1. Chapter 3 Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Mood-Altering Drugs By: Erin Doherty

2. Drugs Women & Girls Use: Women abuse legal drugs such as: Alcohol Most common drug used by women 45% females over the age of 12 15% of women in this age range report current binge drinking, 3% report heavier alcohol use

3. Drugs Women & Girls Use: Tobacco About 21% of Women smoke The percentage of women smokers can vary depending on: Age, race/ ethnicity, income, education, occupation, sexual orientation, and mental an physical ability.

4. Drugs Women & Girls Use: Mood-Altering Prescription Drugs Medications such as pain relievers, sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers can be used and abused in non medical ways. A survey found that 3% of girls and women in the U.S aged 12 or over were using mood-altering prescription drugs for non medical reasons.

5. Illegal Drugs Marijuana Most commonly used illegal drug 4% of girls and women over age of 12 got reported for current use of marijuana

6. Illegal Drugs Cocaine, Ecstasy, Heroine 6% of girls and women in the U.S aged 12 or over were current users of illegal drugs Under 1% of girls and women reported current users of cocaine, ecstasy, and heroine

7. How substance abuse affects our health

8. Effects Alcohol: Can diminish motor coordination, judgment, emotional control, and reasoning power Increases the risks of accidents, injuries, and vulnerability to violence Low level of drinking can still disrupt normal menstral cycles Drinking can increase the risk of: Mouth, esophageal, and liver cancer Major depression, epilepsy, and cirrhosis of the liver

9. Effects Tobacco: Smoking has extreme consequences to our health Smokers are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes Smoking causes almost 90% of lung cancer and deaths in women Lung diseases including: emphysema, asthma, and bronchitis Women who smoke may have more trouble becoming pregnant, and women who smoke during pregnancy can cause multiple birth defects

10. Effects Tranquilizers: Mood- altering drugs such as anxiety, antidepressants, and sedatives have been marked to women. Can harm memory and reasoning, balance and coordination More dangerous to women who are pregnant or elderly

11. Quote “I will never touch another benzo again as long as I live. I would rather die then go through what I did on it, and the horrible withdrawal.” (Pg. 49) This quote goes to show that people suffer into not realizing their own addiction and behavior. Once an individual has over exceeded taking their medication, or they depend on their prescribed drug for other reasons, it’s become a problem. People struggle because it takes more than themselves to initiate they have an issue. Once they seek help, withdrawing from the drugs is almost as bad as the addiction itself.

12. Best Solution Recognize The Problem: Help yourself or others by first, recognizing your problem, and then seeking help. There are many options to involve yourself with breaking the addiction and curing the abuse.

13. Reference Page Text: Boston Women’s Health Collective Our Bodies, Ourselves Chapter 3 Internet: www.google.com (images)