1. Luci Artigas,
Yael Ramirez,
Erick Nuñez,
Ana P. Soltero,
Brenda Santos

2. Definition of “drug”
• a substance that it is used to prevent diseases
or as a medication.
• a chemical substance that affects the central
nervous system.
• Chemicals or substances that
change the way our bodies work.

3. Helpful or Harmful
The effects of drugs can Vary depending upon
• the kind of drug taken
• How much is taken
• How often it is used
• How quickly it gets to the brain
• What other drugs, food, or substances are
taken at the same time.
• Effects can also vary based on the differences
in body size, shape, and chemistry

4. HOW DO DRUGS WORK?
• Drugs are essentially poisons. The amount
taken determines the effect.
• A small amount acts as a stimulant (speeds
you up). A greater amount acts as a sedative
(slows you down). An even larger amount
poisons and can kill.

5. • When you put them into your body by swallowing,
inhaling, or injecting them, drugs find their way into
your bloodstream and are transported to parts of
your body, such as your brain.

6. In our brain…
• The Reticular Activating System: Drugs like barbiturates
produce sedation and make you lose consciousness.
With amphetamines, caffeine and other stimulants = feel alert,
awake and of a good mood.
LSD and Cannabis affect this area by changing the sensory
feeling.
• The Cerebellum : depressant drugs attack the cells and
cause in coordination in the body movement &
balance.
• The Medulla Oblongata: if overdose of depressants =
cease the function may die of suffocation and heart
stoppage.

7. In our brain…
• In the cerebral cortex: affect in your ability of
perception and sensation.
 Decreases the alertness and concentration.
 drugs that increase the cellular activity can cause
hallucinations and awareness of the surrounding.
• Hypothalamus : many make us to feel satiety,
pleasure and do not feel hungry.
• Limbic System: when consumed and the person
like it, this emotional content of the experience is
saved here
will make you repeat this

8. Medical effects
• There are thousands drugs that help people.
Antibiotics and vaccines have
revolutionized the treatment of infections.
• Lower blood pressure,
• Treat diabetes,
• Reduce the body's rejection of new organs.
• Medicines can cure, slow, or prevent disease.

9. • But there are also…
lots of illegal, harmful drugs that people take to
help them feel good or have a good time.

10. How do drugs get you high?
• The brain constantly produces chemicals
(neurotransmitters) to keep you in a normally
happy state of mind.
• These chemicals are kept in balance by
receptor cells that absorb any excess.
• Street drugs block this reuptake process so
that the brain becomes saturated with
"happy" chemicals, causing you to act in
unnatural or silly ways.

11. How do drugs get you high?
Drugs have molecular
structures so similar to
the brain’s natural
neurotransmitters that
they mimic the
neurotransmitters
themselves, dock
directly with receptor
on neurons and
overstimulate them.

12. Cites
• http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drug
s/know_about_drugs.html#