Drug Abuse |
Researched by Jennifer P. 2008-09
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Drug Abuse
Dedication
I
would like to dedicate my project to Mike Costello, Shelly Costello and
Jeff Pelzel because they helped me edit my report and they kept me on
track the entire way. Some of the people that helped me have
professional experience in the drug world.
Why I Chose This Topic
I
chose to do Drug Abuse because I heard that a lot of people were using
illegal drugs so I wanted to learn more about them. Also, my step-dad
is a police officer who works for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and
so is his friend, Phil Posada. I also visited the Yakima Police Station
last year with my step-dad and he told me that most of the people that
are in jail were there because of crimes they committed due to drugs.
Introduction
I
am doing my project on drug abuse. There are over 1 million good and
bad drugs in the world. Despite whether or not the drug is good,
people get addicted to different types of drugs in different ways. Drug
abuse can sometimes lead to death. Certain drugs can even lead to
hallucinations. Still, people get addicted to certain drugs on
their first time trying the drug.
Why do people use drugs in the first place?
People
use drugs because they enjoy the effect they have on their brain. Many
drug users use drugs to escape pain or fit in. Some take them because
they think it helps boredom, for curiosity or to relax. Others take
them because they want to do what friends are doing. One change drugs
cause in the brain involves the rise of certain levels of some
neurotransmitters, which makes them feel good. The rise of some
neurotransmitters may feel like getting a kiss, eating your favorite
ice cream or getting a compliment.
Drug Abuse and Addiction
People
who suffer emotionally use drugs to feel better about themselves.
“Drug abuse or substance abuse involves the repeated and excessive use
of prescription or street drugs. In one way or another almost all drugs
over stimulate the pressure center of the brain flooding it with
neurotransmitter dopamine which produces euphoria.” This feeling can be
so compelling that the brain will want more and more of it. “ These
drugs cause increased energy, rapid heart rate and elevated blood
pressure.”
Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse
The
results of a study in 2006 showed that about 1.2 million people between
the ages of 12-17 smoked cigarettes, 631,000 people drank alcohol and
586,000 in this age range smoked marijuana. At the same time, ages
12-17, 49,000 people used inhalants. One hundred twenty seven thousand
others used ecstasy and other drugs. Also 13,000 people had tried
cocaine but the least amount of people had done heroin. On an average
day, 8,000 kids drink alcohol for the first time ever, 4,000 smoke a
cigarette for the first time, 3,600 smoke marijuana for their first
time and 2,500 used pain relievers for non-medical uses.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
is related to amphetamine but methamphetamine is much more toxic to the
nervous system and has a very high potential for abuse and addiction.
Speed, Meth, Chalk, Ice, Crystal, Glass, Crack, Fire, Croak, Crypto,
and White Cross are the street names for methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine increases wakefulness, physical activity and it makes
you eat less than normal. Long-term use may lead to stroke,
hallucinations, and possibly psychotic behavior. The National Survey on
Drug Use and Health found that in 2006, 1.9 million people age 12 and
up had abused Meth at least once in their life. Also Monitoring the
Future Study found that in 2007, 1.1% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th
graders and 1.7% of 12th graders had at least abused Meth once.
Cocaine
Cocaine
is very addictive. It can be used by snorting, sniffing or injecting
when dissolved into water. It can also be smoked. Coke, Snow, Flake,
Blow, Crack, Rock, Nose Candy, Big C, Lady-White and Snowbirds are
street names for cocaine. Severe effects are usually heart attacks,
strokes, seizures and respiratory failure. In rare cases people die the
first time they ever use cocaine. The National Survey on Drug Use and
Health found in 2006 that six million Americans 12 and up had at least
abused crack cocaine once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007
2.0% of 8th graders, 3.4% of 10th graders and 5.2% of 12th graders had
abused cocaine once.
Inhalants
Inhalants
are sniffed and inhaled to get high. All are toxic. Some of the
inhalants are common household items with volatile solvents or aerosols
in the product itself. Whippets, Laughing gas, Poppers, Snappers,
Nitrous oxide, Solvents, Cleaning fluids and Aerosol sprays are the
street names for inhalants. If inhaled too much, it can lead to
unconsciousness or even death. Monitoring the Future Study found that
in 2007, 3.7% of 12th graders, 6.6% of 10th graders and 8.3% of 8th
graders abused inhalants at least once.
Heroin
Heroin
can be injected, smoked or snorted. It is processed from opium and
mostly seen as a brown or white powder. Smack, H, Ska, Horse, China
White, Brown Sugar, Black Tar, Dope and Mud are the street names for
Heroin. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2006
560,000 Americans, 12 and older had abused heroin at least once.
Monitoring the Future Study found that in 2007 0.8% of 8th graders
abused Heroin at least once.
Marijuana
Marijuana
can be smoked or eaten. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC.
Pot, Ganja, Weed, Grass, Smoke, Hash, Hash oil, Mary Jane, Herb, Skunk,
Hif, Gangster, 420, Chronic, Aunt Mary, Boom and Sinsemilla are the
street names for Marijuana. Some effects include memory loss and
difficulty solving problems. National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health
found in 2006 that 25 million Americans 12 and under abused marijuana
at least once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007 24.6% of 10th
graders 31.7% of 12th graders and 10.3% of 8th graders abused marijuana
at least once.
LSD/ACID
LSD
can be put into eyes if it is a liquid. It is the most common
hallucinogen and designs that look like cartoon characters can be sold
in tablet form. Acid, Blotter, Microdot, Tabs, Doses, Trips, Hits, and
Sugar cubes are the street names for LSD/ACID. Some effects are
sleeplessness, loss of appetite, increased body temperature, heart rate
and even high blood pressure. National Survey on Drug use and Health
found that in 2006, 666,000 Americans 12 and up had at least abuse
LSD/ACID once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007 1.1% of 8th
graders, 1.9% of 10th graders and 2.1% of 12th graders have at least
abused LSD/ACID once.
PCP/Phencyclidine
PCP
can be smoked, snorted, or injected. It can be sold in tablets,
capsules or colored powder. Angel Dust, Ozone, Wack, Peace Pill,
Elephant tranquilizer, Dust and Rocket fuel are the street names for
PCP (Phencyclidine). A lot of people come to emergency rooms because of
PCP. An overdose can make them very, very violent and or suicidal.
National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2006, 187,000
Americans 12 and up had at least abused PCP once. Monitoring the Future
Study found that in 2007, 0.9% of 12th graders had at least abused PCP
once. They don’t measure PCP with 8th graders and 10th graders.
Conclusion
As
you can see, marijuana, LSD/ACID, PCP, Methamphetamine, Inhalants,
Heroin and Cocaine can changes people’s lives every day. Imagine if we
didn’t have illegal drugs; our world would be a much better place.
Drugs are very dangerous so be safe and don’t do drugs!
How I Evaluate My Entire Project
(1) How thorough and complete was my project? It
was very thorough and complete. I had mostly all paragraphs with 6
sentences. I also thought my graphs paragraphs were very thorough.
(2) What would I do differently if starting over again? I wouldn’t do anything differently because I was on track the entire time. I finished my report on time and my pamphlet.
(3) What major strengths does my project have? My products are my major strengths. They look good and are full of information.
(4) What weaknesses or problems does my project have? No weaknesses. I thought that my products were thorough and so was my report and display.
(5) What did I learn to do better during this project? How to type and how to be on time with everything I do. Everything I did was on time when it needed to be.
(6) In what ways did I enjoy my study and work? I enjoyed all of it. The planning great, the report was fun to type and doing my display was fun.
Who Helped Me With My Project
I
would like to thank the following people, Shelly Costello, Mike
Costello, Jeff Pelzel, Phil Posada, Mrs. Heitman and Mrs. Goodpaster
because they all helped me with my project this year and they supported
me the entire way.
Who I Interviewed And What I Learned
I
interviewed Phil Posada at the Yakima Police Department. We met on
November 28th, 2008. I chose Phil Posada because he works in the DEA
(Drug Enforcement Agency). He told me that the youngest person he has
ever met that has been on drugs was eight years old. He said that if
you have used drugs before, you cannot work in the drug unit. He
also told me that he
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The Products I Created
I
created a pamphlet and a buzzer board. A pamphlet is a product that can
have facts and games. It should have the name of your topic, a picture,
your name, SOAR and the year. A buzzer board is 10 questions about your
topic and when you are done with the questions you then glue them on.
Then you tape tin foil to the correct answers on the other side. Then
punch a hole by the question and answer and it will have the title and
created by, year, SOAR and name.
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Bibliography
Author unknown.“Cocaine.”October 19th, 2008. http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Cocaine.html.
Author unknown. “Drug Abuse and addiction.” September 25, 2008. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/drug _substance_abuse_addiction_signs-effects_treatment.htm.
Author unknown. “Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse.”October 2nd, 2008. http://www.focusas.com/SubstanceAbuse.html.
Department of Education. “Growing Up Drug Free.” United States of America: Department of education, 2005. Pp. 34, 36-39.
Author unknown. “Heroin”. October 19th, 2008. http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Heroin.html.
Author unknown. “Inhalants.” October 19th, 2008. http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html.
Author unknown. “LSD/ACID.” October 19th, 2008. http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html.
Author unknown. “Marijuana.” October 19th, 2008. http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
Author unknown. “Methamphetamine.” October 18th, 2008. http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetime.html.
Author unknown. “PCP/Phencyclidine.” October 19th, 2008. http://www.nida.nih/DrugPages/PCP.html.
Author unknown. “Why do people take drugs in the drugs in the first place.” October 4th, 2008. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/closetohome/science/html/whydrugs.html
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