Individual and Family Impact Presentation

Objectives

• Roxy-stimulant
• Jeannie-hallucinogens
• Vic-volatile substances
• Ross-anabolic/androgenic steroids

Stimulants-mechanism of action

Short Term Effects

Long Term Effects

Impact to Family Unit

Hallucinogens-Mechanism of Action

Short Term Effects

Long Term Effects

Impact to Family Unit

Volatile Substances-mechanism of action

• carbon and hydrocarbon compounds that are volatile
• absorbed into the blood almost immediately after inhalation
• sniffing
• huffing
• bagging
• spraying
• balloons

Short Term Effects

• temporary stimulation, mood elevation, and reduced inhibitions
• dizziness, slurred speech, unsteady gait, and drowsiness
• illusions, hallucinations, and delusions may develop
• may experience dreamy stupor culminating in a short period of sleep

Long Term Effects

• lack of coordination, inability to concentrate, weakness, disorientation, and weight loss
• injuries to the brain, liver, kidney, bone marrow, and particularly the lungs
• Toluene- 65% chronic abusers develop neurological damage
• Trichloroethylene (TCE)- causes overall depression effects

Impact to Family Unit

• "A woodland boy died after he tried to get high by sniffing a common water repellent, Scotchguard, and a 14-year-old friend who also was inhaling the aerosol was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. The boys used a plastic bag to inhale the chemicals. They passed the bag back and forth. Suddenly the boy couldn't breathe" Article in newspaper, 17 Sep. 1998
• "I came to the conclusion that the headaches my son had been complaining about were due to huffing. We found empty spray cans out in the woods near the house. Of course when I confronted him he said, No way. Headaches must be from not having enough caffeine today. He was doing bug spray, air freshener, Arid deodorant, and the propellant from whipped cream. When he was coming down, he would be really angry and violent. When loaded he did stupid things" Mother of a 14-year-old huffer
• "I have a friend that does the spray cans and his brother overdosed on it. His mom found his older brother in his room with a plastic bag over his mouth and his nose and that's what he looks like now; he just looks totally just like a bum, you know, kinda stupid, and his eyes are half way shut all the time. He's just out of it. He's still my friend but I hate to see a person like that, you know." 19-year-old recovering drug user

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids- mechanism of action

Short Term Effects

Long Term Effects

Impact to Family Unit

References

• Inaba, D.S. & Cohen, W.E., (2004). Uppers, downers, and all-arounders (5th ed.). Medford, OR: CNS Publications.
• Marnell, T. (Ed.). (1997). Drug identification bible. Denver, CO: Author.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2006b). Inhalant abuse. NIDA Research Report [online]. Retrieved from: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants.html