Straight Facts About Drugs and Alcohol

How Can I Tell If a Friend or a Loved One Has a Problem With Alcohol, Marijuana, or Other Illicit Drugs?

Sometimes it is tough to tell. Most people won't walk up to someone they're close to and ask for help. In fact, they will probably do everything possible to deny or hide the problem. But, there are certain warning signs that may indicate that a family member or friend is using drugs and drinking too much alcohol. If your friend or loved one has one or more of the following signs, he or she may have a problem with drugs or alcohol:

getting high on drugs or getting drunk on a regular basis
lying about things, or the amount of drugs or alcohol they are using
avoiding you and others in order to get high or drunk
giving up activities they used to do such as sports, homework, or hanging out with friends who don't use drugs or drink
having to use more marijuana or other illicit drugs to get the same effects
constantly talking about using drugs or drinking
believing that in order to have fun they need to drink or use marijuana or other drugs
pressuring others to use drugs or drink
getting into trouble with the law
taking risks, including sexual risks and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
feeling run-down, hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal
suspension from school for an alcohol- or drug-related incident
missing work or poor work performance because of drinking or drug use
Many of the signs, such as sudden changes in mood, difficulty in getting along with others, poor job or school performance, irritability, and depression, might be explained by other causes. Unless you observe drug use or excessive drinking, it can be hard to determine the cause of these problems. Your first step is to contact a qualified alcohol and drug professional in your area who can give you further advice. How Can I Tell if I Have a Problem with Drugs or Alcohol?

Drug and alcohol problems can affect every one of us regardless of age, sex, race, marital status, place of residence, income level, or lifestyle.

You may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, if:

You can't predict whether or not you will use drugs or get drunk.
You believe that in order to have fun you need to drink and/or use drugs.
You turn to alcohol and/or drugs after a confrontation or argument, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings.
You drink more or use more drugs to get the same effect that you got with smaller amounts.
You drink and/or use drugs alone.
You remember how last night began, but not how it ended, so you're worried you may have a problem.
You have trouble at work or in school because of your drinking or drug use.
You make promises to yourself or others that you'll stop getting drunk or using drugs.
You feel alone, scared, miserable, and depressed.
If you have experienced any of the above problems, take heart, help is available. More than a million Americans like you have taken charge of their lives and are living healthy and drug-free.


How Can I Get Help?
You can get help for yourself or for a friend or loved one from numerous national, State, and local organizations, treatment centers, referral centers, and hotlines throughout the country. There are various kinds of treatment services and centers. For example, some may involve outpatient counseling, while others may be 3- to 5-week-long inpatient programs.

While you or your friend or loved one may be hesitant to seek help, know that treatment programs offer organized and structured services with individual, group, and family therapy for people with alcohol and drug abuse problems. Research shows that when appropriate treatment is given, and when clients follow their prescribed program, treatment can work. By reducing alcohol and/or drug abuse, treatment reduces costs to society in terms of medical care, law enforcement, and crime. More importantly, treatment can help keep you and your loved ones together.

Remember, some people may go through treatment a number of times before they are in full recovery. Do not give up hope.

Each community has its own resources. Some common referral sources that are often listed in the phone book are:

Community Drug Hotlines
Local Emergency Health Clinics, or Community Treatment Services
City/Local Health Departments
Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or Al-Anon/Alateen
Hospitals
For a list of additional resources and organizations, check out the referral list at the end of this document.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Marijuana
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States and tends to be the first illegal drug teens use.

The physical effects of marijuana use, particularly on developing adolescents, can be acute.

Short-term effects of using marijuana:

sleepiness
difficulty keeping track of time, impaired or reduced short-term memory
reduced ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination, such as driving a car
increased heart rate
potential cardiac dangers for those with preexisting heart disease
bloodshot eyes
dry mouth and throat
decreased social inhibitions
paranoia, hallucinations
Long-term effects of using marijuana:
enhanced cancer risk
decrease in testosterone levels for men; also lower sperm counts and difficulty having children
increase in testosterone levels for women; also increased risk of infertility
diminished or extinguished sexual pleasure
psychological dependence requiring more of the drug to get the same effect
Marijuana blocks the messages going to your brain and alters your perceptions and emotions, vision, hearing, and coordination.

A recent study of 1,023 trauma patients admitted to a shock trauma unit found that one-third had marijuana in their blood.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Cigarette Smoking

Although many people smoke because they believe cigarettes calm their nerves, smoking releases epinephrine, a hormone which creates physiological stress in the smoker, rather than relaxation. The use of tobacco is addictive. Most users develop tolerance for nicotine and need greater amounts to produce a desired effect. Smokers become physically and psychologically dependent and will suffer withdrawal symptoms including: changes in body temperature, heart rate, digestion, muscle tone, and appetite. Psychological symptoms include: irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, nervousness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and cravings for tobacco that can last days, weeks, months, years, or an entire lifetime.
Risks associated with smoking cigarettes:

diminished or extinguished sense of smell and taste
frequent colds
smoker's cough
gastric ulcers
chronic bronchitis
increase in heart rate and blood pressure
premature and more abundant face wrinkles
emphysema
heart disease
stroke
cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix, uterus, and bladder
Cigarette smoking is perhaps the most devastating preventable cause of disease and premature death.
Smoking is particularly dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing and changing and the 4,000 chemicals (including 200 known poisons) in cigarette smoke can adversely affect this process.
Cigarettes are highly addictive. One-third of young people who are just "experimenting" end up being addicted by the time they are 20.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Alcohol

Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking that results in health consequences, social, problems, or both. However, alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, refers to a disease that is characterized by abnormal alcohol-seeking behavior that leads to impaired control over drinking.

Short-term effects of alcohol use include:

distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
altered perceptions and emotions
impaired judgment
bad breath; hangovers
Long-term effects of heavy alcohol use include:
loss of appetite
vitamin deficiencies
stomach ailments
skin problems
sexual impotence
liver damage
heart and central nervous system damage
memory loss
How Do I Know If I, or Someone Close, Has a Drinking Problem?

Here are some quick clues:
Inability to control drinking--it seems that regardless of what you decide beforehand, you frequently wind up drunk
Using alcohol to escape problems
A change in personality--turning from Dr. Jekyl to Mr. Hyde
A high tolerance level--drinking just about everybody under the table
Blackouts--sometimes not remembering what happened while drinking
Problems at work or in school as a result of drinking
Concern shown by family and friends about drinking
If you have a drinking problem, or if you suspect you have a drinking problem, there are many others out there like you, and there is help available. Talk to school counselor, a friend, or a parent.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Street names for the drug include "speed," "meth," and "crank."

Methamphetamine is used in pill form, or in powdered form by snorting or injecting. Crystallized methamphetamine known as "ice," "crystal," or "glass," is a smokable and more powerful form of the drug.

The effects of methamphetamine use include:

increased heart rate and blood pressure
increased wakefulness; insomnia
increased physical activity
decreased appetite
respiratory problems
extreme anorexia
hyperthermia, convulsions, and cardiovascular problems, which can lead to death
euphoria
irritability, confusion, tremors
anxiety, paranoia, or violent behavior
can cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain, producing strokes
Methamphetamine users who inject the drug and share needles are at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS.

Methamphetamine is an increasingly popular drug at raves (all night dancing parties), and as part of a number of drugs used by college-aged students. Marijuana and alcohol are commonly listed as additional drugs of abuse among methamphetamine treatment admissions. Most of the methamphetamine-related deaths (92%) reported in 1994 involved methamphetamine in combination with at least one other drug, most often alcohol (30%), heroin (23%), or cocaine (21%). Researchers continue to study the long-term effects of methamphetamine use.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

Cocaine is a white powder that comes from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Cocaine is either "snorted" through the nasal passages or injected intravenously. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs known as stimulants, which tend to give a temporary illusion of limitless power and energy that leave the user feeling depressed, edgy, and craving more. Crack is a smokable form of cocaine that has been chemically altered. Cocaine and crack are highly addictive. This addiction can erode physical and mental health and can become so strong that these drugs dominate all aspects of an addict's life.

Physical risks associated with using any amount of cocaine and crack:

increases in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature
heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory failure
hepatitis or AIDS through shared needles
brain seizures
reduction of the body's ability to resist and combat infection
Psychological risks:
violent, erratic, or paranoid behavior
hallucinations and "coke bugs"--a sensation of imaginary insects crawling over the skin
confusion, anxiety and depression, loss of interest in food or sex
"cocaine psychosis"--losing touch with reality, loss of interest in friends, family, sports, hobbies, and other activities
Some users spend hundred or thousands of dollars on cocaine and crack each week and will do anything to support their habit. Many turn to drug selling, prostitution, or other crimes.

Cocaine and crack use has been a contributing factor in a number of drownings, car crashes, falls, burns, and suicides.

Cocaine and crack addicts often become unable to function sexually.

Even first time users may experience seizures or heart attacks, which can be fatal.

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Hallucinogens

Hallucinogenic drugs are substances that distort the perception of objective reality. The most well-known hallucinogens include phencyclidine, otherwise known as PCP, angel dust, or loveboat; lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LSD or acid; mescaline and peyote; and psilocybin, or "magic" mushrooms. Under the influence of hallucinogens, the senses of direction, distance, and time become disoriented. These drugs can produce unpredictable, erratic, and violent behavior in users that sometimes leads to serious injuries and death. The effect of hallucinogens can last for 12 hours.

LSD produces tolerance, so that users who take the drug repeatedly must take higher and higher doses in order to achieve the same state of intoxication. This is extremely dangerous, given the unpredictability of the drug, and can result in increased risk of convulsions, coma, heart and lung failure, and even death.

Physical risks associated with using hallucinogens:

increased heart rate and blood pressure
sleeplessness and tremors
lack of muscular coordination
sparse, mangled, and incoherent speech
decreased awareness of touch and pain that can result in self-inflicted injuries
convulsions
coma; heart and lung failure
Psychological risks associated with using hallucinogens:
a sense of distance and estrangement
depression, anxiety, and paranoia
violent behavior
confusion, suspicion, and loss of control
flashbacks
behavior similar to schizophrenic psychosis
catatonic syndrome whereby the user becomes mute, lethargic, disoriented, and makes meaningless repetitive movements
Everyone reacts differently to hallucinogens--there's no way to predict if you can avoid a "bad trip."
HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Inhalants

Inhalants refer to substances that are sniffed or huffed to give the user an immediate head rush or high. They include a diverse group of chemicals that are found in consumer products such as aerosols and cleaning solvents. Inhalant use can cause a number of physical and emotional problems, and even one-time use can result in death.

Using inhalants even one time can put you at risk for:

sudden death
suffocation
visual hallucinations and severe mood swings
numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
Prolonged use can result in:
headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain
decrease or loss of sense of smell
nausea and nosebleeds
hepatitis
violent behaviors
irregular heartbeat
liver, lung, and kidney impairment
irreversible brain damage
nervous system damage
dangerous chemical imbalances in the body
involuntary passing of urine and feces
Short-term effects of inhalants include:
heart palpitations
breathing difficulty
dizziness
headaches
Remember, using inhalants, even one time, can kill you. According to medical experts, death can occur in at least five ways:

asphyxia--solvent gases can significantly limit available oxygen in the air, causing breathing to stop;
suffocation--typically seen with inhalant users who use bags;
choking on vomit;
careless behaviors in potentially dangerous settings; and
sudden sniffing death syndrome, presumably from cardiac arrest.


Messages for Teenagers
Know the law. Methamphetamines, marijuana, hallucinogens, crack, cocaine, and many other substances are illegal. Depending on where you are caught, you could face high fines and jail time. Alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under 21.
Be aware of the risks. Drinking or using drugs increases the risk of injury. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and suicide are all linked to drug use.
Keep your edge. Drug use can ruin your looks, make you depressed, and contribute to slipping grades.
Play it safe. One incident of drug use could make you do something that you will regret for a lifetime.
Do the smart thing. Using drugs puts your health, education, family ties, and social life at risk.
Get with the program. Doing drugs isn't "in" anymore.
Think twice about what you're advertising when you buy and wear T-shirts, hats, pins, or jewelry with a pot leaf, joint, blunt, beer can, or other drug paraphernalia on them. Do you want to promote something that can cause cancer? make you forget things? or make it difficult to drive a car?
Face your problems. Using drugs won't help you escape your problems, it will only create more.
Be a real friend. If you know someone with a drug problem, be part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help.
Remember, you DON'T NEED drugs or alcohol. If you think "everybody's doing it," you're wrong! Over 86% of 12-17 year-olds have never tried marijuana; over 98% have never used cocaine; only about half a percent of them have ever used crack. Doing drugs won't make you happy or popular or help you to learn the skills you need as you grow up. In fact, doing drugs can cause you to fail at all of these things.



REFERRALS
Adult Children of Alcoholics
(ACA/ACoA)
P.O. Box 3216
Torrance, CA 90510
310-534-1815

Alanon/Alateen
Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
P.O. Box 862
Midtown Station
New York, NY 10018-0862
1-800-356-9996 (Literature)
1-800-344-2666 (Meeting Referral)

Alcoholics Anonymous
World Services, Inc.
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
212-870-3400 (Literature)
212-647-1680 (Meeting Referral)

CDC National AIDS Hotline
1-800-342-AIDS
1-800-344-SIDA -- Spanish
1-800-AIDS-TTY -- TDD

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Service
1-800-662-HELP
Referrals To:

1-800-ALCOHOL
1-800-COCAINE
1-800-448-3000 BOYSTOWN
Children of Alcoholics Foundation, Inc.
555 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212-754-0656 or 800-359-COAF

Cocaine Anonymous
World Service Office
3740 Overland Avenue, Ste. C
Los Angeles, CA 90034
1-800-347-8998

Families Anonymous
P.O. Box 35475
Culver CIty, CA 90231
1-800-736-9805

Hazelden Educational Materials
Pleasant Valley Road
P.O. Box 176
Center City, MN 55012-0176
1-800-328-9000

Marijuana Anonymous
World Services
P.O. Box 2912
Van Nuys, CA 91404
1-800-766-6779

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
511 E. John Carpenter Freeway
Suite 700
Irving, TX 75062
214-744-6233
Victim Hotline: 800-438-6233 (GET MADD)
NAFARE Alcohol, Drug, and Pregnancy Hotline
200 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
1-800-638-BABY

Nar-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
P.O. Box 2562
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
310-547-5800

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
World Service Office
P.O. Box 9999
Van Nuys, CA 91409
818-773-9999

National Association for Children of Alcoholics
11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 301
Rockville, MD 20852
301-468-0985

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
301-468-2600
1-800-729-6686

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
12 West 21st Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10010
1-800-NCA-CALL (will refer you to your local treatment information center)

National Families in Action
2296 Henderson Mill Road
Suite 204
Atlanta, GA 30345
770-934-6364

National Highway Traffic Safety Information
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-9550
Auto Safety Hotline: 1-800-424-9393

National Women's Health Network
514 10th Street, NW, Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20004
202-682-7814

Rational Recovery Systems
P. O. Box 800
Lotus, CA 95651
1-800-303-CURE

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS)
P.O. Box 5
Buffalo, NY 14215
310-821-8430

Women for Sobriety
P.O. Box 618
Quakertown, PA 18951
1-800-333-1606