Effects of Substance Abuse – Basic 6 Social Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Lesson note at a glance

Subject: Social Studies
Class: Basic 6
Term: Third Term
Topic: Effects of Substance Abuse
Order: Topic 4 of 13 this term
Reading time: 9 min

Substance abuse is the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs, that leads to health and social problems.

Behavioural objectives

Define substance abuse and name common substances that are abused.
State the short-term and long-term health effects of heroin and cocaine.
Describe the effects of the sedatives Mandrax and Valium.
Explain the socio-economic effects of drug abuse on the individual, family, community and nation.
List the warning signs of drug abuse and the messages that help prevent it.

What are the common substances abused?

Common substances abused include heroin, cocaine, sedatives, marijuana, alcohol and misused prescription drugs.

Common substances that are abused

Heroin: an illegal opioid drug made from morphine.
Cocaine: a powerful stimulant made from the coca plant.
Sedatives: calming drugs such as Mandrax and Valium.
Marijuana: an illegal drug that is often smoked.
Alcohol: a drink that harms health when taken in excess or by children.
Prescription drugs: medicines a doctor orders, which become harmful when misused.

What are the effects of heroin?

Heroin is a highly addictive illegal drug that slows down the body and brain.

What is heroin?

Source: made from morphine, which comes from the opium poppy.
How it is taken: usually injected, snorted or smoked.
Street names: smack, junk and horse.

What are the short-term health effects of heroin?

Euphoria: a brief rush of intense pleasure.
Drowsiness: extreme sleepiness.
Nausea and vomiting: the user feels sick.
Itching: the skin itches.
Constricted pupils: the pupils become very small.
Slowed breathing: this is dangerous.
Mental confusion: the user cannot think clearly.
Constipation: difficulty passing stool.

What are the long-term health effects of heroin?

Addiction: the user cannot stop using it.
Collapsed veins: caused by repeated injecting.
Infections: HIV and hepatitis B and C spread by sharing needles.
Heart infections: damaged heart valves.
Liver and kidney disease: these organs are harmed.
Lung complications: pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Mental disorders: depression and antisocial behaviour.
Sexual dysfunction: impotence in men.
Irregular menstruation: in women.
Death from overdose: a serious and common risk.

What does a heroin user look like?

Weight: extreme weight loss.
Skin: pale skin.
Eyes: dark circles under the eyes.
Arms: track marks at injection sites.
Hygiene: poor personal hygiene.
Age: looks older than their real age.

What are the withdrawal symptoms of heroin?

Withdrawal symptoms are the unpleasant effects felt when a dependent person stops using a drug.

Pain: severe muscle and bone pain, and cramps.
Body reactions: chills and sweating.
Stomach upset: vomiting and diarrhoea.
Mind and sleep: panic, anxiety, insomnia and restlessness.
Cravings: a strong urge to use again.

What are the socio-economic effects of heroin?

Area	Effects
Family	Family breakdown, neglect of spouse and children, domestic violence, lost trust, shame in the community.
Economic	Unemployment, financial ruin, debt, theft to buy drugs, lost productivity, homelessness.
Social	Crime (drug dealing, theft, violence), lost friendships, isolation, insecurity in the community, loss of reputation.
Education and career	School dropout, expulsion, being sacked from jobs, ruined future prospects.

What are the effects of cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that speeds up the body and brain.

What is cocaine?

Cocaine, a white powder drug

Source: made from the coca plant.
Form: a white powder that is snorted, injected or smoked.
Crack cocaine: a crystal form that is smoked.
Street names: coke, blow, snow and crack.

What are the short-term health effects of cocaine?

Euphoria: an intense high.
Increased energy: hyperactivity.
Mental alertness: the user feels very awake.
Faster heart rate and higher blood pressure: the heart works too hard.
Dilated pupils: the pupils become very large.
Raised body temperature: the body becomes hot.
Reduced appetite: the user does not feel hungry.
Paranoia: extreme suspicion of others.
Restlessness and anxiety: the user cannot relax.
Unpredictable behaviour: may turn violent.

What are the long-term health effects of cocaine?

Heart attack and stroke: a major risk.
Brain damage: seizures and thinking problems.
Respiratory failure: a risk when it is smoked.
Nasal damage: a hole in the nose septum when it is snorted.
Weight loss: severe malnutrition.
Mental illness: paranoia and psychosis.
Convulsions: sudden shaking of the body.
Kidney damage: the kidneys are harmed.
Sexual dysfunction: problems in sexual health.
Sudden death: can happen even to first-time users.

What are the physical signs of cocaine use?

Eyes: dilated pupils.
Body: rapid weight loss, restlessness and twitching.
Nose: nosebleeds from snorting.
Lips and fingers: burn marks from smoking crack.

What are the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine?

Mood: severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
Energy: fatigue, exhaustion and slow movement.
Appetite: increased appetite.
Sleep: nightmares.
Cravings: a strong urge to use again.

What are the socio-economic effects of cocaine?

Area	Effects
Family	Neglect of children, domestic violence, abandonment, divorce, traumatised children.
Economic	Extreme poverty, job loss, theft and dealing, huge medical bills, lost income.
Social	Violence and crime, dangerous driving and accidents, community fear, spread of HIV and hepatitis, early death of young people.

What are sedatives?

Sedatives are drugs that calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety and help sleep, and they are very dangerous when misused.

What are the effects of Mandrax?

Mandrax (methaqualone) is a sedative-hypnotic drug that was first used to treat sleep disorders.

Mandrax tablets

What is Mandrax?

Use: originally used for sleep disorders.
Legal status: now illegal in most countries.
Risk: highly addictive.
How it is taken: often crushed and smoked with marijuana.
Street names: buttons, MX and white pipe.

What are the short-term health effects of Mandrax?

Drowsiness: extreme sleepiness.
Incoordination: the user cannot walk straight.
Slurred speech: sounds like a drunk person.
Confusion: the user cannot think clearly.
Reduced pain sensation: the body feels less pain.
Numbness in the limbs: arms and legs feel numb.
Dizziness: the head spins.
Nausea and vomiting: the user feels sick.

What are the long-term health effects of Mandrax?

Severe addiction: the user depends on the drug.
Brain damage: memory loss and poor thinking.
Liver and kidney damage: these organs are harmed.
Respiratory problems: lung damage when smoked.
Muscle weakness: general weakness of the body.
Mental health problems: depression and anxiety.
Convulsions and seizures: sudden shaking of the body.
Coma and death: a risk with overdose.

What does a Mandrax user look like?

Behaviour: acts drunk but has no smell of alcohol.
Movement: unsteady walk, poor coordination and tremors.
Speech and mind: slurred speech and a confused look.

What are the socio-economic effects of Mandrax?

Area	Effects
Education	Poor school performance, truancy, dropout, failed exams.
Family	Family conflicts, neglect of responsibilities, cost of treatment, shame and stigma.
Economic	Unemployment, poverty, being a burden on the family.
Social	Isolation, crime to get drugs, accidents when driving under the influence, pressure on the health system.

What are the effects of Valium?

Valium (diazepam) is a prescription sedative and tranquilliser that becomes highly addictive when abused.

What is Valium?

Family: belongs to the benzodiazepine family.
Medical use: treats anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms.
Street names: benzos, tranks and downers.

What are the short-term health effects of Valium?

Drowsiness: extreme tiredness.
Confusion: the user cannot think clearly.
Impaired coordination: the user is clumsy.
Slurred speech: unclear speech.
Weakness: no energy.
Dizziness: the head spins.
Memory problems: forgetfulness.
Depression: a low mood.

What are the long-term health effects of Valium?

Severe addiction: very hard to stop.
Tolerance: the user needs more of the drug to feel the same effect.
Depression: mental health gets worse.
Cognitive impairment: brain function declines.
Memory loss: long-term memory problems.
Liver damage: the liver is harmed.
Respiratory depression: slow, weak breathing.
General weakness: the body weakens.
Withdrawal seizures: stopping suddenly is dangerous.

What happens when Valium is mixed with alcohol?

Mixing Valium with alcohol is extremely dangerous.

Breathing: respiratory failure.
Consciousness: coma.
Outcome: death.

What are the physical signs of Valium abuse?

Appearance: looks drunk or sedated.
Body: tremors, shaking, sweating and poor coordination.
Mood: anxiety when the user cannot get the drug.

What are the socio-economic effects of Valium?

Area	Effects
Education	Poor performance, frequent absences, learning difficulties, academic failure.
Family	Mood swings and relationship problems, neglect of duties, cost of buying pills, worried family.
Work and economic	Errors and accidents at work, absenteeism, job loss, medical expenses.
Social	Isolation, depression, accidents when driving impaired, crime to get the pills illegally.

How do the effects of heroin, cocaine, Mandrax and Valium compare?

Heroin, Mandrax and Valium slow the body down, while cocaine speeds it up.

Aspect	Heroin	Cocaine	Mandrax	Valium
Type	Depressant (opioid)	Stimulant	Sedative	Sedative
Main effect	Extreme drowsiness	Excessive energy	Incoordination	Drowsiness, anxiety
Addiction risk	Very high	Very high	High	High
Overdose risk	Very high (death)	High (stroke, death)	High (coma)	High (especially with alcohol)
Withdrawal	Severe pain, chills	Severe depression	Convulsions	Seizures
Common sign	Track marks, tiny pupils	Dilated pupils, hyperactivity	Drunken behaviour	Weakness, confusion

What are the general socio-economic effects of substance abuse?

Substance abuse harms the individual, the family, the community and the nation.

Level	Effects
Individual	Poor health, lost potential, early death, poverty, legal problems.
Family	Family breakdown, suffering children, economic hardship, emotional trauma, social stigma.
Community	More crime, insecurity, pressure on healthcare, loss of youth, economic drain.
Nation	Lost productivity, high healthcare costs, security expenses, damaged international image, slow development.

What are the warning signs of drug abuse?

Warning signs of drug abuse are changes in a person’s body, behaviour and performance.

Physical signs

Weight: sudden weight changes.
Eyes: red or glassy eyes, and pupils that are very small or very large.
Body: poor hygiene, track marks, tremors and excessive sweating.

Behavioural signs

Mood: mood swings, aggression or lethargy.
Secrecy: secretiveness and frequent lying.
Stealing: money or items go missing.
Friends: a sudden group of new friends.
Duties: neglect of responsibilities.

Performance signs

Grades: declining grades.
Attendance: missing school or work.
Interest: loss of interest in activities.
Focus: poor concentration.

How can substance abuse be prevented?

Substance abuse is prevented by refusing drugs and by asking trusted adults for help.

Never experiment: do not try a drug even once.
All drugs are dangerous: there is no safe illegal drug.
Addiction is real: it can happen to anyone.
Help is available: speak to parents, teachers or other trusted adults.
Choose life: drug abuse can lead to death.

Evaluation

List five health effects of heroin.
State three socio-economic effects of cocaine.
Describe how Mandrax affects school performance.
State the dangers of Valium abuse.
Explain why drug abuse is a socio-economic problem.

Assignment

Design a poster that warns against drug abuse and shows two health effects and two social effects.

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