Are you aware of the effects of drugs? Will you be able to recognise signs that a loved one has a problem? Use this opportunity to upskill your knowledge.

The 26th of June is International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Complete the survey and gain some new knowledge.

1. Drugs affect people of the same height and weight in a similar same way
A. True
B. False

2. Which is most correct: It is difficult to quit drugs because…
A. You become psychologically dependent
B. They can change the brain’s reward centre
C. Your heart can’t beat right without them anymore
D. They change your willpower

3. Marijuana can be addictive
A. True
B. False

4. How will you be able to tell if someone is “sniffing” or “huffing” inhalants?
A. They might have chemical odours on their clothes
B. They might lose their appetite or feel like vomiting
C. They might have muscle weakness or move strangely
D. They might be very irritable or depressed
E. All of the above

5. Why is smoking marijuana regularly especially harmful to teens?
A. It can lower their IQ
B. It can affect their ability to drive safely
C. It can make them less motivated to do well in school
D. All of the above

6. If you suspect that a loved one is abusing drugs, it is best to wait to discuss the issue with the person until he or she is not high.
A. True
B. False

7. Most people who are treated for substance-use disorder need to stay in treatment for at least three months.
A. True
B. False

8. Using LSD may lead to mental health problems for the user
A. True
B. False

9. How can the use of marijuana (weed) lead to harder drugs?
A. People who use marijuana tend to experiment with other drugs
B. Marijuana users need other drugs to enhance the effects of weed
C. Because a marijuana user builds up a tolerance to marijuana, he or she seeks out stronger drugs to reach the same degree of high
D. One means of treating addiction to marijuana is by taking other drugs

10. What makes ecstasy dangerous?
A. It is made in unclean kitchen labs
B. You never know what’s actually in the drug
C. The different colours it comes in can be confusing
D. It makes users dance all night

 

Answers

1. B. Height and body weight are just two of the factors that determine how a person is affected by any particular drug, at any particular time. Some of the other factors that affect how a person will react to that drug include:

    • How much you take and how strong the drug is
    • Whether you have used the drug before and for how long
    • The environment you are in
    • How you are feeling at the time
    • What other drugs you may have taken.

2. B. Normally, the brain’s reward circuit responds to pleasurable experiences by releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure and tells the brain that this is something important − pay attention and remember it. Drugs hijack this system, causing unusually large amounts of dopamine to flood the system.

3. A. About 9% of people who use marijuana become dependent on it. The number increases to about one in six among those who start using it as a teen, and to 25 to 50% among daily users.

4. E. Did you know? People who inhale permanent markers or household products to get “high” can actually be damaging their brain and body, and in rare cases, can die quickly.

5. D. The teenage brain is still developing and smoking a psychoactive drug can affect that development. Research even shows that it can lower your IQ if you smoke it regularly in your teen years.

6. A. You should also wait until a time when the person is not upset or angry. The first step in talking to your teen or other family member is to express your love for him or her and your concern about his or her health and safety. You should also share with the person the warning signs you have seen. Emphasise that the problem needs serious attention and support because it can get out of control. You should remain calm, neutral and non-judgmental and listen to the person’s response.

7. A. The length of time needed for effective treatment varies from person to person. For most people, the minimum amount of time is three months. Just as length of treatment varies with the person, so does the type of treatment. No single treatment works for everyone. Detoxification is only the first step in drug treatment. This should be followed up with group or individual counselling. A person who abuses drugs needs to learn skills to resist drugs and new activities to replace those associated with drugs.

8. A. It can trigger underlying mental health problems and produce paranoia and schizophrenia-like states. It can also result in personality changes.

9. C. Someone who is using marijuana is likely to be in contact with other users and sellers of other drugs, increasing the risk of being encouraged or tempted to try them. People at high risk of using drugs may start out by using marijuana because it is easy to get.

10. B. Did you know? Ecstasy interferes with the brain’s essential chemical functions. It can scramble the body’s temperature signals to the brain, which can cause hypothermia, dehydration or heat stroke. Many users of ecstasy tend to mix it with other drugs, most commonly alcohol, which can exacerbate the drug’s harmful effects.

 

Sources
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/quiz/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/take-iq-challenge/2015
http://www.murrieta.k12.ca.us/cms/lib5/CA01000508/centricity/domain/70/drug_awareness_quiz.pdf
http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthlibrary/related/doc.php?type=40&id=DrugAbuseQuiz