone takes a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription or in a way or amount that is different from what was prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs can have serious and harmful health effects, including poisoning and even death. Joel Sherrill: hi cnunez: It's true: mental disorders are pretty common, and over their lifetime, many people struggle with these problems and need help. In fact, mental illnesses are not as rare of some people think. About 20% of youth will have at least one type of mental illness in their lifetime. But the good news is that we have good treatments for the mental health problems that affect children, teens, and adults. Depending on the person and the problem, these treatments can include specific talk therapies (psychotherapies), medications, or a combination of treatments. So when someone is struggling, it's important for them to talk to a professional as early as possible to get help. Mental illnesses are real and can be treated. They are not often something a person can just snap out of. Some people do not get help because they are embarrassed or afraid to. However, getting help for mental issues is really no different than seeking help for a medical condition like diabetes. If you or someone you know needs help go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml for information on who to talk to and how to find help in your area. Also see: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/support.asp?nav=nav02_0&content=2_0_support
Ruben Baler: it doesn't
Ruben Baler: probably a bit less, because you are ingesting food at the same time as you are getting high. Richard Denisco: It is very hard to force someone to stop (or start) anything but it is possible to show them information that will help them to make a decision to stop. NIDA has an excellent web-site that has great information on quitting smoking--I highly recommend it as a starting point: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/. Also it is important to know that if someone starts smoking early in life, it is very often much more difficult to quit.
Nora Volkow: Yes, indeed drivers inotxicated with pot are at higher risk of accidents, which can have fatal consequences (especially when combined with alcohol--even small amounts).
Dave Thomas: I LOVE this question!!! I spent about 8 years studying opioids and itch! Opioids act at mu-opioid receptors in the brain to produce pain control but this also results in itch. Unfortunately the exact mechanism for the itch remains unknown.
Steroids have many negative health effects. For guys—shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk for prostate cancer. For girls—growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a permanently deepened voice. Learn more about steroids here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php Nora Volkow: Yes it acts in a similar way to alcohol by disrupting the membrane of the neurons in your brain. It can affect how these brain cells function, including those in the reward centers in the brain.
Ruben Baler: The designer, synthetic stimulants in bath salts make you high.
Lori Ducharme: Well, Cookie, the obvious answer is not to start in the first place, so that's actually the best approach :) . Some drugs can have very serious medical consequences (like stopping your heart) just from using them just ONCE, and others can impair your judgement or motor functioning (for doing things like driving a car) which can bring about unwanted consequences (obviously). In that instance, 'too late' comes too soon. Value your long-term options -- life's too short to mess it up playing around with drugs. Take care.
Jim Bjork: Our brains naturally lose neurons and other brain cells as we age, and our brain actually gets a little smaller over the years, even without drugs. Some research studies indicate that long-term use of drugs, and especially alcohol, increases or accelerates this shrinkage. Ecstasy can kill serotonin neurons that help you feel good and keep your emotions in check.
Dave Thomas: All the drugs you mentioned are opioids. Using any opioid a lot can lead to tolerance, where the drug eventually starts to have less and less of an effect. The tolerance that a person develops to one opioid often carries over to other opiods, as well. This is called 'cross tolerance.'
Nora Volkow: Yes, some drugs more than others. For example marijuana makes your coordination much worse, whereas other drugs like cocaine can make you a more aggressive and risk prone driver.
Ruben Baler: it depends, but in general, any chemical exposed to high enough heat will lose a substantial portion or all of its biological activity.
Nora Volkow: Marijuana, particularly in adolescents, can change the normal maturation process of your brain--which continues into the mid 20s.
Jim Bjork: It depends on the drug. If it is nicotine, stopping can cause irritability, nervousness, or sleep problems for a while, but these generally get better with time. If the drug is heroin, withdrawal symptoms can include muscle aches, anxiety, diarrhea, and vomiting. There are treatment centers that make withdrawal a lot less painful or help someone through this: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. It's worth it in the long-term.
Joe Frascella: Great question. Yes, unless there is some long-term damage caused by the initial daily smoking, they should recover. If you would like more info on marijuana, you should check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
Nora Volkow: Drugs can have many harmful effects on your body, the best known is cancer from cigarrette smoking, but others include, myocardial infarction (heart attack) from cocaine or methamphetamine, cirrhosis and liver damage from alcohol, infections like aids and hepatitis from injection of drugs or from sexual risky behavior promoted by drug intoxication. Another is death from overdose and this can happen with alcohol, pain medications, or heroin.
Ruben Baler: it surely does in some people who became dangerously aggressive or depressed as a result of their chronic anabolic steroid abuse.
If I thought I needed drug treatment, I would know who to contact.51% - Yes
21% - No
28% - Maybe
Belinda Sims: There are a number of factors that may increase the chances that a young person will use drugs. We call these risk factors. Risk factors may come from one or more sources, including social, environmental, or biological factors, and often more than one risk factor will be present. Just because someone has a risk factor it does not mean that they will use drugs. Youth also have many protective factors in their lives--things that reduce the likelihood of using drugs that could also be social (e.g., positive peer relationships), environmental (e.g., caring and supportive family), or biological (e.g., good self-control). But using drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and others, too. Here are some websites you may be interested in.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
Carol Krause: Absolutely. Nicotine is what makes cigarettes so addictive. And cigarettes kill 440,000 people a year in this country alone! Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs and the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. Cigarette smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer cases in the U.S., and almost 50,000 deaths per year can be attributed to secondhand smoke. Cigarettes and chew tobacco are illegal substances in most U.S. states for those under 18; a handful of states have raised the age to 19. Nicotine is highly addictive. The tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birthweight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children.
Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. If you drink enough alcohol, it can shut down parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive. If those areas are shut down, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.
Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:
- How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
- Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
- How much they weigh
- Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Ruben Baler: if you are thinking about it, you are not thinking clearly. Shrinking testicles are a well established effect of chronic anabolic steroid abuse. One of many. So if you think that bigger biceps will make you more attractive try to think about the whole 'package'is it really worth it?
Nora Volkow: Ecstasy stimulates the centers in the brain that regulate the temperature in your body, interfering with their normal function which is why tempertaure can increase when someone is on ecstasy
Hey---this year we are asking teens to tell the truth about drug issues. Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did! Look for a poll question soon! Dave Thomas: Absolutely. Addiction to pain killers is common among people who use them without a prescription or in amounts not ordered by a doctor. The risk for addiction is much less when pain killers are used as specified by a doctor.
Carol Krause: It depends on what kind of help you are seeking. If you think you have a substance abuse problem you should talk to an adult you trust and ask for help immediately. It will probably not get any better without help. If you need help with an addiction, you can find a link to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. In addition, if you know someone who is talking about terrible emotional problems, or even discussing suicide, have them call 1-800-273-TALK. It takes wisdom and courage to ask for help. Your school counselor should be a good resource for you as well!
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Nora Volkow: Yes. There are large difference between people, some can overdoes with a relatively small amount of drugs whereas other require very large doses. Some of these differences relate to past drug use, but also to genetics,
Richard Denisco: Hi DahlMost rehab centers can treat heroin addiction. This drug has been around for a long time and there is much experience with it. There are behavioral as well as medication assisted treatment methods. Which approach to use depends on different factors, and should be assesed by an addiction specialist. The main thing is to take the first step and talk to an addiction specialist. A large number of treatment centers that could help are listed on the SAMHSA web site under treatment centers. All it takes is to make a phone call and get information.
We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week. Lori Ducharme: The short answer is YES but of course it's more complicated than that. Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease -- that means it actually changes the brain in major ways. Recovery from addiction can also be a long-lasting process, but it can be done. Scientists (including many working with NIDA) have identified a number of medications as well as behavioral (counseling) therapies that are effective for addressing many aspects of addiction, and we continue to work on more options. You can learn about many effective treatment options by checking out our publication, 'Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment' (http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html), or at our site for teens (http://teens.drugabuse.gov). David Shurtleff: Good question.Unfortunately people are ingesting bath salts searching for a high, but many are finding serious consequences! Bath salts contain chemicals similar to ectascy, amphetamine and cocaine, which are associated with bad side effects like dangerously elevated blood pressure and heart rates, there have been reports of people becoming so agitated that their muscles started to break down, releasing chemicals that led to kidney failure. So, while it seems like bath salts woudn't pose any harm, used in the wrong way, it can be seriously dangerous stuff!
Nora Volkow: Absolutely, cocaine is addictive and has many other ill effects.
Dave Thomas: Very good question! Opiate pain killers produce euphoria, which is what these people are seeking. In fact, the feeling of euphoria is generally stronger when pain is not present. Taking these medications without a doctor's prescription or in amounts other than those prescribed can lead to addiction and other severe health consequences.
Aaron White: It is possible. The teenage years are a very important time for brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Ruben Baler: K2 is one of the products generically known as 'Spice”, which is used to describe a diverse family of herbal mixtures marketed under many names, including K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana (cannabis). Spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana, and regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms. Spice products are now illegal in the United States and most European countries. Its side effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations.
Joe Frascella: Important question! Methamphetamine is commonly smoked. Smoking meth is probably the most impure form of ingestion. In addition to the possible effects on teeth, it is very damaging to the lungs. Methamphetamine users who smoke can experience mild asthma. Another problem with smoking meth is the potential presence of byproducts created when the heated drug comes in contact with air. Even if the initial drug is pure methamphetamine, the act of smoking it produces other chemicals, some of which may be toxic.In terms of snorting Methamphetamine, it is a powerful nasal decongestant, so methamphetamine users who snort it often have very clear nasal cavities. However, there have been rare cases of people snorting so much meth that their nose cartilage deteriorates, though snorting cocaine is far more likely to cause nasal degeneration, due to its vasoconstrictive properties. Snorting crystal meth may also cause meth mouth or meth teeth (tooth decay), since the nasal passages are directly connected to the mouth region, and it is theorized that damaging crystalline particles can still attach to the teeth. Another theory is that meth directly affects calcium balance in the body. Crystal meth has also been shown to decrease the production of saliva, the lack of which causes tooth decay. In addition to these problems, there are many other damaging effects of methamphetamine to the airway on the way to the lungs. Please see the following link for more information: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html
Nora Volkow: Yes, at the beginning the person can usually control when they start and stop but with reepated use they lose this ability and cannot stop even when they may be suffering harmful effects in their lives.
To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Aaron White: It is possible that it could for at least a few minutes. In some lab tests, we have detected memory and other impairments in people who have very low blood alcohol concentrations - maybe the result of just one beer.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Neighbors in Rockville High School! In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions. Since drugs change the brain in ways that encourage compulsive drug abuse, quitting is often difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Best way-- is not to start using in the first place. Here's a link to our teen site about the brain and addiction -- the more you know about the science, the better you can make informed decisions: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
Marsha Lopez: Hi Kaza999, thanks for your question. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) reports data on teen health and behavior. According to their 2009 results for the state of Vermont, 3.8% of high school teens used methamphetamine in their lifetime. The second part of your question is much more difficult to answer, and you might want to check with your local health department and emergency rooms. The Community Epidemiology Workgroup (CEWG) reports on drug use trends in certain locations where we have representatives, so even though Vermont isn't covered you might find that information useful http://www.nida.nih.gov/pdf/cewg/CEWGJan2011_508.pdf. Thanks for your service as a first responder!
Nora Volkow: In people who are vulnerable hallucinogens can produce psychosis (hearing or seeing things that aren't there, trouble with knowing what is real and what is not) that last long after taking the drug
Aaron White: It probably depends on the way your State police works and how they train traffic safety officers. Most police officers receive at least basic training to prevent drunk driving, and there are a variety of special training programs they can take, as well.
Dr. Nora D. Volkow ---NIDA’s Director---is now online! Dr. Volkow runs a very large scientific Institute but she also still works in a science lab studying the brain. Her work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a disease of the human brain. As a research psychiatrist and scientist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the toxic and addictive effects of drugs. Dr. Volkow was born in Mexico, and earned her medical degree from the National University of Mexico in Mexico City, where she received an award for best medical student of her generation. She was recently named one of Time Magazine's “Top 100 People Who Shape our World.” Dr. Volkow is also an artist and avid runner---logging dozens of miles a week. Her niece is a high schooler in Mexico and just moved to India for a special student exchange program. David Shurtleff: YES! Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine found in tobacco. Unfortunately, the younger a person begins smoking, the more likely they are to become addicted. In 2007, more than 3 million American adolescents (aged 12–17) reported using a tobacco product in the past 30 days. In that same year it was found that nearly 60 percent of new smokers were under the age of 18 when they first smoked a cigarette. Of smokers under 18, more than 6 million will likely die prematurely from a smoking-related disease. This all spells bad news for young smokers! Ruben Baler: because anabolic steroids are derived from the male sex hormone testosterone. and the sudden increase in testosterone (or its precursors) confuses the hormonal system in the female body.thanks for a great question.
Joni Rutter: Both chewing and smoking tobacco can negatively affect your body. It's hard to say which will affect your body more, because so much has to do with each person's biology and the amount they smoke or chew. But we do know the more someone uses tobacco (in any form) the greater the effects can be on their body. Overall, chewing tobacco can cause damage to gum tissue and even loss of teeth. It also reduces a person's ability to taste and smell. Most importantly, smokeless tobacco contains cancer causing-chemicals that can cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. This can even happen in very young users who chew tobacco. In fact, most people who develop these cancers used to chew tobacco. Inhaling cigarette smoke pulls more than 4,000 chemicals into a person's lungs. The most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are tar and carbon monoxide. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems; smokers are at high risk for heart disease. Whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain and increasing their chances of becoming addicted. Once addicted, it is very difficult to quit, in spite of the severe health consequences.
For more information on smoking or tobacco please go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.asp#what_is_it.
Do you know someone who wanted a buzz and ended up in the ER? Alcoholic energy drinks are causing many underage drinkers to overdose on alcohol. Ruben Baler: The effects of smoked marijuana can last from 1 to 3 hours. If marijuana is consumed in foods or beverages, the effects appear later—usually in 30 minutes to 1 hour—but can last up to 4 hours. Smoking marijuana delivers significantly more THC into the bloodstream than eating or drinking the drug.thanks for your question.
Jim Bjork: It depends on how biologically tolerant your body and brain is to the molecule in the pain killer, and this can differ between people, and can even change within a person depending on how long they've been taking the pills. I'm worried about your increased use, and I strongly suggest you talk about this with your doctor. If you're taking more than the recommended or prescribed dose, you may also be risking some physiological damage. Certain painkillers especially lose their effectiveness as their body gets used to them. As people keep taking more and more, they become at extreme risk of getting hooked on them.
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
What is Rohypnol?The correct answer is: C. A date rape drug. It is a kind of drug called a benzodiazepine that is used as a “date rape” drug. If it is dropped into your drink you might be awake but will not remember anything, and you could be helpless against a sexual attack. You should always be careful when out with people you do not trust or know well.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
Aaron White: Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.
Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Susan Weiss: Interesting question. There are no stores that sell cocaine since it is illegal (except for a few select medical procedures in which it is used as a local anesthetic to block pain signals), and alcohol as you know is legal for adults even though it has many devastating effects on the public's health. Some states have passed medical marijuana laws, although the Federal government still considers marijuana illegal because it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration which is responsible for approving all medication used in this country. So the question of how much the Federal government will interfere with what States are doing is the one that the Federal Government is wrestling with. Unfortunately I don't have an easy answer for you. What the Obama administration has said quite clearly is that legalizing marijuana is a non-starter.
Lori Ducharme: Hi J -- great question. It can be hard to know the right things to say to people who are caught up in drug abuse, especially when they relationships you value. So, first, it's important to be a good friend and listener -- be someone your friend can trust for help when they need it. One way to not upset them is to try and stick to facts rather than making value judgments. We have a great website made just for teens (lots of information and not preachy) that can help you get factual information about drugs, their effects on the brain, and where to get treatment when your friend is ready to receive it. Check it out at: www.teens.drugabuse.gov. Thanks for your question and I hope this is helpful!
Ruben Baler: Just drinking a lot of fluids could actually kill you too.In addition to any acute toxicity of having ecstasy on board you should remember that ingesting more water than you need can increase your total blood volume. And since your blood volume exists within a closed circulatory system, you may be suddently increase your blood volume putting an extra burden on your heart and blood vessels.
Jim Bjork: The drug most consistently linked to increased aggression, both in the real world, and in controlled laboratory studies, is alcohol. Other substances not nearly so. Alcohol is thought to increase aggression by impairing the brake pedals of the brain (like the frontal cortex) that stop us from doing rash or sudden things.
Joel Sherrill: hi p3nqu1n-182: Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. We don't know everything we need to know about what causes suicide, but we do know that between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides. There are probably different reasons for why so there are so many alcohol-related suicides. For example, we know that while people commonly drink alcohol because they think it will make them feel good, alcohol is actually a depressant. Also, we know that many times, suicides are impulsive acts and alcohol and other drugs can make people less inhibited and more impulsive. Finally, some kids who drink alcohol might actually be drinking because they already feel depressed and hopeless; but using alcohol or drugs or is not a good response to a bad situation. We have good treatments for depression and other problems, including medication and talking to a therapist; these treatments have been shown to reduce suicide attempts. Therapy can help someone consider a different action when thoughts of self-harm arise. If a kid is feeling depressed or suicidal, it's important to talk to a trusted adult and get help from a professional as soon as possible.If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information on suicide prevention, check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml .
Joining us now is Dr. Lori Ducharme, a NIDA sociologist whose expertise is in the management and quality of addiction treatment services, including figuring out ways to get counselors and programs to increase their use of science-based treatment practices. She was born in the north (Massachusetts), spent years working in the south (Georgia), and finds Washington, DC to be an interesting cultural middle ground. Lori is an avid photographer, and when she’s not at work, she probably has a camera in her hand. Her favorite subjects are cities (Paris!), baseball (pitchers!), and zoo animals (pandas!). Joni Rutter: Hey Einstein HS, Maryland!! We're neighbors. This is a great question. The courses you need to take to be a scientist (PhD), are varied depending on the discipline. For example, I went to college for 4 years, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. After I graduated, I worked for a few years, then decided to go back to school to get a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology. That degree took me another 4 years, but the timeframe for a PhD depends on the program and your area (it can take anywhere from 4-7 years). Most people who earn a PhD go through another training step, called a post-doctoral fellowship, or 'post-doc' for short. I did one at the National Institutes of Health, and it was about 4 years more. So, after high school, you can see that becoming a highly trained scientist takes time and dedication. It's totally worth it--I get to be an expert who talks to junior high and high school students across the country. How cool is that?!Anyway, to answer your question more specifically, you'll need take courses, such as:
biology
chemistry
physics
math
history
evolution
genetics and epigenetics
molecular biology
psychology
anatomy and physiology
and, consider taking a few classes in speech and communications. It's very important to be able to convey your scientific ideas to your colleagues in a way that many people can understand them.
Jim Bjork: It depends on what they are addicted to. If marijuana users quit, it's often in their twenties after starting in their teens (so 10+ years to get around to quitting). Older age and marriage are predictive of quitting. But plenty of people remain addicted or frequent users of marijuana into older adulthood. Very few seek formal treatment. Stimulant and heroin users quit later and often heroin users remain on methadone (a treatment medication) or go back to using heroin. It can be a lifelong battle. Technically, it takes only one day to quit cold turkey, but fixing all the damage to relationships, employment history, and educational history can take a very long time and in some cases be insurmountable.
Some people remain in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) type groups their entire lives or cycle through patterns of recovery and relapse.
Most people who quit drugs do it without formal treatment but these people usually have less severe and shorter use histories.
Carol Krause: 'Sniffing' permanent markers can be dangerous. The chemicals in these markers are considered 'inhalants.' Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication---like being drunk. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, nearly all solvents and gases produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. Irreversible effects can be hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). The sad thing about inhalants is that the 'high' does not last very long but the side effects can last forever.
Carol Krause: Thanks so much for asking! We have a special section on our Web site for middle school and other teachers---just click on http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html. We are especially proud of the Brain Power curriculum and the Mind Over Matter series starring 'Sara Bellum' which targets this age group. Please note you can order these materials free of charge from NIDA---the Web site will show you how. While we of course want to educate this age group about drugs, we also want to stress the importance of keeping the brain healthy. They will need it!
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems. David Shurtleff: DOPAMINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Research shows that nicotine increases levels of dopamine in the 'pleasure centers' of the brain. Overstimulation of dopamine neurons in these areas can change the brain over time in ways where higher and higher levels of nicotine are needed to feel the same effects they felt when they first began smoking....needing more and more of the drug to feel the same effects is one of the hallmark signs of developing addiction.
Joni Rutter: Less than a drop of nicotine will kill you on the spot. It is one of the most toxic substances known! For more information, see: http://drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/consequences.html.
Belinda Sims: It's great that you haven't been exposed to drugs or pressured to use drugs. It sounds like you have made up your mind that using drugs is not for you, but it is a good idea to continue knowing what to do should you get into a situation where drugs and alcohol are being used--especially as you continue on in high school and then transition to college. Here are some websites that may be of interest to you:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
Bethany Deeds: A shout out to North Ridgeville Middle School! Terrific question! The good news: according to NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study, smoking is at historically low levels among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. The bad news: the decline in youth smoking appears to be leveling off. In 2010, rates for smoking in the past month were reported as 19.2 percent for 12th graders, 13.6 percent for 10th graders, and 7.1 percent for 8th graders.Here's a link to the web site where you can find data for the whole survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. We have some great research to answer this. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
Aaron White: That depends on how old you are. In state in the US prohibits people under 21 from drinking at all, as well as driving after drinking any amount of alcohol at all. People 21 and older are allowed to drive legally with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) up to 0.08%, consistent with having a few drinks in an hour. To learn more about how much alcohol is in a typical drink, check this out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/WhatCountsDrink/WhatsAstandardDrink.asp
Gaya Dowling: That depends on a few things like how much the drug is used. If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to remove the drug from your body, possibly more than 30 days.
Joe Frascella: Hi Rockville! If you mean does marijuana slow you in speed of cognitive processing and memory, there is evidence that it does affect these processes. It also has been shown that with respect to driving, people may think they are driving more slowly, but drivers who are high are much more likely to have accidents. For more information on marijuana please visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
Carol Krause: Adderall is a stimulant often prescribed for ADHD. It can be very helpful for kids who have been diagnosed with attention issues in school. Because it is a stimulant, it can sometimes cause a 'buzz' and some kids think it can make you alert or get you 'high.' However, like all prescription medications, you should only take Adderall if a doctor prescribes it for you. Only a doctor knows how much your body can tolerate and what is safe for you. Thanks for asking such a smart question!
Jim Bjork: Hello, Hope. You are lucky. You were a regular drug user who did not get addicted and could stop using.The problem is that a certain portion of regular users do get addicted. Scientists are still trying to discover what it is about someone's genetics or personality that puts them at biological risk to lose control.
This year we have experts on mental health waiting for your questions about why teens are special---and why they sometimes have special problems. Joni Rutter: I'm not sure I understand your question, but let me give this a try. Drugs (even cigarettes or alcohol), can damage the fetus. Drugs act on the brain, and a fetus is at a stage where the brain is very active in its development. Drugs of abuse can have immediate effects that can last throughout the child's life. Not only that, but recent research in animals has shown that if you take drugs while pregnant, not only can you damage the child, you can also damage your grandchildren--the children from the child who was exposed during pregnancy. That's right--drugs can act on the reproductive system (through changing DNA in sperm and eggs) in ways that can be transmitted across generations.Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Very good question. Scientific research reveals that drug abuse/addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, the essence of addiction. Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things. The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure, with dopamine carrying the message. Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This chemical flooding of the brain changes it, creating an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/.
David Shurtleff: Sugarland...what a great name!Pain killers are typically opiate-based medications (opiates contain opium or one or more of its natural or synthetic derivatives). They are effective in reducing pain but they can be addictive is misused.
Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Susan Weiss: Depends on the drug--they all work a little differently, although there are some common effects, especially in the brain. Nearly all drugs of abuse affect a brain chemical called dopamine, which is involved in pleasure and reward. Drugs increase dopamine, which makes people feel good and want to take the drug again and again. But over time the effect start to fade, and the drug user needs more of the drug just to feel anything. Also, natural rewards (chocolate, hanging out with friends) become less important as the drug starts taking over and becoming the priority. Other brain systems are also affected by all drugs--for example, parts of the brain involved in memory. As a result all sorts of memories associated with the drug--friends you used with; places you took the drug--can become powerful triggers of urges to use the drug, making it hard to quit. Some drugs (e.g., alcohol) affect brain development, which is still going on in your teens; some affect the lungs (e.g., tobacco, marijuana). There is almost no part of the body or brain that is not in some way affected by some drug.
Bethany Deeds: Hello to everyone at Golder Prep! Interesting question--thanks for asking! Depends on the substance...A recent report developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided valuable insight to state public health authorities and service providers on the scope of behavioral health issues affecting their states. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than half the current illicit drug use rate of Alaska (5.3-percent versus 13.5-percent) yet Iowa also was among the top 10 states with the highest levels of people age 12 and older currently participating in binge drinking (28.6 percent). Want to read more about it? The full report is available online at http://store.samhsa.gov/product/State-Estimates-of-Substance-Use-and-Mental-Disorders-from-the-2008-2009-National-Survey-on-Drug-Use-and-Health-NSDUH-/SMA11-4641.
Aaron White: A typical beer contains 5% alcohol. A typical liquor contains 40% alcohol. A 12 ounce serving of beer and a 1.5 ounce serving of liquor contains the same total amount of alcohol (12 oz X 0.05 = 0.6 oz and 1.5 X 0.40 = 0.6 oz)To learn more about how much alcohol is in a variety of drinks, check this out:
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/WhatCountsDrink/WhatsAstandardDrink.asp
Marsha Lopez: Good question 27california, but kind of a hard one to answer. The use of drugs can be associated with dying in various ways. Deaths related to drugs can be due to overdose, suicide, homicide, accidents, and infection or other chronic illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2008 that there were more than 36,000 deaths due to drug overdose (both intentional and unintentional). Additionally, about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
Ruben Baler: 2C-B is a synthetic psychedelic popular inthe 80s as an alternative to Ecstasy. Today, it is an illegal, schedule I drug. The human data on 2CB suggest it is a psychoactive substance capable of producing an intoxication with considerable euphoria and sensory enhancement which lasts for 6 to 8 hours. Higher doses have been reported to produce intense and frightening hallucinations.
not worth a try...
stay cool.
How many drinks does it take to reach the limit considered “intoxicated” by the legal system? Well, kids reach the legal drinking limit with fewer drinks than adults. Girls age 9 to 17 reach this limit with about 3 drinks. Boys ages 14 to 15 reach this limit with about 4 drinks, and boys ages 16 to 17 reach this limit with about 5 drinks. Of course all alcohol drinking by kids is illegal. Marsha Lopez: Hey, pdoug , I sure hope not! The effects of huffing are not pretty, ranging from hearing loss to heart irregularities to damaging your brain's white matter leading to problems with your spinal cord. Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. In 2010, the Monitoring the Future Study estimated 8% of 8th graders, 5.7% of 10th graders, and 3.6% of 12th graders reported abusing inhalants in the past year. In recent years, we haven't seen an increase of huffing/inhaling, in fact use has been going in the other direction. Learn more about inhalants and their effects at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php .
Joe Frascella: Tough to answer specifically. Changes typically occur in one's behavior usually before their physical appearance changes. Also, this is a pretty individual thing...that is, not everyone shows the same changes at the same time. Some people can hide their use, whereas with others, it is immediately apparent. For more information check out www.teens.drugabuse.govHope this helps.
David Shurtleff: Abuse of prescription medications like OxyContin is a big problem, not only for adults, but also for teens. In fact, in 2010, 1 out of 20 10th and 12th grade students have used OxyContin for non-medical reasons in the past year. Using these drugs for reasons, other than a doctor prescribes, can lead to bad consequences. For example, misuse or abuse of OxyContin can lead to drug addiction, overdose and death (almost 15,000 unintentional opioid overdose deaths total in the U.S. in 2008) -- not good!! Need more information about prescription drugs? Click on: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html Aaron White: In 2009, approximately 11,000 people died in alcohol-related car crashes. In fact, statistically, one person is injured in an alcohol related car crash every minute in the United States. To learn more about alcohol-related car crashes and injuries, check this out:http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/?s_cid=vitalsigns-092-bb
http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/pdf/2011-10-vitalsigns.pdf
Aaron White: In 2010, 14% of 8th graders consumed alcohol in a typical month. That's about 1 in 7, and means that 6 out of 7 students in 8th did not drink.
Aaron White: Very unlikely. Your liver gets rid of one serving of alcohol, like a can of beer, in about 1.5 hours. Alcohol poisoning is caused when your body builds up a very high level of alcohol. Alcohol poisoning occurs from a single episode of drinking way too much. You cannot get alcohol poisoning from drinking a little bit over a long time. However, it is important to know that drinking alcohol during the teen years, presumably even just a serving per day, seriously increases the chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life.
Jim Bjork: Yes, drugs can be good or bad, depending on how they're used. Drugs that are used to treat a diagnosed medical condition, even drugs that can be potentially addictive, can be very helpful and sometimes necessary, and should not lead to addiction as long as they are taken under the care of a physician and in the amounts that are prescribed. Also, over the counter drugs are not addictive as long as they are taken for the condition they were meant for, and in the dosages described on the container.
Jim Bjork: Hello Minnesota! I went to Hopkins high! You're technically a drug abuser once you start using drugs so much you start neglecting important things like schoolwork, and start blowing off people who you used to care about. Once you can't stop yourself from seeking out and using drugs, and lose interest in everything else that used to give you a lot of pleasure, then you're an 'addict.' Being an abuser or addict really doesn't have anything to do with why you're using drugs. Abuse and addiction are more about the CONSEQUENCES of drug use getting to be really bad.
Of the 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse, 27.1% involved nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, 21.2% involved illicit drugs, and 14.3% involved alcohol, in combination with other drugs. David Shurtleff: This is not true at all. Many people mistakenly think that since prescriptions are provided by a doctor, they are safe, but prescription drug misuse (using them in ways or amounts other than prescribed) can be very dangerous, and can lead to addiction, overdose, death as well as other negative outcomes. Please remember, that prescription meds are powerful drugs and should only be used under the supervision and as directed by your doctor. Want to know more about prescription meds and what teens are thinking about them? Go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov or www.Gscholastic.com/headsup
Carol Krause: Yes--despite what some people might tell you, marijuana can be addictive. Approximately 9 percent, or about 1 in 11, of those who use marijuana at least once will become addicted. This rate increases to 16 percent, or about 1 in 6, if you start in your teens, and goes up to 25-50 percent among daily users. Moreover, among young people in drug abuse treatment, marijuana accounts for the largest percentage of admissions: 61 percent of those under age 15 and 56 percent of those 15-19.
Aaron White: Such a great question. Also a tough one to answer. Sometimes, people kill themselves when they're drunk because the alcohol makes it hard for them to stop themselves from going through with the act. Sometimes people try to kill themselves with other drugs, such as prescription drugs, and they also happen to be drinking. Alcohol can increase the chances that the drugs will kill the person. Sometimes people who kill themselves were drinking to try to numb the emotional pain and the alcohol did not play a direct role. It was just another symptom of the problem. It is also important to know that drinking a lot can make depression much worse. So when people who are depressed use alcohol to try to medicate their depression, they can end up making it much much worse. You can learn more about depression in kids and teens here:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/depression-in-children-and-adolescents.shtml
Dave Thomas: OxyContin is a brand name for oxycodone, a powerful opioid analgesic. It is still used for treating moderate to severe pain. Some of the formulations have been changed to reduce the abuse liability.
Carol Krause: Hello Texas! Mushrooms or 'shrooms' generally refer to psilocybin, sometimes called 'magic mushrooms.' Only there is nothing really magic about them--they are just another drug that causes hallucinations. Psilocybin is a plant with active compounds that have LSD-like properties and produce 'mind-bending' reactions, altered motor reflexes, behavior, and perception. The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose. Long-term effects such as flashbacks, risk of psychiatric illness, impaired memory, and tolerance have been described in case reports.
I have been to parties where parents serve alcohol to kids.31% - Yes
53% - No
15% - Maybe
Joni Rutter: What pills are you popping? I'd be sure to stay away from them if they make you forget things. Some drugs can produce memory impairment. For a list of commonly abused drugs and their consequences, go to www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.
Joni Rutter: I am a geneticist, so I really like this type of question!! All diseases have some heritable component (this means that you can inherit them from parents), but how much you inherit can vary. Here's an example. Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic defect that, if passed on, causes a person's offspring (their child) to be affected. That means that Huntington's is 100% genetic. Inheritance, in the form of genes, plays a large role in drug addiction also. In fact, research shows that drug addiction is about 50% heritable. BUT.....while genes play a big role, they are only part of the picture. Other factors, like having friends who don't use drugs, or being involved in sports and other recreational activities, also affect your risk of trying drugs and of becoming addicted to them. Researchers are trying to find the genes that make you vulnerable or resistant to addiction, in order to find ways to improve treatment and prevention approaches. Want more information on genes, addiction and teens? Check out: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
Aaron White: Yes, it is. You experience the effects of alcohol each time you drink. With just a little alcohol in your system, you can experience:
Impaired balance and muscle coordination, which will make it more difficult to walk and drive a car.
As you drink more and you have more alcohol in your bloodstream, you can experience:
Impaired judgment and difficulty making good choices
Difficulty controling urges, making it more likely that you will do something dangerous
Impaired memory - you can wake up the next day not be able to remember what you did while you were drinking.
Still more alcohol can cause potentially fatal side effects, including:
Difficulty breathing
Low heart rate
Loss of consciousness
Research shows that the odds of becoming an alcoholic sometime in life are higher when people drink as teenagers.
Dave Thomas: They are good to treat pain when prescribed by a health care professional, but very bad when abused.
Dave Thomas: Absolutely. The term 'overdose' typically is used to describe a situation where a person has a severe negative reaction to taking a drug of abuse. Death is one such negative reaction. A very severe one.
Marilyn Huestis: Drugs can definitely affect sperm cells and the uterus. They can reduce fertility and affect hormones that are important for reproduction, and certainly affect the ability of sperm to travel, but I don't remember reading that they actually kill the cells. Drugs can still disrupt normal function even if cells aren't killed. Drugs never have one effect, in almost all cases they affect normal function as well. It is important to consider all effects when making an informed decision about using drugs or not. Thanks for your question!
Carol Krause: Absolutely. Marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning with a 'dimmed-down' brain most or all of the time. Compared with their peers who don't smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. Also, longtime marijuana users themselves report being less satisfied with their lives, experiencing memory and relationship problems, poorer mental and physical health, lower salaries, and less career success. There is all sorts of 'good to know' stuff at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/001.php#q03
Looking for a drug treatment program? Different types of treatments are available to meet your specific needs. You can get referrals to treatment programs by calling 1-800-662-HELP (a confidential hotline), or by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on line at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Ruben Baler: Hello smyersEmergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. So, i wouldn't be surprised if some deaths were linked to K2 use.
Try not to touch the stuff..
cheers
Dave Thomas: Prescription pain killers can cause addiction and death if they are used inappropriately, for example without a prescription or in quantities not ordered by a doctor. So can some street drugs. Whether one would kill a person faster than the other depends on which specific drugs the person takes, how much, and his or her specific personal vulnerabilities.
Belinda Sims: Hello - there are a number of drug abuse prevention programs that work to reduce risk for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, including prescription drugs. Many of these prevention programs can be run in schools, and other places in communities. This booklet has more information on drug abuse prevention: http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf
When you go college you will experience a lot of changes in your life. Even though you are moving on to new and exciting things it can be stressful. It is important to continue to take care of yourself and if you are receiving treatment now to find out where and how to continue treatment when you get to college. The college counseling office is a good place to start, or check with an advisor. You can call them and arrange to visit them before you start school. Ruben Baler: hi, what a great question!!
People smoke because it is one of the most efficient ways (short of injecting) of delivering a psychoactive drug into the brain.
I don't know if any of those seating around me currently smoke. I know that one of them chews on nicotine lozanges to manage his nicotine urges, and I know that I was a heavy smoker when i was young, I was extremely lucky though because I woke up one day (i was about 19 years old) and decided to quit smoking right there and then. That decision probably saved my life!!
stay smart, stay clean.
Joni Rutter: Some sodas have caffeine, others have sugar, and many have both. A component of addiction is that the person affected has compulsive behaviors that make it difficult for them to moderate intake of common substances, like food and soda. In this respect, sodas can be addictive.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Rachel! Thanks for suggesting this interesting question. The answer is yes. Smoking weed affects your judgment and impairs your coordination--take an example of driving while being impaired by weed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s study: in 2009, among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit --including marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter), an increase from 13 percent in 2005. But even if you don't die, smoking marijuana can have serious consequences, from increased heart rate to problems with memory. Here is a link to our teen site thatprovides the latest information on marijuana abuse: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php#what_is_it Stay safe! Joni Rutter: Hey Johnson Middle School, CA! Thanks for your question. Drugs can definitely make you stupid! Here's an example: marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi Jim Bob. This is a tough question because we don't really have the answer yet. Some investigators believe that steroids cause cancer, but there is actually little proof of this. Steroids can clearly mess up your development, especially when used during the teen years when sexual maturation is taking place. Also, you know that aggression is a major issue with steroid use - this can result in risky behavior that could endanger you. But if I had to give an answer right now, I think most people would say that steroids don't directly kill you over time, but why risk your life if all the answers aren't in yet?
Belinda Sims: Not at all! It's a great thing you are not taking drugs. Most teens do not take drugs. Check out these websites for more information:http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Really good question. Happy you realize that things can be done to prevent drug use. There are science-backed programs that prevent drug use and addiction. These programs have been designed based on what we know has worked. Successful prevention programs increase factors that protect people from drug abuse or reduce the risk for it in families, schools, and communities. Research has shown that science-based programs, such as those described in NIDA's Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, can significantly reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. For more information on preventing drug use and abuse, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/prevention/index.html. Also, deciding to be your own person and resist the influence of peers who are experimenting with drugs or doing other risky behaviors is a good prevention tactic.
David Shurtleff: Yup -- Smoking is most certainly linked with cancer. Here are some interesting statistics on smoking and cancer:In the U.S. lung cancer is the 2nd most common type of cancer, accounting for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined
In the U.S. about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking
Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. We have some great research to support the answers to your questions. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
In 2009, there were nearly 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse. Carol Krause: How's this for an answer: More than 50,000 people die every year as a result of second hand smoke. There is lots of good info on nicotine on this link: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/tobacco.html
Susan Weiss: It is not legal anywhere in this country. Some states have passed medical marijuana laws, however, it is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the Federal government--meaning that it has a risk for abuse and no proven medical benefit.
Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question! Snorting any drug is bad --and not only for the nose! Check out this image: | Opiates Act on Many Places in the Brain and Nervous System |
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Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, and—particularly in users who inject the drug—infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health of the abuser as well as from heroin’s depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin often contains toxic contaminants or additives that can clog blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain, causing permanent damage to vital organs.
So, I hope you see that heroin is not just bad for the nose.
Carol Krause: All forms of marijuana are mind-altering (psychoactive). In other words, they change how the brain works. Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, including THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Since THC is the main active chemical in marijuana, the amount of THC in marijuana determines its strength or potency and therefore its effects. The THC content of marijuana has been increasing since the 1980s.In the short-term, marijuana can cause:
- problems with learning and memory;
- distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch);
- diminished motor coordination; and
- increased heart rate.
In addition, marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers who die in accidents (around 14 percent of drivers), often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
And---marijuana is linked to school failure. Marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning with a 'dimmed-down' brain most or all of the time. Compared with their peers who don't smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school.
Are those enough reasons why marijuana is not a good idea for teens? There is a lot more information here: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/index.php
Dave Thomas: Most drugs of abuse can be classified as stimulants or depressants. Stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, wake people up, make them more active, speed up their heart rate, increase their blood pressure and other effects. Depressants, such as heroin, do the reverse. Both are dangerous. For more information about stimulants and depressants, check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov
Why do celebrities go in and out of drug and alcohol rehab?The correct answer is: B. Addiction is a complex and chronic disease that requires people to engage in long-term treatment and make difficult and sweeping changes in their lives.
http://drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/treatment.html
http://drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/treatment.html
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Aaron White: That level of drinking is frequently deadly. In the last month, at least a half dozen college and high school students have died from alcohol poisoning. Their blood alcohol levels were on average around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. A healthy 140 pound female would reach that level after about 10-12 drinks in a two hour period. For a 160 pound male it would require about 13-15 drinks in a two hour period. Anyone who weighs less would require less alcohol. This is way way lower than 21 drinks!
Belinda Sims: Great question. There has been research showing that some teens (not all) can be influenced by seeing people smoke in ads, or on tv, or in movies. Some of these researchers have also tried to understand why this happens, including understanding what is happening in the brain when teens are exposed to media with people smoking. For more information on smoking, click on: http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
Susan Weiss: Absolutely--drugs change how the brain works--which is why it can be so difficult to quit. Drugs change the way you respond to natural rewards--like chocolate, and surfing--they don't matter as much; drugs change what is important in your life--getting the drug and taking it becomes most important; they change how you think and how you feel. For all these reasons, and because scientists have shown quite clearly that the brain is changed by exposure to abused drugs, addiction is definitely a mental disorder.
Marilyn Huestis: Hello Zombie Man. THC is the primary active compound in marijuana. It can be removed by extracting the drugs with organic solvents (with chemicals in a lab). We actually do this in our experiments where we study the effects of drugs in drug users to learn about what a drug does. In our studies, we use placebo marijuana (marijuana where the drug has been removed) as a control in our experiments. So it can be done! Thanks for asking.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Annemarie--great question, IMO really gets to the 'heart of the matter.' What could be a big reason for you (like peer pressure) may not be the main reason for someone else (an escape from a stressful lifestyle). People start using drugs for a variety of different reasons, but absolutely NONE are worth the consequences of substance use addiction. Here is a great series on our teen site that will give you information about various drugs of abuse. If you have the facts, you will be better able to make healthy decisions about drug use and abuse: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/
A 2009 study showed that 42% of high school students drank some amount of alcohol in the past month. Want to know more? Ask our experts from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Joel Sherrill: hi maddiec: For many teens (and adults) depression or anxiety and drug use go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, folks who are depressed or anxious use drugs to make themselves feel better (commonly called 'self-medicating'). This is not a good approach to treating depression or anxiety, and the drug use often leads to more problems. If someone is depressed and they are thinking about using drugs, this is a great opportunity for both prevention and treatment (preventing drug use and treating depression). Using drugs when depressed will only make it harder to treat depression or anxiety. So, if someone is depressed or has an anxiety problem, best to seek professional help - we have many effective treatments for depression and anxiety in teens.Here is some general information about depression: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/.
And here is some more information about anxiety: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
Want to know more about Depression in Children and Teens? See: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/
To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment a good place to start is the Web site of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. www.samhsa.gov.
Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has it main effects in the brain. The effects of meth on the brain can lead to memory loss, learning impairment, movement disorders, and addiction. Use of crystal meth can lead to cardiac (heart) and neurological damage. Behaviorally, meth can lead to aggression, violence, and psychotic behavior. For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html. Hope this is helpful. Aaron White: Such a great question. Also a tough one to answer. Sometimes, people kill themselves when they're drunk because the alcohol makes it hard for them to stop themselves from going through with the act. Sometimes people try to kill themselves with other drugs, such as prescription drugs, and they also happen to be drinking. Alcohol can increase the chances that the drugs will kill the person. Sometimes people who kill themselves were drinking to try to numb the emotional pain and the alcohol did not play a direct role. It was just another symptom of the problem. It is also important to know that drinking a lot can make depression much worse. So when people who are depressed use alcohol to try to medicate their depression, they can end up making it much much worse. David Shurtleff: What happens? You're likely to suffer a bad reaction, hurt or even off yourself! Combining alcohol with another central nervous system depressants like Xanax or painillers like Vicodin can slow your heartbeat and breathing dangerously low levels that and may lead to death. Mixing these drugs increases their potency and thus their effects significantly. There is no set formula for what will happen when a person uses both alcohol and a prescription medication. Each person is different, and the results can potentially be fatal! Stay safe! To hear more about what teens are saying about prescription drugs and alcohol, click on NIDA's teen site - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
Marsha Lopez: Hi, shampoo-lady, thanks for your question. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors reported they were current smokers (in the past month). It's hard to say how many teens die from smoking because the general consequences related to smoking as a teen are experienced more often in adulthood, but I can tell you that about 443,000 Americans die each year due to smoking.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi IMS. This is a good question, because there are thousands of different drugs in different parts of the world. I am on the Prohibited Drug List Committee of the World Anti-doping Agency and we face this question all the time. We can't test for all drugs all the time. We take into consideration what drugs were available and also do screens for drugs that look for a wide variety of drugs. If anything comes up positive, then we do a specific test to confirm the drug in question. We have really sensitive and specific equipment that do a good job of identifying potential drugs. There are many more therapeutic drugs than drugs of abuse, so this narrows the field down. Great question!
Between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides. Joel Sherrill: hi acynicalchicken: This is a good but complicated question: We don't really know all of the causes of schizophrenia. What we do know is that there are probably many contributing factors, including biological factors (including genetic factors, brain chemistry and functioning) and environmental influences, some that operate very early in life, that together lead to risk for schizophrenia. Scientists think that an imbalance in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate, and possibly others, plays a role in schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters are substances that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Current theories do not point to serotonin specifically, but scientists are learning more about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia. The most commonly used antidepressant medications involve serotonin (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs), since the serotonin system is part of current theories of depression. But taking SSRIs correctly, such as when they are prescribed for depression and/or anxiety, has not been found to lead to schizophrenia.for more information about shcizophrenia and possible causes....
for more information about antidepressant treatments....
Joe Frascella: You make a good point. When we typically say that drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine are highly addictive. We base this on the scientific evidence for the class of drugs and the effects that they have on the brain. However, clearly there are individual differences and not all people who abuse drugs become addicted. We do try to mention the multidimension aspects to addiction -- such as an individual's genetics, the environment in which he or she lives, the age someone starts using, the route of administration (the way the drug is taken), the frequency of use, etc.Recent reports suggest that low levels of alcohol consumption can have positive health effects in adults.
Ruben Baler: in general, inhaled drugs reach the brain much faster than swallowed drugs. so if you are talking about a stimulant pill, the answer is yes Ruben Baler: hi.intriguing question, i wonder why you ask.
mountain dew is mountain dew
steroids are steroids
no overlap between the two whatsoever.
- Why do younger teens choose to drink then to do other illegal drugs?
Bethany Deeds: Hello to you Peaches! Access and parental supervision can play a role in if a younger teen decides to use alcohol, drugs or refuses to! No matter how old or young: drug use is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, poor judgment (which palces teens at risk for accidents, unsafe sex), poor school performance, etc. Here are two interesting facts: Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids – more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. People ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
I know someone who started smoking and wishes he could quit.57% - Yes
31% - No
12% - Maybe
Belinda Sims: Hi there! Gateway drugs are drugs that teenagers might experiement with or use first, such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants. The 'gateway drug' idea is that once someone uses one, they will be more likely to go on to use other drugs after that. So, it's best not to start using any drugs.
Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to receptors in areas of the brain that signal reward or pleasure. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention and focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, though, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from doing anything to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say! Susan Weiss: There is no difference--same plant, same risks. What are those: 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users. 2) Impaired learning and memory--for someone still in school, it may take away your competitive edge, especially if you are using it regularly--the effects can last more than 24 hours after last use. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while they are high, they can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there. This usually wears off when the drug is out of the system. But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident. 5) And of course, its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis.
Jim Bjork: You should have gotten out of the car and called your mom or dad. You could have gotten killed. Also, you should not let your friend's dad drive you again. This may put a strain on your friendship, but your life is more important, and if he is a good friend he will understand.
Carol Krause: This is a difficult question that many young people face. You do not want to be a 'snitch' but you worry about your friend's health. Also, if someone drives while high on weed, it could actually endanger the lives of other people. My best advice is to discuss this with the school counselor or someone you trust at school, at your place or worship or another trusted adult. You can ask the adult not to bring your name into the discussion. It is especially important to say something if you feel your friend is changing because of weed or other drugs, including alcohol. He or she could be addicted and could be on a dangerous downhill path.
Dave Thomas: Hard to say. It is a gamble. Some drug combinations can be very dangerous.
Marilyn Huestis: Good question, Alex. Steroids can have negative or adverse effects and you can become addicted or dependent on steroids, but people don't really overdose on steroids. It doesn't affect your respiratory system to stop breathing and doesn't cause your heart to stop beating. But it can really affect the way in which your body functions. Thanks for asking!
Dr. Richard Denisco is now here to answer your questions. Dr. Denisco practiced anesthesia and pain medicine for a number of years. During this time he saw the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse on a number of his patients. As his interest in the field grew, he volunteered for over 2 years at a local drug and alcohol treatment center which treated a number of young people. He then completed a Masters of Public Health degree to better understand the science behind the clinical treatments, and to better understand the effect of various diseases on the community. His spare time interests are water skiing and boating in the summer and show skiing and ski-mobiling in the winter. Aaron White: Males tend to drink more than females during both the teen and college years and into adulthood. In terms of who drinks more, teens or adults, that one is a little trickier. Adults who drink do so more often (more days in a month) than teens who drink. However, when teens drink, they drink more heavily (more drinks in a given drinking night) than adults.
When you add it all up, teens who drink have about as many drinks in a month as adults, but they pack those drinks into fewer nights.
Ruben Baler: i would stay equidistant of both if i were you.
Dave Thomas: Paint thinner is classified as an inhalant, along with chemical vapors from liquids like paint thinner, gasoline, and glue. All inhalants are very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing inhalants may result in addiction and death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Ruben Baler: thanks for the question.lets do some numbers:
The single amount of ecstasy that would kill 50% of people taking it (so called LD50) is approximately 10-20 mg/kg.
A typical pill contains about 90 mg of ecstasy, so a 60 kg man would have to take 900 mg (or about 10 pills) all at once to have a 50% chance of dying of an ecstasy overdose.
stay cool.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi Ratman and Bobin,The answer is yes, you can get addicted to steroids, just as you can get addicted to other drugs. If you would like to know more about steroids, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php. Thanks for the question.
Joe Frascella: The quick answer to this question is that many drugs can alter one's inhibitions making him or her more impulsive. Some drugs have direct effects on some people to make them more aggressive, such as PCP. And after long-term use, some drugs will make people more aggressive and induce aggressive behaviors. For more information on drug abuse check out:www.teens.drugabuse.gov
According to a 2010 study, 13.8% of 8th graders drank alcohol in the past month. Aaron White: We agree! There probably are lots of reasons why someone would get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. Sometimes, the drinking driver is the person's parent or maybe the parent of a friend they are getting a ride from. Sometimes it's a friend that they trust and they believe the friend when he/she says they are okay to drive. Sometimes the passenger also has been drinking and isn't making good choices. We are so glad you have the right attitude and will never ride with a drinking driver!
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Thanks for this very good question. It is important to make sure that youth receive information that is developmentally appropriate. It is important for youth to know that drug use is not the norm (everyone is NOT doing it). It is important for youth to know the effects of drugs on the brain and body and how drugs effect their decisions and behaviors. It is important for youth to acquire skills to be able to make good healthy decisions about drug use and other risk behaviors (e.g., communication, decision making and drug refusal skills). Following are some key principles for prevention programs in schools: Programs should focus on children’s social and academic skills, including enhancing peer relationships, self-control, coping, and drug-refusal skills. If possible, school-based prevention programs should be integrated into the school’s academic program, because school failure is strongly associated with drug abuse. Integrated programs strengthen students’ bonding to school and reduce their likelihood of dropping out. Other types of interventions include school-wide programs that affect the school environment as a whole. All of these activities can serve to strengthen protective factors against drug abuse. (See examples of school-based programs in Examples of Research-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs.)
For information on priniciples of prevention in Drug Abuse Prevention Programs, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/prevention/applying.html. In addition, a fun curriculum for teachers to use with middle school students can be found here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/JSP4/JSP.html. Other information for teachers generally may be found here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html
Aaron White: That's a tricky question and the answer is yes and no. Yes, because there are things you can do to increase the odds of surviving an episode of alcohol poisoning. No, because once someone drinks enough to experience alcohol poisoning, there is no way to reverse that. You just have to wait for the liver to break the alcohol down and get rid of it.The absolute best thing to do in case of an alcohol poisoning is to call 911 and get them to a hospital as soon as possible so they can be watched and cared for while their bodies struggle to survive. Until then, make sure the person does not lie on their back. Often, someone poisoned by alcohol will throw up and keeping them sitting upright will help make sure they don't inhale and drown in their own vomit.
Marilyn Huestis: In almost all cases, a drug test has both a screening test and a specific confirmation test that is able to accurate identify the drug. If you had a test that was not confirmed, you should complain and ask that it be confirmed. For instance, a test that looks for amphetamines might show up positive if you took cold medication, but when confirmed, you can clearly see if methamphetamine or amphetamine is there. So you have the right to get an accurate test. There are other reasons that you can get a positive test, like if you come up positive for morphine, an opiate, but really you just ate a lot of pastries that contained poppy seeds. The level for opiate testing was raised in part for this reason, so it unusual now for this type of case. And it isn't really a false positive because poppy seeds do contain morphine. Also, if you were prescribed and took codeine for pain or for a cough, your body will produce morphine. The confirmation test will look for codeine and morphine. If you really didn't use the drug, ask to see the confirmation test results and think about what you ate or took that could be a problem. But usually, if a drug test is positive, the person used the drug.
Belinda Sims: Great question. I do not think that this type of thinking is limited to kids in public schools. Also, most kids in school do not use drugs. There are a number of reasons that a young person will decide to use drugs. Deciding to use drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and others, too. So it is best not to start; it is not cool.Here are some websites you may be interested in.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_hiv1.php
Dave Thomas: Inhalants are chemical vapors from liquids like paint, gasoline, and glue can be very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing glue may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
David Shurtleff: Hi there,Probably not...Smokeless tobacco use carries some of the same dangers as regular smoked tobacco use, like cancer, and mixing different types of smokeless will not likley change the outcome. In general, smokeless tobacco products can have as many 28 different cancer-causing agents in it, likely regardless of brand!! Use of smokeless tobacco products also increase a person's risk for cancer of the oral cavity, which can include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth. It is also linked with oral leukoplakia (yucky white mouth lesions that can become cancerous), gum disease, and gum recession (when the gum pulls away from the teeth). Let's not forget the totally disgusting 'juice' that needs to be spit out! YUk :s
Need more information on smokeless tobacco products?? See http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/smokeless.html
Dave Thomas: Absolutely. For example, 14% of those in fatal car wrecks test positive for THC (the active chemical in marijuana). Driving is a complicated activity requiring attention and split second reactions. Drugs of abuse typically interfere with driving performance.
Dave Thomas: Some drugs are manufactured because they are very helpful for treating pain and other medical problems, but they can cause addiction and death when misused. Oxycontin and other prescription opiates are examples. They are safe when taken with a doctor's prescription, but should never be taken otherwise.Other drugs are manufactured even though they have no medical uses, precisely because they cause addiction. Money is the motive. People addicted to drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine will pay a lot for them.
Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky. Bethany Deeds: Hello New York! Here are the big three among teens: alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Here is an overview of our annual survey on drug use among teens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
Joni Rutter: Hey Rochester Adams HS, MI! Thanks for your question. People say they use drugs because they think it will be 'fun.' In fact, drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine. Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
I'd say drugs are definitely NOT fun.
Dave Thomas: There are a lot of different reasons. Peer pressure is a big factor. Some people start because they are seeking thrills or are bored, others because they feel bad and think drugs will make them feel better. Given how difficult it can be to quit, the best way to not become addicted to drugs is to not try them in the first place. For some more information of drug abuse prevention, check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov
David Shurtleff: Whether someone is addicted to a drug has a lot to do with how it affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to drugs to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without the drug and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to drugs tend to have the following issues:· Craving - a strong need to use drugs
· Loss of control - not being able to stop doing the drug once you've begun
· Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness (for example) after they stop using the drug
· Tolerance - the need to use greater amounts of the drug in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.
Also, the earlier in life a person starts using drugs, the more likely they are to become addicted. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Joe Frascella: Thanks for your question. Here are some tell-tale signs of abuse, particularly marijuana, but also signs of general abusing:If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might:
- seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
- seem silly and giggly for no reason;
- have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
- have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
- When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
In addition, you might find:
- signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers;
- odor on clothes and in the bedroom;
- use of incense and other deodorizers;
- use of eye drops; and
- clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Texas! Drug use can vary by where you live and what is readily available. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the most commonly abused substance among teens is alcohol, followed by tobacco. The most commonly abused illegal drug is marijuana. The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Here is more top-line data from the last MTF survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
Joe Frascella: Hey there in Rockville. Yes, the evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts smoking, the more likely he or she is to become addicted to nicotine (active drug in tobacco). We also know that the same is true for most drugs...that is, the earlier drug use starts, the greater the chance of addiction. So yes, if you can remain 'smoke-free' in your teens, you will probably remain so as an adult. Please see the following link for more information on nicotine: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.htmlGreat question!
Susan Weiss: A vaporizer works by extracting the chemicals from the plant at a lower temperature than by smoking. In theory, this would result in less exposure of the lungs to the toxins produced by combustion. However this has not yet been demonstrated to be the case, and in fact, this was shown not to be true for the nicotine in tobacco. There may be reasons for this, like different ways of inhaling (more deeply), but we still don't know about the safety of a vaporizer as a delivery system. Also, the other downsides to marijuana--addiction, memory disruption, etc remain whichever way you take it.
Compared with their peers who don’t smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. Joel Sherrill: hi Aberryhill: this is a really good but really tough question! Drug use and mental health problems can definitely be related, but the relationship is complicated. It is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg question. Sometimes people use drugs when they are experiencing mental health problems in an attempt to feel better, but often use of unprescribed drugs leads to more problems. If someone who isn't already having mental health problems starts to use drugs, the drug use can lead to problems (for example, problems at school, and in relationships with parents, family, and or friends), and these stresses can than affect their mental health. Getting high can also lead to using other drugs; and drug use in general affects your brain functioning. Sometimes, effects such as memory problems can be lasting. For more information about the effects of marijuana (including the link to other drug use) go to http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/002a.php#q04
Carol Krause: Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant that is closely related to amphetamine. It is long lasting and toxic to dopamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder taken orally or by snorting or injecting, or a rock 'crystal' that is heated and smoked. Methamphetamine increases wakefulness and physical activity, produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature. Long-term use can lead to mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and severe dental problems. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
Marsha Lopez: Hi, Benny20 , that's a tough question to answer because, as the name suggests, some of the individuals who ingest these drugs do so unknowingly or unintentionally. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study intentional use of so-called date rape drugs is not that common- the number of high school seniors across the US who reported past year use of GHB is 1.4%, Rohypnol 1.5%, and Ketamine 1.6% overall. Use is reportedly highest in the North East and lowest in the South. Carol Krause: Good question! There are questions people can ask to assess whether or not a person has a drug problem. These do not necessarily indicate that someone is addicted, but answering yes to any of these questions may suggest a developing problem, which could require follow-up with a professional drug treatment specialist. These include:- Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who had been using alcohol or drugs?
- Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, to feel better about yourself, or to fit in?
- Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?
- Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
- Do family or friends ever tell you to cut down on your use of alcohol or drugs?
- Have you ever gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?
Which of the following is associated with teenage drinking?The correct answer is: D. All of these, plus school failure and injuries, are associated with teenage drinking.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
Carol Krause: LSD is (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. While 'high' on LSD, sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs in people under the influence of LSD. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in large enough doses, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations. The user’s sense of time and self is altered. Experiences may seem to “cross over” different senses, giving the user the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. Some LSD users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings of despair, fear of losing control, or fear of insanity and death while using LSD.
LSD users can also experience flashbacks, or recurrences of certain aspects of the drug experience. Flashbacks occur suddenly, often without warning, and may do so within a few days or more than a year after LSD use. In some individuals, the flashbacks can persist and cause significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning, a condition known as hallucinogen-induced persisting perceptual disorder (HPPD).
Most users of LSD voluntarily decrease or stop its use over time. LSD is not considered an addictive drug since it does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior. However, LSD does produce tolerance, so some users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher doses to achieve the state of intoxication that they had previously achieved. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug. In addition, cross-tolerance between LSD and other hallucinogens has been reported.
Ruben Baler: always!this testing is very thorough and is one of the early stages in medication development.
thanks for the question
Joe Frascella: Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs. Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, the teen brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc. Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
Ruben Baler: thanks, you give me a great opportunity to tell you that alcohol is actually a drug, a very dangerous drug. all drugs are dangerous. Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. It's not a simple one. For some people, it's the first puff on a cigarette. Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many. They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc. Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again). Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain. Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated. But, sapafap, you are better off not smoking in the first place! You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often. Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
Belinda Sims: Hello. This is a tough situation, but trying to be supportive of your friend is admirable. One thing you can do is express your concerns to your friend and offer to go with her to talk to a trusted person about her problems and get help--someone like her parents, or other trusted adult. Here are some resources that may be helpful as well:http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Joni Rutter: Hey, 95golfer...this is a great question. The answer is that it is both nature AND nurture. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. Ruben Baler: not that i am aware of.
pretty much everything in high enough of a dose can give you cancer. But you would die of an overdose much sooner...
Joe Frascella: Gasoline is a mixture of about 150 chemicals refined from crude oil. It should not be drunk as it is a poison. Some people inhale the fumes, but inhaling this can lead to lots of problems. If you are interested in more information on inhalants, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html
Bethany Deeds: Hello Michigan! Mushrooms contain psilocybin, a psychedelic drug (similar to LSD) that produces hallucinations. Here is a link to info from our Research Report Series on Hallucinogens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/hallucinogens/halluc2.html#dissoc and here is a link to our Mind Over Matter series: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php
This year we have experts on the chat from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. So if you have any questions about the effects of alcohol, binge drinking, drinking and driving or more, ask now! Susan Weiss: Because it is not a plant and it is not smoked. It not being a plant is important, since the plant contains lots of ingredients with unknown health effects and varied amounts of these ingredients from plant to plant. For something to be a medicine it has to have well defined ingredients that are the same from pill to pill. This allows doctors to prescribe the correct dose to each patient based on their age, weight, other prescriptions, etc.
Aaron White: Yes, this actually is true! Some researchers at universities have what they call 'bar labs', where they turn a laboratory into a bar. They give some students real alcohol and some students placebo, which the students think is actually real alcohol. Usually, students who get the fake alcohol say that they feel intoxicated, more relaxed, more talkative, and so on. This tells us that many of the effects that alcohol has on people is caused by what they think alcohol will do to them rather than what alcohol actually does to them.
Ruben Baler: thanks for the question:lets do the numbers, shall we?:
First to know is that one caffeine cup contains about the same amount of caffeine, which is about 80 mg.Now, the dose of caffeine that would kill half of a population of coffe drinkers (called LD50) is about 150-200mg/kg.
So, a person having a mass of about 60kg, would need to consume at least 9000mg of caffeine, or about 112 cups to drop half dead.
cheers
Marilyn Huestis: Hello IMS326. This is an important question. Most people take steroids to improve their performance in sports or their body shape, but they don't think about the other effects of steroids that can certainly affect your behavior (think aggression) and your normal reproductive function. Yes, taking steroids could reduce testicle size and erection. This would depend upon the type of steroid, how much you took, and even your stage of development. It has been shown that steroids have serious effects on development if taken during puberty and adolescence. Any drug has multiple effects, so it is always best to only take them under the advice of a physician who can weigh the benefits of a drug and its negative effects.
Joni Rutter: It is possible to quit 'cold turkey,' as they say. I'm glad your Pap was able to do it. My Pap was too. He had to get lung cancer to make him quit, but he was one of the lucky ones. His lung cancer was cured, although by removing part of his lung. He just turned 80! There are many people who need help quitting, though. For more information on how to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov.
You should always get help if you have symptoms of depression [or any other illness]. You would go to the doctor if you had a broken arm, right? Jim Bjork: Because the people of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, through their elected officials (politicians) made the decision as a society not to make certain drugs illegal. One of the reasons that the United States is still having this same kind of discussion as a nation because the active component of marijuana, THC, can be addictive. For more information on mariijuana see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp and http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
David Shurtleff: That's a very good question. As you can imagine, it's quite a challenge! People need to realize that while drugs of abuse can 'feel good', they can lead to serious health, social and community outcomes. Part of NIDA's mission is to inform and 'arm' the public with honest, truthful information about how drugs can affect a person's body and life. We also conduct research to learn how to prevent use and also treat those who are also addicted to drugs. If people really think about the long term effects of these drugs and what it can do to them, their family and community, they won't want to use them...if people don't want them, dealers can't sell them.... Keep the questions coming!
Aaron White: I would deny this, as I do not like malt liquor. However, others might have a different opinion. Regardless, drinking alcohol to help deal cope with problems is a bad strategy, and one associated with becoming an alcoholic. Some people may get messages from movies, TV, and our general culture that drinking can make you feel 'cool.' Others may feel they can escape other problems in their life by drinking. But you cannot - drinking only makes any problems you already have much worse. And there's nothing cool about throwing up in a garbage can or wrecking a car. It is so important to find healthy ways of dealing with problems in life. If the problems are just too big to deal with, it is vital to find an adult whom you trust and tell them about your struggles. Alcohol might seem like a useful way to cope, but it is not.
Ruben Baler: Hi there,Different drugs affect different systems in very specific ways. So, for a comprehensive list of effects i would encourage you to visit our website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
But to try and answer your question i would say that:
1) in terms of hormones being affected, thge main class of drugs we are concerned about is the anabolic steroids, derivatives of the male sex hormone testosterone that can really screw up the hormonal balance. Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
2) in terms of actions, i imagine you are talking about behaviors. Most drugs of abuse are a concern here because they can impair decision making, pushing you to take much higher risks that you would normally take if you were not under the influence of a drug.
thanks for a great question!!
stay smart and stay clean!
Bethany Deeds: Hello to Bishop Hall Charter School! Please don't drive while high --for your own safety and that of other in in the community! A nationally representative survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that in 2007, approximately one in eight weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illicit drugs. And if you look at the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) study approximately one in twelve high school seniors reported driving after smoking marijuana within two weeks prior to the survey interview. Drugged driving is just as serious an issue as drunk driving or being distracted via cell phone/texting for our communties. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has launched a campaign on drugged driving. This link will connect you to information about research and community activities to increase awareness and reduce this dangerous practice: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/drugged-driving and here is the fact sheet from our web page: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/druggeddriving.html
A 2010 study found that a small percentage of high school students abuse OxyContin- 2% of 8th graders, 5% of 10th graders and 5% of 12th graders. However, OxyContin abuse can lead to dangerous addiction for those who use. Susan Weiss: You're asking the science guys--and we can't ignore the fact that marijuana also has serious risks that would counter its benefits, and which would likely increase if it were made legal. What are they? 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users. Addiction means that you can't stop using even though you want to because it's messing up your life. 2) Impaired learning and memory--making it hard to learn new things. For someone still in school or working a challenging job, it may take away their competitive edge, especially if they are using it a lot. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while they are high, they can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there. This usually wears off when the drug is out of the system. But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident. 5) Its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis. So before anyone thinks about making it legal, they really need to think about the risks that marijuana poses and whether its worth adding another drug to the list that can harm the public's health.
Jim Bjork: Illegal drugs are expensive due to all the costs involved in keeping their production and transportation into the US out of sight of law enforcement in the nations where they are grown and prepared (like in South America), and here in the US. It is this illegality that is a key reason these drugs are so expensive. For example, you can price-shop legal products like ipods on ebay in real-time to get the lowest price, but in the shadow black market, a person might not have different sources to choose from.
Joel Sherrill: Hi Siegfried: You ask a great question. We don't know everything we need to know about how medications work on specific symptoms or their mechanisms. Hopefully, ongoing research will help us understand mechanisms so we will know more about how they work and know how we can improve them. But we do know that ADHD involves 3 types of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. For some people, this can be expressed as irritability or aggression. Since ADHD medication helps with these related core problems of ADHD (hyperactivity and impulsivity), it probably helps reduce anger and agression and related problems. For more information about ADHD and its treatment go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml
Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Aaron White: Yes, for teenagers, even moderate consumption of alcohol appears to be harmful. Research shows that having alcohol during the teen years increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home. It isn't clear how much alcohol is needed to directly damage the brain during the teen years, but it is probably more than the amount of alcohol considered to be moderate for adults (no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men). Even if the brain is spared from being damaged by moderate consumption during the teen years, the risk of becoming an alcoholic is increased significantly.
Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs on a scale of 'worse-ness.' The drug that is used by a person is the worst--so it's a case-by-case basis. The reason for this vague answer is because people are different, and addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.No matter what, all drugs are bad for your body. For more information on specific drugs and their actions on your body, see: www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html.
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Research over the past two decades has tried to determine how drug abuse begins and how it progresses. Many factors can add to a person’s risk for drug abuse. Most people at risk for drug abuse do not start using drugs, or become addicted if they do. However, something that puts one person at risk may not do the same for another. Some identified risk factors include early aggressive behavior, lack of parental supervision, opportunties to use drugs, availabilty of drugs, and poverty. It is important to note that risks can be changed through prevention interventions. Of course, the best way to avoid drug abuse and addiction is never to start.
Marsha Lopez: Hi, kaylee, that's a tricky situation that I have, unfortunately, been in myself a number of times. You could be available for your friend to discuss what is on his or her mind and why he or she is using drugs. You can encourage them to learn more about how drug use affects your body and brain by going to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. If you think your friend has a problem and is ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk to a doctor, parent, teacher, or therapist to find help, or go to http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP for confidential help 24/7. You can't make your friend stop using drugs but you can provide support, show that there are many ways to enjoy life that do not involve using drugs, and let your friend know you're there to help when ready.I have had someone offer me a prescription painkiller when I had no pain.21% - Yes
73% - No
7% - Maybe
Marilyn Huestis: Hello Kyle,First, it depends on how much drug is used. If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to eliminate the drug from your body. The type of drug that you use also makes a difference. If the drug is lipophilic (meaning it sticks to the fats in your body) like the active components in marijuana, PCP or LSD, the drug is stored in the body and takes longer to eliminate. For instance in chronic, daily marijuana smokers, it can take more than 30 days to remove the drug from your system. So the amount and frequency a drug used and the type of drug used are important factors. Also, remember that as long as the drug is in your body- it may be producing effects. I hope this helps!
Joni Rutter: Hello, Martha's Vineyard!! Marijuana has a variety of effects, and doesn't necessarily make people happy. Research has shown that weed affects the parts of the brain the allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. The active ingredient is called THC, which is a psychoactive drug that affects mood and behavior and can be addictive. Using weed can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes--and chronic weed smoking can harm the lungs. In addition, weed has been linked to a number of mental conditions, including depression and anxiety. For more information, see: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
David Shurtleff: Thanks for the question!By definition, all drugs of abuse can create problems in the lives of their user - marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol (and others) all can, can impair you ability to think and learn, lead you to make really bad decisions that could influence your health and safety (e.g., increase risk of accidents, injury, STDs and more), and can lead to addiction. Want to learn more about what teens are thinking about drugs and how drugs impact the body? Click on - http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/, http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php)
Young people consume more than 90% of their alcohol by binge drinking. To learn more about peer pressure and alcohol use, check out this website: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp Ruben Baler: Thanks for teh intersting question.you are in luck becauise i am also an expert on ancient drugs of war (just kidding)
The berserks were the most feared and vicious fighters among the Vikings. They were really 'out there' when it came deviant behaviors, and lived well beyond what was accepted norm among Viking-tribes. For example, whenever there was a fight at hand, they would get themselves into this wild frenzy, partly by self-hypnosis but also partly by consuming wild berries and other toxicological plants. As a result, they would reportedly cause the 'berserks' run right at the front of the war-mobs, only dressed in a few loose pieces of fur, besmeared with dirt and blood, sometimes donning animal-masks. I can imagine they were a really frightening sight to any soldier standing on the other side of the warline.
Unfortunately, we don't have any reliable information about the active ingredients in the potions that these Viking potions contained, but some berries do have psychoactive properties.
Carol Krause: Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that is safe and effective against pain when used as directed by your doctor. It is part of a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain. There can be a bruef 'euphoric' feeling, or 'high' experienced by people taking opioids, and some people take them just to get that feeling. Opioids can have negative effects when abused like this, including nausea and constipation. Taking a large single dose could even cause death. In fact, more people die from opioid overdoses in this country every year than from heroin and cocaine combined. Typically, they should not be used with alcohol, or many other prescripton drugs. Always check with your doctor before mixing vicodin with other drugs, including alcohol. Dave Thomas: These are very different drugs, but both are highly addictive and cause thousands of deaths each year. Cocaine is a stimulant and heroin is a depressant, so they kill abusers in different ways. However, dead is dead, so it's hard to say one is more bad and the other is less bad.
Joni Rutter: Many drugs of abuse come from plants, and therefore can be considered 'natural.' For example, heroin comes from poppy plants, and cocaine comes from the coca plant. That doesn't mean they are healthy--think tobacco. Similarly, marijuana comes from a plant that contains THC, which is 'psychoactive' (it affects mood and behavior) and can be addictive. For more information on marijuana see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp and http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
About 5% of children in the U.S. have ADHD. Scientists are studying new ways to help treat ADHD-learn more at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-nimh-research-to-test-innovative-treatments-for-children-with-adhd.shtml. Bethany Deeds: Good Afternoon Bellefonte Area Middle School! Depends. I am going to anwser it using examples from the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) that has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Daily Marijuana use increased among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 2009 to 2010. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980s at 6.1%. In 2012, steady declines in cigarette smoking appear to have stalled in all three grades after several years of improvement on most measures.After several years of decline, current and past year use of Ecstasy has risen among 8th and 10th graders. This link will take you to the MTF web page where you can look at the press release with the latest data and if you want, you can even link to the complete survey (charts and all!): http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html
Joni Rutter: Interesting question! You would not be dreaming -- unless you are asleep and dream about taking the drug. LSD can cause people to experience delusions and visual hallucinations that can be frightening. In fact, 'bad trips' can include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of insanity, death, or losing control that are acted out while you are awake. For more information about LSD, visit NIDA's website at http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html.
Aaron White: Four Loko is still around. While it contains quite a bit of alcohol, the caffeinated version is now illegal so the caffeine has been removed. One can of beer is 12 ounces and contains 5% alcohol. One can of Four Loko is almost 24 ounces and contains 12% alcohol. That means that a single can of Four Loko contains between 4-5 servings of alcohol. That's a lot of alcohol and can make it quite dangerous, particularly for people unaware of exactly how much alcohol is in one can of Four Loko. The original (now outlawed) version of the drink contained a large amount of caffeine. The exact amount is unknown as it is not publicized. The combination of lots of alcohol and lots of caffeine can lead to serious side effects from both of the drugs at the same time. The high alcohol content combined with the caffeine content had many parents and other adults worried about kids getting hurt from drinking it. This is why it was outlawed by the FDA and the caffeine was removed by the company that makes it.
Susan Weiss: There is certainly a medical need, especially for the treatment of pain. However, marijuana is not a good medicine, even if it is not smoked, for several reasons--its a plant that contains many chemicals (over 400), some with unknown health effects; the ingredients vary from plant to plant--medicines need to be able to have precisely controlled ingredients--so doctors know how much to prescribe and side effects can be prevented; marijuana's effects on your ability to think and remember make it not ideal. Scientists are however interested in some of marijuana's ingredients that may have possibilities as medicines but with less risks than marijuana itself. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
Did you know that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people age 15 to 24? Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can negatively affect a driver's attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences. Joe Frascella: Hey Jojo in Rockville! Thanks for your question. Here are some tell-tale signs of abuse, particularly marijuana, but also signs of general abusing:If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might:
- seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
- seem silly and giggly for no reason;
- have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
- have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
- When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
In addition, you might find:
- signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers;
- odor on clothes and in the bedroom;
- use of incense and other deodorizers;
- use of eye drops; and
- clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use.
Marilyn Huestis: No, this is not true. There are many folk tales about how to beat the drug test. Basically, you are taking in a lot of liquid which causes you to excrete the drug AND dilute the concentration of drugs in your urine. Grape juice does not cause the drugs to be excreted differently other than this. Now you know that this old wives tale is exactly that. Thanks for asking.
Joni Rutter: Caffeine is addictive, and withdrawal symptoms include headache, dizziness, and shaking. Too much caffeine can cause heart palpitations, and people with heart trouble should not have caffeine. For more information, see: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002579.htm.
Joni Rutter: We are doing this because, even though everyone knows not to use drugs, people think that bad things won't happen to them if they try it. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. For some people, the process of addiction is started after the first puff on a cigarette, or the first experience with any drug. Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many. They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc. Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again). Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain. Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated. But, you are better off not trying drugs in the first place! You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
Aaron White: Good question. If you can't stop on your own, there are plenty of sources of help. Finding an adult whom you trust, perhaps your family doctor, and talking with them about it is a good place to begin. Here is a link to further information about the signs of alcoholism and suggestions for quitting. While the site is tailored primarily for adults, the resources can provide good starting points for quitting and finding additional help if you are unable to do it on your own. It is sooo important to stop while you are still young to avoid doing any further damage to your body and allow your brain to heal and recover.http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Support/ChooseYourApproach.asp
Carol Krause: With the death of Michael Jackson, you may have heard the drug Propofol mentioned in the news. Propofol is a common type of anesthetic––a drug that doctors use to “put people to sleep” for surgery. It is given to patients through an “intravenous drip,” (called an “IV” for short) that goes through a special needle into a patient’s arm, allowing the medicine to go directly into the patient’s bloodstream.Doctors who give patients propofol are generally known as “anesthesiologists” and have special training. These experts set up the IV, make sure the patient is “sleeping” comfortably, and then carefully watch the patient’s vital signs (like heart rate, breathing, etc.) while the surgeon operates on the patient. Doctors like using propofol because it leaves the body very quickly, which allows the patient to wake up after surgery more rapidly, without bad side effects. So propofol can be a useful drug when it’s given by people who are properly trained, but like many prescription drugs, it can be very harmful if used inappropriately. Right now Michael Jackson's doctor is on trial because some people think he gave the singer propofol and then did not watch him closely enough. Whatever the truth, propofol should be given only in a hospital setting where the patient can be closely monitored.
Joni Rutter: Dear Barantay000. Needles hurt, no matter what you are injecting. Haven't you ever had a filling for your tooth? They inject an anesthetic in your mouth to deaden the area so they can drill. Even the anesthetic doesn't kick in right away. Also, if you inject heroin, you don't have to think about the pain of the needle, but you also have to think about the fact that you could be transmitting HIV, hepatitis, and other transmitted diseases through dirty needles. Not good and not worth it. For more information about the link between drug abuse and HIV, see: http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/.
Dr. Belinda Sims has just joined us. She is a Developmental Psychologist and works in the Prevention Research Branch at NIDA. Her research at NIDA includes figuring out how to get drug abuse prevention program programs that work into schools, communities, and other settings. Dr. Sims is from Detroit, Michigan. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit and also attended Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. When not working, she is the personal chauffer for her 10 year old daughter, taking her to daily after school activities. Dr. Sims does find time to teach Sunday school, read, and watch science fiction—and, this year, she has taken up Hip Hop dancing and Zumba. Marilyn Huestis: Hello wexx, that's a good question. Synthetic cannabinoids were legal until last year when the Drug Enforcement Agency 'scheduled,' or labeled as illegal, 5 drugs with different structures. We have an analog law in the US, meaning that if a drug is similar to an illegal drug and has the same effects, it is illegal too. So these compounds are not legal any more and could make users and suppliers legally responsible. Before this new law, the structures of synthetic cannabinoids were significantly different from THC in marijuana and could not be prosecuted under the laws for marijuana. Thanks for asking!
David Shurtleff: A lot depends on how much you take the first time- that is, the dose you take- so overdosing the first time you use a drug of abuse can happen- for example sniffing inhalants can result in death from heart failure or suffocation (because of their effects on the lungs) the very first time you try them - not good! Heroin can cause respiratory depression which can cause death. Cocaine can lead cardiovascular effects, including disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks. Using drugs is just not really worth the risk...you never know how your body will respond to them.
Dave Thomas: Molly is a slang name for for methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. Its also known as ecstasy. It is a stimulant which shares its effects with other drugs of the stimulant class like cocaine and nicotine. That is, it can make you feel focused and energized, it can produced hyperthermia and reduce your appetite, and it can alter the way your brain works. You can see this by examining the decisions that people make when they are using the drug and when they are not--they are often very different. For more information, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/mdma.html.
Aaron White: The US created the 1984 law raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were getting hurt by drinking alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people killed in alcohol-related car crashes. By contrast, kids drink more heavily in places like Europe and Australia, where the drinking age is lower than 21.For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.as
Bethany Deeds: Hello to you at Ft. Settlement Middle School! According to a recent Monitoring the Future Suvery it is even...Past year use of Illict drugs among 12-17 year olds was 19.4% for both boys and girls in 2010, Here is a summary from last year's Monitoring the Future, an annual survey of drug use among 8th, 10th and 12th graders. Because the survey has been going on for years, it helps us see trends. The summary is at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html If you are interested in more details, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html. We expect to release 2011 data from MTF some time in December.
How many Americans die from diseases associated with tobacco use each year?The correct answer is: D. About 440,000. Of the 440,000, 49,900 deaths were attributed to people who were exposed to secondhand smoke. Check out this chart for more information: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/health/attrdeaths
Michelle Leff: Hi reckless from Rockville. This is a great question. Different drugs affect people in different ways - acute symptoms from marijuana use are different from acute symptoms from cocaine use. In general though, you could see erratic behavior, mood swings, changes in appetite/sleep patterns, a decrease in interests/activities/school performance, isolation, and unexplained absences, etc.
Jim Bjork: Yes, especially prescription medications that were developed to treat conditions like severe pain. The issue is, that a certain proportion of people who use a mind-affecting drug will lose control over it (get addicted), making it risky. If you're one of those who ends up getting addicted, it could really affect your life, and depending on the drug, pattern of use and luck, could do some physiological damage.
Dave Thomas: Maybe some, if scientific research shows a given now illegal drug works better at treating a medical condition better than what is available with fewer negative effects. What I think is more likely is that drugs similar to illegal drugs will be developed that have some medical benefits with less of the properties that made the illegal drugs illegal. We are working on some of these right now at NIDA for treating drug abuse and stopping pain...
Marsha Lopez: Hi, elaine vo, thanks for your question. According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, about 23% of Americans ages 12 and older reported they are current (past month) cigarette smokers.
Redonna Chandler: Good question - If you are willing to reach out to them, you might try talking to them. You could listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care. David Shurtleff: Yup-it can be-Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction; that is, people have difficulty controlling their drug use and cannot stop even though it interferes with many aspects of their lives. Research shows that ~9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. The number goes up to about 1 in 6 in those who start using young (in their teens) and to 25-50 percent among daily users. Other factors, like genetics, affect whether drugs like MJ can be addictive. A 2010 study showed that 29% of 10th graders drank alcohol in the month before the survey. Michelle Leff: It sounds like you've tried to quit, and that hasn't worked. Try finding a trusted adult (at home or at school) who could help you find a good treatment program in your area. You will probably be asked to go to a counselor for an assessment, and maybe a medical evaluation. Most programs will design an individualized treatment program for you. It'll be important to get the support from your non-using family members and friends, too. For more information on finding a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Good luck!
Joni Rutter: OOH, good question! I eat lots of chocolate. Chocolate contains small quantities of anandamide, a neurotransmitter (found in the brain) that is known to have a pain-relieving effect. It has been speculated that chocolate promotes and prolongs the feeling of well-being produced by anandamide. Chocolate also contains caffeine, theobromine and tryptophan. The name theobromine is taken from theobroma, which is the plant that the cocao comes from and is in the same family as caffeine. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. It is the rate-limiting step in the production of the mood-modulating neurotransmitter, serotonin. Increased serotonin function typically reduces anxiety. Yet tryptophan can normally be obtained from other sources as well; and only an unusually low-protein, high-carbohydrate meal will significantly increase its rate of intake into the brain. So, chocolate has many compounds in it, that, when pure, could be considered a drug that has abuse potential. PCP, or Phencyclidine, is also known as Angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel. It causes dissociative feelings (a mental 'departure' from reality), distorting perceptions of sight and sound and feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety). Developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic, PCP was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects. The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.0% of 12th graders had abused PCP at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
Joni Rutter: I don't know why baseball players chew tobacco. Tobacco is a stimulant; it's also a very addictive drug. Both chewing and smoking tobacco can negatively affect your body. It's hard to say which will affect your body more, because so much has to do with each person's biology and the amount they smoke or chew. But we do know the more someone uses tobacco (in any form) the greater the effects can be on their body. Baseball players might think that chewing tobacco will help them in the short run (this has not been proven at all!), but it will definitely hurt them in the long run. Overall, chewing tobacco can cause damage to gum tissue and even loss of teeth. It also reduces a person's ability to taste and smell. Most importantly, smokeless tobacco contains cancer causing-chemicals that can cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. This can even happen in very young users who chew tobacco. In fact, most people who develop these cancers used to chew tobacco. Inhaling cigarette smoke pulls more than 4,000 chemicals into a person's lungs. The most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are tar and carbon monoxide. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems; smokers are at high risk for heart disease. Whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain and increasing their chances of becoming addicted. Once addicted, it is very difficult to quit, in spite of the severe health consequences.
For more information on smoking or tobacco please go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.asp#what_is_it.
GO REDSOX!!!
Redonna Chandler: Dandango, If someone wants to quit using drugs they should talk with a teacher, doctor, guidance counselor, parent, minister, etc about their drug use and about whether they need drug treatment. Information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ .
Michelle Leff: This is a great question! I think that peer pressure is effective in helping someone who needs to get off drugs. It depends on how serious the problem is, the drug used, etc. Certainly 'peer pressure' and good friendships are a great start (and great support for recovery), but the person may need a medical evaluation and treatment, too.
Marsha Lopez: Hey, avincent, thanks for your question. The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes. In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders). About 1/4 of high school seniors reported they had used in the past month. Is that more students or fewer than you were expecting?
Underage drinking poses dangerous health risks and safety risks, including sexual risk-taking, car crashes, and unintentional injuries – either to yourself or to others. Marilyn Huestis: Hi Zombie Man,Drug users experiment with combining many different drugs to see the effects, and sometimes find mixtures that produce more potent effects. Sometimes the secret drug laboratories also combine drugs to produce potent effects. It is one of the dangers of using drugs when you don't know what is in the product, what it may have been cut with, or what other dangerous chemicals may be present. Thanks for asking.
Carol Krause: Thanks for participating!
Michelle Leff: Hi kcox14. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey 1.2% of 8th, 1.6% of 10th and 1% of 12th graders used methamphetamine in the past year.
David Shurtleff: Hi CrestwoodHow can you tell? Munchies! If the person you're referring to snacks ALL the time, that is a sure sign! Just kidding. I'm not sure if there are tale-tell signs someone is using MJ specifically (that is unless you see them doing it). The most accurate way is a urine test. With marijuana if the person is smoking heavily the urine can stay positive for a month. But people usuallly do show signs that they might be doing drugs in general, for example, they show less interest in activities, spends a lot of time sleeping, poor grooming, and poor grades, hanging out with a new crowd that uses drugs. To find out more information and what teens are thinking about MJ, click on these links: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
Jim Bjork: Adderall and Ritalin, like cocaine, are 'stimulants'- a class of drug that releases a chemical called dopamine in the mood and motivation parts of the brain. It is not generally as intense and rapid a high as cocaine, because smoked or snorted cocaine molecules get to the brain faster, while Adderall is taken orally, which reaches the brain much more slowly and in small amounts throughout the day. It might be cheaper because it is a prescription drug that could be taken out of someone's medicine cabinet and used inappropriately.
Carol Krause: Very sorry Ian---we have received more than 6000 questions and we only have 40 scientists here...our fingers are working as fast as we can... If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week. Redonna Chandler: John - tough space to be in. First, stay strong and take care of yourself. Talk to a trusted friend, parent of a friend, teacher, coach, minister, etc for support. Next, you can always try to reach out to your family members. You can listen to them discuss their drug use, including why they use drugs. You can make them aware of the negative consequences of drug use. Information on this topic can be found at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html. You can also talk to them about participating in drug treatment. Information on drug treatment can be found at:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Even if they aren't ready for drug treatment, let them know you are concerned about their health, well-being, and your family. And last but not least - don't fall into the trap of drug use yourself. As you may see, drugs have a terrible impact on your brain, body, and life.
When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Joe Frascella: Marijuana, like all drugs of abuse, directly affects the structure and function of the brain. It has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory. How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.' These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation. Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana. Smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users. This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives. There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers. Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse. Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school. Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.
Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
Bethany Deeds: Hello Martha's Vineyard Regional High School! Thanks for asking this great question. LSD (or acid) produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite. This link will connect you to more info on LSD: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/acidlsd.html
Carol Krause: Yes. Mixing drugs and alcohol can be dangerous---and mixing illicit drugs with prescription drugs can be dangerous. It is even dangeous to mix certain prescription drugs. This is why it is so important to only take prescription drugs as prescribed by your doctor, and never to mix drugs with alcohol. We have actually heard a lot about these dangers when famous celebrities die accidently---and later it is reported they mixed drugs,and sometimes alcohol, not knowing how dangerous it would be.
Aaron White: It is the alcohol itself that produces the dizziness. Alcohol affects the part of the brain that controls your balance, posture, and coordination.
Joe Frascella: Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of dopamine, a brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) associated with pleasure and movement, in the brain’s reward circuit. Certain brain cells, or neurons, use dopamine to communicate. Normally, dopamine is released by a neuron in response to a pleasurable signal (e.g., the smell of good food), and then recycled back into the cell that released it, thus shutting off the signal between neurons. Cocaine acts by preventing the dopamine from being recycled, causing excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter to build up, amplifying the message to and response of the receiving neuron, and ultimately disrupting normal communication. It is this excess of dopamine that is responsible for cocaine’s euphoric effects. With repeated use, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain’s reward system and in other brain systems as well, which may eventually lead to addiction. With repeated use, tolerance to the cocaine high also often develops. Many cocaine abusers report that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure. Some users will increase their dose in an attempt to intensify and prolong the euphoria, but this can also increase the risk of adverse psychological or physiological effects.With respect to the effects of cocaine on dendrites, there is evidence from animal studies (for example, Terry Robinson at the University of Michigan) has shown that it does affect the structure/morphology of the dendrites and dendritic spines. And there is growing evidence in human cocaine abusers that various aspects of memory and other cognitive functions are affected by cocaine use.
Hope this helps...and thanks for your interest in the brain!!!
For more information on cocaine please see: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/cocaine.php
Bethany Deeds: Hello to you --A. Robles! Thanks for taking the time to ask such a good question. Exposure to drugs can affect anyone across their lifespan, starting in utero. Effects can range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition (impaired attention, language, and learning skills, behavioral problems, etc.) have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school. Methamphetamine exposure has been associated with fetal growth restriction, decreased arousal, and poor quality of movement in infants. Here is a link to info on prenatal exposure to drugs -- marijuana is mentioned along with several other drugs: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Jim Bjork: Stop using while under the care and supervision of a physician. They are sworn to protect your confidentiality, and can keep tabs on what's going on with your body. Also, for extreme alcoholics, suddenly quitting without the aid of certain medications can be fatal, because the body and brain has adapted to all that alcohol being present all the time.
Redonna Chandler: Hey NH, If you are willing to reach out to them, and it poses no risk to you, you might try talking to them. You could listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care. I have friends who try to talk me into smoking marijuana.33% - Yes
51% - No
16% - Maybe
Marsha Lopez: That's not very nice of your family to say you're not pretty! Cigarette ads are designed to sell you cigarettes, so of course they're going to try to convince you that if you use their product your life will be perfect. In reality, smoking affects your looks in much less desirable ways. The picture below shows twins- one who smokes and one who doesn't- and I think we can all agree that the smoking twin is not aging as gracefully as her sister. Click on the link for other ways smoking will make you less pretty. There are many positive ways you can feel pretty and good about yourself, but smoking is not one of them!http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-ways-smoking-affects-looks
Aaron White: Wow, good question! I honestly am not sure about hamsters. However, I personally have given lots and lots of alcohol to rats and can tell you that rats definitely can handle more alcohol than humans without dying. Not much more, but more. Hamsters? Not sure!
Carol Krause: Hey Mr. Money...Yes---it is possible to abuse over-the-counter drugs. most commonly abused OTC drug is cough syrup that contains Dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is a drug that suppresses coughing, and can be a welcome relief on a night when coughing keeps you awake. Like many other medications, when DXM is abused—taken in high doses and for the wrong reasons—the consequences can be extremely dangerous. Named in reference to Robitussin, one of the most common cold medicines, “robotripping” describes the act of abusing cough and cold syrups by taking more than the recommended dose on the label. Someone who consumes more than the recommended amount of DXM is likely to experience hallucinations or dissociative “out of body” feelings for up to 6 hours. These side effects are similar to the hallucinations people experience when they abuse an illegal drug like PCP.But feeling detached from your body and hallucinating is just the start. Ingesting more cough syrup than recommended on the label can cause impaired motor function, numbness, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, permanent brain damage, and even death.
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Really good question. A common related question is 'Why do people try or use drugs when they know it is bad for them?' Well, there are a number of reasons why people might try drugs. Some reasonsinclude to feel good, to feel better, to do better, curiosity, and peer pressure. Unfortunately, knowing that drugs are harmful doesn't prevent people from using drugs. For more information on youth and drug use, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/. Aaron White: The ingredient that gets you drunk, alcohol, is the same in both. The only difference is that wine tends to have more alcohol in it than beer. So, a person would have to drink less wine than beer to get drunk.
Marilyn Huestis: Hello yomama,K2, spice or synthetic cannabinoids are a whole class of new emerging drugs that have similar effects to marijuana but may be much more powerful. The chemical structures for many of these drugs are different than THC, the active compound in marijuana. Since these compounds were different than THC, they were legal until the Drug Enforcement Agency identified them as illegal beginning last year. There have been many adverse effects from K2 and other synthetic cannabinoids, including reports of heart attacks, driving accidents and suicides, so the drugs were recently scheduled as illegal drugs. As far as what is in it - which can be anything - that is one of the dangerous parts of using K2. It has been shown that often, the packages do not contain what is listed, and it is impossible to know what you are taking, how much you are taking, and how you will react to what you are taking. It is dangerous to experiment with these drugs where there is no control of how the drugs are produced, and what other toxic compounds may be present.This was a great question, thank you!
Redonna Chandler: Definitely - family members are an important source of support to someone who has a drug abuse problem. You can always listen to what your family member has to say about why they use drugs. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects his body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). Even though they may not want treatment you can always tell them their health and well being are important to you and encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support for yourself. Remember, you can't make your loved one stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let him know you care. Marilyn Huestis: Thanks for your question, health212. Spice, K2 or synthetic cannabinoids are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking when you use synthetic drugs - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. They are powerful stimulant drugs that cause your heart to race have even been reported to cause heart attacks in 16 year olds. Synthetic cannabinoids can produce relaxation and euphoria, but they can also cause panic reactions, bad feelings and hallucinations. The most frightening thing is that you have no idea what you are putting into your body or how you will react. Take care of yourself.
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. The active chemical in 'shrooms' is psilocybin. This is a hallucinogen that comes from certain types of mushrooms found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. The use of psilocybin has been associated with negative physical and psychological consequences. The physical effects, which appear within 20 minutes of taking them and last approximately 6 hours, include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. The psychological side effects of psilocybin include hallucinations and an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Panic attacks may also occur, particularly with a large dose. See this link for more: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php.
David Shurtleff: Hi Crestwood!!There are lots of lovely long-term affects associated with using MJ like impaired ability to learn and remember new information, increased risk of respiratory infections, and more. MJ users are also known to be highly motivated! Not!!! In fact, there was a recent study where heavy MJ users reported less satisfaction with their life, educational and career achievement, income and more because of their drug use. Thanks for your question. Want to know more about the effects of marijuana? Check out our site - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php, http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
Michelle Leff: Daisy, this is a good question. People, of all ages, use drugs for a lot of different reasons. Some people are curious, and just want to experiment, and may be a high 'risk-taker.' Some people may feel pressured by friends or family to use drugs. Some people say that they use drugs to feel 'better' - they want to alter their mood or memories or thoughts. Some people, when they start to use drugs, have a problem with stopping their use - there may be something that makes them more susceptible to becoming addicted.Here are some statistics about drug use among teens: According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 20% of teens, aged 12 to 17, used illicit drugs in the past year.
Aaron White: Sure. For anyone, drinking enough alcohol can shut down parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive. If those areas are shut down, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. It appears this is what happened to Amy Winehouse. Based on reports in the media, she had five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her body and several empty bottles of vodka were found in her room when she died. Presumably, she drank enough alchol to shut off these vital centers in her brain and she stopped breathing.
Redonna Chandler: Sweet Sacrifice - Sounds like you think talking with your friend about their drug use will end your friendship. I don't think that necessarily has to be true. You can express your concern in a supportive and non-judgmental way. Let you friend talk about their drug use and just listen. Let them explain why they use drugs. Also, you can give them information about how drugs are harmful to their body, brain, and life. Information on this topic can be found at: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/. Finally, if they are ready you can suggest they seek professional help. They can talk to a guidance counselor, doctor, or teacher about drug treatment. Information about drug treatment can be found at: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Be sure to take care of yourself. Supporting a friend with a drug problem can be very stressful and difficult. Make sure you reach out to trusted friends, family, and other adults for support.
Jim Bjork: Yes, but only if the divorce results in less monitoring of the young person (i.e. who he or she is hanging out with and where and when). My own parents divorced when I was nine, but my mother was on my case all the time. No drugs for me!
There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Susan Weiss: Yes--one reason is that there's more people using alcohol than marijuana--probably because of its legal status for those over 21. Alcohol has known harmful effects on the teen brain and is involved in more than 40% of fatal crashes in those under 21. It is also responsible for major health problems--liver disease, cancer, and fetal alcohol syndrome. But that doesn't mean that marijuana doesn't also carry serious risks--addiction, car crashes-especially in combination with alcohol, school drop out, and mental health problems in some. For more information, check out http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
Jim Bjork: Hello Minnesota! (I'm from Minneapolis). Thanks for bringing this up, and for caring about your friend. You may want to refer your friend to this website to get the facts behind drugs and drug use: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/the-facts/get-involved. You could also refer resources for him that are anonymous - for example, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. They don't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect your friend with a professional close by. If you feel uncomfortable approaching this person about the problem but care what happens to him, you may also want to talk to your school counselor or someone else in your community who may help you to sort out how to deal with this situation.
Dave Thomas: hey wonderwoman! Good question. Both are opioids and derived from the poppy plant. They both can reduce pain and each can result in addiction. Heroin is less processed. When heroin breaks down in the body, part of what it breaks into is morphine. In the early 1800's, chemists learned how to make morphine from heroin. Morphine had some advantages in the treatment of pain and was more widely adopted as a pain killer.
Jim Bjork: Many painkillers, especially the most effective ones like Percocet, interfere with a system in the brain called the opiate system, and can indeed be addictive, or 'habit-forming' as they say in drug advertisements. This is, in my opinion, the biggest risk of taking them. Part of the problem is that the brain adapts to the medication over time, requiring more and more pills to get the same effects, which only drives the potential addiction process forward. This is why doctors usually recommend over-the-counter medications like Advil first, and only give Percocet or other potentially addictive painkillers for extreme pain, and will try to keep monitoring the patient to make sure the pill use is not escalating.
Treatment for mental illnesses include different kinds of psychotherapy and medications. It usually takes weeks or months for treatments to work so it is important to stick with it. Ruben Baler: Hei Mr Gonzales.Great question: Cannabis widens blood vessels, an effect that is called vasodilation. The eyes contain a lot of blood vessels which widen when you are stoned; hence the blood within the vessels is more visible against the white of the eye causing red-eye. When the vasodilator in marijuana is metabolized (clears from the system), the blood vessels return to normal and the red eye disappears. This cannabis-induced red eye is different from the red eye caused by inflammation, allergy or injury. The root cause of marijuana's visodaltion effect is that marijuana increases the heart rate. The heart beats faster because the pressure is lowered.
keep it safe, smart and stay healthy!!
Dave Thomas: Good question and the answer is quite complicated. Briefly, nicotine activates the brain's reward system, and over time changes it so that the person no longer feels normal without the drug.There are a couple factors that make it really hard to quit smoking. When one smokes, they get a quick spike of nicotine in thier blood. That helps make a drug more addictive. Plus the average smoker get thousands of 'hits' of nicotine each year. Increased numbers of 'hit' increases the probability of addiction, and make it harder to quit.
Jacqueline Lloyd: Good question. Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genetic makeup, the genes that make each of us who we are, and the environment we grow up in each play a role. What we do know is that a person who abuses drugs risks becoming addicted--focusing their lives on seeking and using the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences. For more information on the brain and addiction, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#addicted. Susan Weiss: It is really not the role of the State to legalize medicines--that is the role for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they have not approved marijuana to treat any medical illness at this time. That is because smoking marijuana has not been shown in rigorously conducted clinical studies to have medical benefits that exceed its risks--the same standard used to approve any medication. However, the FDA has approved certain medications that contain ingredients found in marijuana. These medications are usually prescribed to relieve symptoms in seriously ill patients, such as reducing nausea for cancer patients on chemotherapy or helping AIDS patients to eat more. Also, there is some new and exciting research looking at the biology of cannabinoids, the general class of molecules related to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. This research suggests new ways of treating pain and other illnesses without the dangers of becoming addicted or the health liabilities linked to smoking marijuana.See http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more information.
David Shurtleff: Hi North Carroll Middle,Well, the exact number is 5,126,892. If you had asked about tobacco, that number would go up. Just kidding....we don't really know exactly how many...let's just say there could potentially be a lot of them. Many drugs can be toxic to the brain. For example, using inhalants damages brain cells. Also, methamphetamine not only cause brain cells to not work properly, but can definitely 'kill' them. There's some new research that shows that some people that use methamphetamine might be more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease later in life. What's Parkinson's? It's a brain disease that occurs when dopamine neurons in the brain die. This causes a person to lose the ability to control their muscles, which will eventually make it difficult to walk, talk and more. There's so much damage that drugs can do to the brain, so why risk it? Click here for more information on drugs and how it affects the brain and body - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
Carol Krause: Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that is safe and effective against pain when used as directed by your doctor. It is part of a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain. Some people take opioids just to get 'high.' Opioids can have negative effects when abused like this. Taking a large single dose could even cause death. In fact, more people die from opioid overdoses in this country every year than from heroin and cocaine combined. Typically, they should not be used with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. Because these other substances slow breathing, their effects in combination with opioids could lead to life-threatening respiratory depression. Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Great question. This is probably more information that you want, but here you go. Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things. The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure, with dopamine carrying the message. Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This chemical flooding of the brain changes it, creating an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/. A person who has smoked marijuana may have difficulty with his or her balance because of the drug's effect on what brain area?The correct answer is: D. The cerebellum. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, and coordination during activities such as playing ball, picking up objects, and balancing. The cerebellum coordinates our voluntary muscle movement, like a puppeteer helping us put one leg in front of the other. See more at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-cerebellum/
Ruben Baler: LSD was first synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofman trying to recreate the properties of a chemical that had been previously been found in a fungus that grows on the rye grain. It was thought at some point that it could be used to treat some psychiatric conditions. But it did not pan out...
Joel Sherrill: HI Cbanda: Good question! Antidepressants, like all medications, have positive effects, but there can be some side effects, as well. On the positive side, they help people manage their depression or anxiety and feel better, in general. But sometimes people experience various side effects; different people have different experiences with side effects, even if they take the same medication. So if you are on antidepressants or are considering starting treatment, it is important to have an open conversation about different possible side effects with your doctor. If you experience side effects that are hard to tolerate, you can have a conversation with your doctor about whether a different medication might be a better fit for you.For more information about antidepressant medications, including information about positive effects and potential side effects,see this NIMH publication: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml. For lots more more information about depression, go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Aaron White: Wow, good question. But also one that is very difficult to answer. Comparing alcohol to cigarettes is like comparing apples to grapes. Both alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to the body, particularly during the teen years when the brain is still developing and changing. However, because they do different things to the body they carry very different risks. Cigarettes, for instance, produce considerable damage to the lungs and can interfere with the ability to exercise, can make asthma and allergies worse, can disrupt sleep and appetite, damage the teeth and gums, and so on. Alcohol can interfere with brain development and potentially damage the developing teen brain. Alcohol increases the risk of injuries and death. Starting to use cigarettes and alcohol during the teen years increases the chances of becoming addicted. So, while both are unhealthy for teens, they are unhealthy for different reasons.
Kate Egan works as the Communications Director at the National Institute on Mental Health. She works closely with the scientists at NIMH to find out all the interesting research they’re doing. Then she puts it into English – so people can understand it and realize how cool and remarkable it is. Making it understandable shows people how it can help them – both now and in the future. She works with journalists from all over the world so they can report on the research too. She’s part of a great team of people who create and maintain the NIMH website, shoot videos, and send out all their colorful publications. Kate grew up and now lives in the DC area, but spent 10 years in Atlanta. She likes to keep moving and can usually be found swimming, biking, kayaking and pretty much anything in the water. She’d like to install a treadmill or an elliptical machine in her office. Michelle Leff: This is an excellent question. Addiction is a chronic disease; and unfortunately, that means that sometimes there may be relapses (like a flare-up from a chronic condition) along with periods of sobriety (no use). It may mean that the person needs a more intensive type of treatment at this time, and hopefully, this may help with a longer period of recovery.
Redonna Chandler: Hey teacher in OH - I would advise your student to get professional help. Drug treatment can help him learn more about his drug use and develop the necessary skills to not use. He will also need a strong support system of non-drug using family and friends. More information on treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/And congratulations on being the kind of teacher kids will come to and discuss their drug use. You ROCK!
Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Susan Weiss: Hmmm--good question. I think there are many different drugs on the street than there used to be, so the effects we're seeing are changing. For example, so called 'designer' drugs that are made by amateur chemists and sold under the names bath salts or spice. These are variations on other drugs (marijuana and amphetamine) that have never been tested in human beings. These drugs can be very strong and may contain dangerous impurities. Reports from poison control centers are increasing, and there have already been some deaths. Another recent and serious problem concerns abuse of prescription opioid painkillers. (Abuse means taking a medication not as prescribed or a medication that was not prescribed for you). Their abuse is leading to record numbers of overdoses--more than heroin and cocaine combined. And opioid painkillers, because they work similarly to heroin in the brain, are not only causing addiction--but some people that start out abusing painkillers move on to injecting heroin--with all the problems that brings, e.g. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. It seems there are always dangerous drugs out there, so we are always working hard to find ways to help those who are already addicted, and prevent young people especially from even starting.
Aaron White: First of all, beer is a type of alcohol. It contains the same kind of alcohol, ethyl alcohol, that wine and distilled spirits contain. For adults, having one (for women) or two (for men) servings of alcohol in the form of beer, wine or distilled spirits appears to be okay. For people under 21, alcohol is not only illegal but bad for the developing brain and can increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic later in life.
Redonna Chandler: Well - I don't know but it could mean they just haven't been caught yet. Possession of illegal drugs is a risky business and why take the risk? Best thing to do is stay away from all illegal activity - including the possession of drugs. For more information on drugs see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
Bethany Deeds: Hello Again Louisiana! Angel dust refers to a drug called phencyclidine or (PCP) and brown-brown is a term the describes a form of powdered cocaine. Here is more info on cocaine from our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php and this link will connect you to PCP info: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php
Carol Krause: We might be scientists and science writers but we definitely have cool lives--have you read the bios we are posting?
Some people mistakenly believe that “everybody’s doing it” and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves. Well, they need to check the facts, because that’s just not true. According to a 2010 study, about 8% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 21%of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey. Redonna Chandler: Hank - thanks for sharing and asking this question. Helping a family member with their drug use can be difficult. Here are some things to consider. You might try listening to what your grandfather has to say about why he is using drugs. You can also encourage him to learn more about how drug use negatively affects his body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). Even though he doesn't want treatment you can always tell him his health and well being are important to you and encourage him to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your grandfather stop using drugs - you can only provide him with support and let him know you care. Dave Thomas: Marijuana contains lot's of the same nasty chemicals that are in cigarettes. However, the addictive chemical in marijuanna is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), not nicotine as in cigarettes...
Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Great question. As you probably know, the brain is the command center of your body. It controls just about everything you do, even when you are sleeping. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction. Drugs of abuse affect three primary areas of the brain:
The brain stem, which is in charge of all of the functions our body needs to stay alive and links the brain with the spinal cord to let the brain know what is happening to the body.- The limbic system, which controls our emotional responses, such as feeling pleasure when we eat chocolate.
- The cerebral cortex, which contains the frontal cortex or forebrain, and powers our ability to think, plan, solve problems, and make decisions.
Carol Krause: There are lots of dangerous ingredients in cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive, and because of the terrible health effects of long term smoking (including 440,000 deaths a year), some people would say nicotine is the most dangerous ingredient. However, the the tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birthweight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children.
Aaron White: Fortunately, 'jenkem' does not appear to be a real drug and was a hoax that circulated a few years ago. It was supposed to be a hallucinogen made from fermented human waste. Not real, though! Gross!!!!
Aaron White: No! Drinking even just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!!
Dave Thomas: It's difficult for sure. Look at how many people try to quit, time and time again. However, you can do it, for sure. As for the best method, it varies between people. My advice, keep trying, and get support from your family and friends. Here is a link with lots of useful information: www.smokefree.govQuitting will make you feel better right away, and your risks for cancer and heart disease will quickly fall back to where they would be if you never smoked.
Good luck!!!
David Shurtleff: Great Question! Drugs of abuse interact with nerve cells in the brain called Neurons. Neurons communicate with each other 24/7 to control everything we do, think, and feel. Your brain contains about 100 billion neurons—100 billion!! - that are finely-tuned to work together to transmit information and messages in response to what's going on around (and within) you. Drugs are chemicals. They work in the brain by tapping into its communication system and interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Different drugs—because of their chemical structures—work differently. In fact, some drugs can change the brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, maybe even permanently. So, in a nutshell...how do drugs affect the brain? It changegs the way it communicates and acts...it takes a well-oiled machine (your brain) and throws it off the tracks!
Carol Krause: MDMA---or Ecstasy-- is a synthetic drug that has stimulant and psychoactive properties. It is taken orally as a capsule or tablet. We do not know the full effect of ecstasy on the developing teenage brain. There is more information on Ecstasy on teens.drugabuse.gov.
Michelle Leff: This is a hard situation to be in. I think that your friend would appreciate an honest conversation with you; there are ways to discuss something like drug use without being confrontational - in fact, it'd be important to think about being very supportive and empathic. Let your friend know that you care a lot about her, and that you are here to help her. If you'd like to help her find a substance abuse treatment facility locater, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Good luck!
Redonna Chandler: Trying to decide if the crime is worth the time? Trust me it isn't. Seriously -the answer to your question is 'it depends.' The legal consequences for posession of drugs depends on the type of drug, amount of drug, and place where you are caught with the drug. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?' The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs. For more information on the consequences of drugs see: http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html.
Someone new to challenge with your great questions has just entered the Chat. Dr. Jacqueline Lloyd is a scientists who studies how to help people avoid drug use and abuse, and how to prevent drug-related HIV transmission. Before working at NIDA, Jacqueline worked as a social worker and was involved in many drug prevention trainings. Jacqueline was born in London, England, but came to the U.S. when she was 8 years old, eventually attending high school and college in Massachusetts. Even though her favorite subjects in school were Spanish and math, Jacqueline always had an interest in “prevention” science and discovering what really works to help people. One thing she enjoys about work is helping scientists develop their research ideas, and getting young people interested in science. Outside of work, Jacqueline enjoys traveling and learning new cultures, as well as bike riding, dancing (especially salsa!) and just being outdoors, especially during the summertime. Bethany Deeds: Greetings California!! One of our scientists, Dr. Joe Frascella, offers this answer: This question is complicated and the answer is not so simple. Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness and which drugs are most dangerous. There are just too many variables that would need to be considered: genetic (e.g., drug metabolism), environmental (e.g., drug availability) and developmental (e.g., age), all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.
The fact that it is almost impossible to rank drugs, does not mean that we cannot identify factors that contribute to or influence the addictiveness of a particular drug. We can offer a nice example from the world of stimulants, where different routes of administration (i.e., how you take it) can have a profound impact on the ultimate risk of harm and addiction. Smoking cocaine (crack) delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, but do not last long. The high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes. The high from snorting cocaine on the other hand comes on slower and can last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is evidence that suggests that users who smoke or inject cocaine may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves-including becoming addicted-than those who snort the substance, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.
Hope this answer helps.
Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
Jim Bjork: Many drugs or medications can be either legal or illegal depending on the SITUATION WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN. Amphetamine given to a patient by his or her licensed physician in an official prescription is legal, because things are under control, and the medication is to treat a valid, diagnosed medical condition. Amphetamine given out or sold by a private individual in a back alley is not legal in the US.
Aaron White: It's the alcohol itself. There are several types of alcohol, but the type found in the beverages people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.
Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories. It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi KarenP,Kush is a powerful form of natural marijuana, usually grown in a nutrient-rich water solution to make it more potent. Spice refers to synthetic cannabinoids that are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. Both Kush and Spice have similar effects as marijuana but usually are much stronger. The after effects of spice should be similar to those of marijuana that are poor decision making, poor learning and memory and effects on reproduction. These are effects that are shorter lasting after occasional use, but can last much longer if someone is a long term daily smoker. The drug builds up in your body with frequent use and effects can last a long time until you are able to slowly eliminate the drug from your body.
We don't have good statistics on how many people are smoking Kush or the high potency marijuana because most people don't know the potency of the drug they are using. We do know the average potency of marijuana that is seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency in the US and it is about 6-7% now, while Kush is much more potent but less available. Hope this helps.
Carol Krause: Addiction does not have to be a life sentence. It takes time to recover, and the addicted person will always have to be careful, but a person can get back to a normal life. Look at these images of the human brain and how long it takes to be normal again after drug-taking is stopped.
Abusing any type of mind-altering drug can affect judgment and inhibition and can put you at greater risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). To learn the link between drug abuse and HIV check out http://hiv.drugabuse.gov Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant that is snorted, injected, or smoked. You might be referring go cocaine's ability to make the user feel euphoric and energetic. But, cocaine also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, which is associated with severals risks. Users risk heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, abdominal pain, and nausea. In rare cases, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly afterwards. Thahks for your question. Here's a link for more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
Aaron White: No, because it is against the law for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol. Research also says no. That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects.
Ruben Baler: hi Guillermo,good timing!!!!
the summer internship program at NIH opens in November. stay tuned and visit the training website for instructions on how and when to apply:
https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip
the best of luck!!
Anto Bonci: Yes, and very badly. Please see this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
Dave Thomas: Allnewsither, drug patches are just another way to give someone a drug--through the skin, rather than in a pill, or by inhalation or injection.The nicotine patch is a good example of why patches can be an advantage. When someone smokes a cigarette, they take some 4000 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, into their lungs. With the nicotine patch, they only get the nicotine, without the risks for cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease those other chemical bring.
Another advantage of medication patches is that in some cases, they can deliver a drug more gradually and evenly than pills, injection, or inhalation. Again, the nicotine patch is a good example of why this is helpful. When someone puffs on a cigarette, they get a big hit of nicotine all at once, and that promotes addiction. When they receive nicotine through the patch, they don't get that big hit, so their addiction doesn't get promoted, but the steady dose keeps them from going into nicotine withdrawal. Over time, the lack of reinforcement can help them quit the drug altogether.
So to answer your question, drug patches are real drugs. When used appropriately under a doctor's supervision, they are generally safe and helpful. When used otherwise, they can be dangerous.
Aaron White: It's possible. Alcohol could affect growth in several ways. Alcohol alters hormone levels in the body, including levels of testosterone, which play an important role in muscle growth and in the physical changes that males go through during puberty. In females, the hormone changes can disrupt the menstrual cycle. Alcohol interferes with sleep (some people think it helps them sleep but it actually doesn't!). Because it interferes with sleep cycles, alcohol reduces the release of something called growth hormone, which plays a very big role in growth and development throughout the body.Alcohol also interferes with brain growth and development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the part of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
Marsha Lopez: Good question. Most smokers initiate smoking between the ages of 12 and 25. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 when they started smoking, the average reported age of smoking initiation was around 19 years old.
Ruben Baler: I can't really say anything conclusive about an individual case like MP's because I don't know his story. But people who do use drugs are definitely affected by them. People with mental illnesses are not “crazy” or “psycho.” Mental illnesses are real and can be treated. They are not something a person can just snap out of. A lot of people do not get help because they are embarrassed or afraid someone will make fun of them.Learn how to help a friend get help when they need it.
Marsha Lopez: Hey, wow, that's a lot on your shoulders! Smoking herb is not a recommended treatment for the ill effects of crack use, combining drugs can be very unpredictable and dangerous, so I would recommend you encourage your dad to get the help he needs so he can be around to see you grow up. You can contact the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Good luck! Carol Krause: This is a difficult question. First of all, stay true to yourself and your values. Do not let anyone suck you into the world of drugs. If you think a friend has a problem with drugs you should confide in a trusted adult. It is probably not something you can handle by yourself. People with drug problems often deny they have a problem and will argue with yout about it. Their desire for drugscan become intense and can even become more important than your friendship. It is part of the disease of addiction.
Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Redonna Chandler: Well that depends on how much marijuana you posess and where you are when you get caught with it. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?' The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs. For more information on the consequences of marijuana use see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ This is Dr. Joel Sherrill’s first Chat. He is with the National Institute on Mental Health, so if you have any questions about depression, ADHD or other issues about your feelings and behaviors, he is your man! He is a clinical psychologist who has done counseling with adults and kids, but he has spent most of his time focused on research. After growing up in Michigan, and then going to school and working in New York and Pennsylvania, he moved to the DC area, where he spends a lot of time complaining about how hot it is in the South. Before he came to NIMH, he focused on using research to develop and test interventions to help children and adults with depression and other problems. Now at NIMH, he helps researchers who are doing this kind of work at universities and other research centers all over the country. When not in the office, Joel can be found hanging out with friends or just hanging out at home reading a book or watching too much TV. Redonna Chandler: If you are willing to reach out to him and it poses no risk to you - why not? You might try listening to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care. Ruben Baler: hi there.thanks for the question
its a good one. We don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
Hope this helps.
stay smart
Aaron White: For kids under age 21, all alcohol is unhealthy - and drinking it is against the law. That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis, jaundice, fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer. For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
Anto Bonci: Drugs of abuse are harmful. They feel good because they produce release of certain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, or opioids. While a 'high' is one effect people can experience, drugs also produce a long list of BAD side effects that can result in death, coma, brain damage, stroke, hemorrage, depression, and so on, to name a few.If you are curious to know more, please see the link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
Marilyn Huestis: Hi Nebraska,Drugs have different effects on the body, but drug dependence or addiction may be similar in an individual's behavior around the time they spend getting and using the drug, and alienating family, friends, and colleagues. When addicted, an individual loses control over their drug habit - it takes over their life and becomes the most important goal, over other aspects that used to be important to them. So yes, they can have this same effect, but the areas of the brain that the drug works on and the acute and long-term effects on the body can be different. Steroids definitely can produce dependence and addiction. You can find more info on steroids and its effects on the body and brain at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php. Thanks for your question!
Joe Frascella: Great question but a very complicated one! We really don't have a definitive answer to this question yet, but there is some evidence to suggest that this might be true. What we do know is that drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior. The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome. And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/ Aaron White: Alcohol affects every organ in the body, mostly in negative ways. The pancreas is no exception. Some alcoholics develop a condition known as 'alcoholic pancreatitis', in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Approximately 50% of alcoholics who develop pancreatitis die from it within 20 years, particularly if they keep drinking. However, the length of time it takes to develop the problem is unknown as this time. Nor is it known why some alcoholics develop it while others do not.
Jim Bjork: Only medications that target certain molecules on brain cells can make you high. Not penicillin or other antibiotics for example. Certain medications, such as painkillers, CAN make you high, but carry with them a risk that you'll get hooked on them!
Ruben Baler: Hi there,heroine is actually a crude preparation of a chemical called diamorphine. Diamorphine is a narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of severe pain.
Redonna Chandler: Great question. Yes, there are things you can do to help a loved one who does not see the impact drugs are having on their life. First, you can listen to what your loved one has to say about why they are using drugs. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. If they aren't ready for help yet, don't give up. Just let them know you are there to support them whenever they decide to seek help. Finally, because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care. Inhalants can harm the brain, affecting a fatty tissue that covers nerves called:The correct answer is: A. Myelin. Inhaling fumes or markers can eat away at the myelin lining that protects nerve cells. Without this protection, nerve cells can get damaged and may be less efficient in transmitting messages to other nerve cells. This can cause muscle spasms, tremors or difficulty with basic motor skills like walking, bending, or talking. For more information, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-axon/
Aaron White: Alcohol becomes addicive primarily because affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:- Craving - a strong need to drink
- Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
- Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
- Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
You can read more about this at: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
Joe Frascella: Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs. Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, the teen brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc. Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ For information on alcohol, go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism Web site at: www.niaaa.nih.gov.
Jim Bjork: Because it IS addicting-- in some users. Scientists have some good indications of what factors in peoples' personality or their genes might help tip us off to who is most likely to go on to lose control, but this is still an area of ongoing study. Most people can stop, but a small portion can't.
Anto Bonci: This is a great question. It is in their chemical structure. Each drug is different, but if you are curious to know more, please visit our website http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html and particularly our interesting and colorful booklet, the Science of Addiction: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
Carol Krause: Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. In the early 1900s, for example, purified cocaine was the main active ingredient in most of the tonics and elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Pure cocaine was originally extracted from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which grew primarily in Peru and Bolivia. After the 1990s, and following crop reduction efforts in those countries, Colombia became the nation with the largest cultivated coca crop. Today, cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which means that it has high potential for abuse but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as local anesthesia for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries. Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder and is also known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with inert substances such as cornstarch, talcum powder, or sugar, or with active drugs such as procaine (a chemically related local anesthetic) or amphetamine (another stimulant). Some users combine cocaine with heroin—in what is termed a “speedball.” these are dangeous 'cocktails.' Cocaine produces an intense high, but it is also addictive and dangerous and most teens stay away from it.
Dave White: LitterBox Nomad, overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but you're taking a brave first step to beating it. Remember there are a lots of folks doing it every day, and when you do, studies have shown that your risks for adverse effects such a lung cancer and emphysema will drop off quickly to the levels of folks who don't smoke. To specifically answer your question, there are different kinds of help available, including medications and guidance from professional counselors. The best way to quit smoking will depend on the person. Check out this site for more information: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp.
Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Aaron White: Drinking even just a little bit of beer, or any other kind of alcoholic beverage, can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision, all necessary to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow light rather than stopping and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.
Anto Bonci: That's a great question. There are many reasons. Some people are bored, some are depressed or anxious, some use drugs to overcome a sense of void and emptiness, some take them because their friends do. No matter what is the reason, all drugs affect your brain and can make people very sick. Most regret it, sooner or later. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ for more.
Jim Bjork: Hi Calvin,Thanks for writing. Tell him that it's probably not a good idea, since he might be in the tragic portion of people who regularly use drugs who go on to totally lose control over it. Most recreational users can ultimately stop using on their own, but for those who can't, it completely ruins their lives, or puts them 'on hold' for many years until they can get it together!
Bethany Deeds: Hello to Iberia Middle School! The relationship between cocaine use and seizures is complex one. The likelihood that someone would experience a seizure can vary by frequency, mode of intake (how you do it), and the amount. Want to read more about it? Check out this link http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php Curious about it still? Why don't you become a drug researcher--you ask great questions:>
Marilyn Huestis: Thanks for this important question. Most drugs that a pregnant woman takes will pass through to the baby in varying degrees. No drugs should be taken during pregnancy unless medically necessary - a decision made between the doctor and the woman. The placenta's main function is to protect the fetus, but drugs do pass to the developing baby and can cause many problems. These drugs can affect the development of the child - in both ways that are visible at birth and ways that do not appear until much later in a child's development. Drugs can have very bad effects, like alcohol that can produce mental retardation, to other drugs that affect behavior, learning, and even drug dependence later in life. It is important to give a child the best possible start in life by avoiding drug use during pregnancy and when raising the child.
Dave Thomas: Sure. There are all sorts of chemicals. Poisons, food additives, vitamins, the list goes on and on. I am guessing you are asking more about drugs. Some drugs are medications, and when used properly should not hurt you. Medications used improperly can certainly hurt you. For example prescription pain killers used improperly kill thousands of people each year. Drugs of abuse (e.g. marijuana, LSD, cocaine…) each have a long list of negative effects on people. For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
Redonna Chandler: Yes to question 1! Yes to question 2! Drug treatment does work and some people are able to quit forever. There are different types of treatment. Medication can help some people with their drug problem. Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Ruben Baler: people cannot control their drug use (nicotine included) once they are addicted: that is the definition of addiction. Addiction is the compulsive use or the inability to control the use in spite of known catastrophic consequences. This is why you should never start, because drug use can very often spiral down to an uncontrollable addiction.
Do you have questions about the teenage brain? Ask Dr. Jim Bjork! He helps scientists who do brain imaging apply to the government for money to do their research. Before coming to NIDA, Dr. Bjork researched how typical teenagers behave in self-control tasks, and how healthy teenagers’ brains operate – especially compared to teenage children of alcoholics with and without behavioral problems. Dr Bjork has also compared teenager brains to those of typical young adults. He has studied these things to help understand why certain people may be at risk for developing a drug or alcohol problem. When he is not in his office looking at brain pictures or helping brain imaging research along, Dr. Bjork spends time with his wife and 4-year-old and 2-year-old sons – often watching or playing baseball. Once his kids are tucked in, Dr. Bjork is either playing on-line adventure games like Lord-of-the Rings Online, or is playing the saxophone professionally somewhere in the Washington, D.C., area (or at least in his basement if he doesn’t have a gig.) Anto Bonci: It is a psychostimulant that works in a similar way to amphetamine. it produces a lot of very dangerous side effects, like permanent brain damage, strokes, and even death. Please stay away from it! See http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html for more info.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Sugar Land Middle School! Thanks for asking a terrific question. Long term inhalant use has some very harmful effects to our body. It can break down myelin causing our nerve cells to not be very good at transmiting messages and can result in muscle spasms or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis (which by the way is disease that also affects myelin). They can also cause serious harm to vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. Learn more about inhalants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
Dave White: Drugs that are prescribed to you by your doctor and taken as instructed are generally safe and helpful. The same drugs taken without a doctor's prescription, or differently from the way they were prescribed, can be dangerous. Illegal drugs are all dangerous--that's the main reason why they're illegal.
Ruben Baler: hi again kayla.One of two things can happen.
You either like the experience or you don't. If you do, chances are you will want to repeat it, whcih could take you down a very long and dark life path.
Importantly, since you cannot predict your response to a drug the smart thing to do is to avoid ever trying a new drug. Don't you think?
Anto Bonci: This is a great question, but it really depends on the drug. I wish I know what drug you are referring to....
Joe Frascella: Hi Gracia, good to hear from you and good luck in your college prep course! Your question is hard to answer directly. If you mean, is eating marijuana in a brownie safer than smoking, the answer is it is safer for your lungs. For example, smoking marijuana is potentially addictive, is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other.However, keep in mind that marijuana has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory...which is not so good for college bound students like you! How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.' These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation. Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana.
People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and 25-50% of daily users. This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives. There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers. Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse. Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school. Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.
Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
Joni Rutter: Hey ZaCH! Not only may you experience loss of smell, but also a chronically runny nose, nosebleeds, hoarseness, and problems swallowing. Also, chronic users of cocaine can become malnourished due to the drug's ability to decrease appetite. But I wouldn't ingest cocaine -- period. It could cause severe bowel gangrene due to a reduction in the flow of blood to the intestines. That's nasty! If someone were to inject it, they could experience severe allergic reactions, increased risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases. For more information on cocaine, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Cocaine.html.
A 2009 study showed that 10% of high school students drove after drinking in the past month. Any kind of drug- including alcohol, can make you dangerous behind the wheel. Anto Bonci: That's a difficult question. They are all 'bad,' unfortunately, and for different reasons. For example, even though many people think it's not very dangerous, pot causes a lot of damage to your body and negatively affects memory and learning, among other things. Alcohol seems safe because a lot of people drink, but alcohol abuse and alcoholism is very common and can negatively affect a person's life, brain, and body. Cigarette smoking also seems not as dangerous as other drugs, because many people think that they can quit whenever they want. However, in reality, most people are hooked long-term, especially if they started smoking in their teens, risking lung cancer and other diseases.
- How long does it take for steriods to affect your body system?
Bethany Deeds: Bellefonte Area Middle School is the house (or I should say chat room!): Thanks for the cool question. Some people, both athletes and non-athletes, abuse anabolic steroids in an attempt to enhance performance and/or improve physical appearance. Steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles rather than continuously. “Cycling” refers to a pattern of use in which steroids are taken for periods of weeks or months, after which use is stopped for a period of time and then restarted. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids in an attempt to maximize their effectiveness, a practice referred to as “stacking.” It is difficult to give you a timeframe. It would depend on how you take them, the type of steroid, the amount of excercise you are doing, and many other factors. But the important thing to know is the medical consequences from steroids are pretty scary. Here is some info from our Mind Over Matter Series:In guys, anabolic steroids can interfere with the normal production of testosterone. They can also act directly on the testes and cause them to shrink. This can result in a lower sperm count. They can also cause an irreversible loss of scalp hair.
In girls, anabolic steroids can cause a loss of the monthly period by acting on both the hypothalamus and reproductive organs. They can also cause loss of scalp hair, growth of body and facial hair, and deepening of the voice. These changes can also be irreversible.
More info is at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
Jim Bjork: This is complicated, because evidence suggests that some brain structure/shape and functioning recovers after people stop using, but other elements of thinking well might not ever come back fully. Ecstasty is particularly scary because it can cause permanent damage to serotonin neurons that help control whether we're in a good mood. We really don't know much about how the brain recovers after long periods (like years) after people quit using. It can at least be said, that there's enough evidence of brainpower coming back after people stop using, to suggest that really, people need to stop. It can only HELP.
Redonna Chandler: Julia, tough question. I would suggest you talk with a trusted adult like a parent, teacher, coach, guidance counselor, minister. The negative impact of drugs, including marijuana, on the developing brain of adolescents is serious. No adult should be encouraging a minor to do something that would negatively impact their brain, body, and health. For more information on marijuana see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ .
Dave White: Hey there Krazy Panda,'Angel dust' or PCP is a synthetic (man-made) drug, which produces a 'dissociative' effect when taken. It can distort how you perceive sight and sound and can produce feelings of detachment (not really being there). People who take angle dust can also experience bad psychological effects such as delusions, hallucinations, and anxiety.
I have tried to help a friend stop using drugs.35% - Yes
55% - No
10% - Maybe
David Shurtleff: Great question!! this is an active area of research at NIDA. Chronic marijuana use has been associated with impairments of learning, memory, and executive functions. There was also a recent survey where heavy MJ users reported less satisfaction with their life, educational and career achievement, income and more because of their drug use. Thanks for your question. Want to know more about the effects of marijuana? Check out our site - http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
Ruben Baler: Hi Kayla,I am sorry to break this to you, but many drugs can kill you even after a single first use: alcohol, ecstasy and inhalants, for example, have been definitely linked to many deaths.
Redonna Chandler: Great question - yes, we have drug treatment for every drug of abuse. Behavioral treatments are used in the treatment of all types of drug addiction and help the addict learn to live without taking drugs. In some cases we have medications that help people stop using drugs. Currently we only have medications to treat alcohol, nicotine, and opiate addiction. But we are working really hard to develop more! For more information on drug treatment see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ .
Amy Goldstein: Hi MooMoo. Seems like you've had a rough year...and you are dealing with three significant problems - depression, cutting, and drug use. Cutting and drug use are things that teens often engage in when they are feeling pretty bad to try and make themselves feel better. PCP can effect the nervous system, but PCP use may not cause depression. Oftentimes drug use and other mental illnesses go together - a situation known as 'co-morbidity.' We do have treatments that can help you feel better and I would really encourage you to get help for yourself. If you are not sure of where to go for help, I would start by talking with a school counselor, your doctor, or another trusted adult. If you are stressed or in an immediate crisis, you can always call 1-800-273-TALK.
For more information on depression and its treatment, see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.
Joni Rutter: Hello! Thanks for your question. I'm very glad to hear that you have a smart family, since many of them have quit smoking or are in the process of quitting. For information of quitting to help your family, please see: www.smokefree.gov.Secondhand smoke can be just as bad as smoking yourself. Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco: sidestream smoke (smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar) and mainstream smoke (smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). Even though we think of these as the same, they aren't. The sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body's cells more easily. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more secondhand smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body--and they can still do damage to your brain.
Secondhand smoke can cause harm in many ways. In the United States alone, each year it is responsible for:
- An increase risk of becoming addicted
- An estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are currently non-smokers
- About 3,400 lung cancer deaths as a result of breathing secondhand smoke
- Other breathing problems in non-smokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
- 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually
- Increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
- More than 750,000 middle ear infections in children
- Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of having low birth-weight babies.
Marilyn Huestis: Hello DrugMan5000,Certainly an important question but not an easy one to answer. First, it depends on how much the drug is used. If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to eliminate the drug from your body. Cannabis or marijuana is very lipophilic and is stored in the body and takes longer to eliminate. For instance in chronic, daily marijuana smokers, it can take more than 30 days to remove the drug from your system. So the amount and frequency of a drug used are important factors. When a drug is in your brain, it can still affect you long after your last use. We have shown in our research that the effects of long-term, daily cannabis use can still stay in your body up to around 30 days after last use. So the effects of this heavy use may remain for as long as the drug stays in your system. I hope this helps!
Anto Bonci: Cocaine increases brain levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, is highly addictive, and can do serious damage to your brain and body such as brain inflammation, strokes, and so on. Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
Dave Thomas: The hallmark of these drugs, which include LSD, MDMA (methlyenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy), and PCP (phencyclidine) is causing distorted perceptions and hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there). For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
Susan Weiss: There's a long history on how marijuana became illegal. For some of this, you can check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States. But it remains illegal because of its health risks. What are the risks of marijuana? 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users. Addiction means that you can't stop using even though you want to because it's messing up your life. 2) It effects learning and memory--makes it hard to learn new things. For someone still in school or working a challenging job, it may take away your competitive edge, especially if you are using it a lot. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while your high, you can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there. This usually wears off when the drug is out of your system. But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident (14% of those who die in car accidents test positive for marijuana). 5) Its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis. By the way tobacco is also a natural plant--too bad we can't make that illegal as well--think of all the lives that could be saved and suffering that would be avoided.
We have scientists on the chat today from the National Institute on Mental Health. These super smart scientists can give you some general information about the brain and behavior--- about teens and depression and other issues, like ADHD and peer pressure. So ask away! Joni Rutter: It's bad for both. We know this because a lot of the research on drug abuse has been done in animal models under humane conditions. They aren't human, but they experience the same affects of drugs as humans do. For humans, though, there are added consequences around family, and costs associated with diseases of addiction. For more information on the medical consequences of drug abuse, please see: www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/.
Ruben Baler: I am not aware of any data to suggest that marijuana stunts growth, from either humans or animal studies.
Anto Bonci: Great question. Yes, it does. In addition cocaine produces (among many other negative effects) brain inflammation, strokes, and so on. Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
Redonna Chandler: Well that depends on how much marijuana you posess and where you are when you get caught with it. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?' The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs. For more information on the consequences of marijuana use see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ Carol Krause: Some scientists studied that exact thing many years ago---to see what they found go to this booklet and check out page 7: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
You have heard about binge drinking---but do you really know what that means? We have alcohol experts on the chat who can answer your questions about it. Anto Bonci: There are many. Examples are death, coma, convulsions, paranoia, severe depression, memory loss, and mood disturbances resembling schizophrenia. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/pcp.html for more.
Jim Bjork: Because medications usually have some side effects that could cause problems. Ritalin suppresses appetite, for example, resulting in stunted growth/height in some studies. There should be a real important biological reason (like fixing a real brain problem) to justify exposing yourself to side-effect risks.
Anto Bonci: Great question. It can badly damage your lungs in many different ways. It also contains carcinogens and it's much more dangerous than people usually think.Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
Joni Rutter: Sorry to burst your bubble, but super powers aren't real. And drug abuse can result in serious, adverse consequences -- especially in teens. Get the facts here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php. And, I'm pretty sure that toxic waste can cause cancer--but has never given anyone superpowers!! Only in the movies, Bambi.
Dave White: eigwe, marijuana can definitely impair your memory! Other negative effects include distorted perceptions of reality, an inability to think clearly, and loss of coordination. Some folks also experience increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and even panic attacks! For more information check this link out:http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi Bruce,It is believed that this is a hoax according to media. It started with a report about Zambian children using this to get high, and then spread to US students using this substance. Are you sure that the kids in your school are doing it? Pretty gross if you ask me. I don't believe that anyone has studied it to know what this can do to your brain. The substances must be volatile so maybe it has effects like other volatiles in glue and cleaners, but I don't think there is any information on this. It is frightening to think that people are doing this without knowing what it can do to your brain and future life. I wouldn't try it. Thanks for asking.
Dr. Marsha Lopez’s experience runs the gamut from preclinical behavioral pharmacology (giving cocaine to rats) to military medical surveillance, but her current focus is drug epidemiology (the incidence, distribution, or control of a disease within a population) with a specific interest in co-occurring psychiatric conditions as they relate to drug use. She has 2 kids under the age of 4 (Marco and Gigi), and a 10-year-old yellow lab (Zachy), although most of her extended family lives in Argentina. When she is not at work, she enjoys baking and cooking. Jim Bjork: Usually for depression or other mood symptoms. It's far safer, though, to get professional psychiatric treatment for what the issue is and get proper medication and follow up with a physician than to try to 'drink to forget' or use other remedies that may cause more problems to the brain long-term.
Anto Bonci: yes, it is and although many people disagree, it can be dangerous. It can affect your brain in a very subtle manner and produce serious side effects. Here's a recent booklet we updated on marijuana facts, designed for teens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
Dave White: kcsd60, this is a great question! There are already medications as well as other treatment options available to help people quit some drugs, such as opioids (eg., heroin, oxycontin), nicotine, and alcohol. However, there aren't any approved treatments for cocaine or methamphetamine (both stimulants) dependence as of yet, but scientists are working hard to find effective and safe medications for these as well. For more information on treatment research check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html. Also, if you know someone who is need of treatment, you can have them call 1-800-662-HELP.
Bethany Deeds: Hello Zombie Man! Thanks for your question. I would say that generally eating loads of cough drops would not give someone a high (plus could you imagine your breath?). There has been some research done on cough syrup. Many contain an ingredient called dextromethorphan (DXM). However, to get the 'high' or 'dissociative' state craved by people who use drugs, large quantities are needed. At high doses, DXM causes effects similar to that of the drugs ketamine or PCP by affecting similar sites in the brain. Ketamine and PCP are considered dissociative drugs, which make people feel disconnected from their normal selves. They affect memory, feelings, and thoughts. DXM is similar, and its abuse can affect control over movement, cause numbness, nausea, and vomiting, and can increase heart rate and blood pressure. As with just about everything in life zombie man--moderation is key!
Ruben Baler: I must admit I've never heard about this one before. But, according to wikipedia (for what its worth), 'brown-brown is a form of powdered cocaine cut with smokeless gunpowder, not 'blackpowder' mind you since smokeless powder contains nitrocellulose which is said to combat the negative side effects of cocaine, and is actually a drug prescribed for heart conditions. It, apparently, was reportedly given to child soldiers in West African armed conflicts'.But again, this was wikipedia. Sorry I don't have a scientifically rigorous source for you.
Redonna Chandler: Hey 9009, I've been asked that question before so fortunately I'm prepared. I tried smoking in college but absolutely HATED it. It made my breath stink, my clothes smell terrible, my nose burn - YUCK! I've also used alcohol and still drink an occassional glass of wine. But because my family is filled with people who are addicted to drugs I was always scared to try them. I witnessed first hand the terrible consequences drug addiction has on a person's life and their family. I didn't want to have to deal with all those problems so I stayed away from drugs.
Joe Frascella: Thanks for this question. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that affects both your body and brain. It can be highly addicting. Continued use can lead to cardiac problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks. It can change brain structure and how the brain functions, which can lead to aggression, violence, psychotic behavior, memory loss, and changes in your movement or motor system. Like other stimulants, meth can affect your appetite and sleep. With respect to meth being the 'worst drug', this question is complicated and the answer is not so simple. Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness and which drugs are most dangerous. There are just too many variables that would need to be considered -- for example, genetic, environmental (e.g., drug availability) and developmental (e.g., age at which the drug is abused) -- all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.
The fact that it is almost impossible to rank drugs, does not mean that we cannot identify factors that contribute to or influence the addictiveness of a particular drug. We can offer a nice example, where different routes of administration (i.e., how you take it) can have a profound impact on the ultimate risk of harm and addiction. Smoking crystal meth delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection but felt almost immediately. These effects are very intense, but do not last as long as other ways of taking it. Evidence suggests that users who smoke or inject drugs like meth may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves-including becoming addicted than those who snort the substance or take it orally, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.
Also, each person's brain is different, so it's a little like playing 'Russian Roulette' if someone chooses to use drugs. The longer someone takes drugs, the more likely that he/she will become addicted and suffer long-term, harmful brain changes.
For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html
Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine COMBINED? For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php Aaron White: For kids under age 21, all alcohol is unhealthy - and drinking it is against the law. That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis, jaundice, fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer. For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
Redonna Chandler: Tough spot. Is it possible for you to talk with your parents? Maybe they could support you and ask your uncle's partner to not smoke in your home. Also, make everyone aware of the health consequences of second hand smoke. Second hand smoke is associated with lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Each year, ~126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke and almost 50 thousand nonsmokers die from diseases caused by second hand smoke exposure. Based on these statistics I think you have the right to ensure Rodney smokes outside! Want more information on secondhand smoke? Click on:http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/tobacco.html
David Shurtleff: Thanks for the question Harrisburg High!Marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, so called 'cannabinoid receptors'. These receptors are part of a finely calibrated 'endocannabioid' system found in the brain and the body that is involved in a whole host of functions, including pain regulation, reward, metabolism, mood and even immune function (how the body protects itself from infection). Marijuana floods the system, disrupting many of the functions mentioned above. OK...let's get to the 'getting high' part...MJ use results in a rush of dopamine being released in brain areas that are important in helping us to feel pleasure. Over time, this over stimulation changes the brain in ways that can lead to addiction and to withdrawal symptoms when drug use stops.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi kjmasonhdz, thanks for your question. Kush is a powerful form of natural marijuana, usually grown in a nutrient-rich water solution to make it more potent. Spice refers to synthetic cannabinoids that are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. Both Kush and Spice have similar effects as marijuana but usually are much stronger.
Drugs hijack the brain “reward” system, causing unusually large amounts of a natural neurotransmitter to flood the brain. This neurotransmitter is calledThe correct answer is: A. Dopamine. Some drugs produce a flood of dopamine in the brain, which causes the “high” or euphoria that people experience. Continued drug use causes the dopamine system to adapt, eventually becoming less responsive to normal rewards, such as listening to your favorite music or holding hands with a new boyfriend or girlfriend. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
Dave White: Hey there, Monica! This is a good question. Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but more and more people are doing it. There are different kinds of help that are available, including medications and getting tips from professional counselors, and the most effective treatment option will vary from person to person. Check out this site for more information: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp.
Dave White: ashley, this is an important question. Some people think that a drug must be okay if doctors use it. Doctors can prescribe drugs safely because they know how the drugs work, who they can help and hurt, and how much is a safe amount. They also monitor patients during therapy to make sure problems aren't starting to happen. People who take drugs on their own usually don't know what the drugs do in their bodies, whether they have some condition that makes the drug dangrous for them, or how much is too much. By the time they know that they have a problem, it may already be serious and difficult to reverse.
People who take opiates such as oxycontin or codeine without a prescription risk addiction and, if they overdose, potentially death. These drugs also cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous when driving or in other situations that require alertness. People who take stimulants such as amphetamine without a doctor's prescription risk addiction and potentially permanent reductions their memory and thinking ability.For more information check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
Anto Bonci: There is a part of your brain called the limbic system, formed by many brain regions all connected to each other. The limbic system allows us to feel our emotions, but when people take drugs of abuse, these drugs can hijack the limbic system by releasing many chemicals, including dopamine--most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by prompting a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This creates an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our 'word of the day,' dopamine, here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-dopamine, and our easy-to-read Science of Addiction booklet for more info: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/.
Studies showed that a type of psychotherapy called cognitive therapy reduced the rate of repeated suicide attempts by 50 percent during a year of follow-up. Therapy helps people consider alternative actions when thoughts of self-harm arise. Learn more about suicide prevention here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml Wilson Compton: For some prescription medications, there are limits on how many a physician may prescribe. For the most controlled medications, the limit is generally enough to last a patient 30 days. But for some medications, there is no legal limit on the number, and physicians may prescribe a 90 day supply (or even longer).
Anto Bonci: Great question. They sure can, in many different ways. Here are just a few examples:Some drug use, like smoking cigarettes, produce many kinds of cancer; some others such as cocaine, amphetamine, and psychostimulants, can cause strokes, heart attacks, and even death. Others can cause brain hemorrage (bleeding). Drugs like alcohol can cause many kinds of negative brain effects and liver disease, if abused. So abusing any drug, legal or illegal, can certainly shorten your life.
Michelle Leff: We don't know for sure but one study found that about 34% of motor vehicle crash victims admitted to a Maryland trauma center tested positive for “drugs only'. About 16% tested positive for 'alcohol only' and of 10% tested positive for 'drugs and alcohol'. In the U.S., about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
David Shurtleff: Drugs impact the brain and behavior disrupting decision making and leading people to do things they would not normally do. Unfortunately, this includes committing suicide. Also, sometimes when people have drug problems, they feel hopeless, which could lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts. Want more information on drugs and information on getting help for someone considering suicide, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Also, we know repeated drug use is required to become addicted to a drug of abuse, but the number of times needed can vary depending on the person, their genetics and other environmental factors like friends who use drugs or stress levels, early trauma. For cigarettes (tobacco addiction), usually by the time someone smokes 100 cigarettes they are likely to be addicted, needing to smoke often and craving cigarettes when they don't. But for some though, they can smoke 100 or more and not crave or become addicted, while others smoke far fewer than that and show signs of addiction.
So again, it can vary and right now we have no way to predict for sure, but there's still a lot we don't know about why and how people get hooked on drugs. Also, just because a person doesn't get hooked doesn't mean they won't have bad reactions to a drug. So, don't just try something because you think you haven't done it enough to get hooked. ...you never know how your body (and brain) will respond to a drug...don't take the chance!
Wilson Compton: Of course not. People use drugs for many reasons, especially to get high or intoxicated, or to feel better if they have problems or are in pain. We are working to reduce the stigma associated with drug use so they will get the help they need to quit using. It doesn't have anything to do with whether or not someone is a 'good' or 'bad' person.
Dr. Dave Thomas has joined the chat. He is an expert on pain and analgesia, where he promotes the development of new pain treatments that have little potential to produce addiction. This is especially important for teens, since sometimes they take prescription pain killers without a doctor’s prescription. He also loves “cool science.” For example, he has promoted the use of virtual reality as a treatment and research tool. He also does graphic design work at NIDA and helps coordinate the Institute’s annual magnet design contest ---this year’s winning theme: “Connecting Hemispheres!” Outside of work, Dave is a pastel painter, and has shown his work at galleries in the Washington-Baltimore area. Dave loves to play Frisbee Golf at his cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania. His dogs, Rex and Zoe, love to tag along with Dave in the woods. Wilson Compton: Taking care of yourself is always a good idea. Others may not be able or willing to help but you can help yourself. Typical symptoms of addiction include:Craving - a strong need to use a drug
Loss of control - not being able to stop using once you've begun
Continuing to use even though it causes physical health, mental or social problems (like arguments or missing school/work)
Spending more and more time on drug use (either thinking about it a lot, spending time to get drugs, using drugs or recovering from use)
Tolerance - needing more and more of a drug to get high
Withdrawal - feeling bad when stopping use of drugs suddenly
At first these addiction problems are subtle and mild but they can progress. Because they progress slowly, people have a hard time recognizing the problems. That's why other people often see them first.
Good luck!
Michelle Leff: Thanks for your question. Out of the nearly 39 million people who used drugs in 2010, about 4.7 million (or 12%) were aged 12 to 17.
Bethany Deeds: Good Afternoon to Louisiana! Phencyclidine or PCP is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol and has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. PCP is a “dissociative drug,” meaning that it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self. No, it does not actually make you phsyically stronger--people under the influence of PCP may not feel pain and their perception of sensory stimuli may be altered. This link will take you to a page with more info on PCP: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/pcp.html
What does “Detoxification” mean?The correct answer is: B. A process that enables the body to rid itself of drugs. The first step in treatment is to rid the body of the abused substance; however, detoxification alone is not sufficient to prevent relapse. Detoxification should be followed by treatment--behavioral (talk therapies); medications (e.g., nicotine replacement for smoking; the medication suboxone for opioids); or both. Detoxification may require physician supervision to minimize dangerous or painful symptoms - especially for drugs such as sedatives or opiates. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
Redonna Chandler: I am so glad someone asked this question. Drug treatment is extremely effective. In fact, the treatment of drug addiction is as effective as the treatment for other chronic relapsing conditions like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Relapse - or the return to drug use - means a person needs more drug treatment, not that drug treatment isn't effective. Just like when my grandmother's blood sugar goes up she needs more treatment for her diabetes. Unfortuantely stories about celebrities struggles with addiction can make it seem like treatment doesn't work. But, remember there are lots of drug treatment success stories - they just aren't on People, US Weekly, Entertainment Tonight, FB, Twitter, etc. For more information about drug treatement see: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Joni Rutter: I am doing this because I think it's fun--I am not forced. I'm not chained to the desk...in a cold dark room...all alone....really! I am sitting in a well-lit room with about 30 of my colleagues, and we are all answering questions from around the country. It's cool. I look forward to doing this all day and in many years to come. Thanks to you and your school for participating!!
Aaron White: No, alcohol does not help the body get rid of kidney stones. In terms of pain relief, there are far better options!
Aaron White: Wow, what a scary thing to go through. It is important to find an adult that you trust - like a teacher, friend, family member, school nurse, or pediatrician - and talk with them about this. Here's a way to find treatment centers in your area. http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ If you feel you are having any kind of crisis, you can call this hotline for help: 1-800-273-TALK.
Marilyn Huestis: Hi simplyme,Just smoking marijuana alone can affect your reproductive system - marijuana can affect the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg, and also the fertilized egg's ability to implant in the uterus. Marijuana also disrupts hormone release that can affect fertility. Anti-depressants cover a large number of drugs of which each may have different effects on reproduction, but generally anti-depressants are not known to have major effects on reproduction. In fact, anti-depressants that are prescribed by a physician may help many people function better in life and live happier lives. Interactions between marijuana and anti-depressants are not too common. So the major issue is the effects of marijuana, which I mentioned above. Of course it is always better to avoid taking any drugs while pregnant except those that are medically necessary. It is always important to get as much information as possible before you make the decision to take any drug. Thanks for your question!
Between 2001 and 2005, 1,227 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related homicides. Anto Bonci: Great question. Just stay away from drugs. Both my parents were smokers and I hated it! This is why I always stayed away from smoking.
Susan Weiss: Yes--one reason is that there's more people using alcohol than marijuana--probably because of its legal status for those over 21. Alcohol has known harmful effects on the teen brain and is involved in more than 40% of fatal crashes in those under 21. It is also responsible for major health problems--liver disease, cancer, and fetal alcohol syndrome. But that doesn't mean that marijuana doesn't also carry serious risks--addiction, car crashes-especially in combination with alcohol, school drop out, and mental health problems in some.
Bethany Deeds: Hello to Iberia Middle School! I'm guessing you are talking about black tar heroin? It has a consistency that depends on manufacturing methods, cutting agents, moisture levels, etc. Users who intravenously inject black tar heroin are at high risk of venous sclerosis-- a condition where the veins harden and narrow. The use of heroin (like other illicit drugs) can have serious negative effects on your physical health, particularly your heart and cardiovascular system. Heroin is an opiate. Check this link to info about opiates on our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_opi1.php and thisnext link will connect you to info on heroin that appears on our regular web site: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/heroin.html
Anto Bonci: Great question. It has been shown by imaging studies, where pictures of people's brain were taken. Images from controls (non-cocaine users) and images from people that took cocaine were compared. That is how the damage was seen. What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use?
Brain images showing decreased dopamine (D2) receptors in the brain of a person addicted to cocaine versus a nondrug user. The dopamine system is important for conditioning and motivation, and alterations such as this are likely responsible, in part, for the diminished sensitivity to natural rewards that develops with addiction.
Joni Rutter: Hi, superawesomeguy. Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. Marijuana can alter your brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--you run the risk of doing something dangerous when high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having your grades drop, or seeing your athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term you also risk becoming addicted. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. Resulting in not so much of a super awesome guy, I'd say.You can read more about marijuana at http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.asp.
Ruben Baler: Good question, and we don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.Hope this helps.
stay smart
David Shurtleff: It definitely can! Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC a known psychoactive ingredient in MJ causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation, THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. Research has shown that marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. So, unfortunately, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Not surprisingly, evidence suggests that, compared with their nonsmoking peers, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. MJ use is associated consistently with reduced educational attainment (e.g., grades and chances of graduating).
Ruben Baler: It must be a cultural thing, I guess.Many people mistakenly think that doing drugs is cool, and being cool is very important for a rapper's image.
What do you think?
When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! Wilson Compton: Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease (one that requires sexual contact to be infected) with painful blister lesions in the genital areas. However, many people with genital herpes infection do not know they have it. - You can get genital herpes even if your partner shows no signs of the infection.
- If you have any symptoms (like a sore on your genitals, especially one that periodically recurs) laboratory tests can help determine if you have genital herpes.
- There is no cure for herpes, but treatment is available to reduce symptoms and decrease the risk of transmission to a partner.
Michelle Leff: Realizing that there is a problem and you need help is a big step. Good for you! You may (if you are of legal age) be able to seek substance abuse treatment by yourself. However, any kind of treatment would be more successful if you had the support of responsible, trusted adults and friends. Below is a link that lists treatment centers in Minnesota. Good luck!http://www.theagapecenter.com/Treatment-Centers/Minnesota.htm
Ruben Baler: Absolutely. Physical exercise is one of the easiest and most beneficial natural highs.Regular exercise is known to release endorphins, which can trigger this natural feeling of well being and also BDNF in the brain, a molecule that has been shown to protect your brain.
good question!!
Aaron White: Brain ProblemsThe teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.
Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Body
Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.
For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).
Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.
If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, which basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.
A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function.
Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune