Page 13 - Georgia Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program Student Manual 2020
P. 13
3CHAPTER : ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS
Heroin FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS
Heroin enters the brain very quickly, making
it highly addictive. It slows the thought process, Question: What is a standard drink in the Question: How do I know if I have a drink-
reaction time and memory, thereby affecting the United States? ing problem?
way the user acts and makes decisions. Heroin Answer: Drinking is a problem if it causes
abuse is associated with serious health con- Answer: A standard drink is equal to 13.7 trouble in your relationships, in school, in social
ditions. Chronic users may develop collapsed grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, activities, or in how you think and feel. If you are
veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, this amount of pure alcohol is found in concerned that either you or someone in your
abscesses, and liver or kidney disease. Pulmo- family might have a drinking problem, consult
nary complications, including various types of • 12-ounces of • 1.5-ounces, or a your personal health care provider.
pneumonia, may result from the poor health beer. “shot”, of 80-proof
of the user as well as from heroin’s depressing distilled spirits or Question: Is it safe to drink alcohol and
effects on respiration. In addition to the effects • 8-ounces of malt liquor (e.g., gin, drive?
of the drug itself, street heroin often contains liquor. rum, vodka, or Answer: No. Alcohol use slows reaction
toxic contaminants or additives that can clog whiskey). time and impairs judgment and coordination,
blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, • 5-ounces of wine. which are all skills needed to drive a car safely.
or brain, causing permanent damage to vital The more alcohol consumed, the greater the
organs. Heroin use among high school students Question: What about other medications impairment.
decreased from 2% in 2015 to 1.7 % in 2017.8 or drugs?
Answer: Medications or drugs will not Question: Why do some people react
Inhalants change your BAC. However, if you drink alco- differently to alcohol than others?
hol while taking certain medications, you may
Inhalants are substances or fumes from become more impaired, which can affect your
products such as glue or paint thinner that are ability to perform driving-related tasks.
sniffed or “huffed” to cause an immediate high.
Because it affects the brain with much greater Question: What is considered heavy Answer: Individual reactions to alcohol vary,
speed and force than many other substances, drinking? and are influenced by many factors; such as:
the fumes can cause irreversible physical and Answer: For men, heavy drinking is typi-
mental damage before the user knows what has cally defined as consuming an average of more • Age. • How quickly
happened. Inhalants starve the body of oxy- than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drink- • Gender. the alcohol was
gen and force the heart to beat irregularly and ing is typically defined as consuming an aver- • Amount of food consumed.
more rapidly. Users of inhalants can experience age of more than 1 drink per day.
nausea and nosebleeds; develop liver, lung, and consumed before • Use of drugs
kidney problems; and lose their sense of hearing drinking. or prescription
or smell. Chronic users can experience muscle medicines.
wasting and reduced muscle tone and strength.
Use of inhalants among high school students • Family history of
decreased from 7% in 2015 to 6.2 % in 2017.8 alcohol problems.
Methamphetamines In 2017, 14% of high school students reported Drugs and Driving Privileges
taking a prescription drug, such as Oxycontin,
Methamphetamines increase the body’s Percocet, Vicodin, Codeine, Adderall, Ritalin, or In Georgia, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §40-5-75,
regulatory functions, including heart rate, Xanax without a doctor’s prescription.8 Prescrip- the driver’s license of any person convicted of
breathing, and blood pressure. Users experi- tion and OTC medications are widely available, driving or being in actual physical control of
ence dry mouth, increased sweating, dilated free or inexpensive, and falsely believed to be any moving vehicle while under the influence
pupils, headaches, disorientation, severe de- safer than illicit drugs. Misuse of prescription of a controlled substance or marijuana shall be
pression, paranoia, fatigue, and, in some cases, and OTC medications can cause serious health suspended by operation of law.
hallucinations. Increased heart rate and blood effects, addiction, and death.
pressure enhance the possibility of a stroke. First Suspension
Use of methamphetamines among high school Designer and Synthetic Drugs Your driver’s license or driving privileges
students decreased from 3% in 2015 to 2.5 %
in 2017.8 Within the past couple of years, the State of will be suspended for a period of 180 days. You
Georgia has enacted strict laws targeting the will not be eligible for any type of limited driv-
Prescription and over-the- sale and possession of designer and synthetic ing permit.
counter (OTC) drugs drugs, which have the same physiological ef-
fects on the body as other controlled substanc- Second Suspension
While illicit drug use has declined among es. House Bills 199 and 1309 (2010) outlaw the Your driver’s license or driving privileges
high school students, rates of non-medical use of sale and possession of “bath salts” and K2, a
prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs substance more commonly referred to as “syn- will be suspended for a minimum period of
remain high. Prescription medications most thetic marijuana” and marketed as incense. 3 years. Pursuant to House Bill 349 (2013), you
commonly abused by youth include pain reliev- Senate Bill 370 (2012) bans all forms of synthetic may apply for reinstatement of your driver’s
ers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and depressants. marijuana in the State of Georgia. In 2017, 6.9% license by submitting proof of completion of
of high school students reported using syn- a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction
theti marijuana. Program after 1 year from the conviction date.
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2017. Surveillance Summaries, June 14, 2018. MMWR 2015;65 (No. SS-6).
11
