Facts you should know!
Alcohol
How it works:
Absorbed into the bloodstream mostly through the small intestine; acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
How it feels:
Initial "high," leading to
relaxation, loss of inhibitions.
How it hurts:
Increased depression; long-term
abuse linked with nutrition-related diseases; can
lead to brain disorders, cirrhosis, birth defects
How to get help:
National Council of
Alcoholism, 1-800-622-2255.
Cocaine
How it works: Blocks dopamine uptake in
brain's neurotransmitters, stimulating "pleasure
nerves"
How it feels:
Rush of euphoria, energy,
confidence, talkativeness, followed by a "low";
suppressed pain and appetite
How it hurts:
Increase heartbeat, respiration,
depression, paranoia; can induce heart attack,
stroke, psychosis, coma
How to get help:
Psychiatric Institutes of
America, 1-800-COCAINE
Drug Abbuse Facts
Brought to you as an educational
program
service of the
Youth Development Fund, Inc.
http://www.youthdevelopmentfund.org
8 Canberra Drive
Knoxville,
TN 37923
(865) 690-8521
email: boweenie@yahoo.com
Home Page
Website Hosting |
|
Nicotine
How it works:
Alters availability of
chemicalinvolved in feelings of reward and wellbeing;
stimulates cardiovascular system
How it feels: Simultaneously arouses and
relaxes; induces sense of well-being and calm
How it hurts: Some say not addictive; others say
smokers feel increased craving for cigarettes,
resulting in emphysema, lung cancer, heart
disease.
How to get help: American Cancer Society, 1-
800-227-2345.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF
YOU'RE HOOKED?
Adapted from the National Council on
Alcoholism's self-test, the following
questions are designed to point up
systems of both drug abuse and
alcoholism."Yes" answers suggest that
you may need help.
- Do you sometimes binge on alcohol and
drugs?
- Do more people seem to be treating you
unfairly without good reason?
- Do you try to avoid family or friends
while you are drinking or using drugs?
- Are you secretly irritated when family of
friends discuss your drinking or drug use?
- Do you sometimes feel guilty about your
drinking or drug use?
- Do you often regret the things you have
done or said when drunk or high?
- Have you often failed to keep promises
you have made to yourself about
controlling or cutting down your drinking
or drug use?
- Do you eat very little or irregularly when
you are drinking or getting high?
- Do you feel low after indulging, and aomstimes miss work or appointments?
- Do you use more and more to get drunk or
high?
|