Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
ESPRIT Page 5 Some of the Dangers of Commonly-Abused Drugs By YMPFC Terrace Brooks Hamilton MD Drug abuse is one of the biggest threats to todays society. There are many different types of drugs but the most com- monly known drugs are alcohol tobacco marijuana cocaine inhalants hallucinogens and methamphetamines. All can af- fect your mind and your body. Alcohol is one of the more common drugs that people use and most people do not view it as being a drug. Alcohol aff- fects your self-control. It is a central nervous system depressantlowering your inhi- bitions and impairs your judgment leading to risky behaviors. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to a coma or even death. A significant percentage of traffic deaths are alcohol- related. Tobacco is another common drug usually used in the form of cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Tobacco can damage your health because it affects your bodys development and can be very addictive. Smoking cigarettes and being around sec- ond-hand smoke is one of the most common causes of lung cancer. Tobacco is a leading cause of cancer in the mouth throat bladder pancreas and kidney. Cigarettes also contain a powerfully addcitive substance called nicotine. People who use tobacco often continue to smoke simply because they find it so hard to stop. Another group of drugs are commonly known as hallucino- gens which can affect your heart brain well-being and your self-control. Using them increases your heart rate as well as your blood pressure which can cause heart and lung failure. Hallucinogens can affect your well-being because they may change the way you feel emotionally and can interfere with your growth as well as your learning processes. Hallucinogens affect how your brain perceives your environ- ment. They also affect how you move and how you react to differrent situations. They can also make you think you are hearing voices or seeing things that do not exist. In conclusion these drugs are harmful to our generation and they have many different short-term and long-term side effects that can harm our minds and bodies. So stay safe and drug-free. Semper Fidelis By YMCPL Talla Aasved Milton Lewis FL Through Young Marines Drug Demand Reduction training I have learned about the dangers of many kinds of drugs. Some of the more common drugs can be very dangerous. Just because some may be legal this doesnt mean they are safe. Abusing these substances can create health problems and even cause death. These include hydrocodone prescribed for pain and alcohol marijuana and tobacco. Some individuals are more prone to ad- diction based on many factors such as a family history of addiction. A teenagers brain is still developing so abusing drugs is especially dangerous. The best advice for our peers and youth is to be aware and informed of the dangers and side effects of any of these drugs and substances. Stay Drug Free dont even begin to use or experiment with them. As Young Marines we can be a positive influence with our classmates or our friends. Below are a few of the facts we can share especially during Red Ribbon Week. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone These medications are pre- scribed by doctors for pain related to injuries or surgeries or even having your wisdom teeth pulled. CautionIt is so easy to fall into the trap of taking more than prescribed especially if you are in pain. Your body can become adjusted and you need more medication to control pain. However this may be the onset of addiction you are feeling. These are prescrip- tion narcotics you need to be slowly weaned off of. There are other medications that are not narcotic that can be recom- mended to control any pain or discomfort. Ask your doctor about other medications if you are ever in a situation where special medication is needed for pain. Alcohol Parts of adolescentsbrains do not fully develop until their mid 20s Alcohol may have consequences reaching far beyond adolescence. Alcohol can affect an adolescents brain development in many ways. The effect of underage drinking on one specific brain activity is memory a person may find it hard to learn and to hold on to knowledge and risks damag- ing the frontal lobes of the brain forever. Alcohol also im- pacts the bodys automatic actions such as heartbeat and keeping the body at the right temperature. Its possible to die from alcohol poisoning. Drinking quickly and drinking too much you can lose con- sciousness and your body can shut down and death can result. Addiction to alcohol is common. A per- son often has to be placed in a medically-controlled environ- ment to be treated and weaned from alcohol. Marijuana Marijuana use is very common. THC Tetrahydro- cannabinol is the active ingredient. Marijuana gets in the blood stream and flows to the brain. Marijuana has both short and long-term effects on the brain. Long-term use af- fects brain development. Frequent use can reduce thinking memoryand learning functions and how the brain builds con- nections necessary for these functions. Marijuanas effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent. Marijuana can lead to other drug use. The question of legal- ization does not make marijuana safe It is not safe and can impact your health and have permanent effects. Drugs That are Legal But Legal Does Not Mean Safe Abusing these substances can create health problems and even cause death