Dedication

I would like to dedicate my project to Mike Costello, Shelly Costello and Jeff Pelzel because they helped me edit my report and they kept me on track the entire way. Some of the people that helped me have professional experience in the drug world.

Why I Chose This Topic

I chose to do Drug Abuse because I heard that a lot of people were using illegal drugs so I wanted to learn more about them. Also, my step-dad is a police officer who works for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and so is his friend, Phil Posada. I also visited the Yakima Police Station last year with my step-dad and he told me that most of the people that are in jail were there because of crimes they committed due to drugs.

Introduction

I am doing my project on drug abuse. There are over 1 million good and bad drugs in the world.  Despite whether or not the drug is good, people get addicted to different types of drugs in different ways. Drug abuse can sometimes lead to death. Certain drugs can even lead to hallucinations.  Still, people get addicted to certain drugs on their first time trying the drug.

Why do people use drugs in the first place?

People use drugs because they enjoy the effect they have on their brain. Many drug users use drugs to escape pain or fit in. Some take them because they think it helps boredom, for curiosity or to relax. Others take them because they want to do what friends are doing. One change drugs cause in the brain involves the rise of certain levels of some neurotransmitters, which makes them feel good. The rise of some neurotransmitters may feel like getting a kiss, eating your favorite ice cream or getting a compliment.

Drug Abuse and Addiction

People who suffer emotionally use drugs to feel better about themselves.  “Drug abuse or substance abuse involves the repeated and excessive use of prescription or street drugs. In one way or another almost all drugs over stimulate the pressure center of the brain flooding it with neurotransmitter dopamine which produces euphoria.” This feeling can be so compelling that the brain will want more and more of it. “ These drugs cause increased energy, rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure.”

Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse

The results of a study in 2006 showed that about 1.2 million people between the ages of 12-17 smoked cigarettes, 631,000 people drank alcohol and 586,000 in this age range smoked marijuana. At the same time, ages 12-17, 49,000 people used inhalants. One hundred twenty seven thousand others used ecstasy and other drugs. Also 13,000 people had tried cocaine but the least amount of people had done heroin. On an average day, 8,000 kids drink alcohol for the first time ever, 4,000 smoke a cigarette for the first time, 3,600 smoke marijuana for their first time and 2,500 used pain relievers for non-medical uses.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is related to amphetamine but methamphetamine is much more toxic to the nervous system and has a very high potential for abuse and addiction. Speed, Meth, Chalk, Ice, Crystal, Glass, Crack, Fire, Croak, Crypto, and White Cross are the street names for methamphetamine. Methamphetamine increases wakefulness, physical activity and it makes you eat less than normal. Long-term use may lead to stroke, hallucinations, and possibly psychotic behavior. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2006, 1.9 million people age 12 and up had abused Meth at least once in their life. Also Monitoring the Future Study found that in 2007, 1.1% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders and 1.7% of 12th graders had at least abused Meth once.

Cocaine

Cocaine is very addictive. It can be used by snorting, sniffing or injecting when dissolved into water. It can also be smoked. Coke, Snow, Flake, Blow, Crack, Rock, Nose Candy, Big C, Lady-White and Snowbirds are street names for cocaine. Severe effects are usually heart attacks, strokes, seizures and respiratory failure. In rare cases people die the first time they ever use cocaine. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found in 2006 that six million Americans 12 and up had at least abused crack cocaine once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007 2.0% of 8th graders, 3.4% of 10th graders and 5.2% of 12th graders had abused cocaine once.


Inhalants

Inhalants are sniffed and inhaled to get high. All are toxic. Some of the inhalants are common household items with volatile solvents or aerosols in the product itself. Whippets, Laughing gas, Poppers, Snappers, Nitrous oxide, Solvents, Cleaning fluids and Aerosol sprays are the street names for inhalants. If inhaled too much, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death. Monitoring the Future Study found that in 2007, 3.7% of 12th graders, 6.6% of 10th graders and 8.3% of 8th graders abused inhalants at least once.

Heroin

Heroin can be injected, smoked or snorted. It is processed from opium and mostly seen as a brown or white powder. Smack, H, Ska, Horse, China White, Brown Sugar, Black Tar, Dope and Mud are the street names for Heroin. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that in 2006 560,000 Americans, 12 and older had abused heroin at least once. Monitoring the Future Study found that in 2007 0.8% of 8th graders abused Heroin at least once.

Marijuana

Marijuana can be smoked or eaten. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC. Pot, Ganja, Weed, Grass, Smoke, Hash, Hash oil, Mary Jane, Herb, Skunk, Hif, Gangster, 420, Chronic, Aunt Mary, Boom and Sinsemilla are the street names for Marijuana. Some effects include memory loss and difficulty solving problems. National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health found in 2006 that 25 million Americans 12 and under abused marijuana at least once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007 24.6% of 10th graders 31.7% of 12th graders and 10.3% of 8th graders abused marijuana at least once.

LSD/ACID

LSD can be put into eyes if it is a liquid. It is the most common hallucinogen and designs that look like cartoon characters can be sold in tablet form. Acid, Blotter, Microdot, Tabs, Doses, Trips, Hits, and Sugar cubes are the street names for LSD/ACID. Some effects are sleeplessness, loss of appetite, increased body temperature, heart rate and even high blood pressure. National Survey on Drug use and Health found that in 2006, 666,000 Americans 12 and up had at least abuse LSD/ACID once. Monitoring the Future Study found in 2007 1.1% of 8th graders, 1.9% of 10th graders and 2.1% of 12th graders have at least abused LSD/ACID once.


PCP/Phencyclidine

PCP can be smoked, snorted, or injected.  It can be sold in tablets, capsules or colored powder. Angel Dust, Ozone, Wack, Peace Pill, Elephant tranquilizer, Dust and Rocket fuel are the street names for PCP (Phencyclidine). A lot of people come to emergency rooms because of PCP. An overdose can make them very, very violent and or suicidal. National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2006, 187,000 Americans 12 and up had at least abused PCP once. Monitoring the Future Study found that in 2007, 0.9% of 12th graders had at least abused PCP once. They don’t measure PCP with 8th graders and 10th graders.

Conclusion

As you can see, marijuana, LSD/ACID, PCP, Methamphetamine, Inhalants, Heroin and Cocaine can changes people’s lives every day. Imagine if we didn’t have illegal drugs; our world would be a much better place. Drugs are very dangerous so be safe and don’t do drugs!

How I Evaluate My Entire Project

(1) How thorough and complete was my project?
It was very thorough and complete. I had mostly all paragraphs with 6 sentences. I also thought my graphs paragraphs were very thorough.

(2)  What would I do differently if starting over again?
I wouldn’t do anything differently because I was on track the entire time. I finished my report on time and my pamphlet.

(3)  What major strengths does my project have?
My products are my major strengths. They look good and are full of information.

(4)  What weaknesses or problems does my project have?
No weaknesses. I thought that my products were thorough and so was my report and display.

(5)  What did I learn to do better during this project?
How to type and how to be on time with everything I do. Everything I did was on time when it needed to be.

(6)  In what ways did I enjoy my study and work?
I enjoyed all of it. The planning great, the report was fun to type and doing my display was fun.




Who Helped Me With My Project

I would like to thank the following people, Shelly Costello, Mike Costello, Jeff Pelzel, Phil Posada, Mrs. Heitman and Mrs. Goodpaster because they all helped me with my project this year and they supported me the entire way.

Menu of 2009 SOAR Projects

Back to the Selah Homepage