SUBSTAN

CE ABUSE
GROUP

OBJECTIVE 4.1

Define drug abuse

WHAT ARE DRUGS?

A drug is any substance other than food
that when inhaled, injected, smoked or
introduced into the body otherwise causes
physiological change.

DRUG ABUSE
This is the misuse or exploitation of illicit,
prescription and over the counter drugs

LEGAL DRUGS

Viagra- used to treat

impotence
Oxycontin- used to relieve
moderate to severe pain

LEGAL DRUGS CONTD

Xanax- used to treat anxiety
Morphine- used to relieve pain

LEGAL DRUGS CONTD

Cigarettes- contains nicotine
which is used for relaxation, to
alter mood
Alcohol- used to relieve anxiety
Caffeine- increases alertness,
gives a temporary energy boost

MARIJUANA
Legal in some countries
Contains THC
(tetrahydrocannabinol)
Used to treat glaucoma, anxiety and
relieve pain

ILLEGAL DRUGS
Cocaine- used for alertness,
euphoria and energy and as an
anesthetic in surgeries
Heroin- used for euphoria and a
pain killer
Ecstasy- alters perception

OBJECTIVE 4.2

Distinguish between physical and

psychological dependence

HOW DO DRUGS AFFECT US?

Their structure allows them to:
Carry out the function of our natural
neurotransmitters or receptors
Depending on the type of drug they will:
Inhibit the function of the neurotransmitter
that they have replaced
Speed up and/or increase the amount of
messages being sent to the brain
Slow down and/or decrease the amount

TOLERANCE

This refers to the bodys ability to

adjust to the presence of a drug.
The higher the tolerance, the greater
the dependence
NB: You do not need to be addicted
to a substance to develop a
dependency on it

PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE

This occurs as a result of the bodys

tolerance of a drug causing withdrawal
symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur
as the body readjusts to the changes in
the structure of the neurons in the body
and the absence of the drug

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE
This occurs as a result of the
readjustment to the structure of
neurons in the brain and a tolerated
drugs absence manifesting itself as
a craving.

DIFFERENCES
Psychological dependence deals
primarily with the brain and occurs
without withdrawal symptoms, it
only affects the emotions and
mentality of the user while physical
dependence deals with changes in
the bodys physiology resulting in

OBJECTIVE 4.3

Discuss the short term and long

term effects of alcohol on the
liver and nervous system

SHORT TERM EFFECTS ON THE

NERVOUS
Alcohol passes
easily into the
SYSTEM

bloodstream from the stomach through

diffusion therefore some effects are felt
shortly after drinking
It mainly affects the GABA and glutamate
neurotransmitters
In small dosages alcohol acts as a
stimulant while in large dosages alcohol
acts as a depressant

SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Small doses causes:
Relaxing effect
Poor concentration
Slow reflexes
Reduced coordination
Sensations and perceptions to be less clear

SHORT TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Medium doses:
Slurred speech
Change in sleeping patterns
Mood swings
High doses:
Coma
Death by asphyxiation
Inability to wake up

ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECT ON DOPAMINE

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is
responsible for feelings of pleasure,
inhibitions, motivation and addiction
Small doses of alcohol increases the
production of dopamine and the number
of transporters, therefore providing more
pleasure
Large doses results in lowered inhibitions

MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL AND COCAINE USER

THE ROLES OF THE LIVER

INCLUDES:
Detoxification
Processing of nutrients from food

DETOXIFICATION
Alcohol (ethanol) when ingested is toxic to the body therefore it is converted
to
a less toxic substance by the liver cells (hepatocytes)
Here are two ways ethanol can be detoxified in the liver:
1. ethanol

acetic acid
(ethanoic acid)

acetate
(ethanoate)

ethanol dehydrogenase
2. ethanol
acetate

aldehyde dehydrogenase
ethanal
CH3CHO)

NAD+

NADH

SHORT TERM EFFECTS ON THE LIVER

Fatty liver disease (or hepatic steatosis) - is a reversible
condition in which fat harbors 5 to 10 percent of the liver
When alcohol is drunk, the liver has to detoxify it therefore
the liver is diverted from its function to break down fats
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme
and an oxidizing agent in the detoxification process of
alcohol and in the process is reduced to NADH. However,
NADH cannot oxidize the fatty acids within the liver
therefore it accumulates inside of the hepatocytes

HEPATITIS
This is a condition in which the
extensive use of alcohol causes
the liver cells to become inflamed
It is reversible if user practices
abstinence

SYMPTOMS
Fatigue
Yellowing of skin (jaundice)
Weight loss

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON

Cirrhosis- this is an irreversible condition
THE
LIVER
in which
the liver cells have become
fibrotic (thickened with protein) and
permanently scarred.
It occurs after the hepatocytes have
been constantly injured (fatty liver) and
inflamed (hepatisis). They secrete a
chemical to activate the stellate cells
(cells that carry out fibrosis in the
nodules) which then produces collagen
which forms the scar tissue
However, the constant injury causes a
build up of scar tissue since the
hepatocytes are not being healed thus

LIVER CANCER

When ethanol is converted to the carcinogenic

chemical ,ethanal (acetaldehyde), it can
damage the DNA structure, its repairing ability
as well as liver cells. This causes the liver cells
to easily produce the mutated DNA allowing
the cancer to grow and develop.

LONG TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Impaired nervous transmission
Demyelination
Dehydration of brain cells

IMPAIRED NERVOUS SYSTEM

Excessive alcohol can result in the permanent damage
of neurons resulting in alcoholic neuropathy since it is
toxic to the nerve tissue.
Alcohol reduces levels of thiamine,folate,niacin,vitamin
B6 and vitamin B12 which are needed for peripheral
nerves(neurons that transmit signals to the brain,
spinal cord and body) to function

DEMYELINATION
This is a neurological disease in
which the myelin sheath
malfunctions due to damage
and inflammation.
The myelin sheath is a layer
covering the axon whose role is
to insulate and speed up the
transmission of impulses
through the neuron.

 Alcohol abuse leads to liver damage which in turns contributes to the

demyelinating condition called central pontine myelinolysis (CPM).
CPM is said to be caused by the rapid shift of water from the brain cells due
to a rapid increase in sodium levels

Sodium is an electrolyte
which is used to regulate
fluids within the body
Hyponatremia (a
condition where sodium
levels are low)alcoholism can lead to
this since it:
Increases urination
Causes vomiting
Causes cirrhosis

SYMPTOMS
Tremors
Speech problems-(becomes
slowed and uncoordinated)
Muscle weakness
Seizures
Difficulty swallowing

DEHYDRATION OF BRAIN CELLS

Alcohol can cause dehydration by
Reducing or suppressing the production of
ADH- this results in increased urination
Vomiting
Signs of dehydration:
Dry mouth
Thirst
dizziness

EFFECTS OF DEHYDRATION
Dehydration can
permanently damage brain
cells or impair their function
resulting in:
Dementia- affects memory,
reasoning and causes
personality disorders
Korsakoffs psychosis
Coma and death

OBJECTIVE 4.4

Discuss the social

consequences of excessive
alcohol use

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE:

Drinking and driving

Aggressive behavior
Intra-family violence
Family breakdown
Petty crime

UNIT OF ALCOHOL
This is used to determine the amount of
ethanol there is in an alcoholic beverage
and how much is metabolized by the
body.
1 unit of alcohol= 8g or 10ml
Unit= ABV * volume of drink(ml)/1000

DAILY ALCOHOL LIMITS (DAL) FOR DRIVING

Countries

Blood limits(%) Breathe limits(%)

Jamaica

0.80

0.35

Barbados
Cuba

0
0

0
0

Most Caribbean countries

0.08

0.08

USA

0.80

0.35

In Jamaica this means, 3 standard drinks of beer(12

ounces)or 15 ounces of wine or 4-5 ounces of distilled
spirits
2-4 units of alcohol is the accepted as the safe limit for
the average person, or 20-40 ml alcohol, or 1 glass of
wine or 1 pint of beer or 1 measure of spirits

OBJECTIVE 4.5

describe the effects of the components

of cigarette smoke on the respiratory and
cardiovascular systems

PASSIVE SMOKING
Also called second-hand smoke refers to
the inhalation of smoke by people within
the environment of a smoker

EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Tar- black, sticky carcinogenic particles:

They damage the cilia lining the trachea

The tar irritates the mucus lining in the
bronchi and bronchioles stimulating the
secretion of more mucus by the goblet cells
and mucus glands to multiply (hyperplasia)
to produce more mucus creating a blockage

EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
The bronchi and bronchioles are
more susceptible to infections
resulting in further inflammation
The damaged epithelial cells (cilia)
form scar tissue which leads to
further narrowing of the airways
lining. The irritation and damage is
known as to chronic bronchitis.
This results in smokers cough,

EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON THE

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
When tar covers the alveoli
lining it stimulates neutrophils (a
type of white blood cell) to
release the enzyme elastase
which results in the deterioration
of the alveoli wall
This reduces the surface area for
gaseous exchange, the number
of capillaries and creates larger
air spaces resulting in a
reduction in oxygen uptake

LUNG CANCER
Tar is carcinogenic, which
means that it can cause
mutation in the DNA of the
epithelial cells and results in the
abnormal growth of cells to form
tumors.
The tumor becomes malignant
when it enters the blood stream
and lymphatic system and
spread secondary tumors
around the organ and other
areas of the body

EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON THE

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Nicotine:
It diffuses into the blood stream which
stimulates the release of adrenaline and
noradrenaline from the adrenal glands which
increases the heart rate, breathing rate and
blood pressure. This places stress on the heart
muscle to provide oxygen which increases the
risk on heart attack and aneurysm

EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
As a vasoconstrictor nicotine causes the walls of
the arteries to contract. It then becomes difficult to
pump blood through a smaller lumen, therefore it
decreases blood flow to the body causing peripheral
artery disease and increases blood pressure
increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke
It damages the endothelium of the arterial wall and
increase levels in LDLs which leads to plaque
formation and atherosclerosis

 It increases the production of the protein

fibrinogen which causes blood clots to
form. The blood clots further reduce or
totally block blood flow causing memory
loss

EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Carbon dioxide- toxic gas

binds with haemoglobin forming
carboxyhaemoglobin since haemoglobin
has a higher affinity for CO than O
which reduces oxygen availability for
the body

EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON THE

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
The reduction of oxygen to the body
caused by vasoconstriction and the
carbon monoxide results in the bone
marrow increasing the production of
erythrocytes
The increase in the amount of
erythrocytes and blood clots in the blood
causes the blood viscosity to increase

THE END!