WORDS TO KNOW

Addiction: Physical or psychological need for drug or other substance.

Drug: Any substance that causes a change in the function of the body or mind.

Drug Abuse: Using a drug in a way not intended. Illegal drugs, prescription drugs and over the counter medications can be abused.

Drug Dependence: Over time the user’s body begins to need the drug to feel normal.

Medicine: A drug used to treat or prevent illness or disease.

Over-the-Counter(OTC): Medicines you can buy at a pharmacy or store without a prescription. Example would be aspirin.

Prescriptions: Drugs that are prescribed by a doctor to treat pain or other health problems.

Side Effect: Any effect caused by a drug that is different from the drug’s intended effect.

Withdrawl: Symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, shaking and nausea that occur when the use of a drug is stopped.

Overdose: Taking too much of a drug can cause sickness, loss of consciousness, or death.

Tolerance: Body gets use to the substance, so you need to use more to feel the same effect.

Alcohol: The drug in wine, beer and liquor that causes intoxication. Alcohol is considered a drug because it causes a change in a person’s physical and emotional state.

Amphetimine: Stimulant drug produced in laboratories.

Club Drugs: These drugs are most often found at parties, clubs, raves and concerts. They include date rape rate drugs, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and LSD. All of these drugs cause serious damage to your body. The strength and quality are unpredictable, so club drugs can have unexpected results. These drugs have a big effect on your mind and cause you to make poor decisions.

Cocaine: A white powder that is snorted or injected. Cocaine is a stimulant that give the temporary feeling of endless energy and then can leave the user feeling low, depressed and wanting more.

Date Rape Drugs: Date rape drugs such as Rohypnol are most commonly used to sexually assault a person. The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, and are easily added to drinks without the victim’s knowledge. These drugs usually cause a person to become physically helpless – they can hardly move and are not able to protect themselves from being hurt. The victim can not remember anything that happened to them while they were under the effect of the drug.

Depressants: A highly addictive and powerful drug that slows you down. Depressants produce relaxation in low doses. Higher doses produce intoxication, impaired judgement and coordination. Alcohol is an example of a depressant drug.

Ecstasy: The most commonly abused club drug. Ecstasy has both hallucinogenic and stimulant effects.

Hallucinogens: Alter a person’s perception of reality. LSD is an example of a hallucinogen.

Hangover: A set of uncomfortable physical effects that are caused by excessive alcohol.

Heroin: Highly addictive narcotic drug.

Inhalant: Drugs that are inhaled as vapors. Inhalants are common household items such as glue and paint thinner. They act as a depressant to produce feelings of euphoria, and light-headedness. They also slow down body functions, such as breathing. Their use can result in brain damage, asphyxiation, and death.

Intoxication: The physical and mental changes produced by drinking alcohol.

Injection: A method of administering a substance such as a drug into the skin, or muscle using a needle.

LSD: Hallucinogen drug that can increase energy, alter mood, and create strange thoughts and sensations.

Marijuana: The dried flowers and leaves from the Cannabis plant. The active chemical in marijuana is THC, which can be detected in the urine up to several weeks after use.

Narcotics: This class of drugs is very effective in reducing or relieving physical and emotional pain.

Nicotine: The addictive drug in tobacco.

Peer Pressure: Influence that friends have on each other. Peer pressure can be a positive or negative influence.

Stimulants: Drugs that speed up the central nervous system. Stimulants can reduce hunger and increase alertness. Stimulants include cocaine and ritalin.