Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

9th Grade Course Outline

  • Define drug use, misuse, and abuse
  • Drug use – taking a drug for its medically intended purpose, and in the appropriate amount, frequency, strength, and manner.
  • Drug misuse – taking a drug for its medically intended purpose, but not in the appropriate amount, frequency, strength, and manner.
  • Drug abuse – the deliberate taking of a drug for other than a medical purpose and in a manner that can result in damage to a person’s health or ability to function.
  • Define euphoria and dysphoria
  • euphoria – a sense of great well-being and pleasure brought on by some drugs; usually called a “high”
  • dysphoria – unpleasant feelings that occur when endorphins are lacking; they often follow drug-induced euphoria
  • KEY POINTS – Dysphoria is the unpleasant feeling that follows when the euphoria produced by a drug wears off. Addiction can be physiological, psychological, or both. The only sure way to escape drug addiction is never to experiment with drugs that produce it.
  • Identify factors that can contribute to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
  • Availability – a person is more like to experiment if alcohol and other drugs are readily available. (At a party, a friend has them, etc.)
  • Boredom – there is “nothing” to do.
  • Curiosity – desire to experience the “high” of a particular substance.
  • Conformity – to fit in and be a part of the group.
  • Escape – to escape problems or painful situations.
  • Fun – to enjoy the feelings and “party” with friends.
  • Rebellion – to go against authority.
  • Self-esteem – how you feel about yourself.
  • Discuss the effects of marijuana and related drugs (see attached sheet)
  • Cannabis – marijuana affects hearing, touch, taste, and smell. It alters the sense of time, the sense of space, and the feelings of the body. It can cause abnormal heart action; reduced immunity; a lowered sperm count in men; lung damage, including cancer; and amotivational syndrome. It also impairs driving ability.
  • Examples
  • Marijuana
  • Hash
  • Hash oil
  • Describe the effects of narcotics, stimulants, and depressants (see attached sheet)
  • Narcotics – drugs that are used to relieve pain, and are very addictive. Most are forms of opiates.
  • Examples
  • Opium
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Heroin
  • Hydromorphone
  • Methadone Hydrochloride
  • Stimulants
  • Amphetamines - increase activity, block fatigue and hunger, and produce euphoria. Amphetamines are addictive drugs, because tolerance to them develops quickly. Withdrawal from amphetamines causes severe dysphoria and psychological depression.
  • Examples
  • Benzedrine
  • Ritalin
  • Dexedrine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Cocaine – a stimulant and an anesthetic that produces a short-term, intense high followed by extreme dysphoria. Side-effects include eroding of nasal passages, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, birth defects, and death of users.
  • Depressants – sedatives and barbiturates act as depressants, slowing the body’s systems. Long-term abuse causes many dangerous effects, including addiction.

Examples

  • Barbiturates (Tuinal, Phenobarbital, Chloral Hydrate)
  • Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
  • Benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, Clonopin)
  • Discuss the effects of inhalants, designer drugs, and hallucinogens

(see attached sheet)

  • Hallucinogens – drugs that produce false sensations in the mind, such as vivid and distorted visions.
  • Examples
  • LSD
  • Psilocybin (Mushrooms, shrooms)
  • Phencyclidine hydrochloride (PCP, angel dust)
  • Mescaline
  • Club drugs – laboratory-made drugs that closely resemble illegal drugs in chemical structure. Lack of testing presents an enormous risk to the taker.
  • Examples
  • Ecstasy (MDMA)
  • GHB
  • Rohypnol
  • Ketamine
  • Inhalants – drugs that, when inhaled, can cause permanent brain damage or death from suffocation. Even short-term abuse disrupts vision, impairs judgment, and reduces muscle and reflex control. These effects may be permanent.
  • Solvents – liquids that vaporize at room temperature such as, gasoline fumes, lighter fluid, cleaning fluid, and paint thinner.
  • Propellants – substances added to products such as paint, deodorant, hair spray, whipped cream, and oil to make them sprayable.
  • Medicines – intended for medical use: chloroform, ether, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), amyl nitrate, and butyl nitrate
  • Discuss how alcohol affects the body
  • Excessive alcohol use can cause
  • Depression (slowing) of body systems
  • Shallow respiration
  • Puffiness of the face
  • Cold, clammy skin
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Dehydration
  • Redness of the eyes
  • Disorientation
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • High blood pressure
  • Frequent use of alcohol can cause
  • Cirrhosis of the liver
  • Brain disorders
  • Malnutrition
  • Cancer of the stomach
  • Heart disease
  • Birth defects
  • Pancreatitis
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Cancer of the mouth
  • Cancer of the liver
  • Ulcers
  • Delirium tremens (DTs)
  • Describe the effects of alcohol and other drug intoxication on driving
  • Mind-altering drugs including alcohol, marijuana and others slow people’s reactions and impair their judgment of speed. Therefore, mind-altering drugs impair driving ability.
  • Describe the effects of alcohol and other drugs on an unborn fetus
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a set pattern of birth defects, including permanent mental and physical retardation and facial abnormalities, seen in children born to mothers who abuse alcohol during pregnancy.
  • Discuss tolerance and addiction
  • Tolerance – a state that develops in users of certain drugs that makes larger and larger amounts of the drugs necessary to produce the same effect.
  • Addiction – dependence on a substance, habit, or behavior; a physical or psychological craving for higher and higher doses of a drug that leads to bodily harm, social maladjustment, or economic hardship.
  • Discuss the immediate effects of nicotine on the body
  • Triggers the release of stress hormones
  • Raises blood pressure
  • Speeds up heart rate
  • Changes the brainwave pattern
  • Calms the nerves, but some may feel stimulated
  • Reduces anxiety and feelings of pain
  • Reduces hunger
  • Dulls the taste buds
  • Withdrawal effects of nicotine
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Drowsiness
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Craving for another dose
  • Describe the effects of smoking on the respiratory and cardiovascular system
  • Smoking cigarettes is linked with respiratory health hazards such as
  • Bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • COLD (chronic obstructive lung disease)
  • Cancer of the lungs and other cancers
  • NOTE: Drinking alcohol greatly increases the smoker’s cancer risk.
  • Smoking cigarettes burdens the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Smoking reduces the body’s supply of oxygen, but increases the heart’s need for it. Smoking is strongly linked with heart disease.
  • KEY POINTS – Smoking harms every organ of the body. It is the single greatest cause of preventable death in the United States today. Pregnant women’s smoking harms the unborn fetus and endangers the lives of newborns. Smoking damages appearance and attractiveness and is expensive.
  • KEY POINTS – Passive smoke (“second-hand” smoke) raises the risks of cancer, heart disease, and many other hazards for persons breathing it. Passive smoking is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
  • Identify strategies to avoid other people’s tobacco smoke
  • Be assertive by saying, “Please don’t smoke. It bothers me.”
  • Sit in non-smoking areas of restaurants
  • Avoid smoke-filled rooms (parties, etc.)
  • Identify the health problems associated with the use of smokeless tobacco
  • Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine and therefore is addictive.
  • Some effects include
  • Mouth sores
  • Cancerous tumors of the mouth
  • Cancerous tumors of the nasal cavity, cheek, gum and throat
  • Bad breath
  • Discolored teeth
  • Discuss prevention skills
  • Refusal skills
  • How to say “no”
  • Ask questions (what are we going to do? ...what are you asking me to do?)
  • Name the trouble (that just is not right; not a good idea)
  • State the consequences (if I smoked with you I would not feel good about myself, and I could get kicked off my team)
  • Suggest an alternative (instead why don't we)
  • Encourage friend to consider changing his/her mind and stay connected ("if you change your mind, I'll be at the field/ home" etc.)
  • Know how and where to seek help
  • Parents, friends, teacher, counselor, clergy, etc.
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Therapy

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

11th Grade Course Outline

  • Discuss the factors that influence teenagers ability to make wise decisions
  • Limited life experience – going into a difficult period of time with little or no experience to draw upon. Moving away from a “protected” life to one facing many “threats.”
  • Period of extremes – during adolescence, little is done in moderation. There are biological, social, and emotional extremes.
  • Feeling “alone” – many teenagers feel they are the only one who feels a certain way. Teenagers often fear feeling isolated or different.
  • Invincibility – may feel as if nothing bad can happen to you and therefore take unnecessary risks.
  • Imaginary audience – may feel that you are constantly being “judged” by your peers. You may do what you think this “imaginary audience” wants you to do.
  • Discuss factors that can influence the decision to use alcohol, tobacco

or other drugs

  • Peers, friends
  • Self-image, self-esteem
  • Parents, family
  • Religious beliefs, personal values
  • Environment in which you live
  • Media and advertising
  • Purpose of advertising
  • To recruit new users
  • To increase consumption or use of a product
  • To make money
  • Advertising of alcohol and tobacco products
  • Offer a route to power
  • Sell attitudes and values
  • Twist reality
  • Review the effects of marijuana and related drugs (see attached sheet)
  • Cannabis – marijuana affects hearing, touch, taste, and smell. It alters the sense of time, the sense of space, and the feelings of the body. It can cause abnormal heart action; reduced immunity; a lowered sperm count in men; lung damage, including cancer; and amotivational syndrome. It also impairs driving ability.
  • Examples
  • Marijuana
  • Hash
  • Hash oil
  • Review the effects of narcotics, stimulants, and depressants (see attached sheet)
  • Narcotics – drugs that are used to relieve pain, and are very addictive. Most are forms of opiates.
  • Examples
  • Opium
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Heroin
  • Hydromorphone
  • Methadone Hydrochloride
  • Stimulants
  • Amphetamines - increase activity, block fatigue and hunger, and produce euphoria. Amphetamines are addictive drugs, because tolerance to them develops quickly. Withdrawal from amphetamines causes severe dysphoria and psychological depression.
  • Examples
  • Benzedrine
  • Ritalin
  • Dexedrine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Cocaine – a stimulant and an anesthetic that produces a short-term, intense high followed by extreme dysphoria. Side-effects include eroding of nasal passages, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, birth defects, and death of users.
  • Depressants – sedatives and barbiturates act as depressants, slowing the body’s systems. Long-term abuse causes many dangerous effects, including addiction.

Examples

  • Barbiturates (Tuinal, Phenobarbital, Chloral Hydrate)
  • Methaqualone (Quaaludes)
  • Benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, Clonopin)
  • Review the effects of inhalants, designer drugs, and hallucinogens

(see attached sheet)

  • Hallucinogens – drugs that produce false sensations in the mind, such as vivid and distorted visions.
  • Examples
  • LSD
  • Psilocybin (Mushrooms, shrooms)
  • Phencyclidine hydrochloride (PCP, angel dust)
  • Mescaline
  • Club drugs – laboratory-made drugs that closely resemble illegal drugs in chemical structure. Lack of testing presents an enormous risk to the taker.
  • Examples
  • Ecstasy (MDMA)
  • GHB
  • Rohypnol
  • Ketamine
  • Inhalants – drugs that, when inhaled, can cause permanent brain damage or death from suffocation. Even short-term abuse disrupts vision, impairs judgment, and reduces muscle and reflex control. These effects may be permanent.
  • Solvents – liquids that vaporize at room temperature such as, gasoline fumes, lighter fluid, cleaning fluid, and paint thinner.
  • Propellants – substances added to products such as paint, deodorant, hair spray, whipped cream, and oil to make them sprayable.
  • Medicines – intended for medical use: chloroform, ether, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), amyl nitrate, and butyl nitrate
  • Identify factors that can alter or influence the effect alcohol, and other drugs have on the body
  • Tolerance – needing more and more of a substance to feel its effects. Continued alcohol and drug use increases tolerance.
  • Type of drug – drugs and alcohol vary in strength
  • Mood or state of mind – a person who expects to get “high” or drunk may actually believe he or she is despite the amount of alcohol or drug consumed.
  • Body size - the higher a person’s body weight, the more alcohol or drugs it will take to feel the effects.
  • Body composition – body fat does not absorb alcohol as quickly as lean body tissue.
  • Age – the older a person, the higher the incidence for high blood-alcohol levels due to the lower volume of body fluids.
  • Gender – females have a higher proportion of body fat than males, which affects the absorption rate of alcohol.
  • Presence of food in the stomach -many factors influence a drug's effects such as the presence of food in the stomach, and sometimes even the type of food.
  • Other drugs - drug interactions are most often unwanted and harmful. Drug interactions may intensify or diminish a drug's effects or worsen its side effects.
  • Genetics -genetic (inherited) differences among individual people affect drug kinetics, the rate at which drugs move through the body.
  • Review the effects of alcohol and other drug intoxication on driving
  • Mind-altering drugs including alcohol, marijuana and others slow people’s reactions and impair their judgment of speed. Therefore, mind-altering drugs impair driving ability.
  • Discuss the consequences of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
  • Consequences of alcohol use
  • Discuss binge drinking and alcohol poisoning
  • Binge drinking – drinking 4-5 or more drinks at one time which can cause:
  • Alcohol poisoning - unconscious or semiconsciousness.

Slow respiration (breaths) of eight or less per minute or lapses between breaths of more than eight seconds.

Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin.

  • Appropriate action:
  • If you encounter a person who exhibits one or more of the signs and symptoms CALL 911. Do what you would do in any medical emergency--call immediately.
  • While waiting for 911 emergency transport, gently turn the intoxicated person on his/her side and maintain that position by placing a pillow in the small of the person's back. This is important to prevent aspiration (choking) should the person vomit. Stay with the person until medical help arrives. If a person appears to be "sleeping it off" it is important to realize that even though a person may be semi-conscious, alcohol already in the stomach may continue to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. The person's life may still be in danger. If you are having difficulty in determining whether an individual is acutely intoxicated, contact a health professional immediately--you cannot afford to guess.
  • Underage drinking, and drinking and driving penalties in Pennsylvania:

CARRYING A FALSE IDENTIFICATION CARD
Section 6310.3 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18)

Penalty / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / Subsequent Offense
Fine / 0-$300 / 0-$500 / 0-$500
Jail / 0-90 days / 0-1 year / 0-1 year
License Suspension / 90 days / 1 year / 2 years

The first offender may be required to undergo an alcohol evaluation and attend education and treatment if deemed appropriate. Second and subsequent offenders are required to undergo evaluation and attend education and treatment if deemed appropriate. It is also required that the police departments notify each offender's parents or guardian of this offense.

PURCHASE, POSSESSION OR TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR OR MALT OR BREWED BEVERAGES
Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18)

A person commits a summary offense if he/she, being less than 21 years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases, consumes, possesses or knowingly and intentionally transports any liquor or malt or brewed beverages.

Penalty / 1st Offense / 2nd Offense / Subsequent Offense
Suspension of driving privileges / 90 days / 1year / 2 years

CHEMICAL TESTING TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Section 1547 of the Vehicle Code

If a person refuses to submit to a chemical test, the testing shall not be conducted but upon notice by the police officer, the Department of Transportation shall suspend the operating privilege of the person for a period of 12 months.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Section 3731of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code

A person shall not drive, operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of any vehicle:

while under the influence of alcohol and/or the influence of any controlled substance to a degree which renders the person incapable of safe driving; or

while the blood-alcohol level of the person is 0.10% or greater for an adult or 0.02% for a minor.

Penalties:

OFFENSE / JAIL TIME / FINES
1st Offense / 48 hours - 2 years / $300 - $5,000
2nd Offense (within 7 years) / 30 days - 2 years / $300 - $5,000
3rd Offense (within 7 years) / 90 days - 5 years / $300 - $10,000
4th or Subsequent Offenses (within 7 years) / 1 year - 5 years / $300 - $10,000
  • Consequences of other drug use
  • Discuss Council Rock’s substance abuse policy
  • Drug laws for Pennsylvania
  • Marijuana
  • Marijuana Possession:

</= 30 grams: 0 - 30 days; $500
> 30 grams: 0 - 1 year; $5,000

Cultivation, delivery or sale:
Fines will exceed amount listed so as to exhaust the proceeds of prohibited drug activity.

Any amount: 0 - 15 years; $250,000
>/= 2 lbs. or >/= 10 live plants: 1 year MMS; $5,000
>/= 10 lbs. or >/= 21 live plants: 3 years MMS; $15,000
>/= 50 lbs. or >/= 51 live plants: 5 years MMS; $50,000

Sale:

Sale to minor: penalty doubles
Sale within 1,000 feet of school or college: 1 - 2 years MMS (mandatory minimum sentence)

Paraphernalia:

Paraphernalia possession: 0 - 1 year; $5,000
Sale of paraphernalia to minor: 2 years; $5,000