All persons should be aware of the health risks caused by the use of alcohol, and by the illegal use of controlled substances (drugs). The following information highlights the risks and effects of alcohol and other drugs.
Health Effects of Alcohol & Drugs
Risks and health effects
- Alcohol (beer, distilled liquor, ethanol, wine)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
- Impair judgment and vision
- Lowered inhibitions
- Loss of motor skills and coordination
- Slurred speech
Long-Term:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Liver damage
- Neurological damage
- Toxic psychosis
Overdoes:
- Comma
- Possible death
- Cannabis (hash oil, hashish, grass, marijuana, pot, weed)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Feeling of well-being, irritability
- Lowered blood pressure
- Lowered inhibitions
- Poor concentration
- Reduced anxiety
- Sedation
- Slowed pulse and breathing
- Slurred speech
Long-Term:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Toxic psychosis
- Tremors
Overdoes:
- Blackouts
- Cold, clammy skin
- Coma
- Life threatening withdrawal
- Possible death
- Respiratory depression and arrest
- Toxic reaction if combined with alcohol
- Depressants (barbiturates, benzodiazepine, date rape drugs, liquid ecstasy, flunitrazepam, GHB, methaqualone, special K, Xanax)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Feeling of well-being, irritability
- Lowered blood pressure
- Lowered inhibitions
- Poor concentration
- Reduced anxiety
- Sedation
- Slowed pulse and breathing
- Slurred speech
Long-Term:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia
- Loss of peripheral vision
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Toxic psychosis
- Tremors
Overdoes:
- Blackouts
- Cold, clammy skin
- Coma
- Life threatening withdrawal
- Possible death
- Respiratory depression and arrest
- Toxic reaction if combined with alcohol
- Hallucinogens (Acid, angel dust, crystal, LSD, MDA, mescaline, mushrooms, PCP, peyote, phencyclidine, psilocybin)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: Low/Unknown
Psychological: Unknown
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
- Altered state of perception
- Increased body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Numbness
- Sleeplessness
- Tremors
- Weakness
Long-Term:
- Hallucination Persisting Disorder (flashbacks)
- Intensify existing psychosis
- Violent behavior
Overdoes:
- Intense, prolonged hallucinations
- Possible sudden death
- Psychosis
- Inhalants (gases, solvents)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High for chronic, long-term abuse
Psychological: High for chronic, long-term abuse
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
-
Impaired judgment
-
Headache
-
Nausea, vomiting
-
Poor coordination
-
Slurred speech
Long-Term:
-
Cardiovascular and nervous system damage, leading to inability to walk, talk or think
-
Cramps
-
Depression
-
Loss of muscle tone
-
Memory impairment
-
Mild withdrawal
-
Muscle wasting and weakness
-
Weight loss
Overdoes:
-
Coma
-
Possible sudden death
-
Possible toxic reaction
-
Unconsciousness
-
- Narcotics (codeine, Demerol, HCL, heroin, meperidine, morphine, opium, Oxycodone, Vicodin)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Nausea
- Pain relief
- Sedation
- Staggering gait
Long-Term:
- AIDS and Hepatitis infection
- Malnutrition
Overdoes:
- Clammy skin
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Death
- Respiratory arrest
- Shallow perspirations
- Tolerance, addiction
- Toxic reaction if combined with alcohol
- Stimulants (amphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, MDMA, methylphenidate, phenmetrazine, Ritalin)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: Possible
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:- Appetite loss
- Excitement and euphoria
- Feeling of well being
- Increased alertness, blood pressure, pulse
- Insomnia
- Insomnia
- Nervous system damage
- Organ/tissue damage
- Paranoia
- Weight loss
Overdoes:
- Agitation
- Convulsions
- Hallucinations
- Heart attack, stroke
- High blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Temperature increase
- Tobacco (chewing/smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, nicotine)
Potential for Dependence:
Physical: High
Psychological: High
Risk and Effects:
Short-Term:
-
Bad breath
-
Bad taste in mouth
-
Decreased lung capacity
-
Increased blood pressure
-
Increased heart rate
Long-Term:
-
Adverse pregnancy outcomes
-
Cardiovascular disease
-
Cancer
Overdoes:
-
Possible deaths
-