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Ecstasy | Marijuana | Alcohol

Ecstasy

Physiological Effects

• Increases blood pressure and heart rate.
• Body temperature can increase to 109 degrees if combined with physical exertion.
• muscle tension
• nausea
• blurred vision
• tremors

Psychological Effects

• Serotonin levels in the brain are affected
• feelings of emotional closeness coupled with the breakdown of personal communication barriers
• a sense of peace with oneself and the world
• an enhanced sense of pleasure
• greater self confidence
• increased sense of energy

Short Term Effects

• confusion
• depression
• problems sleeping
• drug craving
• severe anxiety
• paranoia
• hallucinations
• amnesia
• Ecstasy also suppresses the desire to eat, drink or sleep

Long Term Effects

• Permanent brain damage in the areas of critical to thought and memory
• May alter motor skills giving the user the appearance of suffering from Parkinson's disease

Marijuana

Short Term Effects

• Sleepiness and increased hunger
• Difficulty keeping track of time
• Bloodshot eyes
• Dry mouth and throat
• Increased heart rate
• Decreased social inhibitions

Long Term Effects

• Enhanced risk of developing cancer
• Decrease in testosterone levels in men
• Increase in testosterone levels in women
• Lower sperm count and difficulty having children in men

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

Alcohol Effects

Blood Alcohol Levels

• Euphoria (BAC = 0.03 to 0.12%)
  • They become more self confident
  • Shortened attention span
  • They may look flushed
  • Judgment is impaired
• Excitement (BAC = 0.9 to 0.25%)
  • Sleepy
  • Trouble understanding or remembering
  • Body movements are uncoordinated
• Confusion (BAC = 0.18 to 0.30 %)
  • They are dizzy and may stagger
  • Highly emotional-aggressive, withdrawn or overly affectionate
  • Sleepy
  • Slurred speech
• Stupor ( BAC = 0.25 to 0.4%)
  • They can barely move at all
  • They cannot respond to stimuli
  • They cannot walk or stand
  • They may vomit
  • They may lapses in and out of consciousness
• Coma (BAC - 0.35 to 0.50)
  • They are unconscious
  • Their breating is slower and more shallow
  • Their heart rate may slow
  • They may die

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