Click on the widget below to go to National Drug Facts Week Home page http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/. Tab through to "Share: Click here to highlight the code for this widget and paste it into your Web page." and to Click for more information which links to NDFW's home page, http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/, and NIDA"s home page, http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html.

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Transcript for 2011 Chat Day

The transcript is in reverse chronological order (earlier questions are at the bottom of this page)

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 sfelder - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: do rehab treatments raeally work

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: In addition to stopping drug abuse, the goal of treatment is to return people to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and community. According to research that tracks individuals in treatment over extended periods, most people who get into and remain in treatment stop using drugs, decrease their criminal activity, and improve their occupational, social, and psychological functioning.

Unfortunately, when relapse occurs many deem treatment a failure. This is not the case: successful treatment for addiction typically requires continual evaluation and modification as appropriate, similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases. For the addicted patient, lapses to drug abuse do not indicate failure—rather, they signify that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted, or that alternate treatment is needed.

For more information, see www.drugabuse.gov/PODAT/faqs.html#faq3.
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 kmassey - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is the best way for someone to quit using drugs?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: 
I would encourage them to stop using drugs by having them become aware of the negative consequences drug use has on their brain and bod.  You can refer them to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php .  If they are unable to stop using drugs talk to them about treatment. 

When someone has a drug problem, it's not always easy to know what to do.  If your friend is using drugs, encourage them to talk to a parent or another trusted adult such as a favorite teacher or a school guidance counselor.  If they don't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different problems.  Or if they're ready to think about treatment, your friend can check SAMHSA's Treatment Facility Locator for programs in your area (http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov -- there are programs out there just for adolescents.  You can also contact these resources yourself and get advice on how to help your friend.

Since you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend -- that means finding ways to offer advice without being judgmental, showing support by listening, and finding ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it.  Thanks for your question.  I hope this helps.

More information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov .  Take care of yourself and remember you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only support them. 


For more information on treatment, check out:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
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 sshs12 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: how much does it take to over dose on weed

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Too many factors to say for sure.  How pure is the sample?  Is the user experienced such that their body is accustomed to it?
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what if u catch your cousin doing drugs what should u do

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hi - great question.  If you know someone who is using drugs and want to help them stop, it's not always easy to know what to do.  You can inform yourself with the harmful effects of drug abuse and addiction (see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/) and then try to encourage him or her to talk to a parent or another trusted adult, like a school guidance counselor, minister, friend, or family member.  If your cousin doesn't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different kinds of problems.  Or they can contact the Treatment Referral Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).  Or you can contact these resources yourself for advice on how to help your cousin. 

Because you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend/cousin that is not judgmental -- you don't want to make your friend to feel like they're being judged, you can show support by listening, and find ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it.  Good luck and I hope this helps.
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 pwillis - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can you by the 'magic' mushrooms at the grocery store?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Nope.  The mushrooms that contain psilocybin are not found in grocery stores.  Sorry!
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 jmontenegro - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can pain killers affect your health?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Yes they can. Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants, are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine

For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php

Explore what happens when teens use prescription drugs such as pain killers here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/choose-your-path/
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 master - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: do teens smoke more in highschool or in college?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, what a good question!  According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 19% of high school seniors and 16% of college students report they are current smokers.  So overall they're pretty similar---most people who smoke start in high school so if you can avoid it in high school it would be a smart heath strategy!
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: Can marijuana be put in a drink and have the same effects?

Expert Icon Dave White: Ingesting marijuana still produces a 'high' as with smoking.  However, it takes longer to get into your system and since you don't know how much you're getting, it could ultimately be more dangerous and cause more paranoia and psychosis, as some emergency room reports have indicated.
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 Brian N - Johnson Middle School, California: Why do people do drugs?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  People say they use drugs because they think it will be 'fun.'  Some say they use them to relieve stress. Either way, drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine.

Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
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 pwillis - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people do drugs to relive stress when there are other unharmful ways to do so?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because drugs can act FAST to the brain-- and predictably-- for people experienced with them.  They do so even at the risk of becoming addicted, unfortunately.
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 fkhan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: does treatment really work or can a person go crazy agin

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Drug and alcohol treatment do really work.  Quitting using alcohol and drug abuse/addiction can be very difficult, but treatment is quite effective.

If you know someone that has a drug problem, it's not always easy to know what to do.  If your friend is using drugs, encourage him or her to talk to a parent or another trusted adult such as a favorite teacher or a school guidance counselor.  If they don't feel comfortable doing that, they can use anonymous resources, such as SAMHSA's crisis line (1-800-273-TALK) -- they help people with lots of different problems.  Or if they're ready to think about treatment, your friend can check SAMHSA's Treatment Facility Locator for programs in your area (http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov -- there are programs out there just for adolescents.  You can also contact these resources yourself and get advice on how to help your friend.

Since you've asked this question, you probably already know that right now it's really important to be a good friend -- that means finding ways to offer advice without being judgmental, showing support by listening, and finding ways to offer help when they're ready to receive it.  Thanks for your question.  I hope this helps.
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 UMaD BrO? - The Blake School, Minnesota: are you getting tired of answering questions?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: It's both tiring and invigorating!  I've been here since 8 AM and it is now 5:58!!  Thanks for asking your questions--it was a lot of fun.
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 cngo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how crazy can you get from using drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Depends on the drug. Some hallucinogens are the worst.  Lots of news stories on suspects high on PCP (phencyclidine) wrestling 8 cops etc.  However, in terms of causing radical personality change, many drugs could do that, such as in the process of addiction.
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 37331 - Johnson Middle School, California: what do drugs do to people

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  We have some great research to answer this. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
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 120136 - Francis Scott Key Middle School, Maryland: what type of drugs are their?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Lots.

Check out this site:
www.teens.drugabuse.gov, a Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities.
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 echan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Are some prescription medicines harmful to your body?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, most drugs have side effects that could cause a lot of problems to the body, or even kill if taken in large amounts.  Even Tylenol could permanently damage the liver if overdosed.  Also anti-cancer drugs can have severe side effects, such that the only reason people take them is that they will die from the cancer otherwise!

The other risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it.
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 mhernandez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is meth illegal

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Yes, unless it is prescribed by a doctor. 
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 efeliciano - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do you think drugs make you feel better when there is something wrong?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Good question! Drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine.

Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.
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 SSHS22 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: Besides actual drugs, what else can you get 'high' of off?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: 'high' is a funny term, but you can get kicks from all sorts of things. Gambling, the internet...
You can absolutely get a natural high by doing things that you enjoy, such hanging with friends and eating great foods (but not too much).  You may also want to consider exercising (believe it or not!). Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which produce a sense of euphoria (well being). So, participating in a sport is an excellent way to boost your mood.
One of the great things about natural highs--besides the fact that they don't put you at risk for addiction and other bad consequences--is that they don't have 'aversive' side effects or withdrawal effects. For example, stimulants make people high, but they also make people nervous, edgy, and sometimes paranoid. Opiates cause physical discomofort and blah feelings as they leave the body. With natural highs, you just get the high--well, maybe some sore muscles the next day.

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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: How does alcohol affect the brain exactly?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 xiomara - Rockville HS, Maryland: is marijuana addictive?

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling:  That's a great question. Despite what many people think, marijuana is indeed addicitve. Approximately 9% of people who smoke marijuana eventually become addicted to it--moreso when they start as teens. People can also experience a number of withdrawal symptoms (signifying addiction) when they try to quit, including irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings.  The effects can last several weeks but will eventually get better.  For more information check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html and our updated teen booklet on marijuana: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: How did people come to know about mushrooms as a drug?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Probably trial and error by people. Probably lots of error since many many types of mushrooms are toxic and can be fatal, and there is really only a few species of mushrooms that can get you high.
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 sn - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people make and advertise things that could kill you like ciggarettes?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Good question.  I wish they wouldn't.  We just have to be smart about what we read--don't believe everything! For more information on tobacco/nicotine addiction, go to: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
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 sparikh - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is there a drug that can make your brain work 100 % of time

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Ah, you don't need any drugs to make your brain work 100% of the time...it already is!  Your brain is always working, doing many things to keep you alive and functioning...even when you sleep. Never underestimate your brain's power!  Keep it healthy...
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What percent of people live from mixing drugs and over doseing them?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi,
You can find the information on the DAWN survey at the SAMHSA website!
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 wramirez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: why do drugs tear families apart?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Drug use can affect people in so many ways.  It can affect their mental health, their phyical health, the ability to do well in school, their ability to function in the jobs, it can land them in prison, and it can kill. And it can seriously impair their relationships with those they love most.  Drug addiction does not just affect the addicted individual.  It affects their family also.  People can become devasted by seeing how drugs are affecting a family member they love dearly. It can be very difficult to cope with an addicted family member.  This is why treatment is so important, not only for the addicted person but also for the family members.  There are many support groups for family members and often addicted individuals and their family can benefit from family therapy. 
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 mthomas - Riverside Junior High, Kansas: How can behavior therapy help treat drug addiction?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Behavioral treatments have been shown to be quite effective at treating drug addiction.  We are developing many different behavioral treatment approaches that will be effective and implementable - now even computerized.  The particular techniques vary within the different approaches of behavioral treatment and are usually dependent on the particular kind of problem.  Common approaches include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviors; questioning and testing cognitions, assumptions, evaluations and beliefs that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting.  Relaxation, mindfulness, and distraction techniques are also commonly included. In very general terms, these approaches give the individual strategies for effectively dealing with their addiction and the associated symptoms (for example, with cravings, obsessive thoughts).

To find information on treatment programs, go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is the worst drug

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs on a scale of 'worse-ness.' The drug that is used by a person is the worst--so it's a case-by-case basis.  The reason for this vague answer is because people are different, and addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.

No matter what, all drugs are bad for your body.  For more information on specific drugs and their actions on your body, see: www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html.
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 Wclimo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why does alcohol mess up liver?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking is really hard on the liver. It's hard to say how long it will take for a person who drinks heavily to experience liver failure since this all varies from person to person.

What we do know is that heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.
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 sparikh - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why do people start to use drugs

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  There are many reasons that people start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. For smoking, stress is a common reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop.  And, it's not cool.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction:  www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/.

 
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if you mixed all kinds of alchohol what woulyou get ? and what would happen if you drank it?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The kind of alcohol in the beverages people drink is all the same. So the effects wouldn't be different by mixing differet types of drinks. It would just taste weird.
You can learn more here:
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How does heroin shrink parts of your brain?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Probably because the heroin molecule binds with (attaches to) specialized matching molecules on or inside of nerve cells, that in turn triggers a series of events in the cell, to tell it to either shrink or self-destruct (a process called apoptosis).  However, at this point, because brain scans are of healthy living people, we don't know what is going on at the microscopic level.  We would need to take brain slices of deceased users to investigate that, which is complicated....
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: can all drugs kill you?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Yes.  Even water can kill you.  The dose makes the poison.  All drugs can kill you at a given dose.  Check this out: less than a drop of nicotine will kill you on the spot.  It is one of the most toxic substances known!  For more information, see: http://drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/consequences.html.
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 Nittany Lions - Rockville HS, Maryland: When people have cancer, did they use medical marijuana to help them feel not suffering from cancer/

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Marijuana is not an approved medicine--only the FDA can approve medicines and marijuana has not met the standards required for approval.  These are rigorous clinical trials for its safety and benefits to treat a condition relative to its risks.  However, marinol is an approved medication that contains THC marijuana's active ingredient in pill form.  It is used for treating nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy and extreme weight loss associated with AIDS.  Scientists are studying other ingredients in marijuana or other ways to affect the system that marijuana acts on for possible effects on pain, obesity, addiction and other problems. 
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 scnawrot - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What is considered to be an alcoholic?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.
If you know someone who might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help. 

To learn more, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is heroina plant like marijuana

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Good question.  Kind of.  Heroin is a chemical version of opium, which come from the sap (milk) of the poppy.  Marijuana is generally the leaf of the cannabis plant with no additional chemical modification or extraction.
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 IMS712 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: how can drinking alcohol harm or affect your childs growth?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:

During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.

As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. 
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 cacrowe14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How much alcohol does it take to die?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
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 kmassey - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is Ecstacy exactly?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Kmassey:  Ecstasy, also known by its chemical name methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA, for short), is a type of amphetamine, but it also produces effects similar to some hallucinogens. MDMA affects the brain by increasing the activity of at least three neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of brain cells): serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. MDMA causes these neurotransmitters to be released from their storage sites in neurons, resulting in increased neurotransmitter activity. We know from studies in animals that MDMA can produce long-lasting damage to serotonin neurons. Serotonin is important in regulating mood, sleep, body temperature, pain and other critical functions. In fact, some of the medications used to treat depression directly target this system. From imaging the brains of people, we find that there are changes in this system too, but we do not know how long those changes last. People who abuse MDMA tend to get depressed or anxious and to have trouble remembering recent events. These effects can be short-lived or longer-lasting depending on how much drug is used, how often, and whether or not other drugs are also being abused (marijuana is fairly common in MDMA users). Some people who use MDMA also have other difficulties with their abilities to make decisions and with their sleeping patterns. Of course, you will likely suffer more severe problems if you use MDMA often or in large amounts.
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 srose - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how long does it take to recover from drugs and you want to stop

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It really depends on the drug and how long it has been taken for. There is not one answer, but usually the worst of the withdrawal is over in a week. The treatment locater on the SAMHSA.gov website has places where someone can find places to get help.
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 nlp14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What type of alchohol has the highest effect?

Expert Icon Aaron White: A single serving of beer, wine or liquor contains the same amount of alcohol. So they would all have the same effects if you drank the same number of servings of each.
You can learn more about how much alcohol different drinks contain here: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 kmassey - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is snorting cocaine worse for your body than smoke it?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Probably not.  Actually smoking cocaine is more risky, because it causes the brain to get the drug and the 'hit' and high faster.  This will in turn help the brain associate what's in the scene around the user with the drug high, and increase the risk that the person will get addicted.

Repeated intranasal cocaine can damage the membranes of the nose though.  However, I think the addiction risk is worse.
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 paul b - MillSprings Academy, Georgia: What percentage of teens AND adults either smoke or use illegal drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: hi Paul! Thanks for your question!   According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use and 27% were current users of tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, smokeless) in 2010. In the same survey, 10% of youth ages 12-17 reported current use of an illicit drug and 11% current use of tobacco products.
Moderator Icon Thank you all for your outstanding questions!  We are working hard to answer them.  We encourage you to learn more about NIDA on our website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/nidahome.html.
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 sn - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: lets say I was a drug adict and I have been on drugs since I was 10, how dose my future look?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Let's say, hypothetically, you should look for some sort of treatment.

To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

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 sn - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if I was on drugs and i needed help because I am trying to stop but didn't know how to ask what shoud I do?

Expert Icon Dave White: You're very brave to ask this.  If you need help with an addcition, you can get it by calling 1-800-662-HELP or going to http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.  You can also tell a trusted adult who can assist you in finding help.
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 lruiz - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what does the national institute on drug abuse do ?

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: We support most of the world's research on the health effects of drugs of abuse, including tobacco, illegal and prescription drugs, how to prevent their use, and how to treat people who become addicted. We also take that the results of that research and help to educate people like you about what drugs do to the brain and body to help you make healthy decisions for your own life. Thanks for asking.
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 dkreidie - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can marijuana kill you?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: yup, in time. 
It is unhealthy to smoke marijuana, and the more you smoke the more unhealthy it is. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health.
Marijuana also affects attention and slows reflexes, which can increase your chances of being in a car wreck. About 14 percent of people who died in fatal car wrecks in one recent year had marijuana in their blood.
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 dstanley - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What in an ADHD person makes it ok (i mean like doesnt have a bad effect) when they take meth (in their ADHD medicine)

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi. Meth is not an ADHD medication. ADHD medication does have a stimulant in it but if taken as directed it is safe. But it must be taken by the person that it is prescribed for and in the amount prescribed. We have more information on our web site you might find interesting: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ADHD.html.
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 mwise - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what are some of the worst drugs and can i please get a little discription of each because i was doing reaserch and i was realy interesting

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Some drugs have essentially zero history of people actually dying from an acute overdose.  Cocaine, heroin, and alcohol though (just to name a few, and especially in combination) are particularly deadly culprits.  Ecstasy is also particularly dangerous because it's known to cause brain damage.

Consider also that people can still indirectly die from drug use if they're driving while drunk or high or otherwise doing stupid, dangerous Darwin Award stuff....
Here are a couple of links to what science has to say about these drugs-- what they do, and their dangers: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/ and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
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 emendoza - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can lsd kill you?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: You bet.  You can overdose, or it can cause you to do something stupid that could get you killed.  It has unpredictable psychological effects. People can experience delusions and visual hallucinations that can be frightening. In fact, 'bad trips' can include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of insanity, death, or losing control. For more information about LSD, visit NIDA's website at www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html.
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 iwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How does smoking marijuana affect you and your daily life?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Smoking marijuana on a regular basis can have a big effect on your daily life.  You will find that it is harder to pay attention to things, and that your memory is not as sharp as it had been.  You may find that you start oversleeping, have difficulty waking up in the morning, or take a lot of naps.  And worse, you may find that smoking marijuana becomes an increasingly important part of your life, and that you stop doing other things like sports, playing in a band, or even videogames because you spend more and more of your time high on marijuana and not really doing anything else.  That's a pretty big effect on your daily life.
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 ltrevino - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how many teens smoke every year

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, ltrevino , thanks for your question. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors in the US reported they were current smokers (in the past month). That means about 80% don't smoke! 
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 echan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if a family member doesn't go to those places that help you quit smoking, how can you help them?

Expert Icon Dave White: It's great that you want to help your family member quit smoking (cigarettes presumably).  Both medications and behavioral strategies (like counseling) are used to treat nicotine addiction. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
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 sw00p - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what long term affect does alchool have on a persons body

Expert Icon Aaron White: Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: does it take long to become addict

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to give a timeline for addiction to take hold because it depends on the drug and the person. Addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.

We know this, though.  Once you try drugs, you are at a much higher risk of becoming addicted.
Moderator Icon  Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation.
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: It it true if you drink and smoke you lungs won't turn black?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Who told you that?  You better find some friends you can trust.  Your lungs will turn black if you smoke.  Period.


 Lung cancer

Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
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 Sabrina - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is it worse to snort, smoke, or inject?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Injecting is worse--in part because of the link to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis; followed by smoking and snorting.  This is based on how quickly a drug would get to the brain, which contributes to its addictiveness.
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 jvu - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: About how many years does it take for you to stop taking a drug?

Expert Icon Dave White: Hi, jvu.  Many people struggle with drug addiction, but with proper treatment, quitting is an achievable goal.  How long it takes will depend on a number of factors, including what drugs someone is taking, how much they're taking, and for how long. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html for more info.
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 sfelder - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is spice a.k.a k2

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Spice/K2 is the latest fad drug that is being used. It is a herbal mixture that appears to contain some chemicals that are similar to THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) and other stuff that looks to me like oregano. Other names for “Spice” include K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana. Although Spice products do contain dried plant material, chemical analyses of seized Spice mixtures have revealed different things---including the presence of synthetic compounds and potentially harmful heavy metal residues.

Presently, there are no studies on the effects of Spice on human health or behavior, and there is no scientific data regarding their toxic effects in humans. A variety of mood and perceptual effects have been described, and patients who have been taken to Poison Control Centers in Texas report symptoms that include rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, confusion, and hallucinations.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently banned five synthetic cannabinoids by placing them in Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule I status means that the substance is considered to have a high potential for abuse and no known medical benefits; and as such, it is illegal to possess or sell products that contain the substance. This ban went into effect December 2010, and will continue for one year while the DEA continues to gather information about the chemicals.

A number of States have also instituted bans on Spice and Spice-like products and/or synthetic cannabinoid-containing products, and many others are considering legislation forbidding the sale or possession of Spice.

Hope this helps.
Moderator Icon  Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that the amount of alcohol in your blood, also called blood alcohol concentration (BAC), reaches 0.08g/dL, which is considered legally intoxicated.
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 sshs12 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: why do people die from drinking and driving?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.

In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!! 
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 sshs - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: why do drugs come with so many side affects?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Every drug has side effects.  It is the job of the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the scientific data that shows how much of a beneficial effect a drug has and how many side effects a drug has, and whether a drug can be prescribed by doctors.  Every drug approved by the FDA has a label what lists the side effects of the drug.  Next time you get a prescription from your doctor read the label to see not only what side effects the drug produces but also how frequent those effects are. Abused drugs are no different - they also have side effects in addition to their other harmful effects 
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 KAng - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: which drug is worse alcohol or smoking?Smoking right?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for asking. Any smoking is bad for a person and can cause damage. Low dose alcohol for adult--2 drinks for men or one drink a day for women--can have health benifits. but in excess it can cause many medical problems including death. I hope that answers your question. 
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you know someone use tabacco what can i do to help them?

Expert Icon Dave White: As you know, nicotine is highly addictive, and long-term exposure increases your risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other illnesses.  The good news for people with nicotine addiction is that help is available. Both medications and behavioral strategies (like counseling) are used to treat nicotine addiction. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
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 J Nguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can people be hallucinated when taking hallucinogens?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Dude, what does hallucinated mean? Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php.  Research shows that, for example, 'shrooms have a substance called psilocybin in them, which is an hallucinogen.  These hallucinogens have been linked to negative physical and psychological consequences.  The physical effects appear about 20 minutes after ingestion and last about 6 hours.  These effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination.  People say that the hallucinations they experience are indistinguishable from reality.  They usually have panic attacks and psychosis...doesn't sound good to me!
Some hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens.  But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:
  • LSD, also called acid
  • MDA, also called the “love drug,” related to the stimulant amphetamine
  • MDMA, known as ecstasy, also related to amphetamine
  • PCP, often called angel dust
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 THC isaddictive - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: Many of my students claim that marijuana is harmless and not addictive. Could you explain the process of how marijuana is addictive?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: THC--the active ingredient in marijuana is what makes it addictive.  There are receptors in the brain (and the body) where THC acts, and these are found in many areas of the brain, which explains its varied effects--on memory, coordination, and on mood. THC receptors are also in the reward system, and like other drugs of abuse marijuana increases dopamine.  This is what makes it pleasurable and what makes people want to take it again and again. Like most drugs, not everyone who uses it will become addicted.  The same could be said for heroin and nicotine--but no one would question their addictiveness.  There are risk factors that make someone vulnerable to becoming addicted to any drug--early use, frequent use (25-50% of daily marijuana users become addicted), genes, family circumstances, etc.  I hope this helps--please check out our marijuana for teen brochure http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/  and other resources on our website for more information about marijuana:
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 sshs12 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: what can coain do to your brain?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It can cause lesions or small areas of damage to white matter, the fiber bundles that transmit information between our neurons.  In addition, it can cause shrinkage in gray matter in certain areas.  Finally, since it causes a sudden increase in heart rate and blood pressure, it could actually cause a stroke.  On a more subtle level, it can change how the brain communicates with itself, as found in scans of brain activity when people are just vegging out.
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 Tinkerbell97 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: why is red wine better for you?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Red wine contains high levels of a compound called resveratrol, which is good for the heart.
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 sshs3 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: What are the side effects of useing staroids?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: There are many.  Here's one that most people don't know...steroids cause testicles to shrink!!  For more information on steroids, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Steroids.html.
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 pwillis - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Would docters prescribe prescription drugs that are dangerous to you?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Prescription medications are not dangerous if taaken as prescribed and by the person they are prescribed for. The problems you are hearing about are because people are abusing the medicine. We have a website that you might find interesting: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/.
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 dpb101 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how long after drinking is a breathalizer valid?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It takes roughly 1.5 hours for the body to get rid of one serving of alcohol. So a breathalyzer should be able to detect alcohol for at least 1.5 hours times the number of drinks a person consumed (e.g., 10 drinks times 1.5 hours equals 15 hours before the breathalyzer would show 0.00).
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 cngo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is worse? nicotine or cocaine?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: They are both bad. Here's a long answer but I hope it helps.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It is one of the oldest known psychoactive substances. Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start. See www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.

Nicotine is the primary addictive component in a cigarette.  Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted.  So why is it addictive? With each puff of a cigarette, a smoker pulls nicotine and other harmful substances into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood. It takes just 8 seconds for nicotine to hit the brain. Nicotine happens to be shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of many chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry messages between brain cells. Neurons (brain cells) have specialized proteins called receptors, into which specific neurotransmitters can fit, like a key fitting into a lock. Nicotine locks into acetylcholine receptors, rapidly causing changes in the brain and body. For instance, nicotine increases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration (breathing). Nicotine also attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release excess dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug.
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 Brian N - Johnson Middle School, California: Why is marijuana used so commonly?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because it can be home-grown, and is sometimes considered medically beneficial.  Also, compared to other, harder drugs, it is not nearly as dangerous in terms of dying from an overdose, although there are a fair number of car accident fatalities where marijuana was involved.
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 lbatrez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why are drugs so addicting? why is it hard to get out of it ? can we get cancer from it ?

Expert Icon Dave White: lbatrez, virtually all abusable drugs legal and illegal can be addicting because they 'highjack' the reward pathways of the brain.  They initially make people feel good but with repeated use, the effects are much less, and more and more drug is needed to produce the same high as at first. At this point the person is addicted--and addicted people do drugs not to feel good anymore, but just to feel normal. It's very hard to stop on your own when this happens, because withdrawal can cause painful physical and psychological effects (see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html for more). As far as getting cancer, you're definitely more suceptible to getting cancer if you smoke cigarettes than if you don't.  Thanks for your question.
What is Rohypnol?
The correct answer is: C. A date rape drug. It is a kind of drug called a benzodiazepine that is used as a “date rape” drug. If it is dropped into your drink you might be awake but will not remember anything, and you could be helpless against a sexual attack. You should always be careful when out with people you do not trust or know well.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
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 kgonzales - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why is the drinking age 21? Does it have a different effect on adults?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The US created the 1984 law raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were getting hurt by drinking alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people killed in alcohol-related car crashes.  By contrast, kids drink more heavily in places like Europe and Australia, where the drinking age is lower than 21.

For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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 kgonzales - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is it legal for children to take pain killers?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Children get pain and require pain medications. It is just important to take them as the doctor prescribes--in that case they are safe and legal.
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 kbyers - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Is there a chance, if so what %, of becoming an alcoholic if a family member was an alcoholic?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Having a close family member who is an alcoholic increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic. How much it increases the odds depends on a variety of factors, including what age you start drinking yourself (younger age = greater risk).
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 iofoegbu - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Do Inhalants causes brain seizure?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I'm not sure about brain seizures, but here's want I do know about inhalants. They seem harmless, but they can actually be quite dangerous. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache.  Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system.  One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.  Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.

Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.

Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
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 Dulce - Johnson Middle School, California: what could happen if you do drugs while being preg

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Johnson Middle School. We had similar questions about drug use during pregnancy today.  We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana does get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school.  So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development.  Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Hope this is helpful!

Moderator Icon  Drug addiction can be treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person’s specific circumstances. To find treatment programs, check out this website: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
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 scnawrot - Cathedral High School, Indiana: If you consume alcohol once a week when you are a teen, what does that do to your body?

Expert Icon Aaron White: For teenagers, even moderate consumption of alcohol appears to be harmful. Research shows that having alcohol during the teen years increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home. It isn't clear how much alcohol is needed to directly damage the brain during the teen years, but it is probably more than the amount of alcohol considered to be moderate for adults (no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men). Even if the brain is spared from being damaged by moderate consumption during the teen years, the risk of becoming an alcoholic is increased significantly.
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 Sweetheart101 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: how does drinking alcohol and using drugs change a kid's life?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Drinking alcohol and using drugs can have significant negative effects on your brain, your body, your behavior, and your health.  Also, keep in mind that it is illegal to take alcohol and drugs.  Your brain is developing still and drugs/alcohol can affect the normal development of your brain.  You want to do all that you can to keep your brain healthy!

Drug and alcohol use can result in addiction to these substances, which can lead to lots of problems and truly change your life, and keep you from achieving all those goals that you might have or want to have.

For more information on drugs and alcohol check out:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ and http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/.
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 sparikh - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why is the smell of gasoline so addictive

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yuck, to tell you the truth, I don't like the smell of gasoline at all.  If I spill even a drop on my clothes when filling up my car, I get a bad headache.  But some people do like 'huffing' gasoline and other volatile chemicals (like glue or paint thinner) because it makes them dizzy and disoriented, and they consider that to be getting 'high'.  Unfortunately, inhalants are one of the types of drugs that really do kill brain cells and cause long term brain damage. 
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 noahsark - Cathedral High School, Indiana: My parents both dont drink. Am i less likely to drink than my friends whos parents both do?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Statistically, yes.
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How do hallucinogens effect us?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey...thanks for your question.  Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php

Some hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens.  But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:

  • LSD, also called acid
  • MDA, also called the “love drug,” related to the stimulant amphetamine
  • MDMA, known as ecstasy, also related to amphetamine
  • PCP, often called angel dust
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 nlp14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What type of alcohol damages your brain the most?

Expert Icon Aaron White: All drinks containing alcohol have both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 ggaibort - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how can you sniff drugs up you noise?? doesn't it burn your nostrils??? whaat does it do to your brain

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Ggaibort:  Believe it or not, people do sniff drugs.  Nasty.  Not only does it burn your nose, you may experience loss of smell, a chronically runny nose, nosebleeds, hoarseness, and problems swallowing.   
And, we have some great research to answer how drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can drugs brainwash you?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Not quite sure I know exactly what you mean by 'brainwashing' you.  If you are asking if drugs can affect the brain and hijack certain brain circuits, there is growing evidence that  drugs can do this.  It really is the process of addiction where drugs change the brain such that we are no longer in control of our behaviors. 

The definition of addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drugs are needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.

So I think addiction is a kind of 'brainwash'!

To learn more, check out 'The Science of Addiction' at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/.
PollI think drug users are losers.
59% - Yes
32% - No
10% - Maybe
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 hmdowns14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many teens smoke/drink in the USA?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, thanks for your question.  According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors in the US reported they were current smokers (in the past month). That means about 80% don't smoke! In the same study 14% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders, and 41% of high school seniors reported they were current drinkers and about 5% of 8th, 15% of 10th, and 27% of 12th graders reported they had been drunk in the past month.
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 jburleson - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what does pain killlers really do for you ?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi, and thanks for the question, which I will answer in the context of abusing pain killers.  Many people think that since pain killers are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. So it is not really true that they are safer, since more people are dying from them. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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 elizabethg - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: why is alcohol legal if it is poison and toxic to your body?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
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 cheercats123 - north carroll middle, Maryland: i have been reading and some people think drinking and drugs are all funny i know they are not being serious but this is a shout out to say its not cool at all!!!!

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: Thanks for the shout out!
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 jvu - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if u used a drug before you were pregnant and stopped using the drug when you had a baby,would it affect the child from the past years?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey jvu  from  Sugar Land Middle School.  We do know that using drugs during pregnancy may have harmful effects on the unborn baby and on the developing child.  But, the good news is that if a women stops using drugs as soon as she learns she's pregnant, that reduces the liklihood of harmful effects effects occurring.  It is important that she needs to stop as soon as possible because the sooner she stops, the less likely her baby will be harmed.  And if she has trouble stopping, she should talk to her doctor.  To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 kaiwen - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Do all drugs have a chance to kill you?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Some drugs have essentially zero history of people actually dying from an acute overdose.  Cocaine, heroin, and alcohol though (just to name a few, and especially in combination) are particularly deadly culprits.

Consider too, though that people can still indirectly die from drug use if they're driving while drunk or high or otherwise doing stupid, dangerous Darwin Award stuff....
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 ckelly - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: My grandfather caught pneumoniaand he has alchoholism. He also smokes. He hasnt stopped either one. How can I help him?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow, what a difficult position to be in. It might be helpful for you to find an adult that you trust and talk with them about this. To learn more about how to help someone you care about, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
Moderator Icon  For more information on teens and alcohol go to http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp.
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 kdawg - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what are the major drugs used by teens?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, thanks for asking.  The most popular drug used in high school is alcohol, which has been used by two thirds of high school seniors in the past year, followed by tobacco, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey. Marijuana use is third, reportedly used by about one third of high school seniors in the past year.   Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, which rank after marijuana.  Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
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 aescobar - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can drugs affect your sanity (mental health)?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Yes. Many people who are addicted to drugs are also diagnosed with other mental disorders and vice versa. For example, compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders, with the reverse also true. For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/comorbidity.html.
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how many babies die from alchohol being drank in their moms stomach?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That is very hard to know. What we do know is that drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: It there a reason kids use drugs?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  There are many reasons that kids start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if kids see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop.  And, it's not cool.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction:  www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/.

 
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 kgonzales - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if pain killers are a drug, why are they perscribed? also are other illigal drugs prescribed?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Pain killers are prescribed because when they are used as directed, they help people manage their pain.  Unfortunately, people may disregard their doctor's orders and use the drugs in an inappropriate way.  Prescription drug abuse is when someone takes a medication that was prescribed for someone else or takes their own prescription in a manner or dosage other than what was prescribed. Abuse can include taking a friend's or relative's prescription to get high, to treat pain, or because you think it will help with studying. 

Many people think that since they are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.

While marijuana is not an FDA-approved medicine, some states have legalized its medical use.

Check out this site:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/prescription-drug-abuse-whats-the-big-deal/  (ps...that's me in the video, and I did my own stunts!)
Moderator Icon  Risk factors for attempted suicide by youth include depression, alcohol or other drug-use disorder, physical or sexual abuse, and disruptive behavior.
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is drinking too much in one day, but you hardly drink a bad thing? Or is drinking a few bottles almost daily worst?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 
 
  1. Legal trouble
  2. Car crashes and other accidents
  3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
  4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
  5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on

The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 pjacobs - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can someone tell me the risks of takeing the drug called acid

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Acid is one of the street names for LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide), which can distort perceptions of reality and produce hallucinations; the effects can be frightening and cause panic. It is sold as tablets, capsules, liquid, or on absorbent paper. LSD is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. We don't have much evidence of addiction.  The risk with hallucinogens is more about their unpredictability.  Under the influence of hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. These drugs can also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people! LSD can also cause psychosis (visions or illusions) or flashbacks (sudden memories) even a while after the drug is taken. 

Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect can last as little as several hours and and as long as days, months, or years after taking the drug.

Learn more about hallucinogens at http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/hallucinogens.html.
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 sn - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people do dugs if they know that they will get very ill or maybe even die

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: This is what addiction IS!  People using because they can no longer help it, even if on some level they know it's getting really bad for them!

Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around.  In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se.  They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.

Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. The risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin.  Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine.  Scientists are hard at work trying to understand what is going on in the brain that causes it to lose control and just seek drugs on autopilot.

There are lots of different kinds of treatments for drug abuse and addiction, and some work better than others. Research has shown that some treatments successfully help people stop using drugs, and also help to solve other problems that tend to go along with drug abuse. It's hard to say why some celebrities keep going back to treatment. What we do know is that people who finish a treatment program that uses evidence based practices tend to have a much better chance of staying off drugs for good--but that often involves major changes in lifestyle -- changing where you hang out and who you hang out with. If people aren't willing to make those changes, they can easily fall back into using drugs. And even those people who do become abstinent can remain at risk for relapse for a very long time, and may require ongoing support from community groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or multiple rounds of drug treatment.

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 jbarajas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: do children with marijuana addicted parents ever get hurt by them ?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Golder Prep HS.  We do not know if marijuana-addicted parents are more likely to hurt their chilren, but we do have scientific evidence to suggest that effective parenting could be impaired in marijuana-addicted parents.  For example, we know that marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that in people who've used for a long time, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the short-term effects of the drug wear off.  As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a sub-optimal intellectual level.  So, if you know someone whose parents are addicted to marijuana, encourage them to talk to another trusted adult (a coach, a teacher, a clergyman, another adult relative) to get guidance about how to help the parents.  We have a lot of general information about marijuana abuse and addiction.  Start with our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
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 Avela - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What does acid affect?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Hallucinogens like acid (LDS) have a range of chemical structures, but they are all similar in that they interact with a specific site (known as a receptor) in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. These drugs are dangerous because the effects are highly variable and unpredictable. Some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs, even if they have taken them before and not had a problem.  These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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 noahsark - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Can you be addicted to alcohol at age 15?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes! Absolutely. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.
If you know someone who might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help. 

To learn more, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

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 JohnG - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: how do shrooms effect your body and brain long term?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because some species of mushrooms secrete or produce a molecule called psilocybin.  This molecule affects the brain chemical system that uses serotonin.  In this way, psilocybin is like a form of LSD-- a hallucinogen.  Long-term damage appears to be minimal in the research literature. However, too much of it can cause panic attacks, especially if taken by accident or otherwise unexpected. Other reactions reported in research studies include violence, aggression, homicidal and suicidal attempts, nasty hallucinations, and convulsions.
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 jgaray - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: I have never touched a drug or a beer bottle in my life!! but am affraid of someone offering me some one day,what shall i do than besides say no?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Wow, what a great question!  First, I would say that you might want to educate yourself as to the harmful effects of drugs, how they can interfere with what you do and want to achieve in your life, given the possibilities that drug use can lead to addiction.  I guess I would suggest that you convince yourself of the harmful effects of drugs/alcohol, keeping in mind that it is illegal to use.  Then I think the answer of saying no will be easier.  You might want to practice ways of avoiding drugs and friends who might want to force you to join them in this behavior. Also keep in mind that all drugs of abuse and alcohol affect your brain that is still developing.  Do all that you can to keep your brain healthy.  You will be happy that you did!!!  It IS cool to be drug and alcohol free.  Lots of really cool people do not use.

Thanks for this thoughtful and important question.  For more information on drugs, check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why are people using drugs secretly?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Most likely because they are using drugs that are illegal or misusing drugs that are legal. So they could get arrested, get in trouble in school, or punished by their parents if they are caught.   Even if a person is taking a drug prescribed by a doctor, they may feel embassed about having to take that drug.  Unfortunately, when a person hides the fact that they are taking a drug they are reducing their communication with family and friends, who are in the best position to help them if they have a problem.
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 echan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Does using too much pain killers kill you?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: The most powerful pain killers are prescription opioids.  Taking to much can cause depression in breathing, to the point where one stops breathing.  Thus, yes, they can kill you, especially if used not as your doctor advised. 
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 redskins1993 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why is it that Marijuana is illegal but alcohole is not? i feel like people can controle themselfs alittle better being high on Marijuana than being drunk.

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Unfortunately, we already have 2 major legal causes of premature death and disability--tobacco and alcohol.  Adding a third one--marijuana--will not help the problem; it will just add to it. Many people already use marijuana and alcohol together, and there's no research to suggest that people would stop using alcohol if marijuana were more available.  Also, there are risks of using marijuana: it can be addictive--someone who uses it a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their lives.  About 1 in 6 teen marijuana users become addicted, and 1 in 4 if you use it every day or nearly every day; it can make people less interested in things that used to be important. And because it affects how you think and remember things, and your coordination, you may lose your competitive edge--in sports and in school.  And of course smoking anything is not good for the lungs. And, although people don't overdose on marijuana--they do get into car wrecks--almost 14% of people fatally injured in car wrecks test positive for marijuana, often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.  For more info on mj, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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 egrimes - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Could your brain actually be slowly disintegrated? Cuz everyone says drugs kill brain cells.

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Some drugs do kill brain cells, such as volitile chemicals found in glue and other inhalants, but the bigger problem is that drugs that people take to get high can lead to long term changes in the the way that brain cells function.  Recent research has found that there can be profound changes to the structure and function of the brain cells, including changes in the expression of genes.  We don't know how long these changes last when you stop taking drugs or even what all of these changes do to overall brain function.  So while drugs may not kill brain cells, they do change brain cells and probably not for the better.
Which is about the same size as our brain?
The correct answer is: D. Two fists together. Weighing about 3 pounds, the brain is made up of many parts that all work together as a team, each with a specific and important job to do. To get an idea of how big your brain is, make two fists and hold them together, knuckles facing each other, with the heels of your palms touching. More information on the brain and what drugs do to it can be found at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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 kmoore - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: I know my dad is smoking. But he wont admit it what should i do????

Expert Icon Dave White: It's commendable that you want to help your dad quit smoking. It sounds like he's trying to protect you from worrying about him.  You need to be open and honest with him.  Overcoming nicotine addiction can be difficult, but people are doing it every day.  I'm sure he'll be successful with your help and encouragement and by letting him know that help is available. For information on tobacco addiction, see this link: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
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 oawelton - GMG Community School, Iowa: What is the most popular drug in high school?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, oawelton , thanks for asking.  The most popular drug used in high school is alcohol, which has been used by two thirds of high school seniors in the past year, followed by tobacco, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey. Marijuana use is third, reportedly used by about one third of high school seniors in the past year.   Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, which rank after marijuana.  Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is it just as bad too od on prscibed drugs than marijuana

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Death is a fairly common effect of overdosing on prescription opioids, as they can stop one's breathing.  Death is not common with marijuana overdose, but the risk of psychotic reactions goes up with higher doses.  I suggest avoiding overdosing on anything!!! 
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 spartangirl - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: how much brain damage can be inflicted from bathtub cleaning solutions?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: If you are asking about cleaning solutions, that would be categorized as the class of abused drugs known as inhalants. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm.

Although inhalants differ in their effects, they generally fall into the following categories:

Volatile Solvents, liquids that vaporize at room temperature, present in:
  • Certain industrial or household products, such as paint thinner, nail polish remover, degreaser, dry-cleaning fluid, gasoline, and contact cement
  • Some art or office supplies, such as correction fluid, felt-tip marker fluid, and electronic contact cleaner
 Aerosols, sprays that contain propellants and solvents, include:
  • Spray paint, hair spray, deodorant spray, vegetable oil sprays, and fabric protector spray
Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system.

One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.

Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.

Hope this helps and for more information on inhalants, check out:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html.
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 sshs25 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: what do you see when hallucanating

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: I've never been detached from reality, so I wouldn't know, personally.  I can say that drug folklore indicates that individual responses to LSD and other hallicinogens can vary greatly, both within individuals and between people (e.g. a 'bad trip').  People sometimes report religious experiences like seeing God.
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 Kazeez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how long does it take to get drunk

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:

 1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
 2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
 3. How much they weigh
 4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males

Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 iwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Do drugs cause permanent damage to your body even after you have quit?

Expert Icon Dave White: iwhite, this is an important question.  The use of some drugs can definitely cause long-term health problems and permanent damage to your body.  For example, using inhalants chronically can cause serious damage to vital organs including the heart, kidneys, and liver.  They can also cause a permanent change or malfunction of the perihperal nerves, called polyneuropathy (see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-day-polyneuropathy/).  Stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine can damage brain cells, sometimes permanently (see http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html). My advice is to avoid using drugs in the first place!
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 jprice - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: My daddy uses tobacco and one time i threw it all away and got a whoopin. i thought it was fuuny so i was laughing while he was totally serious?... i was like wow is that bc of his addiction? is it that serious all i could do was laugh .

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Jprice.  Good for you, but you might consider other ways to deal with your dad's cigarette addiction.  Drugs can cause people to act in funny ways when they don't get their fix.  Check out this site for some advice on helping your dad quit: www.smokefree.gov/.
Moderator Icon  By age 18, more than 70 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink.
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 egrimes - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How many people are answering these questions?

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: Throughout the day, we've had about 50 people helping to answer your questions.
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 Saparicio - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can you go blind by drinking?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That does not often happen from drinking normal beverage alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol. However, if one accidently consumed methyl alcohol, also known as 'wood' alcohol, blindness can result.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Has the number of people who abuse drugs increased or decreased in the past 5 years? and why?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey First Colony Middle School - thanks for the question!  We fund the annual Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) that has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Daily Marijuana use increased among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 2009 to 2010. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980s at 6.1%. In 2012, steady declines in cigarette smoking appear to have stalled in all three grades after several years of improvement on most measures.After several years of decline, current and past year use of Ecstasy has risen among 8th and 10th graders. This link will take you to the MTF web page where you can look at the press release with the latest data and if you want, you can even link to the complete survey (charts and all!): http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html  For information about drug use among ages 12 and older, our sister agency (SAMHSA) released the latest data in September. This link will take you to the press release that highlights the findings and mentions that illicit drug use has increased from 2008 to 2010, helped by an increase in marijuana use especially among young adults: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1109075503.aspx
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 J Nguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can many of the prescription drugs kill you?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Most of the prescription opioids can.  They are strong pain killers, but the can also kill you if you take too much or in a way they are not suppose to be taken.  Always follow your doctor's instructions!
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is there such thing as a sleeping drug and can it kill you?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. There are sleep medications which now are very safe if taken as directed. If they are taken in large amounts they can slow breathing and cause death. It only takes 3 minutes of not breathing to cause fatal brain damage.
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 haven14 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How do you get to be addicted to alcohol.

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol becomes addicive primarily because affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

You can read more about this at: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/
 
Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
PollI think drug users are cool.
15% - Yes
78% - No
8% - Maybe
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 ctran - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Should you hold your breath around people who smoke?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: I do if I can keep on going past them, but mostly because they stink.  Reducing my exposure to their cancer-causing chemicals is a bonus.  Recent research shows that even second-hand smoke can cause chemical changes in the brain in a form a little weaker than actually puffing a cigarette directly.
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 kevin123 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: On average, how much time does it take for the affects of alcohol to kick in?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That depends on how fast someone drinks, how much they drink and whether there is any food in the stomach. In general, the highest level of alcohol in the blood occurs roughly 45 minutes after consuming a serving, but the effects can kick in after even just a few minutes as the alcohol begins to get into the blood and goes to the brain. 
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 sshs12 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: how does marijuana afect your memory

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana.  This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain.  These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock.  While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too.  A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.  THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder.  Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
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 sshs18 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: have any of you scientists peeple ever been so high that you didn't remember what you did the day before and then a few weeks later some random chick showed up at your house and says you were married to her? im not just bein cute, i relly want to know!

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: We scientist people are busy doing research, so we generally don't get into situations where 'random chicks' show up and claim marriage.  Besides, our spouses would really be upset!! 

Some drugs can cause memory impairment.  For a list of commonly abused drugs and their effects, go to www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.
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 aescobar - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can prescription drugs kill you?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Certain ones, absolutely.  For example, certain anti-anxiety drugs, when taken in large doses, especially in combination with alcohol can depress the brain's circuit telling the body to breathe, causing death. 
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 AliciaT - Johnson Middle School, California: can drugs kill u or can they make u go mental

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Yes, drugs can be very dangerous and can result in significant negative medical and health consequences, and also can result in death.  As for affecting your mental health, certainly drugs are capable of producing psychological, psychiatric and neurologic problems such as psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks, seizures.

For more information on the effects of drugs, check out 'Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction' at http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/.  Additional resources can be found on NIDA's website, www.drugabuse.gov.
Moderator Icon  The effects of LSD (acid) are pretty scary! LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite.  Learn more about LSD here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html
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 Allthatremains - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: How many people abuse Oxycontin a year and How many people die from abuse a year...Please answer this is for a project

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hello, Allthatremains , let's get this project done!  According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, fewer than 1% of Americans ages 12 and older reported nonmedical use of  OxyContin® in the past year and 0.2% reported they were current users (past month).  That translates to about 1,869,000 people and 564,000 people, respectively. Abot 4 in ten high school seniors say they have abused Oxycontin. The number of new nonmedical users of OxyContin® in 2010 aged 12 or older was 598,000, with an average age at first use of 22.8 years among those aged 12 to 49. Oxycontin belongs to a class of drugs called opioids. Vicodin also is an opioid. Together---there are more overdose deaths from Oxy and Vicodin than from heroin and cocaine combined!---about 15,000 deaths.
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 SSHS22 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: what is worse to the body & brain...Ecstasy or Acid?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Ecstasy is worse.  Some research indicates it can permanently damage the neurons in the brain that communicate using serotonin, in a brain system that helps us feel happiness.  As a result, even former ecstasy users can have problems with depression even after they stop using.  Acid (LSD) does not have that severe a damage profile, but I think it could still cause lapses in orientation and judgement that could get someone in a bad situation.
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 SSHS#9 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: How much do you need to drink to have alchohol poisoning?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
Moderator Icon  Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often.
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 Nikki_04 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: If people fall asleep drunk, how many people actually wake up in the morning.

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's tough to estimate. We only know about the cases where people actually die from drinking too much. We don't know how many people go to bed drunk but wake up just fine the next day. We do know that if a person drinks alcohol shortly before going to bed, the alcohol in their stomach can continue to be absorbed while they are sleeping and the amount of alcohol in their bodies will keep going up. So, it is possible to go to sleep after drinking and then die from alcohol poisoning in your sleep. Indeed, in 1999, something similar to this happened to a student at Duke University. Rahim Bathe went out with his friends and drank a bunch of alcohol right before heading home to bed. After he put himself to bed, the alcohol in his stomach was absorbed and his blood alcohol concentration reached a dangerous level. He threw up while sleeping but, because his brain was so impaired by the alcohol, he did not wake up. He inhaled the vomit and nearly drowned in it before eventually coming to and sitting up. Unfortunately, the vomit he did inhale caused an infection in his lungs. He died in the hospital a week later.
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 jburleson - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is hallucinogens made with ?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Hallucinogens have a range of chemical structures, but they are all similar in that they interact with a specific site (known as a receptor) in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. These drugs are dangerous because the effects are highly variable and unpredictable. Some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs, even if they have taken them before and not had a problem.  These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
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 awesome - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Why does Alcohol affect peoples driving so badly?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.

In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!! 
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 sshs - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: hi my name is devan and i was wondering why alcohol is so addictive?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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 iofoegbu - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is cocaine

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Cocaine is a type of drug called a 'stimulant'.  It increases the amount of a chemical (neurotransmitter) called dopamine that neurons use to communicate with each other. These dopamine neurons are concentrated in the reward centers of the brain--this can result in a 'high' or improved mood, but can also lead to addiction over time, and people can feel depressed when they don't have cocaine in their system.
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 naynay25 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Is it true that methane is more addicting than alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Most likely no. Methane is a colorless, odorless gas given off by animals and other sources in nature and contributes to global warming. I can't imagine that someone could become addicted to methane.
Moderator Icon  A 2010 study found that a small percentage of high school students abuse OxyContin- 2% of 8th graders, 5% of 10th graders and 5% of 12th graders. However, OxyContin abuse can lead to dangerous addiction for those who use.
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 kieras - Johnson Middle School, California: what is the most harmful drug in the world

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Tobacco is the deadliest drug -- 440,000 deaths each year in the United States. Take a look at our web site for more information about the dangers of tobacco. We have more info. about nicotine online on our teen site -- go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php. This site contains a lot of info. about drug abuse and addiction and includes some neat games and interactives, so take a look at the whole site -- teens.drugabuse.gov.  Many drugs that don't kill you, mess up your life in general.  Thus, depending on how you define 'worst' the answer changes...  Bottom line, they all are bad for various reasons...
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can drugs make you a schitzophrnic while messing up your mind in the process?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: This is a very controversial question.  These drugs are often called psychotomimetic because they produce effects that seem similar to psychotic disorders, such as delusional thinking or sensory distortions.  However, further studies found that the effects of these drugs are different in many ways from pscychotic disorders. But what is most dangerous about these drugs is that the effects are unpredictable.  Some people have severe adverse reactions when they take these drugs, even if they had taken them before and not had a problem.  These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted by them for a long time.
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 120136 - Francis Scott Key Middle School, Maryland: why do people need to smoke?

Expert Icon Dave White: 120136 sounds like a Van Halen album (look it up).  OK, maybe not.  Anyway, many people start smoking for reasons like peer pressure or to try something new, or often because they grew up around a lot of smoking.  After people smoke for a while, they become dependent on cigarettes and have a really hard time quitting. As you know, smoking is really bad for your health and very $$-so best not to start.  See http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/tag/smoking/ for more...
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 denise - Johnson Middle School, California: wat can drugs do to you? can drugs kill you

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Yes, abusing drugs can kill you.  Smoking cigarettes results in close to half a million deaths a year.  Abusing prescription opioids accounts for nearly 15,000 deaths a year.  The list goes on and on!!!!

www.teens.drugabuse.gov, a Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities.
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 yvigil - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: When you drink and do drugs at the same time, is that worse than cocaine?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Yvigil.  It depends.  Drinking and drugs are certainly a bad combination.  For example, mixing alcohol with certain medications can result in very serious health effectsCocaine alone is bad, too -- and it can be even more dangerous if combined with alcohol. According to data from the 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), almost one million emergency department visits involved an illicit drug. Cocaine alone was involved in 422,896 ED visits. Alcohol (either alone or in combination with other drugs) was involved in 658,263 of all drug abuse emergency department visits. Better to just say away from them altogether.
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 M kamal - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if one person uses a drug is it possible for the whole family to be affected

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: You bet.  Especially drugs that are smoked.  People can be affected by second-hand smoke.
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 jdorado - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if you drink alcohol everyday will it affect ur brain and nervous system? ☺

Expert Icon Aaron White: It certainly can. In the long-term, alcohol can damage the brain, particular if the person drinking is under the age of 21. The teenage years are a very important time for brain development. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Many teens abuse prescription drugs. How do most get them?
The correct answer is: B. They get them from a friend or relative. Most high school seniors who abused prescription drugs got them for free from a friend or relative; very few get them from the Internet.
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 Thursty - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can you get drunk quicker if you mix alchohols

Expert Icon Aaron White: In general, no. All alcoholic beverages contain the same key ingredient -- ethyl alcohol.
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 haven14 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Is alcohol good for you.

Expert Icon Aaron White: First of all, if you're under age 21, drinking is not good for you and it is illegal. Even moderate consumption of wine (up to 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men) can affect your brain development, and may also increase your risk of having alcohol-related problems later in your life. For people 21 and older, moderate consumption of wine appears to be okay and might even help the heart stay healthy. Drinking at levels beyond moderation, however, increase the risk of cancers and other diseases.
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 albertot - Johnson Middle School, California: why do people smoke

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: They often start in order to fit in socially, because friends and others around them all do.

They keep smoking in part because for some people it soothes their nerves, and for schizophrenics, nicotine can make their disordered minds work more clearly.

All too often, people keep smoking even though they would rather not, because they are addicted to smoking.  Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing cigarettes or alcohol, and ultimately the high or other mood effect. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin.

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 sshs12 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: is people adicded to acid

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Hallucinogens like LSD, mescaline and psilocybine ('shrooms) work by interacting with a site in the brain (known as a receptor) that is impacted by a chemical (known as a neurotransmitter) that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. While hallucinogens like psilocybine and LSD do not lead to addiction in the usual sense, for one thing the body becomes tolerant to these drugs very quickly so you can't take them every day, or even every week, some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs.  These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
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 isalgado - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Is it true that marijuana can prevent breast cancer?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: there is no evidence for that.
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why does cocaine make your heart beat faster than a normal heart beat?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey cramirez -- AGAIN.  You are on fire with the questions.  Good job. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. 

Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start.

For more proof, just check out this story . . . Leonard Kevin 'Len' Bias (November 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986) was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat) induced by a cocaine overdose. He is considered by some sportswriters to be one of the greatest players not to play at the professional level. Cocaine can definitely kill you.

See http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.
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 master - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: can drugs effect sex?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Some drugs can. For example:
anabolic steroids can lower sex drive
marijuana can lower sperm count
ecstasy and poppers are often abused to enhance sexual arousal.

Thanks for a great question.
Moderator Icon  Heading to college? Learn the facts about drinking in college here:
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/snapshot.aspx
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 Ashton E - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: will making marijuana legal help our us econimy

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Probably not.  Whatever economic gains might come will be offset by the health and other costs that will result from the increased availability and use of marijuana.  These are difficult calculations to make, and there remains a lot of disagreement about the numbers.  As a public health agency, we at NIDA are especially worried about the effects on young people--who's brains are still developing and who need to be at their best to succeed in school and thereafter.  More marijuana availability, and even less perceived risk associated with its use could have serious consequences--we're still learning what early exposure to marijuana does to brain development and to vulnerability to other drug taking as well. 
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 Saparicio - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what kind of birth defects would kids have if the parent drinks?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 J Nguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can you die insanly with heroin?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: You can definitely die from heroin if you take a high dose.  For more information on heroin, go here: www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html.
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 jjean - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is nicatine more addictive than junkfood

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: It’s hard to answer this question directly.  It is not generally thought that junk foods are necessarily addictive, although there is growing evidence that for some people certain foods can be 'addictive'.  We do know that nicotine is a very addicting drug and the use of nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products kills more people than any other drug. For more information on smoking and nicotine, check out this link: http://www.smokefree.gov/.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS, Sugar Land Middle Is it illegal for a parent to give their child alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The laws vary greatly from state to state, but in most states, this is illegal. There are about 16 states that do allow parents to serve alcohol to their underage children. Check out this map to learn more about the laws in your state:

http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/Furnishing_Alcohol_to_Minors.html
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 sshs18 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: does age affect how your body reacts to drugs?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, age does affect the way drugs and medicines act in the body.  Unfortunately, most studies of medicines are conducted in adults, so we don't know exactly all the ways age can change the way a medicine works.  We do know that older people may inactivate or absorb drugs at a different rate, making it likely that they would need more or less than a younger adults.  And the brains of children and teens are still developing, and we don't know how drugs may impact brain development.  If you look on the package of prescription or over-the-counter drugs (like cold medicine), you will often see that the different amounts are recomended for different ages.  We do know that harmful drugs, like marijuana or cocaine, can have a strong effect on young people because their brains are still developing.
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 cherrera - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: HOW LOG DOS IT TAKE TO GET ADDICTION TO DRUGS

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to give a timeline for addiction to take hold because it depends on the drug and the person. Addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.

We know this, though.  Once you try drugs, you are at a much higher risk of becoming addicted.
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 ckelly - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: My grandpa has alchoholism and smokes. He was fired for drinking and driving with me in his car. How can I help him?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It is really hard when someone you care about is hurting themselves. You can help him by getting him to get help. It would be great if you could talk to a responsible adult at school or in the family. There is a treatment locater on the SAMHSA.gov website where he could get help: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov. He could also go to a 12-step group or AA to get help. Best wishes to you and grandpa.
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 rachel - Johnson Middle School, California: what could drugs do to u?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork:  Hi!  Thanks for writing!

Drugs (of abuse) are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
Moderator Icon  Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
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 iwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What drugs can make you extremely sick?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Actually, most of them, if you take more than your body can handle.  Cocaine is particularly dangerous because it is a stimulant that increases heart rate and blood pressure and could cause a heart attack or stroke.  Heroin and alcohol, especially in combination, could cause problems by depressing the respiratory system, causing the brain to stop telling the lungs to breathe. These are just a couple of examples.
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 ckelly - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: My mom smokes secretly but I know she does. I want to talk about it with her, but I dont have the guts. How can I help her?

Expert Icon Dave White: So, what is your mom smoking?  Cigarettes or marijuana?  Either way, it's fantastic that you want to help your mom stop smoking. Smoking puts your mom at risk for cancer and many other things she really doesn't want...but studies have shown that when someone stops smoking, their health risks rapidly decrease--sometimes to levels as if they had never smoked.  Overcoming nicotine or marijuana addiction can be difficult, but with help and encouragement, and by letting her know that help is available, she can definitely do it. For tobacco addiction, see this link: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.  
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 cngo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is the strongest pain killer and what effects can happen if you overdose?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. There are many strong pain medications and it depends on the dose or amount you take. Morphine is the standard medication that all medications are compared to. Some more powerful medications are oxycodone, fentanyl and dilaudid to name a few. If you overdose, you can stop breathing. It only takes 3 minutes to become brain dead; and you can die.  You might be interested in our website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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 120136 - Francis Scott Key Middle School, Maryland: what makes people do drugs

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: People tend to begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons: to feel good (most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure), to feel better (because they think it will make them feel less anxious, depressed, or stressed), to do better (because they think it will improve concentration or athletic performance), or because they are curious and want to fit in. At first, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects with drug use. They also may believe that they can control their use; however, drugs can quickly take over their lives. Over time, if drug use continues, pleasurable activities become less pleasurable, and drug abuse becomes necessary for abusers to simply feel 'normal.' Drug abusers reach a point where they seek and take drugs, despite the tremendous problems caused for themselves and their loved ones.
Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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 KAng - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: it you smoke a lot of time in a day how many brain cells would be lost or damaged?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: This is not really known.  What we DO know is that when pregnant women smoke tobacco, the babies frequently have smaller brain size than normal, and also show a greater likelihood of having behavior problems as young children. But we don't know why this is- whether neurons die, or they just fail to grow as they should. Serious stuff.  As for people damaging their OWN brain by smoking, brain scan studies comparing smokers with non-smokers show that certain parts of the brain have different shapes or thickness of gray matter in smokers, and also the white matter, which is like the superhighway of nerve cells connecting to one another.

Honestly, the greater risk is probably cancer than lost neurons.  Also, as adults age, they naturally lose neurons over the lifespan.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Why do people think its cool or good for them if they smoke or do drugs, if it kills them?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hi Bethanne in Iowa.  I think you are correct that many people start smoking or using drugs because they they think it's cool or may help them in some way.  And you know, in short run, smoking or using drugs can have effects that people like, and not just the highs they produce. Both, for example, might make someone feel less stressed or may make them fit in better with a certain group of people. But, as you know, even in the short term, drugs can kill such as through accidents or overdoses. Far too often, people do not think about the consequences that drugs can have because they are focusing on the short-term benefits.  That's why Chat Day and the drug abuse information found on NIDA website is so imporant.  And for smart people like you, it is important for you to share this information with your friends and loved ones who need the facts. Check out our site for teens (including the newest part of that site that covers prescription drug abuse that's called PEERx).  www.teens.drugabuse.gov and www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
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 Hellothere - Rockville HS, Maryland: why doesn't the government ban smoking, if they know it's killing people?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: I wish they would.  They are making efforts though. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given regulatory authority over the tobacco industry--that means they can begin to set policies that will reduce the harmfulness of tobacco products.  It's just beginning, but we can hope that eventually we will see a world without tobacco and nicotine addiction and all the resulting illnesses and suffering that goes with it. 
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 rachel - Johnson Middle School, California: why could drug make your breath smell bad?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: I do not know about all drugs, but smoking really makes one's breath stink.  I think the concept is, stinky in-stinky out.  That is not scientific, sorry, but that is the basic idea...
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: I'm from Iowa, and here is my question: What is the most widely used drug in the United States?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hello, Iowa!  The most commonly used drug in America is alcohol, with more than half of Americans ages 12 and older asked in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reporting they currently drink alcohol.  If you are asking about illicit drugs, the most commonly used is marijuana, with about 7% responding they currently use (past month) marijuana.
What drugs are associated with risky sexual behavior that could lead to HIV infection?
The correct answer is: E. All of the above. All drugs of abuse can affect judgment and decision-making, which can lead to risky behaviors like having unprotected (or even non-consensual) sex. This puts people at risk for acquiring HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Check out NIDA's Learn the Link site at http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/learn/overview.html
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 pwillis - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If somone is using a sharpie around you and you can smell it , does it still kill your brain cells?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Probably not. Your nose is very sensitive and can detect very small amount of chemicals.  In fact, the nose is so sensitive precisely so that you get an 'early warning' when there may be something harmful in the environment.  If the smell bothers you, though, just move away.
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 avazquez - Johnson Middle School, California: how do steriods work

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone. “Anabolic” refers to muscle-building, and “androgenic” refers to increased male sexual characteristics. “Steroids” refers to the class of drugs. These drugs can be legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS.

Some people, both athletes and non-athletes, abuse AAS in an attempt to enhance performance and/or improve physical appearance. AAS are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles rather than continuously. “Cycling” refers to a pattern of use in which steroids are taken for periods of weeks or months, after which use is stopped for a period of time and then restarted. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids in an attempt to maximize their effectiveness, a practice referred to as “stacking.”

The immediate effects of AAS in the brain are mediated by their binding to androgen (male sex hormone) and estrogen (female sex hormone) receptors on the surface of a cell. This AAS–receptor complex can then shuttle into the cell nucleus to influence patterns of gene expression. Because of this, the acute effects of AAS in the brain are substantially different from those of other drugs of abuse. The most important difference is that AAS are not euphorigenic, meaning they do not trigger rapid increases in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for the “high” that often drives substance abuse behaviors. However, long-term use of AAS can eventually have an impact on some of the same brain pathways and chemicals—such as dopamine, serotonin, and opioid systems—that are affected by other drugs of abuse. Considering the combined effect of their complex direct and indirect actions, it is not surprising that AAS can affect mood and behavior in significant ways.

Hope this is helpful.  For a good description of steroids, check out:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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 Stegmann - GMG Community School, Iowa: What drugs are more abused than others?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Thanks for your question!   According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use in 2010.  After alcohol, which more than half the population uses, marijuana is the most frequently used drug, used by about 7%, followed by psychotherapeutics, cocaine and hallucinogens (see table below).


Figure 2.2
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 srose - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what effects do alcohol have on babies when the parents drink

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:

During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.

As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. 
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 schuett30 - GMG Community School, Iowa: what percent of the population does smoke weed?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 7% of Americans ages 12 and older report they currently (past month) smoke weed.
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 augie117 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Do you think that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The legal drinking age was raised to 21 because too many young people were being hurt by alcohol. Raising it to 21 resulted in a big reduction in the number of young people being killed in alcohol-related car crashes. The decision to raise the drinking age to 21 was made before researchers started studying the teenage brain and how alcohol effects it. Now we know that the brain keeps growing until after the age of 21 and that alcohol can damage the teenage brain. So, it turns out that a drinking age of 21 makes sense from a brain standpoint, too! For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How can telling someone you care and wish they would stop taking tobacco get them to stop?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question-- that is a tough situation.  Please see our site that has much information and will be a great starting point for you: www.smoking.drugabuse.gov.
Moderator Icon  According to a 2010 study, 13.8% of 8th graders drank alcohol in the past month.
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 Julie - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What is LSD

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: LSD is shorthand for 'Lysergic acid diethylamide,' also called 'acid.'  LSD is a type of drug called a hallucinogen, and works in part by stimulating the brain's serotonin chemical system to bring about visions and other experiences that aren't real. For some interesting facts about hallucinogens, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php.
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 KAng - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what makes people throw up when the drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It appears that alcohol triggers vomiting in two different ways. One is by irritating the stomach. There also is an area of the brain that monitors the contents of the blood for toxins. If the level of alcohol in the blood reaches a high enough level, the area triggers vomiting. Regardless of which way vomiting is triggered, it is an indication that the body feels threatened by the high level of alcohol in the system and is trying desparately to get rid of the alcohol to protect itself.
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 khalls - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what makes drugs so attracting to try it for the first time?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It depends.  For some kids, it's about trying to be cool and 'fit in' with their friends who are either trying out drugs or even using them regularly.  This is especially true for smoking.  Young people with histories of behavior problems, may have 'impulsive' or sensation-seeking personalities, and are at particular risk for trying drugs, using drugs regularly, and eventually becoming addicted to drugs.
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 kgonzales - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is it in 'shrooms' (mushrooms) when you somke it is addicting

Expert Icon Steve Grant: 'shrooms are a specific species of mushroom that contain the chemical psilocybin.  Psilocybin produces effects similiar to LSD. It interacts with a type of receptor in the brain that is impacted by a neurotransmitter that is normally produced by brain. This neurotransmitter is called serotonin. You can either smoke or eat these drugs - but either way they are harmful.  While hallucinogens like psilocybine and LSD do not lead to addiction in the usual sense, for one thing the body become tolerant to these drugs very quickly so you can't take them every day, or even every week, some people do have severe adverse experiences when they take these drugs.  These experiences can be so terrifying to some people that they can be haunted them for a long time.
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 choan - Johnson Middle School, California: when people try to stop using drug, they just contiued to use drug why do they do that.

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hiya.  Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around.  In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se.  They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.

Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. The risk in all this is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin.  Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine.  Scientists are hard at work trying to understand what is going on in the brain that causes it to lose control and just seek drugs on autopilot.

There are lots of different kinds of treatments for drug abuse and addiction, and some work better than others. Research has shown that some treatments successfully help people stop using drugs, and also help to solve other problems that tend to go along with drug abuse. It's hard to say why some celebrities keep going back to treatment. What we do know is that people who finish a treatment program that uses evidence based practices tend to have a much better chance of staying off drugs for good--but that often involves major changes in lifestyle -- changing where you hang out and who you hang out with. If people aren't willing to make those changes, they can easily fall back into using drugs. And even those people who do become abstinent can remain at risk for relapse for a very long time, and may require ongoing support from community groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or multiple rounds of drug treatment.
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why can pain killers be addictive? and How come? .

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. The medications have addicting properties. This is minimized by taking the medication only when prescribed and as prescribed. Check out our website: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/.
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 ckelly - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is marijuana addicting?

Expert Icon Dave White: Hi ckelly, this is a very important question.  Despite what many people think, marijuana is indeed addicitve. Approximately 9% of people who smoke marijuana eventually become addicted to it--moreso when they start as teens. People can also experience a number of withdrawal symptoms (signifying addiction) when they try to quit, including irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and mood swings.  The effects can last several weeks but will eventually get better.  For more information check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html and our updated teen booklet on marijuana: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
Moderator Icon  You have heard about binge drinking---but do you really know what that means? We have alcohol experts on the chat who can answer your questions about it.
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 ctran - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if you eat cough drops for fun, is it bad for you?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: These are a lot of types of cough drops.  I would check the package and not eat more than they recommend.  Why not just eat candy for fun??? I mean yesterday WAS Halloween!!!
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 120136 - Francis Scott Key Middle School, Maryland: what part of smoking makes your lungs black.com

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling:  Lung cancer

Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: How many people under the age of 18 die each year from using drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: I can tell you that about 10 people out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. under the age of 24 die from drug overdoses. So in a city of a a million people, 100 people under the age of 24 will die from overdoses. But that doesn't even count the number of people who take drugs and drive, killing themsleves and other people, or get into fights while high and kill someone.
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 SSHS6 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: how much alcohol can you consume before it makes you die?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.

For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS Sugar Land, TX -Are some people more prone to become alcoholics than others? Please explain.

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, absolutely. Here are the key risk factors:

Having a family history - Both the genes related to having a family history of alcohol use and being raised in a home where you see others drinking increases your risk for alcohol problems.
Starting to drink early - Someone who has their first drink at age 14 is around twice as likely to become an alcoholic at some point in life as someone who starts drinking at 18.
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 samantha - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: whats the best way to stop yourself from doing drugs?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Brief answer is to understand that drugs can be quite harmful to your body, brain, and overall health (for information about the dangers of drug abuse see www.teens.drugabuse.gov).  Also understand that repeated use of drugs can result in addiction, which is a changed brain...a brain disease.  With addiction, it is very difficult to control one's drug use, which can have severe negative consequences, both medically and legally.  If stopping is difficult, I would suggest that you seek help, as it is often very difficult to stop without some help.
Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.

For more information on facts on drugs, real stories, and interactive activities check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov. If you need help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 KAng - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why do the drugs affect our teeth too?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Methamphetamine is well know to have a very awful impact on people's teeth.  It reduces the amount of saliva around your teeth - causing what is often called 'meth mouth' (google it- totally gross!). For more information on meth and other drugs, check out the Sara Bellum blog at www.teens.drugabuse.gov/blog.
PollI know someone who started smoking and wishes he could quit.
57% - Yes
31% - No
12% - Maybe
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 WATERBOY1169 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What 'research' proves that Marijuana is addictive?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Well for one thing, the numbers of people who are in treatment for marijuana addiction--about 350,000 in 2009.  Among youth, more than 2/3rd of those in treatment are there for marijuana addiction.  But there's more, marijuana has similar effects on the reward system of the brain as other abused drugs; and long term users experience a withdrawal syndrome when they quit--making it hard to quit.  Still, not everyone who uses becomes addicted--some people are more resilient.  But the same could be said for heroin, and no one would question its addictiveness.
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 sexygirl123 - GMG Community School, Iowa: what percent of teens have tried drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Good question. According to the University of Michigan's 2010 Monitoring the Future survey around 29% of 8th graders, 41% of 10th graders, and 50% of high school seniors reported they have tried drugs (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders) at least once in their lifetime. Is that more teens than you were expecting or fewer?
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 mhernandez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can you be addicted to pain killers that are over the counter

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. None of the pain medications sold over the counter in the US are addictive. They can cause other problems if not taken as directed.  Some countries sell weak codiene pills which can be addictive--but these are not sold in the US.
NIDA's teen prescription drug site might be interesting: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx.
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 iwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What is the average amount of deaths of teenagers, who do drugs, over the past year?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: We don't quite keep statistics that way but I can tell you that about 10 people out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. under the age of 24 die from drug overdoses. So in a city of 500,000 people, 50 people under the age of 24 will die from overdoses. But that doesn't even count the number of people who take drugs and drive, killing themsleves and other people. Plus--- it doesn't count people who get into fights while high and kill someone with a gun, a knife or with thier fists etc.Those are harder statistics to get.
Moderator Icon  To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: What triggers someone to experiment with drugs or alcohol?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  There are many reasons that people start experimenting with drugs. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  So, they may have been from a family of drug users, or they are around environments that encourage drug use. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. For smoking, stress is a common reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that drugs are addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop.  And, it's not cool.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/. And general information on addiction:  www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/.

 
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: Does smoking destroy brain cells?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: When pregnant women smoke tobacco products, the babies frequently have smaller brain size than normal, and also show a greater likelihood of having behavior problems as young children. But we don't know why this is- whether neurons die, or they just fail to grow as they should. Serious stuff.  As for people damaging their OWN brain by smoking, brain scan studies comparing smokers with non-smokers show that certain parts of the brain have different shapes or thickness of gray matter in smokers, and also the white matter, which is like the superhighway of nerve cells connecting to one another.
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 sierrap - Einstein High School, Maryland: What is the difference between ecstacy and meth?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has its main effects in the brain. The effects of meth on the brain can lead to memory loss, learning impairment, movement disorders, and addiction. Use of crystal meth can lead to cardiac (heart) and neurological damage. Behaviorally, meth can lead to aggression, violence, and psychotic behavior. For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html.

Ecstasy, a drug which has both stimulant and psychedelic properties, is often taken for the feelings of well-being, stimulation, and the distortions in time and sensory perceptions that it produces. MDMA first became popular in the 'rave' and all-night party scene because it allowed users to have increased energy and endurance, so people use this drug to dance all night.  However, there are some negatives that one must be aware of relative to the rave scene...and that is, the drug can result in dehydration, exhaustion, and hyperthermia (increased body temperature) that can be fatal.

Hope this helps.  There is certainly much more information on MDMA/ecstasy at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html
Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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 nicole - Johnson Middle School, California: how does weed affect your body

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your great question.  Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. It alters brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--marijuana can cause someone to do something dangerous when they are high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having their grades drop, or seeing their athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term marijuana is addictive. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.
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 avazquez - Johnson Middle School, California: where do u find drugs so i can avoid those places

Expert Icon Steve Grant: I'm not going to tell you, because you already are successfully avoiding those places <grin>.  Seriously, you should avoid associating with other kids who use drugs, including any parties that they may have. 
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 cramirez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: I know nicotine in tobacco is more addictive than heroin and cocain but what exactly is the reason for this?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey cramirez.  Great question -- you know your stuff!  Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted.  So why is it addictive? With each puff of a cigarette, a smoker pulls nicotine and other harmful substances into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood. It takes just 8 seconds for nicotine to hit the brain. Nicotine happens to be shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of many chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry messages between brain cells. Neurons (brain cells) have specialized proteins called receptors, into which specific neurotransmitters can fit, like a key fitting into a lock. Nicotine locks into acetylcholine receptors, rapidly causing changes in the brain and body. For instance, nicotine increases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration (breathing). Nicotine also attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release excess dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug.

Nicotine may be the primary addictive component in tobacco but it’s not the only ingredient that is biologically important. Using advanced neuroimaging technology, scientists have found that people who smoke have a significant reduction in the levels of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain and throughout the body. This enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of dopamine, other neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation, and in a variety of bodily functions. Having lower amounts of MAO in the brain may lead to higher dopamine levels and be another reason that people who smoke continue to do so—to sustain the pleasurable feelings that high dopamine levels create.
Moderator Icon  About 80% of 12th graders don’t use cigarettes, and about 91% of 12th graders don’t use smokeless tobacco.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Do more people prefer to drink, wine or beer?

Expert Icon Aaron White: In the US, people prefer beer, then wine, then liquor.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Can you become blind or deaf with an overdose of drugs?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Overdoses of drugs taken to get 'high' don't cause blindness or deafness, but more typically produce death by supppressing breathing, or by causing heart attacks or stroke. Some medications that are used to treat diseases can produce hearing and vision impairments, but physicians are trained to manage those risks. 
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 ladyraider24 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: I have a friend who likes to drink alcohol with his step brother just to do it for fun. Is their a possiblity that him and his step brother could become addicted? They are both under age.

Expert Icon Aaron White: A good but tricky question. There really isn't a specific amount of alcohol a person has to drink to become addicted, and only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.
If you think your friend or his step-brother might have any of these characteristics, it's important to tell an adult you trust so they can get help. 

To learn more about how to help a friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
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 rileymcd - Fairview ed Center, Minnesota: can you grind up marijuana and inject it into your bloodstream?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: why would you want to?  that can only be bad.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: What is in glue that makes it an inhalant

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Usually a chemical called Toluene, which can be found in model airplane glue, for example.  Huffing is dangerous though, due to all the chemicals being snorted, not just the ones that might give someone a high. Repeated or long-term use can cause damage to the brain (some permanent) that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.

See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
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 lruiz - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is vicodin ?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Vicodin is a combination of two analgesic products hydrocodone and acetaminophen and is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.  Hydrocodone is an opioid, and a strong a pain killer, but opioids also have abuse and addiction potential. All opioids should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. 
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 aescobar - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you are addicted to something can you stop without help or do you really need it?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. It often depends on the drug and how long you have been using or have been addicted. In general, it is a much easier road to travel to get help. Help has many forms from AA or 12 step groups to formal treatment. You will be evaluated and get the level of help you need. On the SAMHSA website there is a treatment locater that will help someone find a treatment evaluation: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
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 wramirez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: does doing drugs affect your intelligence?

Expert Icon Dave White: Hey wramirez, doing drugs can definitely affect different aspects of brain function.  For example, marijuana use can impair short-term memory and cause problems with thinking and problem-solving. You can still be intelligent, but drugs can definitely keep you from fulfilling its potential.
Moderator Icon  Some people mistakenly believe that “everybody’s doing it” and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves. Well, they need to check the facts, because that’s just not true. According to a 2010 study, about 8% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 21%of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey.
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 KVicencio - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: If drugs are considered 'bad', why do doctors prescribe them?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: The medicines that doctors prescribe have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use to treat certain medical conditions.  That means they have been through rigorous clinical trials showing them to be safe and have benefits for that condition that exceed their risks.  The problem is abuse of these medications--if the medication is not prescribed for you, then it may not be safe for you.  A doctor takes into account not just the patient's symptoms or disease, but also their age, what other drugs they may be taking, and what other health problems they may also have.  That helps the doctor prescribe a medication safely.  Taking someone elses prescription medications or taking them at higher doses or by other routes of administration can be very dangerous--the evidence being increases in treatment admissions, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths linked to presciption drug abuse--especially opioid painkillers.   
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 avazquez - Johnson Middle School, California: does smelling sharpie markers get you high

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Sharpie ink includes propanol, butanol, and diacetone alcohols.  These are part of a class of chemicals called inhalants. This class of drugs is huge, and includes lots of cleaners, glues, and gasses. Their primary way of getting a person high is to restrict oxygen to the brain!

For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 unnamed4453 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: Why do people use nicotine patches when they quit smoking? Isn't this the same as smoking a cigarette, but without the other chemicals?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Not exactly. People use patches to help them quit smoking because they contain one of the most addictive substances in cigarettes (nicotine) which is released more slowly and steadily absorbed and distributed throughout the body/brain. This more slow and steady uptake and distribution helps a person avoid the need for a cigarette and in some instances quit for good. Also, you aren't inhaling the awful smoke from cigarettes, which contains thousands of chemicals!  Good luck and thanks for your question!
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 SSHS17 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: How many drugs cause impaired physical motion.

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: I assume you are talking about abused drugs.  Most abused drugs are either stimulants or depressants and impact behavior.  Stimulants tend to increase behavior whereas depressants tend to depress behavior. 'Impairment' depends on the context. Stimulants will make a person jittery, and impair tasks that require fine motor skills.  Depressants make a person slow and sleepy, thus driving cars or operating machinery is problematic.
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 mhernandez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what part of the brain do drgs target

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hiya.  Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around.  In other words, drugs really don't target 'parts' of the brain like different lobes, per se.  They target these receptor 'lock' molecules, where some brain regions (like those associated with reward or pleasure) have unusually high concentrations of certain types of locks.

Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
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 2341 - GMG Community School, Iowa: What is the most commonly used drug in America?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: The most commonly used drug in America is alcohol, with more than half of Americans ages 12 and older asked in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reporting they currently drink alcohol.  If you are asking about illicit drugs, the most commonly used is marijuana, with about 9% responding they currently use (past month) marijuana.
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is nicotine dangerous by itself

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Doctors prescribe nicotine gum or patches as medication to help people quit smoking. Nicotine in these forms is much safer than cigarettes, which contain at least 4000 other chemical in addition to nicotine, some of which contribute to cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. However, like other medications, nicotine has side effects, and people should see their doctors before starting to use it.
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 albertot - Johnson Middle School, California: does drugs make you skinny or fat

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Depends, some drugs decrease your appetite and some increase your appetite, especially for sugary foods. 
Which of the following is associated with teenage drinking?
The correct answer is: D. All of these, plus school failure and injuries, are associated with teenage drinking.

http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
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 agwsr - AGWSR, Iowa: how should someone reprimand a drug user

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: I don't think that's the right approach.  If someone chooses to abuse drugs, that is a bad decision.  There are a number of reasons that lead someone to make that bad decision initially.  However, keep in mind that with continued drug use, addiction can occur, which is no longer a voluntary action on the part of the abuser.  The person's brain changes, and he or she is no longer able to control their drug use.

You might want to consider talking with the person about his or her problem and suggest that they get help as drugs clearly can have many harmful effects on the brain, body, and on one's behavior.  You can help them find a doctor, therapist, support group or treatment program by visiting the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or calling 1-800-662-HELP. 

The more you know about substance abuse, the more you will be able to help.  A great place to start is NIDA's website: www.drugabuse.gov. In particular, check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.html, a helpful summary of treatment approaches.
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 mthomas - Riverside Junior High, Kansas: When a woman gets pregnant and starts smoking, what happens to the child?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey Riverside Junior High, thank you for asking that question.  It is a very important question.  Lots of things happen to the baby (and then later on to the developing child) when the mom smokes during pregnancy.  Carbon monoxide and nicotine from tobacco smoke may interfere with the oxygen supply to the fetus, which can impact brain development. Nicotine  readily crosses the placenta and concentrations in the baby can be as much as 15 percent higher than maternal levels. Nicotine concentrates in the baby's blood, amniotic fluid, and breast milk. Altogether these factors can have severe consequences for the baby in the womb and infants and children of smoking mothers. Smoking during pregnancy caused an estimated 910 infant deaths annually from 1997 through 2001 and neonatal care costs related to smoking are estimated to be more than $350 million per year. The adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy can include growth retardation of the fetus and decreased birthweight. The more a woman smokes during pregnancy, the greater the reduction of infant birthweight. These newborns also display signs of stress and drug withdrawal consistent with what has been reported in infants exposed to other drugs. In some cases, smoking during pregnancy may be associated with spontaneous abortions and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as learning and behavioral problems and an increased risk of obesity in children. In addition, smoking more than one pack a day during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk that the affected child will become addicted to tobacco if that child starts smoking.  So, you can see that a women who becomes pregnant should never start smoking, and if she is already a smoker when she becomes pregnant, she should stop immediately.  If she has trouble stopping, there is help.Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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 sshs18 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: have you scientist peoples ever shared a joint all up in there?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, SSHS18 in Nevada.  Nope, we're all kickin' it with coffee.  Seriously, Dude, smoking a joint is illegal and it's dangerous.  Did you know that people who smoke joints can experience extreme anxiety (panic attacks) or psychotic reactions (where they lose touch with reality and may become paranoid)? And people can and do injure themselves because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination. For example, marijuana affect the skills you need to drive (e.g., concentration, reaction time) so people can injure themselves and others if they drive while under the influence. For more information on marijuana, see: www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html. Thanks for sending us your question and keeping it lively!
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 jbarajas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what is the most common age groups that die because of the drug abuse?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: The group that dies the most from overdoses is people from age 25-54---with the highest rate  being from 45-54. Many of these are people who started drug use when they were younger, became addicted, led a difficult life of addiction, and eventually their luck ran out. Others are people who started abusing prescripton drugs ---mostly painkillers---and became addicted. Some are people who had tried to quit drugs, and when they relapsed, took such a high dose it killed them.
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 mwise - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what can i do to help a family member who smokes

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Thanks for the question mwise. It is hard when a family member you care about smokes. You can not make them do anything but you sure can help them. We have some advice for you on this website: http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
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 ijohnson - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what does angel dust do to you

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Angel Dust is a slang term for phencyclidine (also called 'PCP').  This is a type of drug call a hallucinogen.  It can cause hallucinations (visions and experiences that aren't real) and great confusion, and can promote aggressiveness and suicidality.  It is not used that often, which is a very good thing! For more information about PCP, this is a great website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal5.php.
Moderator Icon  Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine COMBINED? For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: What is salvia?????

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: A mind-altering herb, common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. See http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/salvia.html for some interesting facts.
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 mhernandez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is in the white out that kills your brancells and how does it effect other parts of your body

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: With computers, who uses white out anymore?  I'm guessing you mean white out is used to get high from inhaling. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache.  Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system.  One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.  Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.

Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.

Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
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 clopez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: when you drink.Is the digestive system the only body part that is affected

Expert Icon Aaron White: No, not at all. In fact, every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. This is particularly true for the nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 cngo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: when you use steroids can it affect your heart rate and etc.?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, very much so.  And chronic use can lead to heart disease as well as dysfunction of many other parts of your body, including your brain.  Its better to stay away from steroids!
Moderator Icon  Stimulants like cocaine cause the body’s blood vessels to narrow, constricting the flow of blood, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. The heart may work so hard that it temporarily loses its natural rhythm. This is why there have been many cases of people dying suddenly from heart attacks after using cocaine. More information on stimulants can be found here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim2.php
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 zbhatti - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do drunk drivers usully surve car crashes when other victims usully dont?

Expert Icon Aaron White: This actually is not the case. Anyone involved in a drunk driving accident can be seriously injured or die.
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you know someone who smokes and you want to help them what can you do?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Great question, and it's great to see teens who really want to help the people they care about.  Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make quitting easier.  Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
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 sshs25 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: when you're drinking what cuases you to be drunk?

Expert Icon Aaron White: There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
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 fkhan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What if your family member is taking drugs like marijuana and you are worried that they can do something to you, what do you do--ignore them or go along with it?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: If you are worried about your own personal safety, then ignoring the problem is never a good idea.  Before you can effectively help a family member, you first have to help yourself.  For starters, don't put yourself in a situation that can end badly -- for example, don't get in a car with someone who's high, no matter what.  Find an adult ou trust -- a school guidance counselor, a favorite teacher, one of your friends' parents -- and seek advice from them, or a place to stay if necessary.  Take care.
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 wramirez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: does doing drugs affect your sex life?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, very much so.  Shakespeare said it best when he said that alcohol 'increases desire, but takes away performance'  That is pretty much the same story with all drugs.  And sex may initially seem better under the influence of the drugs, but over time taking the drugs can become more important than sex.  Worse yet, drugs can impair parts of your brain involved in judgement and decision making, so you may be more likely to engage in risky sexual actvities that can increase the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, herpes, and many other terrrible diseases. 
Moderator Icon  Wow! We are impressed by these great questions---we are answering them as fast as we can!
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: what will happen if babies drink alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That would be extremely dangerous. Because babies are so small, even a small amount of alcohol could be enough to kill them by suppressing activity in areas of the brain critical for keeping them alive.
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 24 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: y is alcohol so dangerouse

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol is dangerous because it affects every organ system in the body, especially the central nervous system, which includes the brain. Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 echan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How does drugs make you halllucinate?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Certain kinds of drugs, like pot or LSD are called hallucinogens, work in part by stimulating the brain's serotonin chemical system.  In addition, certain drugs release dopamine, such as amphetamine and cocaine, where too much sudden release of dopamine could cause hallucination. For some interesting facts about hallucinogens, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php.
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 ijohnson - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: why does smoking make your teeth yellow?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Cigarettes contain over 4000 different chemicals including 'tar'. Tar may stain your teeth over time. Be kind to your teeth...don't smoke!  For more info, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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 Egrimes - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What causes nicotine to be addictive?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Great question!  It is actually the nicotine in tobacco that is addictive. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Nicotine attaches to acetylcholine receptors on neurons that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when you experience something pleasurable like good food, your favorite activity, or the company of people you love. But smoking cigarettes causes neurons to release extra dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of pleasure. However, this effect wears off rapidly, causing people who smoke to get the urge to light up again for another dose of the drug.  Because the smoker inhales only some of the smoke from a cigarette, and not all of each puff is absorbed in the lungs, a smoker gets about 1 to 2 milligrams of the drug from each cigarette. Although that may not seem like much, it is enough to make someone addicted.  Hope this helps.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How many people in the U.S.A take drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hello, Bethanne C!  According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health about 9% of Americans ages 12 and older reported current (past month) drug use in 2010.  Though that translates to nearly 23 million people, it still means that more than 90% of Americans aren't using!
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 Thomas A - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: hello, i have a hobby that i have to use glue and paints with a strong fume and some times i feel high and when i looked at a list of inhalants i saw glue and paint!!!!! what do i do?????

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hey there.  First, don't panic.  It's good that you recognize this effect and you can now protect yourself better when you are working on your hobby.  Paint and glue and other similar volatile substances are called inhalants and are breathable chemical vapors.  Some people intentionally inhale them because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, you can experience a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness.  However, we don't want anyone to give up a hobby they love -- just be careful.  If you read the instructions on your materials, they will surely say that you should only use them in a well-ventilated area -- you need open windows and fresh air circulating, or you can buy a mask that is made to help filter the air you're breathing.  And find a new space to work if needed -- it's not worth accidentally harming yourself.  See  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php for more, and here's a blog on the subject: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/national-inhalants-poison-prevention-week-march-20-26-2011/.  
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 Turtle Brown - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can you die from smoking weed?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Smoking weed affects your judgment and impairs your coordination--take an example of driving while being impaired by weed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s study: in 2009, among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit --including marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter), an increase from 13 percent in 2005.  Also, marijuana use canlead to emphysema, which can be deadly. For more info, please check out:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php#what_is_ithttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/ 

Moderator Icon Interested in learning more about pregnancy and drug abuse?  Check out NIDA's Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse fact sheet: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How many kids are doing drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, zpacker, good question.  The Monitoring the Future Study is a National survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes.  In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders).  About 1/4 of high school seniors reported they had used in the past month.  Is that more students or fewer than you were expecting? And if you read between the lines you will see that most kids are NOT doing drugs.
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 unnamed4453 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: Why are prescription drugs becoming more of a problem in our country?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: One reason is that they are becoming more and more available--the numbers of prescription drugs have been rising, and people who report non-medical use (or abuse) of these drugs most often report getting them from friends or family members.  So they are available, and many people mistakenly believe they are safe since they are prescribed by a physician.  But they are not safe if they are not taken as directed or if they are not prescribed for you.  As a result we are seeing increases in treatment admissions, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths resulting from prescription drugs--especially opiate painkillers. 
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 egrimes - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you drink while pregnant, can the baby get drunk?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A developing fetus does not get drunk the same way an adult would, but a range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 SSHS#9 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: How can you tell when someone is on drugs?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. The main change is a change in the person's behavior; they are either more active or more sedated than usual. All of us have a day or two that we are a little different but you can tell when it is continuous and affects grades, the person does not want to go out with friends, is secretive and/or changes their friends. There are other physical signs like needle marks, but that is extreme and behavior change is the most common.
PollI have been to parties where parents serve alcohol to kids.
31% - Yes
53% - No
15% - Maybe
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: about how many childeren use alchol or drugs?????

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes.  In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders).  In the same study 29% of 8th graders, 52% of 10th graders, and 65% of high school seniors reported having used alcohol at some point in the past year and about 12% of 8th, 30% of 10th, and 44% of 12th graders reported they had been drunk in the past year.
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 aamy - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why is tobacco popular?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  First, the good news: Smoking is at historically low levels among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, according to NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study. The bad news is that the decline in youth smoking appears to be leveling off. In 2010, rates for smoking in the past month were reported as 19.2 percent for 12th graders, 13.6 percent for 10th graders, and 7.1 percent for 8th graders. Use of smokeless tobacco had been showing a decline over the past decade—until 2009, when use began to rise. According to the study, in 2010 current use of smokeless tobacco among 8th graders was 4.1 percent and 7.5 percent among 10th graders. Among 12th graders, 8.5 percent reported using smokeless tobacco in the last month, a number not seen since the late 1990s.

There are many reasons that people start smoking. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  So, they may have been from a family of many smokers, or they are around environments that encourage smoking. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. Stress is also a reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that smoking is addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop.  And, it's not cool.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/

 
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 ggaibort - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: jen5858 (Jim Bjork): why is it bad to inhale sharpies and nail polish and other stuff of that sort

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question, Inhalants are some of the most dangerous drugs around. They are one of the few classes of drugs that cause irreversible brain damage the first time they are used. See: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html for more info.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: How does sniffing glue harm the body?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Inhalants - like those coming from sniffing glue - are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale to get high. The substances inhaled are often common household products that contain volatile solvents, or aerosols. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. For more info, please check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/inhalants.html; Want to know what other teens think about inhalants?  Check out - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 jbarajas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what is the most common type of drug used in the U.S?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Nicotine and alcohol are the most commonly used drugs, but marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US.  According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health more than 17% of Americans ages 12 and older report current (past month) marijuana use.
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 J Nguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can you slap the drug addict out of them?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Well, our treatment system would be a lot less expensive if slapping worked, but we don't have any evidence that it would succeed as a long-term strategy!  Recovery from drug addiction is a complex process -- NIDA scientists have spent years researching medications as well as behavioral (counseling) strategies that work for people with drug addiction problems.  To learn more about science-based drug abuse treatment, check out our publication, 'Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment,' at http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html.
Moderator Icon  Do the actors in your favorite movie smoke? Research says that teens who see a lot of smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking themselves. Sometimes characters smoke to look edgy and rebellious; but sometimes it’s just about “product placement”— the tobacco industry trying to get into your head and your pockets.
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 mbrennan14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what are some of the effects of desomorphine?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hey and thanks for the question. Desomorphine is some bad stuff. It is not common in the US, thank goodness but I found some interesting information on the English version of the Russian website Pravda:
'Desomorphine is widely spread in Russia nowadays. It is much more dangerous than heroine or other types of opium drugs. A heroine addict has a chance to become cured of his or her addiction - it is possible in 3 of 100 cases. Desomorphine kills all of its victims and it kills them very quickly. A heroine addict may live up to six or seven years. The life of a desomorphine addict is much shorter - two years maximum. Some may take it for five years, but many people die after taking their first dose of this drug.'
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 Semaj N - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many people die from weed a year?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Not sure--but about 14% of fatal accidents involve marijuana.  That's the most common reason for weed fatalities.
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 etinoco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how many times a day is some on killed from drugs

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Are you good at math? Every year, 36,000 people die from accidental drug overdoses---so that means about 1000 people a day.
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 iwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What causes withdrawal, from heroin, to be so excruciating?

Expert Icon Dave White: Heroin belongs to a class of drugs called opiates. Opiate withdrawal refers to the wide range of phsyiological (fever, nausea, diarrhea, increased sensitivity to pain) and psychological symptoms that occur after stopping or dramatically reducing opioids like heroin, morphine, and oxycontin which have been taken for a long time or in large quantities.  These drugs can cause physical dependence, which means that the person eventually needs to rely on the drugs to prevent symptoms of withdrawal (eg., the shakes, sweats). Over time, one also needs to take more drug to produce the same effect. For more information on heroin and heroin withdrawal:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what would happen if u were pregnant and drank

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 sshs25 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: how many teachers are alcoholics

Expert Icon Aaron White: Not sure!
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: could you die from drinking alchohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, your heart will stop beating and you can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. You can also die from injuries sustained while doing dangerous things while drinking.
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 dcano - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: since when have people used marijuana?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Hard to say when it was first used, but there is archeological evidence that  marijuana may have been used thousands of years ago.
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 candelario.v - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Does weed really have chemicals?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: yes, lots of them.  THC--tetrahydrocannabinol--is the one that is most well known because its the main chemical that gives marijuana its effects on mood and memory, etc.  But there are other cannabinoids also found in marijuana and other chemicals that have not been identified or studied for their health effects. Different plants have different amounts of these chemicals.
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 jvu - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is there different ingredients in different kinds of alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: All alcoholic beverages contain the same key ingredient -- ethyl alcohol. However, the other ingredients can differ greatly. For instance, wine is made from grapes and so contains grapes. Beer is made from grains and thus does not contain grapes. Vodka is made from potatoes and so is quite different than wine and beer.
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 sshs8 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: what makes you so intoxicated in alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
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 peanuts - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Is methylone bad for you ?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Yes...just like all other drugs of abuse. The DEA has banned methylone, and this drug is not regulated by the FDA. This mean you are taking a huge risk if you take it. 
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 JKing - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how does rehab help a drug addict recover?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hey JKing -- 'rehab' is usually how we refer to some kind of formal drug treatment program, which can involve either inpatient (overnight, many nights, under medical supervision) or outpatient (counseling, a couple hours at a time, one or several days a week).  The intensity of the treatment varies depending on the person, the drug(s) involved, and how big the problem is. But in all cases, rehab provides people with a variety of supports to get their lives back together -- these can involve one or more medications to ease withdrawal symptoms or help prevent relapse to drug use; behavioral (counseling) therapy that teaches new skills such as how to deal with 'triggers' that may tempt someone to use again; and even support services to help people get the rest of their lives stable-- like getting legal assistance if they need it, finding job training, etc.  The best programs consider how drug abuse affects all of these aspects of a person's life and tries to get them back on track.  Thanks for your question!
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 jburleson - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: when you inhail what is it that makes you dizzy ?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I usually just inhale air--what are you inhaling??  There are drugs, called inhalants that can make you dizzy if you inhale them. They seem harmless, but they can actually be quite dangerous. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Many people do not think of these products as drugs because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. But when they are intentionally inhaled to produce a “high,” they can cause serious harm. The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache.  Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system.  One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.  Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.

Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. The effects of this condition, also known as brain hypoxia, depend on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.

Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms. For more information, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: How long do the effects of different drugs last?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: All drugs of abuse can have long-lasting effects on the body and brain. But, if a person is able to quit, these effects can gradually begin to return to normal over a period of several weeks to months. The damage done to the body or brain depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect the way the brain functions and how brain cells send and receives messages. A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). Also, hallucinogens can cause people to have flashbacks, without warning, well after using them (sometimes up to a year or more after)!
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What cause the brain to know it needs more drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: What causes the brain to feel like it 'needs' or craves more drug are probably two things.  First, it could be cues in the environment, like a familiar liquor store, or a corner or other location of a dealer, that the brain has come to associate with the drug taking and ultimately, the 'high'.  This is a powerful brain circuit once it's been trained into the brain.  Second, it could be the down feelings of being in withdrawal from a drug when a person is completely hooked on it.  In other words, feelings of depression or anxiety.

It is crucial that people never get to that point!  Most recreational drug or alcohol users never lose control like this, but tragically, all too many do.
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 jdcastellanos - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if a women is pregnant and she uses drugs would it effect the babys brain health?

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hello Gilder Prep.  I just answered a similar question from another student at your school.  So here's what I said: We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana do get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school.  So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development.  Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Hope this is helpful!
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 big papi 2 - Einstein High School, Maryland: I have heard that prescription drugs are less dangerous than street drugs. Is there any truth to that?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question, Many people think that since they are from a legal drug store they are safer. While the dose is more stable with prescription medications, unfortunately more people are now dying from prescription drugs than street drugs. So it is not really true that they are safer since more people are dying. Please take a look at our web site: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: My grandfather died of empheseyma? What is this?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Emphysema is sometimes also referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and can result in the destruction of the lungs over time. COPD develops over time as a consequence of a person's smoking cigarettes or other drugs (e.g., crack cocaine, marijuana). Other risk factors for COPD can include exposure to heavy amounts of secondhand smoke and pollution. For more info, please check out: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/ 

Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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 jprice - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if you get addicted to a prescription medicine can you keep going back to get more ?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi jprice. If you get addicted you cannot just go get more, you will have to slowly wean off the medicine or you may just not be able to get any and have to go 'cold turkey' which is very unpleasant. The best thing to do is not get addicted. Take only if prescribed and take as directed. Take a look at our site on prescription medications: http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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 srose - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How many people die from drugs in the U.S every year.

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Good question, srose , but kind of a hard one to answer. The use of drugs can be associated with dying in various ways. Deaths related to drugs can be due to overdose, suicide, homicide, accidents, and infection or other chronic illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2008 that there were more than 36,000 deaths due to drug overdose (both intentional and unintentional). And---did you  know that there were more overdoses from prescription drugs than from heroin and cocaine combined? Additionally, about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
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 maddiec - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: Can people who suffer from non-prescription drug addiction be prescribed to prescription drugs?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes--but they may require additional medical monitoring.  People who are in chronic pain for example may need to be treated with opioid medications, however they would need to also be in treatment for their substance abuse problem and would need additional monitoring by their prescribing physician to prevent a worsening the patient's condition.  Also, people may need other types of (non-addictive) prescription drugs to help them recover from their addiction--e.g., drugs to treat a co-occurring mental disorder, like depression. 
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 wramirez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: could a baby in the womb get high by their mother smoking marijuana???

Expert Icon Cora Lee Wetherington: Hey Golder College Prep HS.  You've asked a really interesting question, one for which we do not have an answer. We do not know if a baby in the womb gets high when the mom smokes marijuana, but we do know that the active ingredient in marijuana do get into the baby's brain where it can affect the baby and later during childhood and longer. Illegal drugs used during pregnancy, such as cocaine and marijuana, have been associated with a variety of adverse effects, though more research is needed to draw causal connections. Effects may be subtle and generally range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition. For example, impaired attention, language, and learning skills, as well as behavioral problems, have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school.  So, although we do not know whether a baby gets high when the mom uses illegal drugs during pregnancy and when she smokes during pregancy, the baby is at risk for unwanted outcomes during development.  Here's a link that talks about risks of prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
Moderator Icon  Between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides.
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 aescobar - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can a young child get affected by alcohol because iheard that one did some how

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:

During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.

As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. 
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: women who drink when they are pregnant, does that mean babies are always affected by it if they drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Not always, but drinking during pregnancy is quite risky and can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Is there a way to make smoking good for you?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Nope.  Burning material produces chemicals that are harmful the body. Even the so called 'e-cigarretes' still deliver nicotine, which is both addictive and has harmful physiological effects.  In fact, tobacco plants evolved to produce nicotine to kill the insects that feed on the tobacco plant.  So that should give you some idea of whether any cigarrette is good to smoke.
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 vmartinez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How do steroids affect your sports-performance ability?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: While anabolic steroids can enhance certain types of performance or appearance, they are dangerous drugs, and when used inappropriately they can cause a bunch of severe, long-lasting, and in some cases, irreversible negative health consequences--like heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure, and serious psychiatric problems. Not worth it.  See http://www.steroidabuse.gov/ for more.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: when a person drinks does it affect their reproductive system

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, it certainly can. In females, alcohol alters the levels of the hormone estrogen, which can affect menstrual cycles. In males, alcohol decreases levels of testosterone, which can contribute to decreased growth. The long-term consequences are not known.
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 2341 - GMG Community School, Iowa: What are the signs of an addiction to drugs?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Addiction is when a person begins to seek a drug compulsively, that is at the expense of school work, a persons job, cost, and/or the medical consequences of their continued use. For more info, please see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#behavior
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 n-andrade - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: can sleeping pills hurt your brain if used more than 1 year?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Some sleeping pills are more dangerous than others.  This is why it is very important to use them under a doctor's supervision.  If you have concerns about this, or are using sleeping pills recreationally, stop.  If you have sleep problems, it is important to consult a specialist like a neurologist, who might prescribe an overnight observation and monitoring of your sleep.
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 SSHS7 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: why does maryjane get you high?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: 'High' is hard to define real well. When marijuana is smoked, the chemical THC gets into the brain and changes activates CB1 receptors, special molecules that detect the presence of cannabinoids. This activation changes brain function and produces the subjective impression of being high.
Adderall can be an effective medication to treat ADHD, but it can be dangerous when taken by those who are not prescribed it. What percentage of high school seniors report taking Adderall for non-medical reasons?
The correct answer is: D. 6.5%. According to NIDA's 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, approximately 1 in 15 high school seniors reported taking Adderall in the past year for non-medical reasons, meaning they used someone else's prescription or they took it to get high. See more at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html
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 dabrions - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Which drug is the worst of these:Marijauna, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Meth, Heroin. Which is the worst drug out of these.

Expert Icon Steve Grant: OMG, I feel like now I'm back in school faced with an impossible multiple choice question.  Let's see, you can die from an overdose of alcohol, meth or heroin.  Even if you don't overdose, excess alchohol can destroy your liver.  Meth can ruin your teeth and lead to heart disease.  Cigarettes can cause heart disease, emphysema and lung cancer, and heroin withdrawal is the worse kind of sick you can ever imagine. Marijuana smoking can also lead to lung disease, and long term use can lead to sleep problems.  So let me ask you, which do you think is worst ?
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 fkhan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is cocaine made of and why does it effect us so much ?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi Fkhan....great question. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. It is one of the oldest known psychoactive substances. Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start.

See http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html for more information.

 

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 2341 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can the effects of drugs last your whole life?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: All drugs of abuse can have long-lasting effects on the body and brain. But, if a person is able to quit, these effects can gradually begin to return to normal over a period of several weeks to months. The damage done to the body or brain depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect the way the brain functions and how brain cells send and receives messages. A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). Also, hallucinogens can cause people to have flashbacks, without warning, well after using them (sometimes up to a year or more after)!
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 davonc - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: why are t.v. comercials and movies being allowed to show teens and others drug use,knowing the effects of using them?!!!

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Wow we have a lot of savvy kids asking questions today. These shows are allowed to show teens using drugs because we live in a country that protects freedom of speech and expression. A lot of people think TV shows and movies are 'art' and we whould not limit artistic expression. However, some of the producers of these shows use stories that they think will attract kids and get good ratings---including stories about drugs and sex. However, even though a lot of these shows are popular with teens, they do not necessarily reflect the way all teens feel. And thank goodness we have smart teens like you who understand what is going on!
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 OMGBECKY - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Would you consider the choking game a drug?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: No, just dumb risk-taking.
Moderator Icon The Office of National Drug Control Policy provides information specifically for young people. Go to http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ to find an interactive drug prevention site for youth.
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 aromero - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is it possible for someone to stop being addicted to nicotine?

Expert Icon Dave White: As you probably know nicotine is highly addictive, there are medications and strategies that can help someone get past the addiction. NIDA is working to increase the number of options, too--for example, by developing and testing anti-nicotine vaccines. For more information see:
 http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/
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 dsalinas - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can you lose loss of memory when you take marijuana

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Yes, in the short-term, marijuana has been shown to cause memory loss and problems with learning.  See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: How much of an advantage do athletes have when they use steroids?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Steriods are thought to help most by building up muscle mass, such as by reducing how the body can break down muscle, or by speeding up the recovery time from muscle micro-tears that happen as a normal part of strength training, enabling the weightlifter to lift more often, without as much recovery downtime.  This might have an advantage in brute strength, but not in coordination.  In other words, steroids probably won't help a baseball player hit the ball more often, but will help him swing harder to hit the ball harder. 

But there is a down side when steroids are used for such non-medical purposes, because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. Examples of other effects are increased risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible. 

Athletes probably do have a short term advantage, but the risks of use are severe and are not worth it, in my opinion.
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 ????????? - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Do drugs make u not drive well?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Yes, drugs like alcohol and marijuana can impair your perception and motor coordination, both of which you need to drive well and react appropriately. For example, marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers who die in accidents (around 14 percent of drivers), often in combination with alcohol or other drugs. Combining marijuana with drinking even a small amount of alcohol greatly increases driving danger, more than either drug alone. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more. 
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 Ncortes - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What Happeneds When You Suddenly Quit Smoking Meth ?

Expert Icon Dave White: Hi there - Once a person has stopped putting Meth into their body, the body reacts because it is used to having the drug to function. In most cases it takes between twenty four and forty eight hours for the drug to process through a person's system after the last dose is taken. While Meth withdrawal symptoms can be very intense, they are generally psychological in nature. The person going through the withdrawal process will experience symptoms of anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, and intense cravings for the drug. Check out these sites to learn more about Meth and drug treatment:
http://drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

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 khalls - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if drugs are prescribed by doctors why are the drugs so addictive?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: This is an important question. Some people think that a drug must be okay if doctors use it. They don't stop to think that doctors also cut people open. 
Doctors can prescribe drugs safely because they know how the drugs work, who they can help and hurt, and how much is a safe amount. They also monitor patients during therapy to make sure problems aren't starting to happen. People who take drugs on their own usually don't know what the drugs do in their bodies, whether they have some condition that makes the drug dangrous for them, or how much is too much. By the time they know that they have a problem, it may already be serious and difficult to reverse.
People who take opiates such as oxycontin or codeine without a prescription risk addiction and, if they overdose, potentially death. These drugs also cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous when driving or in other situations that require alertness. People who take stimulants such as amphetamine without a doctor's prescription risk addiction and potentially permanent reductions their memory and thinking ability.For more information check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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 klheuer - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the statistics for the number of kids killed by drug abuse in state of maryland

Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Good question.  I'm not sure about the number of teen deaths associated with drug abuse, however, a recent CDC report estimates that the rate of drug overdose in Maryland was 11.9 deaths/100,000 persons in 2008. 
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Why is it so hard for people to quit tobacco?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Nicotine is among the most addicting drugs.  Smoking gets so intertwined with many of life's behaviors that it becomes an integral part of someone's everyday behavior.  So, in addition to the physical addiction, there are strong psychological and behavioral issues that make it very difficult to quit smoking.

That said, many people are successful at quitting.  For more information on quitting, talk with your doctor, or call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).  You can find more information on nicotine addiction at: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Are more teens likely to take drugs if there parents are telling them constantly not to take drugs or are they more likely to take drugs if there parents don't bring it up?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Howdie Bethanne--thanks for submitting a terrific question.

Parents can have a tremendous positive influence on teens’ decisions to not drink and use drugs by communicating risks of drugs/alcohol, role-playing how to avoid peer pressure, encouraging their children to participate in extra-curriular acivities, etc. It isn't always easy to talk about serious subjects, so sometimes parents and kids might be uncomfortable.  It helps to get the facts and we have great resources online.  Go to www.teens.drugabuse.gov for science-based information that parents can share too. There are teacher and parent resources on our main website as well: http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html
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 sjoaquin - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What are the possibilities of getting lung cancer by second hand smoking?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: You must be a really smart kid---a lot of teens do not make that connection. More than 50,000 people die from illnesses related to second hand smoke, including lung cancer.
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 Anna M - Einstein High School, Maryland: Why does it kill to many brain cells?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that alcohol and pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana.  Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet.
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 jprice - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Are schitzophrnic people crazy in the mind but still smart?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Someone who has schizophrenia can certainly also be smart, but their illness can sometimes mask that.  John Nash is an example--he won the Nobel prize in economics and also suffers from schizophrenia.  'A beautiful mind' is a book/movie that tells his story.
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 dabrions - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Who answers the questions please( What are their qualifications ) !!!!

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Good question---have you been reading the biographies of our scientists that we have been posting throughout this CHAT? We have a strong foundation of science behind our answers here today. Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. Our scientists are among the most knowledgeable in the world about drug abuse issues, and keep up-to-date on studies about prevention, treatment and the effects that drug abuse and addiction have on our health status, our culture and our world. Most of our scientists have advanced college degrees, usually Ph.Ds or M.D. degrees, which take many, many years of education and years of work in labs and clinics. Because each scientist answers CHAT DAY questions independently, there might be some variations in how they answer. However, science has taught us a  great deal about drugs in recent decades, and we are committed to sharing that information with the younger generation. We might not be as LOUD as the pro-drug messages you hear in music, the movies or on the Internet, which are usually there to sell records and tickets. We, on the other hand, are selling nothing but science.  Our Web site, drugabuse.gov, is filled with science-based information on drugs.
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Is heroin bad for you?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, heroin is very bad for you.  It is highly addictive, even though you may not think so at first. Addiction creeps up on you slowly, and by the time you realize it, you can be in way over your head. Worse yet, when you stop, the withdrawal syndrome can be the worst kind of sick you have ever had (google 'cold turkey').  If you don't stop, heroin will cause many problems and there is always a risk of dying from an overdose everytime you take it.  If you are ever offered heroin, run away as fast as you can and don't look back.
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can you die if you smoke marijuana everyday?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It is unhealthy to smoke marijuana, and the more you smoke the more unhealthy it is. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health
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 etinoco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: are all drugs sold on the streets clean

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It is always a big gamble to buy drugs on the street.  You really cannot be sure what you are getting.  Very often they are not what sellers say they are or are contaminated with other chemicals.  Dosage is also an unkown: for example, there are many reports of people getting sick or dying from heroin doses that were stronger than they could tolerate. 
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What are the main causes for a person to start smoking?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hello Bethanne in Iowa.  Thanks for your question.  There are many reasons that people start smoking. Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  So, they may have been from a family of many smokers, or they are around environments that encourage smoking. For example, if people see other people doing it, they might think it's cool. Stress is also a reason why many people say they smoke. What they may not know, though, is that smoking is addictive--once you start, it is VERY difficult to stop.  And, it's not cool.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/

 
Moderator Icon  Some people think becoming addicted to a drug is just a character flaw, but it’s not. The first time people use drugs, it’s usually a conscious decision they’ve made. But once people become addicted, they are dealing with a difficult brain disease.
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 Hank H - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: How does propane get you high?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: The high is mostly the result of your brain not getting enough oxygen, not a good thing!!!
Propane is classed as an inhalant, along with chemical vapors from liquids like paint thinner, gasoline, and glue. All inhalants are very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing inhalants may result in addiction and death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). 

You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 jwarthen - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: what is worse if you are riding in a car with a person that is high or if you are riding in a car with a person that wants you to do drugs?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Either way, you put yourself in danger--check out our book for teens to dispel some of the myths about drug use: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf
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 zpacker - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can some prescription drugs kill you?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Yes, prescription medications can be dangerous if not taken as directed. In fact, more people died in the US of prescription drugs than died in car accidents in 2009. Please take a look at the information available at our site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/the-facts.
Moderator Icon  No---everybody is NOT doing it. Only about 20% of 12th graders say they have smoked pot in the past month.
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 katiejs - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: Does ecstasy really put holes in your brain?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: No--but it does change how the brain works.  All drugs do, especially when you use them over and over. 
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 jcarson - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How can smoking weed everyday effect your body?

Expert Icon Dave White: jcarson, the short-term negative effects of weed (marijuana) can include distorted perceptions of reality, an inability to think clearly, and loss of coordination.  Some folks also experience increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and even panic attacks!  Long-term use can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral effects.  And despite what people think, it can even be addictive! Prolonged weed use has been associated with a number of mental conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, depression), even though it's not known if it can actually cause mental illness.  For more information check this link out:http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
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 SSHS6 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: What can marijuana do to your brain?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana.  This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain.  These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock.  While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too.  A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.  THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder.  Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
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 SSHS21 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: why do drugs effect your brain the way they do?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Here's one example- 'THC', tetrahydrocannabinol, is the active molecule in Marijuana.  This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain.  These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock.  While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too.  A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.  THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter. When pot users try to perform a memory task while their brain is getting scanned, it shows that they have to use different and more parts of the brain to get the task done, as though their stoned brains need to work harder.  Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.

Other drugs like meth or ecstasy artificially stimulate the happiness parts of the brain that normally use a chemical called serotonin.  They can make a person feel great while high, but then, the brain makes adjustments, such that the user can feel real down and depressed if the drug is no longer present.
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 chase8148 - GMG Community School, Iowa: what other drugs are xathine alkaloid's

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Caffeine is the most well know xanthine alkaloid.  But I have to say that I am impressed by your question!  Xantine alkaloids are found many plants and foods, including tea and chocolate.  Sounds like you are on your way to a career in neuropharmacology!
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 cngo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how does alcohol affect your children?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking can affect children in many ways:

During pregnancy
Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.

As a child
Having parents who are alcoholics does increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. 
PollI have had someone offer me a prescription painkiller when I had no pain.
21% - Yes
73% - No
7% - Maybe
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Do drugs rapidly spread in your body as soon as you use them?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: This is a great question!
How quickly a drug spreads throughout the body depends on many things, specifically on how the drug is injested (e.g., by mouth in a pill [slower] or injected directly into the blood stream [much more quickly]). Some drugs, for example, like nicotine, if smoked, can reach the brain within 10-15 seconds!!
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Is meth a stimulant or a depressant?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Meth is a stimulant---we have lots of information at http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html
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 ablanco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: whats the difference between medicinal marijuana and the ones off the street?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: there is no difference
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Can you get any kind of cancer from drugs or drinking?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Smoking, for example, is highly correlated with lung cancer. In fact, smokers are about 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer and about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. Also, chewing tobacco and alcohol, for example, can lead to oral cancers of the mouth and throat. For more information, check out: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/DietandPhysicalActivity/alcohol-use-and-cancer  
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 DevinD - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Does glue make you high?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: The chemicals in glue can make you dizzy and disoriented, which I guess some people would consider to be a high of some sort.  But huffing glue is really, really dangerous.  Seriously.  I don't usually say that drugs kill brain cells, but in this case it is true.  Toulene and other chemicals in glue are very toxic and can quickly lead to long term brain damage, and even death.
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 23 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: wats the percentage of people getting killed by drinking and driving?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.

In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!! 
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 teacher 48 - GMG Community School, Iowa: You answered a question about drugs and ADD. How about drugs mixed with allergy medicines?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. Mixing drugs and/or medications is just not good to do. The interactions are unpredictable and if you mix sedating drugs with allergy medication you can get more sedation and possibly stop breathing. See this for more info: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
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 mwise - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why is it that alcohol makes a person drowsy

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol is considered a 'central nervous system depressant', meaning it slows down brain activity. As a result, it can make a person feel very sleepy.

Interestingly, while alcohol makes people sleepy and might even make them fall asleep faster than normal, alcohol actually disrupts sleep. People who sleep after drinking alcohol do not sleep as long or as deeply as people who do not have alcohol before going to sleep. So, while alcohol does make people sleepy, it is not good for sleep.
Moderator Icon  Young people consume more than 90% of their alcohol by binge drinking. To learn more about peer pressure and alcohol use, check out this website: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: What do I do if i am pressured by my friends to do drugs?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Run for your life! All kidding aside, the decision you make could be a huge turning point in your life. It's like the fork in the road you read about in fairy tales. The path you take is truly important. First ask yourself why your friend wants you to take drugs--is it to help you have a good future or is it for a selfish reason? I think you know the answer to that.  Second, ask yourself what kind of person you want to be---one who thinks independently or one who gets talked into doing things, even though it could harm your health and get you into all kinds of trouble.Third, ask yourself if you are willing to risk your health just to please a friend who is trying to drag you into the no-win world of drugs.  When in that situation, simply say---'no thanks, not today'...and then try to get out of the situation.  I have also known kids who 'blame' it on their parents. 'My mom would kill me and I can't risk it right now' is also a good answer. You do not have to judge your friends to get out of the situation. But if this starts happening you have to ask yourself if the person who is pressuring you is really a friend.
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 cperez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: whay are drinking ages different in different countries

Expert Icon Aaron White: Different countries have different views on when it is appropriate to allow kids to start drinking alcohol. It appears that having a higher drinking age has helped protect young people in the US from alcohol-related harms. It turns out that kids not only start drinking at younger ages in European countries compared to the US, they also get drunk at earlier ages and are more likely to binge drink than teens here.

Other research tells us that kids whose parents let them drink at home are more likely to develop problems with alcohol than kids who can't drink at home. Taken together, the facts tell us that the 'European model' is not one that would produce the desired results here.
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 jdcastellanos - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: is it true that weed helps u have a better health? and why do doctors make there cliance smoke it?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: What an interesting question!  I can safely say using weed does not help you have better health.  Using marijuana for medical reasons has been in the news a lot lately, although it is not currently approved by the FDA for treating any medical condition. There are recognized medical benefits to some of the active ingredients in marijuana, and scientists are making use of their knowledge about those ingredients, and the body systems that they effect, in order to develop new medications for a variety of symptoms and diseases , including pain, obesity, and addiction. A pill form of THC (an active ingredient in marijuana) is already available for certain conditions, such as nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it is unlikely that smoked marijuana will be developed as a medication because of its negative health effects, including the risk of addiction.  Smoking weed affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. Repeated drug use affects both the brain and other parts of the body in negative ways and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences (anxiety, depression, lung and airway difficulties). You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: How many underaged teens drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: In 2010, 14% of 8th graders, 29% of 10th graders, and 41% of 12th graders drank at least a serving of alcohol in a given month.
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 i-love-you - GMG Community School, Iowa: hi can i die from drinking

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes. If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, your heart will stop beating and you can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. You can also die from injuries sustained while doing dangerous things after drinking.
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 thebomb.com - GMG Community School, Iowa: What all is in meth?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It's methamphetamine.  It's chemical composition is N-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine.
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 dumx2 - Johnson Middle School, California: Is it possible to quit doing marijuana?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: ABSOLUTELY!  People can become addicted to marijuana -- in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users.  Addiction means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives.  There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers.  Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse.  Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school.  Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives. 

You should know that drug addiction is a treatable disease - with medications (in some cases) and behavioral or psychosocial therapies. Treatment should focus on a person's individual needs, since many people who are addicted to drugs also have other serious problems, including other mental illnesses. Drug addiction is often chronic (long-term), with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. But relapse doesn't mean failure, just that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted to ensure long-term recovery.

For more information on drug treatment, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html
Moderator Icon  To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 teacher 48 - GMG Community School, Iowa: I'm from a small school in Iowa and I have often thought that students with values won't get drunk or try drugs, yet they do. Are there other factors that occur to cause them to slip other than peer pressure? Is there anything genetic?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello GMG Community School! Fanastic question! A student may start out taking drugs voluntarily, but as time passes and drug use continues, something happens that makes a person go from being a voluntary drug user to a compulsive drug user. Why? Because the continued use of drugs changes how your brain functions. Moreover, research has shown us that our genes together with our environment play key roles in weather a person becomes addicted or not. So if one has a family member who uses drugs that person is likely more vulnerbale to drug use/abuse problems--though a precise measure is not known. Here's a link to information about the brain and addiction: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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 koster - GMG Community School, Iowa: 1. What is the percentage of people who overdose on drugs per month? 2. Can prescription drugs cause hallucinations? 3. What percentage of teens use prescription drugs?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Over a thousand people die each month in the US from prescrition pain killer overdoses.  Halucinations are rare from prescription opioids. NIDA puts out a publication that answers a lot of questions about teen drug use.  Check it out!  http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-overview2010.pdf
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 yelnaggar - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why is sharpie bad for you

Expert Icon Kris Bough: People inhale the fumes from sharpies to get high. These are called inhalants and are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, you can experience a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness.  My advice, put the cap back on! 
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What is the most dangerous drug that you would want to stay away from?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Any drug that you are thinking of taking that wasn't prescribed by your doctor, or even taking more of a prescribed drug or taking it more often than your doctor advises is dangerous.  Illegal drugs can be particularly dangerous because you don't really know what chemicals you are actually taking.  It's better to stay away from any drugs unless they are prescribed for you by your doctor 

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 jdcastellanos - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what are the affects of eating mushrooms

Expert Icon Dave White: Hey there! The active chemical in mushrooms or 'shrooms' is psilocybin.  It's a hallucinogen, which can distort perception and can cause an inability to tell fantasy from reality.  One can also experience panic attacks and psychosis if too much is taken.  Physical effects can include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and a lack of coordination.  The only mushrooms I would consider eating are those on the salad bar! For more information on mushrooms, click on: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php
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 jdcastellanos - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: does red whine helps your health

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence.

To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
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 KAng - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if a family member is taking tobacco then what is a easy way to make them stop

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Great question, and it's great to see teens who really want to help the people they care about.  Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make quitting easier.  Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Moderator Icon  Did you know the types of cells in the brain are called neurons? Your brain has about 10 billion neurons.
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 avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: Do you think the legalization of marijuana will increase peoples' use?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Kentucky! Drug abuse research has shown that in general if use increases, known harms (negative health consequences) can also increase. What we don't know is whether these rates of dependence will increase proportionately with a rise in use or increase or at a faster or slower rate. FYI. In the United States, a number of states have chosen to decriminalize marijuana for medical uses; however, since all other medicines must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on their safety and efficacy--marijuana has not met these standards. There are recognized medical benefits to some of the active ingredients in marijuana, and scientists are making use of their knowledge about those ingredients, and the body systems that they effect, in order to develop new medications for a variety of symptoms and diseases including pain, obesity, and addiction. A pill form of THC (an active ingredient in marijuana) is already available for certain conditions, such as nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it is unlikely that smoked marijuana will be developed as a medication because of its negative health effects, including the risk of addiction.
Currently,the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal in all states.  This link has some topline data about the increase in marijuana use in 8th, 10th and 12th graders from the latest NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
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 acdude14 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Can someone with an extremely low alcohol tolerance (throws up after 1 beer glass) become addicted?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, they can. There really isn't a specific amount of alcohol a person has to drink to become addicted, and only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 SSHS#9 - Silver Stage High School, Nevada: What is in drugs that can make them so addicting bsides the nicotine in cigaretts?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: The ritual.  The physical act of reaching for a cigarette and holding it between the fingers. If it was all about the nicotine, then people on the nicotine patch should be able to quit smoking without a problem, but they often can't.  The brain can be prone to going on 'autopilot' and just acting without thinking when we're exposed to certain cues in the environment that come to be linked with eventually getting high, such as the sight of a liquor store, or a corner where the dealer hangs out.
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 Saparicio - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is it bad if you smoke weed without any chemicals in it/

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: I assume you mean extra chemicals added to the marijuana, not just the chemicals naturally in marijuana.  In either case, yes, it is unhealthy to smoke marijuana. The smoke in marijuana has many of the same chemicals present in tobacco smoke. In terms of composition it is comparably dangerous and hazardous to your respiratory health. 

 
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 fluffy779 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Which drug is most harmful to your body?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: This question has been a really popular one today!  Scientists don't like to rank drugs from best to worst as most drugs of abuse, legal (e.g., nicotine) or illegal (e.g., cocaine), can dramatically affect your normal body functioning. For example, drugs can impact normal cardiovascular functioning (e.g., cocaine), adversely affect liver function (e.g., alcohol), adversely gastrointestinal functioning (e.g., heroin, opioids), cause cancer (tobacco kills 400,000 people a year in the U.S.) and of course all affect normal brain functioning. Actually almost any chemical - even water! - can be toxic to your body if taken in high enough concentrations. Food too (think of high-saturated fatty foods) can also be very harmful to your body. Be safe and thanks for participating in Chat Day!
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 naynay25 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Depending how much you smoke, can it affect how long you live?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Yes!  About 440,000 Americans die each year from diseases related to smoking. 
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Which is worse for you, beer or wine?

Expert Icon Aaron White: They both contain the same drug -- alcohol

A single serving of each - for beer, this is a 12 ounce serving of 5% alcohol and for wine, it is a 5 fl ounce serving of 12% alcohol - has the same amount of alcohol and therefore has the potential to produce the same amount of harm.  There is some research to suggest that wine might contain specific chemicals not contained in beer that could make wine healthier. However, for the most part, a single serving of wine and a single serving of beer are equal in terms of risks.

For more information on standard drink amounts for different types of alcohol, check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 mthomas - Riverside Junior High, Kansas: What mental illnesses can people get from using drugs?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Depends on the drug.  For marijuana--psychosis; methamphetamine/cocaine--psychosis; cocaine--panic disorder; alcohol--depression.  Also for some drugs there is weaker evidence, but for example, marijuana use is more common in people with anxiety and depression. 
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 fluffy779 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can you get cancer from drug usage?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Yes, you can.  Cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol can all increase one's chances of getting cancer.  In fact, even being around people who smoke can increase your chances of getting lung cancer. In the US, second hand smoke contributes to about 3000 cases of lung cancer each year. 
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 MizaelJ - Johnson Middle School, California: is it possible to recover from brain damage?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: There is not much research yet on this-- at least long term- years after people stop using.  However, much of the studies that are out there look promising.  It looks like much of the mental and concentration problems go away once people stop using many types of drugs.  In addition, some brain scan studies show some recovery of brain structure.  Clearly, there are significant benefits to stopping the use.  We just don't know the extent of the recovery yet.  It may be that some things will recover as though nothing ever happened.  Other functions might never fully come back, though.
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 lbatrez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why do some hospitals in different country use drugs as medicine?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Ibatrez and thanks for the question. Most countries use the same medications as the U.S. Almost all countries have signed a UN agreement to use the same medications. I guess the big exception are places where marijuana is legal or used as medication, but in general the medications around the world are the same.
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 smartinez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what causes cocaine to give you seizures?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Cocaine not only causes seizures in individuals at risk for abnormal electrical activity of their neurons (i.e. what a seizure is) before they took cocaine, but when used over time, cocaine also causes molecular/chemical changes in the brain that make neurons more electrically responsive and reactive, and more likely to suffer a seizure.
Moderator Icon  Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids – more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. People ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
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 B-Slice. - GMG Community School, Iowa: Which drug is the most addictive

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: 
Difficult question.  Depends how you look at it.  Based on data from the Monitoring the Future school survey, the most commonly used drugs among youth are alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Results of the 2007 survey show that alcohol (44%), tobacco (22%) and marijuana (19%) were the most commonly used drugs by 12th graders in the past 30 days.  Recently, prescription medications are used by a concerning number/percentage of students. These drugs are really dangerous when taken outside of a doctor's supervision. For more information on teens' drug use, go to:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html

However, how much they are abused does not equate exactly to how addictive they are.  Other factors like availability and cost impact how many people abuse a given drug. Thus, again, hard to say which is the most addictive. 
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most severe result of exposing a fetus to alcohol. Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Did they use to put some kind of drug in Coca Cola

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, but that was more than a century ago.  When Coca Cola was first invented, part of the formula included leaves of the coca plant which contains cocaine.  But when people realized how harmful cocaine is, Coca Cola changed the way it was made so now it doesn't contain cocaine....just lots and lots of sugar.  Here's a fun experiment, put a nail in a glass of cola and see what happens over the next day or so.
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 sarahv - Johnson Middle School, California: Can drug addictions afect you personal life?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Absolutely.  Drugs don't just make you high or only affect you personally.  They can affect everyone around you.  Think about it -- drug abuse significantly impairs your ability to make good decisions.  If you do something that gets you kicked out of school, or lands you in jail, or uses up all your money, or puts you behind the wheel of a car when you have no business being there -- all of those things affect your personal life and the people around you -- in potentially very serious ways. 
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 ims718 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How can you prevent a family member from doing drugs?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Here's a resource if you have a family member or someone close to you who is using: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org. Also, if you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
That's a tough situation. Don't forget to take good care of yourself, stay healthy and keep your spirits up as you deal with it. Are there any adults that you would trust to talk to about it? Good luck.
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 vdelafuente - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: say the doctor prescribes medicine to you... and say you r sick.. and you are having to take about 5 or 6 pills a day... is that really bad?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi and thanks for the question. We all get sick and have to take medication. If you are sick, the main thing is to take the medication the way the doctor prescribes it. For more info see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
Which of these statements are false?
The correct answer is: The correct answers are A, B, and C. (A) You cannot tell in advance if you will become addicted. It is true that some people are more at risk than others—if you have a family member with drug problems you may be at greater risk since addiction is about 50 percent genetics. (B) Addiction is linked to long lasting changes in the brain, including memory triggers that can induce severe drug cravings and relapse. Recovery is a life-long process for some. (C) An estimated 1 out of every 11 people who try marijuana become addicted to it. For those who start in their teens, the chances go up to 1 in 6; and for daily users, the addiction rate is 25-50 percent. (D) True: Mari¬juana's effects on atten¬tion, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Check out NIDA's Drugs, Brains and Behavior: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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 etinoco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how hard is it to get off of drugs?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Depending on the person, the drug, and the treatment approach you use, it can be very difficult to get off of drugs.  That's because addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease--and drug use fundamentally affects the way your brain functions, which requires treatment that addresses the lasting effects of drugs on your brain, your body, and your social environment.  It also involves teaching former drug users new strategies for dealing with 'triggers' that may tempt them to start using again.  So, suffice it to say it's harder to stop using than it is to never use in the first place.  Really.
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 schuett30 - GMG Community School, Iowa: What is the safest part on your body to shoot up heroin?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: There is no safe place to shoot up heroin.  Not only is heroin one of the most addictive drugs, but it produces a terrible withdrawal syndrome (google 'cold turkey') and by injecting drugs you are bypassing your body's immune system defenses and increasing the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis and other serious diseases.
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 willie j - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: How many joints until you cant see?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, Willie.  I don't know a specific number, and why would you not want to see??? Remember that smoking joints is not a good idea for many reasons. Here's something for your eyes...people who smoke joints can experience extreme anxiety (panic attacks) or psychotic reactions (where they lose touch with reality and may become paranoid). And people can and do injure themselves because of marijuana's effects on judgment, perception, and coordination. For example, marijuana affect the skills you need to drive (e.g., concentration, reaction time) so people can injure themselves and others if they drive while under the influence. For more information on marijuana, see: www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html.  Hope this helps.  Thanks for sending us your question!
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 dabrions - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: How old are most people when they start smoking

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez:  Good question. Most smokers initiate smoking between the ages of 12 and 25. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 when they started smoking, the average reported age of smoking initiation was around 19 years old.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS, Sugar Land, TX-What is bath salt? Is it ingested or smoked?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: If you mean the 'bath salts' that people buy to get high, these are chemicals that are similar to amphetamine.  They have all the adverse effects that stimulants have, such as increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.  In addition, since these chemicals are not legal and not regulated by the FDA, you really don't know what is in them.  This means you are taking a big risk if you take them.  People often 'snort' these chemicals the way they take cocaine, but they can be smoked.  Either way you may take them, you are taking a big risk.
Moderator Icon Many of you have written in thanking our scientists for answering your questions all day.  We want to say thank you to all of you for asking such great questions!
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 DasaundraL - Johnson Middle School, California: What happens if a person drinks to much alchohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Any form of alcoholic beverages can be quite dangerous for teenagers, but the specific side effects depend on how much you drink and how much alcohol you have in your system.

With just a little alcohol in your system, you can experience:
Impaired balance and muscle coordination, which will make it more difficult to walk and drive a car.

As you drink more and you have more alcohol in your bloodstream, you can experience:
Impaired judgment and difficulty making good choices
Difficulty controlling urges, making it more likely that you will do something dangerous
Impaired memory - you can wake up the next day not be able to remember what you did while you were drinking. 

Still more alcohol can cause potentially fatal side effects, including:
Difficulty breathing
Low heart rate
Loss of consciousness

Bottom line: most side effects of drinking alcohol can be damaging and even dangerous.

.
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 mirandamartin - Vista, Oklahoma: what percent of teenagers try drugs just once?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Good question mirandamartin. Unfortunately, we don't really know the answer to your question. What we do know is that around 29% of 8th graders, 41% of 10th graders, and 50% of high school seniors reported they have tried drugs (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders) at least once in their lifetime, according to the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey in 2010.
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 Benny20 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What are the effects of Club Drugs? What do Club Drugs look like? What do Club Drugs smell like? What do Club Drugs feel like? What can i do to hide the effects of Club Drugs? Who can you go to to get Club Drugs?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: There are different club drugs that have different effects.  Some are stimulants (like methamphetamine), others make you feel separated from reality or your self (dissociative drugs like ketamine), others make you feel warm and fuzzy (ecstasy), but can leave you depressed afterwards.  Most have risks associated with them, including the fact that you don't know what your getting, and if you mix them with other drugs or alcohol, serious problems (including death) could result.  For more information, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Clubdrugs.html
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 bobcat763 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what percent of 6-12 graders use drugs?

Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hi there bobcat763! Thanks for your question. In 2010, almost 20% of teens, aged 12-17, reported past year drug use (The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2010). This translates to about 1 in 5 teens! Unfortuantely we don't have any numbers to give you that include 6th graders.
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 Ncortes - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How To Quit Smoking ?

Expert Icon Dave White: Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but it can be done!  There are different kinds of help that are available, including medications and getting tips from professional counselors.  The most effective treatment option will vary from person to person.  Check out these sites for more information:
http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp
http://www.smokefree.gov/
http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/
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 rmccune - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Thanks a bunch NIDA! SLMS is having a great time on the chat and we are ALL learning some very valuable information.

Expert Icon Carol Krause: We love SLMS for participating!
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 janeia tia - Johnson Middle School, California: when your drunk driveing how does it cause a car accident ?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgment, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.

In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!! 
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 mthomas - Riverside Junior High, Kansas: Why do some people abuse their children while drinking alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a very tough question, and it depends on the particular circumstances, which vary from family to family. But, drinking alcohol does make it difficult for people to think clearly and see the potential consequences of their actions. For other people, alcohol might increase their level of anger and aggression. For others, the alcohol use could be another symptom, like the child abuse, of some serious underlying psychological problems. Regardless, child abuse is never acceptable and anyone who lives in a home where they are abused should find an adult whom they trust and discuss the situation with them.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS Sugar Land, TX- What is the difference between crack cocaine and cocaine?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hello Sugar Land-They are essentially the same thing, but crack is a form of cocaine that has been processed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water and then injected. Crack is the street name given to the form of cocaine that has been processed to make a rock crystal, which, when heated, produces vapors that are smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound produced by the rock as it is heated. Basically it can be considered the same thing. Check out teens.drugabuse.gov.

Moderator Icon  Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky.
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 Antonio - Walter Johnson High School, Maryland: how can you know the level of nicotine in a cigartte? Like camel crush

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I found this website that lists nicotine content: www.erowid.org/plants/tobacco/tobacco_nic.shtml.  Don't know about camel crush, per se.
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 cvelasco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What drug is the most deadly?

Expert Icon Dave White: Good afternoon cvelasco, it really depends on a number of factors such as the genetics or preexisting conditions (eg., heart issues) of the taker, the circumstances in which they are taking them, what drug they are taking, and how much, but a leading candidate would be nicotine, since cigarettes cause more sickness and death than any other. Smoking contributes to over 400,000 deaths annually in the US. Some people may have a higher vulnerability to becoming addicted to opiates such as heroin and oxycontin, while others might be more susceptible to the effects of stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/
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 jen5858 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: can inhalants kill you?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Inhalants can cause brain problems at least from what we can tell-- such as by how people who huff show problems in their thinking.  This suggest that brain cells are at least being changed and messed with.  In fact, huffing (inhaling household products and other chemicals on purpose) is one of the more dangerous 'drugs' in terms of the mental problems it causes while people are doing it.  It can also target other body organs and yes, can even kill outright.  This is also a problem for people who work in industries with chemicals in the air, who are exposed all the time.
See this webpage for more information on inhalants: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/?s=sharpie.
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 Allison L. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How can you tell if someone is addicted to prescription drugs, and HOW do you get addicted to them?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: I assume you mean opioids (pain killers), which are the most often abused prescription drugs. The main way to see if someone is addicted is to notice a change in behavior; the person will get withdrawn, perhaps nod out when talking to you, lose interest in all things that used to be fun, lose interest in school and get worse grades. They may change their friends and steal to get money for the drugs. You get addicted by taking them without a doctor's prescription or, if you have a prescription, taking more than prescribed or for longer than prescribed.
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 pre calc - Northport High School, New York: Is addiction hereditary? If so is there a specific addiction gene?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Great question!!  Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.  It turns out that there are many genes that contribute to addiction, and these may depend on the substance that is used.  For example, we know that there is a group of genes on chromosome 15 called the nicotinic subunit receptor genes, and there are genetic variants (differences) in these genes that have been strongly linked to heavy smoking. 
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 smartinez - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: can hand sanitizer get you high?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, because it contains ethyl alcohol, the kind of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. However, it can also make a person extremely sick due to the other ingredients in it. That's why the instructions make clear that hand sanitizer is for external use only.
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 teacher 48 - GMG Community School, Iowa: If you drink with your family at dinner, most would say it is legal. But if there is a school friend there who doesn't drink, will the parents get into trouble if the police make a visit? If the friend takes a sip?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That depends on the specific laws where the family and friend live. In general, it is not legal to provide alcohol to an underage person who is not your own child. Further, it would be irresponsible to do so based on data showing that drinking during adolescence is associated with a long list of negative outcomes.

Research shows that drinkig alcohol when you're a teen increases your chances of becoming an alcoholic later in your life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: If a doctor is addicted to a prescription drug can he/she keep writing their own prescriptions?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: If a doctor is addicted to a prescription drug, he/she cannot legally write a prescription for that particular drug.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: How many cigarettes does it generally take to become addicted?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: There is no absolute number.  Some people say that they knew after their first cigarette that it would be hard for them to stop.  Other people got sick the first time they smoked a cigarette, but they kept smoking because they wanted to fit in with their friends or for other reasons.  The problem is you never know when you will become addicted - so why even start ?
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 vmartinez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Do people use pain killers to relieve themselves from emotional pain instead of physical pain?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Interesting question!!! We have not figured out all the connections between physical and emotional pain and are working to figure them out. We do know, however, that opioid medications that are directed mainly at physical pain have some positive effects on emotional pain, and antidepressant medications that are directed mainly at emotional pain can lessen physical pain.
That said, in most cases, one type of pain or the other is predominant, and the right medication is the one that is directed at that type of pain. A doctor is the best person to determine this. Someone who decides on his own to take a medication for either type of pain is making a mistake. The dangers are not getting the best relief, and other potential adverse consequences.
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 Ncortes - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How Does Marijuana Make You Lose Your Memory ?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: The active molecule in Marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain.  These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock.  A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.
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 dcruz - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what does thc do to you

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: 'THC' is the active molecule in Marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol.  This molecule is very similar in shape to a set of molecules that naturally float around in the brain.  These molecules fit into 'receptors' on brain cells, like a key into a lock.  While THC can make people feel high, it has a downside too.  A part of the base of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps form memories and remember them, has a very large number or concentration of these 'locks'- - this means that when people smoke pot, they're especially disrupting this region of the brain, and therefore memory.  THC also causes changes in the brain's gray matter.  Some of these problems can get better when people stop using.
Moderator Icon  Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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 mhernandez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: are only some drugs addictive?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Addiction is when someone uses a drug compulsively despite knowing that it is harming them or their quality of life. All abused drugs can produce this effect in some people. Of course, many medications, such as aspirin, antibiotics that you take for a fever, or asthma medications are not addictive.
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 pekin2016 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What do smokers' lungs usually tend to look like?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Lung cancer

Here is a picture from the National Cancer Institute. This shows a smoker's lung, which looks black because of the particulates inhaled from the toxic chemicals in cigarettes.
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 sweetheart97 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: What effect does marijuana have on a persons brain?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi Sweatheart97.  Thanks for your great question.  Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. It alters brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--marijuana can cause someone to do something dangerous when they are high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having their grades drop, or seeing their athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term marijuana is addictive. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. You can read more about marijuana at www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.
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 p3nqu1n-182 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: doe sniffing sharpies kill brain cells? like forreal?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Not sure about actually killing neurons, but repeated or long-term use can cause damage (some permanent) to brain cells and their myelin that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.

See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
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 Angel22 - Einstein High School, Maryland: Why do alcholics go through withdraw that can be deadly but potheads only suffer with anxiety or anger after stopping smoking?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Different drugs produce different severities of withdrawal.  Alcohol, opioids (like heroin), and some sedatives have some of the most severe withdrawal symptoms.  Marijuana and nicotine are more mild, and similar in the type of withdrawal symptoms they produce.  But the problem with even mild symptoms of withdrawal is that they can still prompt relapse--since people crave the drug to relieve the discomfort associated with the withdrawal. 
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 2341 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Is it true that people feel more confident and bold while drunk?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That really depends on the person, but alcohol does affect the parts of the brain that helps us control our urges and think carefully about our actions. Alcohol slows down the following parts of the brain:

Frontal lobes, which normally allows us to think about the consequences of our actions and control our urges to do things that are dangerous.
Amygdala, which normally makes us feel fear and anxiety when we are in potentially dangerous situations. With the amygdala slowed down, we are less likely to feel afraid when in social situations or other situations. This can make us feel and act more confident.

While these might seem like positive things, they are not. The effects of alcohol on the frontal lobes and amygdala often lead people to make very bad choices and take chances that they would normally never take, often leading to extremely negative outcomes, such as injuries or death.
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 rg - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what are the simtoms that could happen when you take staroids?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: There are lots of side effects from taking steroids...acne, erratic behavior (roid rage), stunted growth, heart problems, liver damage, jaundice, high blood pressure.  Oh...let's not forget about the shrunken testicles (ouch!), low sperm count, breast development (double ouch!) and balding in males and masuclization in females (facial hair, deep voice -- yikes!).  Some of these effects can be permanent.  Not trying to scare you, just giving the facts...  Want more information on steroids, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php

 
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 kibidy - The Blake School, Minnesota: is there any way to know if marijuana has been laced with other drugs

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Not practically.  You would have to conduct a chemical analysis of the marijuana in a laboratory.  So really, everytime you think you are smoking marijuana you could be getting other drugs as well.
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 Madison - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Does Driving Under the Influnence include drugs like weed of just alcohol?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Absolutely.  It's called 'drugged driving.'
Moderator Icon  Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington serves as NIDA’s coordinator for research aimed at promoting the study of women and sex and gender differences into all areas of drug abuse. She also oversees a program of extramural research focusing on a variety of animal and human laboratory areas including vulnerability to drug abuse, the behavioral effects of exposure to drugs during lifespan development, and, of course, sex and gender differences and topics unique to females. When Dr. Wetherington is not at work she’s enjoying reading (currently, Moonwalking with Einstein, a birthday gift from her son), Sirius Radio, the History and Science channels on TV, and being with her family which includes two young adults (Peter and Marianne), two beagles (Abbie and Bodie), and two black and white cats (Spot and Sox).
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 jc$$ - The Blake School, Minnesota: can you over dose on bath salts?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: If you mean the 'bath salts' that people buy to get high, the answer is yes you can overdose, and it can be fatal.  These 'bath salts' are chemically similar to amphetamine, and have all the adverse effects that stimulants like amphetamine have, such as increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.  In addition, since these chemicals are not legal and not regulated by the FDA, you really don't know what are in the chemicals you are taking - that is taking a big risk. 
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 rileymcd - Fairview ed Center, Minnesota: Whats the safest place to shoot up herion?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi Rileymcd. No such place exists. To read more about the adverse health consequences of heroin use, go to www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/heroin.html.
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 katiejs - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: Do you reccomend the 12 steps of recovery for drug addicts and alcoholics?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Some people find these programs extremely helpful, especially in supporting their recovery over the long run.  There are also treatments that have been shown by research to help people recover from various addictions and medications that can help with some (nicotine, alcohol, and opiates).  People need to find the right approach for them, and they may need additional help such as job training, linkage to other medical care etc.  NIDA has a booklet that describes the principles of effective treatment that you can find at : http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What type of painkillers are illegal or very serious and only used for medical use?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: When we say pain killers we are usually referring to opioid medications. Other pain medicines like aspirin, acetimenophine and non-steroidal medications reduce pain but are not addictive and not illegal. Opioids are legal with a prescription and safe when taken as prescribed and for medical use. Heroin is illegal under all circumstances-- although it is a pain reliever it is too addictive to be useful.
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 imoreno - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how long does it take to get out of a drug addiction?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hey Illinois!  Great question, but unfortunately not one with an easy answer.  Treatment is different for different drugs, and for different people.  Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease, and so the recovery process can take a long time, or it can involve several episodes of rehab.  Treatment is important to help detoxify the brain, and get the recovery process started.  A combination of approved medications and behavioral (counseling) therapies are available for use in drug abuse treatment.  Even after people complete a treatment program, they will need continued support from local support groups or scheduled check-ins with a recovery counselor.  At NIDA, our scientists are working on understanding how to adjust available treatments to make them the best they can be to help people recover from addiction and return to productive lives.  Here's an interesting and easy-to-read booklet that will give you a good overview of addiction: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ 
Moderator Icon  Some mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD can increase the risk for suicide so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan. Learn more about depression here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
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 ewims - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: What is the best way to relieve stress without smoking tobacco

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi ewims.  The best way to relieve stress is to do something you love.  This should give you MANY ways to relieve stress without smoking.
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 BTakushi - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how many people get addicted to drugs each year?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, nearly 9% of the American population ages 12 and older were classified with some type of substance abuse or dependence in the past year. We have also learned from research that about 1 in 6 persons who use marijuana, at least once in their teens, will become addicted.  There is a lot we still don’t know about who becomes addicted and why, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different, so it’s a little like playing “Russian Roulette” if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Can smoking anything be harmful?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, smoking anything can be harmful.  When you burn something, many chemicals are released into the air and if you breathe in those chemicals, some can be harmful to your lungs.
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 A. Dones - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What do nicotine patches do exactly? what if a person puts to many of them on thinking that it will help them quit smoking?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Nicotine patches are transdermal patches that release nicotine into the skin.  It is a way to deliver nicotine to a person that is addicted--to help them quit smoking.  They can taper their dose over time so that they get less and less nicotine until they are no longer addicted.  Too many can be dangerous; nicotine is a stimulant and can cause your heart to beat irregularly.  As with any medication, they should be used as indicated on the package or by the doctor.  For other alternatives for smoking cessation therapy, see: http://www.smokefree.gov/tools.aspx.
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Which is worse, prescription drug abuse of illegal drug abuse?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: That is like asking which is worse, a bullet from a pistol or a bullet from a rifle.  All drugs have risks and adverse effects.  The difference is the risks and adverse effects of prescription drugs have been evaluated in scientific studies.  So a doctor knows when she prescribes a drug what the adverse effects are, and she can monitor you to make sure that the risks are kept to a minimum.  Of course, even if a drug is legal, if you take it without a doctor's prescription or take more than the doctor prescribes, then you are misusing the drug which can be very harmful.  With an illegal drug, not only do you not know whether the drug is pure or whether it is even drug you wanted, but illegal the drugs are considered illegal precisely because there is not evidence that there are enough benefits to outweigh the risks.
Moderator Icon  When you go college you will experience a lot of changes in your life. Even though you are moving on to new and exciting things it can be stressful. It is important to continue to take care of yourself and if you are receiving treatment now to find out where and how to continue treatment when you get to college. The college counseling office is a good place to start, or check with an advisor. You can call them and arrange to visit them before you start school.
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 mgarcia - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How can cocaine affect your college life?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Well, it will certainly affect your college life, but not in ways that will make the most of your tuition payments or your time.  For a good (non-preachy) overview, check out this info on our teen website:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php.
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 TGrant - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What is Pcp?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Phencycline.  This is a type of drug call a hallucinogen.  It can cause hallucinations (visions and experiences that aren't real) and great confusion, and can promote aggressiveness and suicidality.  It is not used that often, which is a very good thing! For more information about PCP, this is a great website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal5.php.
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 candelario.v - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: how can weed mess up your brain cells?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Marijuana has been shown to have direct effects many areas of the brain.  It has direct effects on cognitive processes by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory.

Marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors'.  These receptors are part of a finely calibrated 'endocannabioid' system found in the brain and the body that is involved in a whole host of functions, including pain regulation, reward, metabolism, mood and even immune function (how the body protects itself from infection).  Marijuana floods the system, disrupting the finely orchestrated response that evolved over millions of years to do the many functions mentioned above.  This leads to the effects that users feel--in the brain the cannabinoid receptors are found in the hippocampus--crucial for memory formation; the cerebellum--important for coordinating movements; the cortex--involved in thinking and judgment; and reward areas--important for motivation.  Marijuana disrupts the normal function of those areas and with repeated use the endocannabinoid system starts to adapt--to cope with the artificial situation created by exposure to marijuana. We do know that people can become addicted to the drug (and suffer withdrawal symptoms when they quit--irritability, sleep and appetite disturbances), and that they may suffer cognitively in the long run.  Long term users also report decreased life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, relationship problems and decreased career and educational attainment compared to their peers from similar backgrounds.

So evidence is clear that marijuana can 'mess up' the normal functioning of brain cells.  For more information, check out:http://www.marijuana-info.org/
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 thebomb.com - GMG Community School, Iowa: If I do drugs one time will I become addicted?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Probabaly not. But depending on the drug being used, different drugs have different potentials for abuse and addiction. Cocaine, for example, is a very addictive drug. The rate at which a person can become addicted also depends in part on their genetic makeup and environment. However, most drugs of abuse can eventally lead to addiction. You should also consider that just because your chances of becoming addicted on the first try are low, your chances for other bad side effects are higher.  For example, inhaling high concentrations of fumes from inhalants can cause a person to suffocate...that's bad.
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 kutiekay - Rockville HS, Maryland: in a statistic posted earlier you said the 3 drinks make a girl, between the ages of 9 to 13, drunk. what does 'drinks' mean? how much is one drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Good question! A 'drink' is defined as one serving of beer, wine or liquor:

One serving of beer is 12 ounces of 5% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)
One serving of wine is 5 ounces of 12% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)
One serving of liquor is 1.5 ounces of 40% alcohol (0.6 grams total alcohol)

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 ims702 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What does methadone do to your body when you are addicted to it?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: ims702 Methadone causes the same effects as many other opioids. It can cause a dry mouth which can cause dental disease, it will reduce appetite and cause weight loss, and some people say it causes hair loss. It also reduces hormone production and in men can cause impotence. When you are addicted to it, it means you will go through withdrawal if you stop it suddenly. Withdrawal effects are basically the opposite of what the drug causes, so instead of feeling euphoria or feeling good you feel bad and anxious; and you will get back and muscle aches. Heroin addicts on methadone know that methadone can get into the bones and cause bone pain which causes a person to kick. That's why quitting opioids is called 'kicking.' Other unpleasant side effects are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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 958832 - Einstein High School, Maryland: do you think smoking can affect your life span?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: We know from scientific research that the earlier you smoke or use other drugs, the more likely you are to become addicted and suffer serious social and medical consequences, like having yellow teeth, lack of physical activity, asthma and other lung problems, as well as increasing your risk for cancers.  Smoking causes so many health consequences--it can certainly shorten your lifespan.  So....tell your friends that smoking is not good for them!  Thanks for your question.  Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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 jcarson - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: can drinking a lot of alcohol put in a comma

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, it certainly can. Alcohol has powerful effects on the brain and dramatically slows brain functioning. If you drink enough alcohol, your brain can shut down as a result, sending you into a deep, coma-like state. Alcohol can also shut off vital centers in the brain we need to keep us alive, and even cause death.
PollI have tried to help a friend stop using drugs.
35% - Yes
55% - No
10% - Maybe
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 s.kate.e - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Why is alcohol considered a drug if it is legal and less harmful than actual drugs?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drugs are substances that alter how we think and feel and alcohol does just that. Something does not need to be illegal to be considered a drug. Alcohol can be a very dangerous drug, particularly for teenagers. Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 
 
  1. Legal trouble
  2. Car crashes and other accidents
  3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
  4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
  5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on

The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 cvelasco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How does drugs affect your body?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to receptors in areas of the brain that signal reward or pleasure. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention and focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, though, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from doing anything to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
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 pjmorris14 - The Blake School, Minnesota: If a person uses medicinal marijuana, will the same negative effects of marijuana still effect them

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes--there's no difference between 'medical marijuana' and other marijuana.
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 ajbuoy - Cathedral High School, Indiana: can you get high from eating mcribs

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Not high, just fat.
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 schuett30 - GMG Community School, Iowa: How much meth does it take to overdose?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Methamphetamine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant drug that is similar in structure to amphetamine and acts to stimulate the brain and body. The amount of meth it takes to overdose depends on a lot of factors. First, different people react differently to drugs depending on their genetics and how the drug is put into the body (such as taken as a pill, or snorted or injected directly into the blood stream). It also depends on whether the drug is possibly taken at the same time with other drugs, as other drugs can influence the rate which meth is broken down and/or acts in the brain to ultimately lead to overdose. For more info on meth and to see what othe teens are thinking and blogging about meth, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php
Moderator Icon  Of the 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse, 27.1% involved nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, 21.2% involved illicit drugs, and 14.3% involved alcohol, in combination with other drugs.
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 karent - Johnson Middle School, California: how do drugs affect our brains?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Some drugs can cause long-term brain damage- both in how brain cells communicate with each other, and lowered activity in general, and reduced (shrunken or less dense) gray matter, as shown by brain scans.

The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!

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 piglover309 - Rockville HS, Maryland: Why do some people get COPD years after they smoke while others never get it but smoked througout their life

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Good question.  The long term consequences of smoking are varied.  Some people get COPD (including bronchitis and/or emphysema), oral cancer, lung cancer, peripheral artery disease, and heart disease.  It's not clear why people get one thing over the other, but a very common denominator for all of these diseases is smoking.  It's bad news.
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 ablanco - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What is the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Addiction is when the drug abuse gets out of control--and can become the driving force in a person's life, even while they are experiencing dire consequences from their drug use. Its not easy to tell when you are crossing that line from abuse to addiction--and many people don't realize it until its too late.  However, there are treatments for addiction, so people can and do recover.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: If an adult takes drugs can they abuse their child to take drugs?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Parents who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs often have trouble being good parents.  This can put their children at risk for a number negative outcomes, including risk for drug use.  It is important to reach out for help in these situations.  Talking to another trusted adult in the family, or a teacher or counselor at school can be helpful.  Another resource is the substance abuse treatment facility locator, which can be reached by calling 1-800-662-HELP, or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 Stephanie - Einstein High School, Maryland: what do you do when idiot friends drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation.  Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into - here are some tips:

Say no and let them know you mean it
Stand up straight and make eye contact
Say how you feel
Don't make excuses
Stick up for yourself

It might also be a good idea to connect with friends who don't drink and so won't put you in this tough position.

To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is it safe to trust this website for every single question? (exclude the ridiculous ones please.)

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. We believe in scientific research and are confident that our answers are the best science has to offer. However, because each scientist at NIDA answers these questions independently, there might be some variations in how the science is interpreted. I suggest that you check out several sites at NIDA--including our main site (drugabuse.gov) and our teen site (teens.drugabuse.gov.)
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 CDT - Clinton High School, Iowa: What can you do to ease the crave for alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Craving is an important sign of alcohol dependence. If you are not able to withstand the cravings on your own and stop drinking, there are plenty of sources of help. First, find an adult whom you trust - like a teacher, family member, schoool nurse, or family doctor, and talk to them about your problem. It is sooo important to stop while you are still young to avoid doing any further damage to your body and to allow your brain to heal and recover. 

Here is a link to further information about the signs of alcoholism and suggestions for quitting. While the site is tailored primarily for adults, the resources can provide good starting points for quitting and finding additional help if you are unable to do it on your own.

http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Support/ChooseYourApproach.asp
Moderator Icon  To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov.
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 Soccerbabe2001 - Rockville HS, Maryland: Why do people do drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: What a great simple question.  Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. People begin taking drugs for lots of reasons but common ones include: they want to experience something new, they feel bad and have heard drugs can make you feel good or overcome a void, their family/friends have encouraged them to use drugs, or they're just plain bored or looking for something to do and drugs happen to be available.  Regardless of the reasons why people try drugs, they have a powerful impact on our brain, body, and behaviors.  Quite often, they can make people very sick and may lead to both short and long term problems.  To learn more about drugs and their effects see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
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 iyamsydney - Cathedral High School, Indiana: If you are depressed and smoke weed to feel better does it make you feel ever worse?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: It can--similar to alcohol it may initially make you feel better but eventually worsen the depression.  Some people lose their motivation or interest in things, and marijuana has definitely been linked to depression--although whether it causes depression is not yet known.
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 Sdang - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: when a person is on drugs can you tell they the mental changes occur quickly or slowly or does it depends on the person?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork:  Changes can occur quickly AND over time.  Quickly due to the person being actually high at the time.  However, other changes can emerge over time even when the person is not actively 'high', as the brain itself changes because of the drugs.

Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually change the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together.
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 naynay25 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: When you use marijuana, is it possible to pass out?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: It is not only possible, but it is likely that you will pass out - although you may just consider that you need close your eyes for a short nap, then you open your eyes again to find an hour went by.  You can imagine how bad that might be if you were in school, but just think how much worse it would be if you were driving a car.  Also, people who smoke marijuana a lot can find themselves having trouble falling asleep at night when they try to quit using marijuana, and that can lead them to start smoking mariujana again just to get to sleep at night. 
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you have a prescription medicine that your doctor recommended, and you don't trust it because it is too risky to take, is it safe to trust this site?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: I am not sure I understand your question.  If you are concerned about the safety of the medications your doctor prescribed, you should discuss this with your doctor.  If you are concerned about what your doctor is telling you, maybe you should get a second opinion....  Hope this helps.
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 pekin2016 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What is being done to protect people from second-hand smoke?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: That's a great question and one that is handled by our sister agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Protecting people from second-hand smoke requires that businesses and communities work together -- that's exactly why you see that many (most) restaurants and other public spaces don't allow smoking anymore.  For more information on second-hand smoke, check out CDC's fact sheet at:  http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/shs_exposure/index.htm.
Addiction is a disease of :
The correct answer is: B. The Brain. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease because drugs alter the brain in a way that can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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 Robby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: does weed cause memory problems?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes. Brain scans done on teens while they're trying to perform a memory task shows that areas of the brain not usually involved in memory have to get involved to try to get the task done.
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 DaCookieMonster - The Blake School, Minnesota: Why is coke so addictive?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Cocaine prolongs the action of the neurotransmitter called dopamine (as well as other transmitters).  Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerve cells use to send messages to each other.  The message that dopamine sends is that something just happened that was much better than you expected.  So you should remember all the things that led up to that, and pay attention to them the next time they occur.  Because cocaine prolongs the action of dopamine, it becomes more important than anything else in your life, and you continue to take cocaine even though it may be bad consequences (like being busted !).
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 vmartin - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is it in a sharpie that causes you to get high?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It's the chemicals in the ink, which include propanol, butanol, and diacetone alcohols.  These are part of a class of chemicals called inhalants. This class of drugs is huge, and includes lots of cleaners, glues, gas... 

For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 Omega - GMG Community School, Iowa: Has anyone ever gotten cancer from pot?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: This is still an open question.  Pot may increase the risk of some cancers, but it does not seem to increase the risk of lung cancer.  However, many people who smoke marijuana also smoke tobacco and marijuana use may make it harder to quit tobacco.
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 afrench - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is the nictine gum or other products really work?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hello, afrench. Nicotine gum does work.  It may not work for everyone, but there are other possibilities for people to get help for quitting smoking.  For more information on how to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov
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 coolkid - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: does alcohol effect the thinking?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, very much so. Alcohol has powerful effects on areas of the brain right behind your forehead, called the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are involved in thinking, planning for the future, making decisions, storing short-term memories, etc. Alcohol suppresses, or turns off, the frontal lobes, making it difficult to think clearly and make good choices. Alcohol's effects on the frontal lobes can make it more likely that you will make bad choices after drinking too much.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How would you get over drugs if you took them for over five years or more?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hey Bethanne -- good question, although the absolute amount of time someone has been using drugs is not as important as the drugs they've been using, how often, and how it has affected their brains and functioning.  But 5 years would seem to indicate that someone has a problem--and that calls for treatment.  A variety of science-backed treatment approaches (many of them developed through NIDA-funded research) are available to help people recover from drug addiction.  These include a number of FDA-approved medications, as well as behavioral (counseling) therapies that address both the addiction and its physical and social consequences.  Most of these treatments are available in treatment programs in communities throughout America (www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov) but also from your doctor.  To learn more about the best available treatments for drug abuse, you can check out our publication, Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment, at http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html.  I hope this helps!
Moderator Icon  Like playing games? Try out these Brain Games on our website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/havefun/index.php
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 pekin2016 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What are possible ways to quit smoking? ?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: There are several products available to help with this, such as nicotine gum or the nicotine patch.  However, there's a lot of research that suggests it's not just the nicotine people get hooked on, it's the whole ritual of grabbing and holding that cigarette.  Other people are just able to quit without assistance.  Quitting in general is very very hard, which is why we care so much about preventing people from starting in the first place.  Nicotine is among the most addictive drugs out there! If anyone you know needs help finding a doctor, therapist, support group or treatment program, visit the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or call 1-800-662-HELP.
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 Humann(: - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What is k2? and what is the effects of it?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Thanks for your question.
K2, Spice is a fairly new phenomenon, that is thought of as synthetic cannabis. There is no solid indication that this herbal mixture is lethal. But since this mixtures are not regulated nor standardized different batches from different manufacturers could end up containing dangerous contaminants. Recently, there have also been an increase in poison control calls and ER visits related to using k2.  My advice, stay healthy and take care.
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 Hank H - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: What are your sources for your information that you are providing?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Excellent question! Over the past 30 years NIDA has contributed to and participated in most of the world's research on drug abuse and addiction. Our scientists are among the most knowledgeable in the world about drug abuse issues, and keep up-to-date on studies about prevention, treatment and the effect that drug abuse and addiction have on our health status, our culture and our world. We have a strong foundation of science behind our answers here today. Because each scientist answers CHAT DAY questions independently, there might be some variations in how they answer. However, science has taught us a  great deal about drugs in recent decades, and we are committed to sharing that information with the younger generation. Our Web site, drugabuse.gov, is filled with science-based information on this topic.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Is drinking a little red wine good for you?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence.

To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
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 Rorschach - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: Do poppy seeds register on drug tests?

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: They can. Poppy seeds do contain morphine (an opiate) at very low levels so you can come up positive for morphine if you just ate a lot of pastries that contained poppy seeds. The level for opiate testing was raised in part for this reason, so it unusual now for this type of case.
Moderator Icon  Did you know that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people age 15 to 24? Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can negatively affect a driver's attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences.
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 wigginsp - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why does liquor get you so much more drunk than beer?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Well, ounce for ounce, liquor has more alcohol content in it than beer does. So 1.5 ounces of liquor (40% alcohol) has the same alcohol content as 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol).

Also, your body absorbs the alcohol in liquor faster than the alcohol in beer because you drink it in smaller amounts. This makes you feel the effects of the liquor faster and more powerfully than you feel the effects of beer. Also, when people drink liquor, they often drink much more alcohol than they think they are drinking.

You can learn more about drink sizes and alcohol content here: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 kutiekay - Rockville HS, Maryland: if you are bipolar can the effects of drugs be worse on you than on people who don't have bipolar?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: People with a mental disorder are generally at higher risk of becoming addicted if they use drugs than people without a disorder.  This includes bipolar disorder.
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 scertenberg - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what are hallucinogens how do they work. Why do people get addicted to them hoa do you get the drug?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey...thanks for your question.  Here's some information on how to learn more about hallucinogens:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php

Some hallucinogens come from plants. Mescaline comes from a cactus called peyote. And certain mushrooms, also known as “magic” mushrooms, are hallucinogens.  But many hallucinogens are chemicals that don’t occur in nature. Some examples are:

  • LSD, also called acid
  • MDA, also called the “love drug,” related to the stimulant amphetamine
  • MDMA, known as ecstasy, also related to amphetamine
  • PCP, often called angel dust
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 DevinD - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What drug effects last the most?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: The simple answer is the last drug you took.  But a serious answer is more difficult.  Drugs vary in how long they stay in the body, and some drugs to stay in the body a long time.  For example, methamphetamine is degraded by your body much more slowly than amphetamine so it is around for a longer period of time than amphetamine.  Similarly, THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana gets stored in body fat and so is present for a long time.  A bigger issue is that drugs can cause long lasting changes in the cells in your brain (neurons and glia), and these changes can persist long after the drug has left the body.  We really don't know what all of such changes may mean for the functioning of the brain, but why take the chance ?
Moderator Icon  How many drinks does it take to reach the limit considered “intoxicated” by the legal system? Well, kids reach the legal drinking limit with fewer drinks than adults. Girls age 9 to 17 reach this limit with about 3 drinks. Boys ages 14 to 15 reach this limit with about 4 drinks, and boys ages 16 to 17 reach this limit with about 5 drinks. Of course all alcohol drinking by kids is illegal.
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 chase8148 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Is salvia legal

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: Salvia is not currently listed as a controlled substance by the DEA but some states have placed controls on it. Effects of this drug include seeing bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, dizziness, slurred speech hallucinations (seeing objects that are not present). Because the hallucinogenic effects of this drug are unpredictable, so are the risk of injury or death as a result of impaired judgment due to disruptions of sensory and cognitive functions
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What is the most known age to make wrong decisions with drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Mid-to-late adolescence, in that this is an age that is behaviorally associated with risk-taking in general, and several research studies show that the earlier in life a person starts to regularly use alcohol or other substances, the more likely it is that that person will lose control of taking the drug in the future. The frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for critical thinking and the inhibition of compulsive behaviors, is not fully developed at this age, which also contributes to the vulnerability at this developmental stage.
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 JSlice - GMG Community School, Iowa: Why do people try drugs in the first place?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: To experiment, to try to feel good because they are compensating for something bad in their life, or to try to fit in with friends who are using.  I was fortunate in growing up that I had stuff like music I was interested in, and never felt a need to get high using drugs or alcohol, and I had friends that weren't really into drugs or alcohol either. For some facts about drugs, check out this website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.
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 naynay25 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: When people inhale dust-cleaner, can it make them mentally insane?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Do you mean like is it insane to inhale dust cleaner in the first place???  Seriously though, inhalants (like dust-cleaners) can contain vapors that people sometimes inhale on purpose to get “high.” The vapors produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous, effects. These vapors are in a variety of products common in almost any home or workplace. Examples are some paints, glues, gasoline, and cleaning fluids. Inhalants can be particularly dangerous as they can displace oxygen from the lungs and cause less and less oxygen to get the brain and other body organs, which could result in suffocation and death. 

For more info, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php ; Also check out what other teens think about inhalants at http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 ilovekatz12 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what blood alcohol level is 'drunk'?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Here are the legal limits:

DUI/DWI laws November 2011

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have per se laws defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a specified level, currently 0.08 percent (0.08 g alcohol per 100 ml blood).

If you need more information on alcohol, check out:

http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/alcohol.php
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 qwertyuiop - The Blake School, Minnesota: does THC prevent cancer by killing cancer cells

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: There's no convincing evidence for that at this time--either that THC prevents cancer or that it kills cancer cells. 
Moderator Icon  There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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 vaidehi - MillSprings Academy, Georgia: At what age do the students get influenced to take drugs and what motivates them to do so?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hello! Individuals who use drugs often have their first use of drugs (onset) in adolescence.  The earlier a person begins to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs the more likely they are to progress to abuse and addiction later on. There are a number of factors that may increase the chances that a young person will use drugs. We call these risk factors.  Risk factors may come from one or more sources, including social, environmental, or biological factors, and often more than one risk factor will be present. Just because someone has a risk factor it does not mean that they will use drugs. Youth also have many protective factors in their lives--things that reduce the likelihood of using drugs that could also be social (e.g., positive peer relationships), environmental (e.g., caring and supportive family), or biological (e.g., good self-control). But using drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and other problems, too. 

Here are some websites you may be interested in.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS Sugar Land, TX Is crystal meth injected or smoked?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Both.  It can also be taken by mouth, but the hit to the brain is much faster when injected and smoked, and it is thought that the faster a drug gets to the brain, the more likely the user is to become addicted to it.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS, Sugar land, TX- Is it ture that you can have flashbacks ten years after taking LSD? (Explain)

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: There are several case reports and small studies in the medical literature that suggest this, but this is really controversial.  Part of the problem is that these occurrances aren't carefully recorded.
PollI think teachers do a good job of explaining the dangers of drugs.
52% - Yes
27% - No
21% - Maybe
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 bobbymcwire - Johnson Middle School, California: are there ways to stop using drugs or quit?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Yes, if you know someone who is addicted to drugs, you should try to convince him or her to get professional help.  There are many successful treatments and ways that can help people quit using drugs.  Some people just decide to quit 'cold turkey' but this can be very difficult for some.  We know that drug treatment does work and helps many people with this difficult problem.

For more information, and for help, see:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

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 ims701 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: if you breath second hand smoke from weed can you get dumb?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: I don't know about dumb, but there are enough active chemicals in marijuana smoke to have an effect on your brain, same as if you smoked 'weed' directly yourself.  So you can experience the same effects, such as sleepiness and loss of attention, forgetfulness, and an increase desire for food, especially junk food.
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS, Sugar Land, TX-Is the marijuana today different from the marijuana people used in the sixties? (Exaplain)

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes--its stronger. The amount of THC (its active ingredient) in the marijuana plant has been going up over time from about 3-4% in the 80s to about 10% now.  This means that people can get exposed to higher doses more easily with unpredictable effects--especially in a new user.   
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 favtwoin - The Blake School, Minnesota: What substance in a drug like crack make it very addictive?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: The cocaine molecule is the 'active' ingredent in crack.  What makes crack so addictive is that it is typically smoked, and this enables the cocaine molecules to get into the brain VERY quickly compared to snorting it. In general, when a drug of abuse gets to the brain very fast, the high is more intense, and the substance potentially more addictive.
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 aznboy - Johnson Middle School, California: how to stop being addicted to drugs?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Drug addiction is a treatable disease - with medications (in some cases) and behavioral or psychosocial therapies. Treatment should focus on a person's individual needs, since many people who are addicted to drugs also have other serious problems, including other mental illnesses. Drug addiction is often chronic (long-term), with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. But relapse doesn't mean failure, just that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted to ensure long-term recovery.

For more information on treatment, check out:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Do you change when you take drugs, like do you act different?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Yep, a change in behavior and personality are common among individuals that are doing drugs.  For example, they can stop participating in activities they used to enjoy, start hanginng around different friends, become mood and more.  Also, drugs can make people behave in erratic ways, for example, PCP use can lead to really erractic behavior, rapid speech, aggression or intense sweating. Want to know more about the effects of drugs?  Go to our site!  There's lots of good info!  http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/; http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Moderator Icon Are you ready for more poll questions?  Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did!
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Do drugs affect your performance in sports?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes, mostly in a bad way. Cigarettes affect your breathing which can make it harder to most sports; marijuana messes with your coordination and reaction time; and other drugs, like cocaine and methamphetamine, can hurt your heart and put you at risk for a heart attack. 
Moderator Icon  In 2009, there were nearly 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse.
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What are the everyday things we use that could make us high if we inhale it?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get “high.” These chemicals are volatolized at room temperature and can produce mind-altering, and sometimes disastrous effects. These vapors are in a variety of products including some paints, glues, gasoline, makers, and cleaning fluids. For more information, please check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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 pekin2016 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Are some cigarettes better to smoke than others?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: That is a hard question to answer.  Smoking anything poses a risk to your lungs because of the harmful effects of chemicals produced during burning.  Even the so called 'e-cigarretes' still deliver nicotine, which is both addictive and has harmful physiological effects.  In fact, tobacco plants evolved to produce nicotine to kill the insects that feed on the tobacco plant.  So that should give you some idea of whether any cigarrette is good to smoke.
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 madison - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Does weed make your teeth yellow?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Yes, it could just like smoking cigarettes yellows one's teeth.  Note that smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. Please see the following link for more information on marijuana  http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
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 manpanther2233 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: do pain killers really kill pain or take your mind off it

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: manpanther2223 Thanks for the question. Pain medications or 'opioids' work in a variety of ways on many receptors in the body.  Mostly, they do reduce the feeling of pain. But they also work in areas of the brain that reduce the mind's awareness of the pain.
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 IMS418 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How can I stop my dad from smoking?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: For more information on how to get your dad to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov.  Good luck!  I hope he quits--you'll have him around much longer.  My dad quit smoking over 30 years ago, and we just celebrated his 80th birthday.
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 dragonslayer217 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: what effect does alcohol have on developing brains?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Moderator Icon  Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky.
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 thatgirl - Sidney High School, Nebraska: If it nessasarily bad to drink alcohol at a young age, if you dont get drunk or over drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Any amount of drinking can be dangerous for teenagers and drinking for anyone under age 21 is illegal. Underage drinking can also result in problems like: 
 
  1. Legal trouble
  2. Car crashes and other accidents
  3. Negative effects on the brain and its development
  4. Making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior
  5. Starting to drink before age 21 increases the risk of developing alcoholism later on

The brain is changing in very important ways during the teenage years and alcohol can interfere with brain development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

Drinking at a young age makes it much more likely a person will develop alcoholism later in life. It's really important to wait as long as possible to drink alcohol, or to avoid it altogether. To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: DMS, Sugar Land, TX-What are designer drugs?

Expert Icon Kris Bough: Hey Sugar Land!
The term “designer drugs” refers to drugs that are created in a laboratory (typically, an “underground,” or secret, illegal lab).  A designer drug is created by changing the properties of a drug that comes from a plant—such as cocaine, morphine, or marijuana—using the tools of chemistry.  The resulting “designer” drugs typically have a new, different effect on the brain or behavior. Check out this site for more info!
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-designer-drugs/
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 dabrions - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: What i want to know is if i am a heavy smoker, what are some possible ways that i could quit?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: It's great that you want to quit smoking -- that's a decision that will really pay off for you in the long run.  The easiest option is to see your doctor -- he or she can help you decide on the quit-smoking strategy that's best for you.  In the meantime, we've got some great resources on a website designed just for teenagers that will give you facts about smoking, including effective options for treating nicotine addiction:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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 123mdd - GMG Community School, Iowa: What would be considered a hramful drug

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Every drug has harmful effects if taken in large enough amounts.  For example, taking too much acetaminophen can damage your liver.  So the answer depends on how much of the drug you take, and how often you take it.  Doctors, nurses, pharmacologists, pharmacists spend years learning the relative benefits and risks that every drug has.  But you can easily find out this information yourself these days by searching the internet or reading the label on any legal drug you take.  Some drug are harmful even if taken in smaller doses, for example, cocaine is never a good drug to take.
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 Thursty - GMG Community School, Iowa: If you don't answer this question in the next ten minutes i'm going to get blazed, what are the negative effects of marijuana

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: OMG Noooooo!  MJ can cause paranoia or anxiety in some people.  Long term, though, MJ causes reduction in gray matter in certain parts of the brain, and disrupts memory and concentration, and decision-making in some laboratory tasks.  MJ users also have to use different parts of the brain to get a mental task done, as though their brains have to work harder-- compared to non-users. MJ is also potentially addictive.
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 samantha - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is it so hard for people to stop drinking or doing drugs after awhile?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: their brain is changed- drugs of abuse hijack and rewire the brain so it now 'expects' and 'craves'  the drugs, but never fear, research shows that treatment for addiction can work and people can regain their lives!
Which of the following is safe to do
The correct answer is: C. Tweet about texting on Twitter. All of the actions above (except tweeting) can have dangerous health consequences, including addiction. Cocaine can cause heart attacks, seizures; marijuana can impair driving ability, especially when combined with alcohol; ecstasy pills can contain any number of toxic ingredients; and sniffing permanent markers can keep oxygen from getting to your brain. Learn more about these drugs on the NIDA for Teens Web site at http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
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 lovepink - Johnson Middle School, California: is it bad for girls to do drugs

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Drugs are bad for anyone who consumes them.
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 acdude14 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Can someone be addicted to a drug yet not show any signs of addiction?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: If by that you mean that the person is addicted (the person is constantly on the lookout to get their next 'fix' of the drug or takes way too much and can't stop) but this preoccupation with getting and using the drug is kept a secret from family members and friends, then 'yes'.  There are a lot of 'functional alcoholics' out there for example, that can stay sober enough to get through a work-day, and seem normal by all appearances, but are truly hooked on alcohol. These addictions don't usually stay hidden for very long, though.
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 ssat101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what should i do if i know my parent is addicted to alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's an important question. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
If you have a parent who has these problems, you need to talk to an adult you trust. You need support right now and there are organizations out there who can help you. Click here for a list of organizations you can contact: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp 
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 klhdsf - GMG Community School, Iowa: What is acid?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals discovered in 1938 and manufactured from lysergic acid, found in ergot.
Moderator Icon  Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often.
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 kzalo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: my cousin is pregnant and she does drugs; she has it all in her room and she asked me to try it, what do i do? and what can happen to her?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Thanks for your question.  First, let's focus on your friend and her baby.  Using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco when you're pregnant can cause serious problems for both the mother and baby, so you want to do what you can to discourage this or get her some help.  Effects for the baby range from low birth weight to later effects on development, such as impaired attention, language, learning skills, behavioral problems, etc.  These have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana. Here is a link to info on prenatal exposure to drugs: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.  Depending on the drug, your friend is also at risk for very negative health effects, such as those summarized here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/.  Using drugs is your choice, but it's really not a good way to spend quality time, and it's really not helpful for you or or her baby. 
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 Tinkerbell97 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: if you are born to a mother who smoked during pregnancy, what are the disabilities or disorders you can be born with?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: I can only answer this in general, so don't necessarily think that these effects are applicable to you.  Here is what the data seem to show:

In addition to increasing risk for miscarriage, stillborn or premature infants, and low birth weight, maternal smoking predisposes children to a host of long-term behavioral problems, some of which only become apparent later in life. Children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are also more likely to become dependent on tobacco if they start smoking. Understanding the persistent, deleterious effects of nicotine on the developing fetal brain is a priority for NIDA.

If you would like to explore this important topic, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

 

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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Re: Dulles Middle-Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas -- Your answer seems to be opposite of what the question asked. If inhaled drugs reach the brain faster, that wouldn't the inhaled drugs effects occur faster than a stimulant pill?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I am sorry if that was confusing.
The rule is simple: inhaled drugs reach the brain faster than swallowed drugs.
Comparing apples to apples: snorting a stimulant will deliver it to the brain much faster than eating it.

Hope this helps.

 
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 1234 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Why is alcohol considered a drug? I want to know. This needs to be answered.

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because like most drugs it activates the dopamine reward center in the brain, which is the reason that drugs are addictive.
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 mbrennan14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: which is a more powerful benzodiazepine, diazepam or alprozolam?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi mbrennan14.  When we consider which drug is more powerful, we consider the effect per miligram of medication.  With this measure, alprozolam is more powerful. HOWEVER, which drug is more powerful does not really matter because if you take more of a less powerful drug the effect can be greater. So all can be dangerous.
Moderator Icon Excellent questions!  Keep them coming!  To learn more about NIDA, check out our website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/nidahome.html
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 Thursty - GMG Community School, Iowa: what are some negative effects of marijuana

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Two of the major negative effects of marijuana are problems with memory (you don't remember things as well as you did before using marijuana) and sleep impairments. These can be fatal if you try to drive or do other activities that require concentration and attention.  People who use marijuana a lot over a long time often have difficulty sleeping when they stop using marijuana, and their inability to fall asleep may lead them to start using again.
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 augie117 - The Blake School, Minnesota: How are bath salts harmful?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: They can produce psychosis and they can also affect your heart resulting in heart attacks.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Do all types of drugs affect the body in the same way?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Yes and no...while drugs have different side effects, most drugs of abuse target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction.
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 jtmahoney14 - The Blake School, Minnesota: How is meth dangerous?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It can damage the chemical circuits in the brain that help regulate our happiness, such that when people aren't high on it they can become depressed.  Brain scan studies show that regular meth users have shrunken gray matter in parts of the brain.  It can also cause sleep problems and other symptoms.  It can also cause 'meth mouth' and advanced tooth decay. Finally, it can impair a person's judgment, making them vulnerable to dangerous situations, especially when it causes irritability and aggressiveness.
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 asdfghjkl - The Blake School, Minnesota: How does meth affect you?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It can make you psychotic (hear and see things that aren't there, and have trouble knowing what is real and what is not). It also has many bad effects on your body that can lead to heart attackes and even kidney failure.
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 tacoman63 - north carroll middle, Maryland: Who does the most drugs 8th or 12th graders

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey tacoman63! The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes.  In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders).  For most types of drugs older students report more use than the younger students, however one exception is the use of inhalants which is used by 8.1% of 8th graders compared to 3.6% of high school seniors. 
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 sambw1996 - The Blake School, Minnesota: Does meth put holes in one's brain?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Not holes per se, like swiss cheese.  Rather, it causes reductions in gray matter, as neurons either die outright, or shrivel smaller and connect with fewer other cells.  We know this from brain scan studies of living volunteers.  However, what is actually causing the changes in the brain's structure isn't well-known.
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 Mariarn@sfps.in - Ortiz Middle School, New Mexico: Jasmine would like to know if there are any medical benefits to drinking or using alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible there are some small benefits of alcohol for adults, but only for adults. Research suggests that up to one drink per day for females or two for males can improve the health of the heart. However, drinking at levels beyond that can increase the risk for cancers and other diseases. Importantly, there do not appear to be any benefits, only harms, associated with alcohol use during adolescence.

To learn more about how alcohol affects your body, check this out:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.pdf
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 ims701 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How many people do drugs in the united states

Expert Icon Carol Krause: An estimated 21.8 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users, which means they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey in 2009. About 1 in 5 Americans aged 18-25 had used illicit drugs in the past month.
Great Question!
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 Bethanne C. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Is is good for teens to take pain relivers every time they have a sore muscle or pain from sports?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Bethanne -- Minor aches and pains and sore muscles from sports are part of everyday life and do not need medication. Unfortunately our society is such that we are often reaching for a pill for every discomfort. We are fortunate that we have strong medicine for severe pain and injuries; but to use these medications all the time makes them ineffective for when we really need them.
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 ladyraider24 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: What part of the brain is the most damaged after someone has used drugs, inhalants, alcohol?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: In general, drugs affect parts of the brain that govern rewards, mood and emotion--and some of the research suggests that it is these areas that are eventually damaged.  Some experiments on specific drugs, such as alcohol, show damage to the frontal lobe, which is unfortunate, since that's the part of the brain that helps us control our behavior-- like drinking!
Moderator Icon  You should always get help if you have symptoms of depression [or any other illness]. You would go to the doctor if you had a broken arm, right?
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 qwertyuiop - The Blake School, Minnesota: how does meth cause you to be depressed once the high wears off

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because meth directly affects the brain's serotonin neurotransmitter system, which is the chemical system we largely rely on to regulate our mood and happiness.  The brain and its cells adapt to the meth molecules floating around, such that when the meth is no longer around, it's a big brain bummer.
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 mfowler - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: on the news there is an old lady who has lived for a long time and has smoked there entire life and they are still alive so if some one in elementery school started smokeing what are the odds that they would live as long as that person???

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: There are smokers that live to be 100 years old but they may have lived to 110 had they not smoked.  We know that overall smokers have shorter life spans than non smokers.
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 J-Arias94 - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why when drunk, does the body not feel anything?? Like if nothing hurts?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol slows down activity in the brain, including the areas of the brain that tell us that something is wrong. Alcohol makes it harder for nerves to send pain signals to the brain, and we are not as aware of the pain signals that do get through. In this way, alcohol acts a little like the novacaine you would get at the dentist's office.
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 s morado - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if a guy , before sex, does weed and gets a girl pregnant will the boy's sperm affect the baby's health?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Golder College Prep High School! The use of alcohol and other drugs like weed can affect your judgment and your sexual decision making. In addition to fertility issues, research has shown that marijuana has been linked in some studies to children's low birth weight, behavioral problems, poor growth and difficulty with language comprehension and memory. Here is some information about prenatal drug exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
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 space shuttle - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many people in the U.S.A smoke

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Great question! In 2010 the National Survey on Drug Use and Health surveyed Americans ages 12 and older, and 27% of them reported that they were current (past month) users of tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco and cigars), and 23% reported they were current smokers. The same survey reported that about 8% of youth, ages 12-17, smoke cigarettes.
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 IMS706 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Can it be hereditary for a drinking or drug problem?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, genetics plays an important role in vulnerability to addiction
Moderator Icon  There are many myths about mental illness. Find out more here: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/learn.asp?nav=nav01_1&content=1_1_mythsfacts.
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 pekin2016 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What can smoking at an early age do to you?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It increases your vulnerability to become addicted to nicotine.
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 ttran - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: does marijuana affect your brain?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, that is the main reason people use marijuana.  But marijuana can produces changes in the brain that can linger long after the drug has left the body, and the more you use the more likely the changes will persist.  Problem is that you may not like those lasting changes, so best not to start in the first place.
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 vmartin - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: When doctors give you steroids, how can steroids help you?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Vmartin-- a doctor usually gives steroids to reduce inflammation in injuries or to treat severe asthma; not for body building. Sometimes a doctor does give anabolic steroids to people who are severely ill and are losing weight and muscle. This is usually a cancer patient or someone with a severe degenerative disease. While steroids can have side effects, if they are closely monitored by a doctor these effects are minimized.
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 sexkitty30 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: Does energy drinks effect your body negatively?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: they can cause significant harm if you drink a lot of it of if they are mixed with alcohol, a particularly dangerous combination.
 
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 Saparicio - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Almost half of my family smokes,is it hereditary?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: yes
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 BC123 - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why doesnt the government force all cars to have a breathalyzer in each car to make sure it can only start when the persons blood alcohol level is below .08?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Currently, more and more states are requiring that people who have been arrested for driving under the influence do have devices like these in their cars. But, it is difficult to imagine the government requiring people who have not committed any crimes to have such devices installed in their cars.
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Is it more likely for a rich teen to start using drugs than middle-class or poor teenagers?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: If they have more money it will be easier to buy drugs, and thus more likely to use them.  On the other hand a kid from a poor neighborhood may be exposed to more stresses and gang activity that may increase their risk for using drugs.
Moderator Icon Hey-we have alcohol experts here! Send us your alcohol questions.  Check out the website for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism here: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
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 Allison L. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What are signs that someone is addicted to cocaine?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: The most telling sign is that the person is pre-occupied with getting more and using more cocaine.  The person may lose interest in their friends, or other activities like sports, music, or even videogames.  The person may start stealing to get money to buy more cocaine, or lie to their friends and parents about how much they are using cocaine.  If you think you know someone who is using cocaine, then you should encourage them to seek help before their use gets out of control. 

To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin is on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov.  You can also find information on the National Institute on Drug Abuse's website at www.drugabuse.gov
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 Svelkova - Bulgaria: How can we protect our friends who want to try drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, Svelkova, what a thoughtful question! If your intent is to prevent your friends from trying drugs in the first place, discussing what is on their mind and why they are considering using drugs is a good place to start. Whether they have started using or not, you can encourage them to learn more about how drug use affects the body, brain, and life in general by going to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.  If your friends are already using, being aware of when they are under the influence to keep them from driving or engaging in other behaviors (reckless sexual activity or other drug use) will protect them to some extent, but most importantly confiding in a trusted adult will help you deal with the situation which is more than you can shoulder on your own.  If you think any of your friends have a problem and are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk to a doctor, parent, teacher, or therapist to find help, or go to  http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP for confidential help 24/7.  You can't make them stop using drugs but you can provide support, show that there are many ways to enjoy life that do not involve using drugs, and let your friend know you're there to help when ready.  I really admire that you want to keep your friends safe, but make sure to keep yourself safe in the process.  Good luck!
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 cheerleader961 - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: What is the worse drug that can affect a pregnant women and the child?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hard to answer this question specifically because it is quite complex.  The simple answer is no drugs are good for the pregnant mother and child.  Drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior.  The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome.  And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.


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 isheahan - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: are you more likely to do drugs if you go to public school or are home schooled but do a lot of outside activities?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: This is a little complicated.  I don't think that we have research to answer this question one way or the other.  You could speculate that a person in a regular school setting may be exposed to more opportunities for getting pressured by peers to use drugs or to have access to drugs than a person in a home school setting where a parent is present throughout the day.  But there are a lot of adults monitoring what goes on during the school day and parents are often monitoring after school so it could go either way. 

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 Eve1996 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Why is marijuana considered a gate-way drug?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because many kids start smoking marijuana and then go onto other drugs.  Also, there is evidence that early use of marijuana can make the person more vulenrable to the addictive effects of other drugs.
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 melbeane - GMG Community School, Iowa: Hey i'm from Iowa! How long do you have to be in rehab when being on drugs?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hey Iowa!  Great question, but unfortunately not one with an easy answer.  Treatment is different for different drugs, and for different people.  Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease, and so the recovery process can take a long time, or it can involve several episodes of rehab.  Treatment is important to help detoxify the brain, and get the recovery process started.  A combination of approved medications and behavioral (counseling) therapies are available for use in drug abuse treatment.  Even after people complete a treatment program, they will need continued support from local support groups or scheduled check-ins with a recovery counselor.  At NIDA, our scientists are working on understanding how to adjust available treatments to make them the best they can be to help people recover from addiction and return to productive lives.
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 selg2011 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: Why are alcohol and other drugs addictive?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question - addiction involves many areas of the brain- those involved in learning memory, reward, pleasure, emotion and these areas involved in inhibitory control.  So drugs of abuse can hi-jack all these areas of the brain.

BUT it starts with most drugs of abuse directly targeting the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior.  but with repeated use drugs hi-jack memory circuits driving drug use and at the same time some drugs impair parts of your brain that control your emotion and ability to control your behavior.  so when all these regions of the brain are hijacked by drugs with continued use it leads to addiction - this uncontrollable desire/need to take the drug over and over again creating this vicious cycle of addiction and use of the drug at the expense of everything else in your life- how awful is that??
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 Que? - Skaneateles High School, New York: Are there any countries that allow weed? And why?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Skaneateles High School! Thanks for the thoughtful question....The legality of cannabis (aka, weed) has been the subject of debate for many decades and in different societies. Different societies decide to control drugs through varied ways (how is supplied/cultivated, how it can be possessed or not, how it can be sold, etc.). Some countries that have decided to decriminalize cannabis--an example is the Netherlands. However, in the majority of countries cannabis remains illegal. For more information on marijuana
here is a link to our teen web pages: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php 
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 Thor of Odin - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: On average, how concentrated of a dose of heroine does someone need to take in order to completely pass out and about how long would they be 'out of it'?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hmmm...that's a good questions and one that I don't think you should try to find out the answer to...but anywho, it depends on the person- but generally after the initial effects of a drug like heroin, abusers usually will be drowsy for several hours.  Remember, overdose is a huge risk with injecting drugs like heroin.  Trying to figure out a 'safe' dose is not a game I'd try to play with my life!
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 p3nqu1n-182 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: is caffiene a steroid

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: nope. caffeine is actually a xanthine alkaloid
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 Swagmaster2001 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: I heard somewhere that Meth isn't addictive...is this true?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Methampethamine is one of the most addictive drugs
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 rsyzdek - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Dose inhalants effect your brain?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, they are very harmful since they dissolve the myelin in neurons, which is necessary for neurons to communicate with one another.
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 i_iz_unicorn_:) - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: i heard weed is as just as bad as alcahole is that true????? :)

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It is different.  High doses of alcohol can markedly impair your behavior but these effects are short lasting whereas the effects of marijuana are much longer lasting. This drug can remain in your body days after having smoked, especially in people who smoke a lot, whereas the effects of alcohol will have cleared in a couple of hours.
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 ikar56 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Does regular apple cider you buy from a farm contain alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: All fruit juice can contain small amounts of alcohol, but the levels are so small that they can't be tasted and do not affect the brain or behavior.
Moderator Icon  Drug addiction can be treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person’s specific circumstances. To find treatment programs, check out this website: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
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 efuentes - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: why do blackouts occur and why?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Blackouts are periods of amnesia during which the brain is not able to make any new memories. Drinking too much alcohol can impair or even shut off your hippocampus, the part of your brain that helps make memories. This causes the concentraition of alcohol in your brain to increase very quickly. If you experience a blackout, that's a sign that you drank too much alcohol - maybe even enough that to potentially cause serious health problems or even death. Blackouts are a warning sign that you are drinking in a very dangerous way.

 
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 jasonj - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Why is it that scientist are making pills to clean your urine so when they test somebody they can't get in trouble.

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: these are bad scientists, like the mad ones that want to conquer the world in the james bond movies.
bad scientists, bad scientists...

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 pjacobs - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is acid

Expert Icon Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

While 'high' on LSD, sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs in people under the influence of LSD. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in large enough doses, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations. The user’s sense of time and self is altered. Experiences may seem to “cross over” different senses, giving the user the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. Some LSD users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings of despair, fear of losing control, or fear of insanity and death while using LSD.

LSD was popular in the 1970's but it people realized it is not really practical to be having frightening hallucinations all the time! I don't know about you but I have enough real-life things causing nightmares in my life---I don't need to create any extra bad dreams!
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 JMerrill - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: how does acid effect your body

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Acid, or LSD is a hallucinogen, that causes people to see and experience things that arent really there. Although it appears no one has ever died from an LSD overdose, LSD may prevent people from making good decisions, thus making the user more susceptible to accidents and personal injury. For example, it may cause temporary confusion.  Like being drunk on alcohol, the danger might really come from what a person is DOING while high.
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 AdnanS - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Is it true that using a vaporizer to smoke marijuana is much better for you than smoking marijuana out of a pipe? Because smoke doesn't enter your lungs?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: nope, that's totally bogus.
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is there any harmful chemicals in a painkiller pills?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: The active ingredient in many prescription pain killers are drugs called opioids. Opioids are powerful pain killers, but have substantial side effects, and have the potential to be abused and to produce addiction. Thus, opioids can be harmful, especially when not used as prescribed.
For more information on opioids, take a look at:  http://drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
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 samantha - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is it true that you can get high off of a sharpie or some sort of marker?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes. But repeated or long-term use can cause damage to the brain (some permanent) that could result in tremors, difficulty walking, solving complex problems, and remembering things.

See this webpage for more information: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.
The reward structures are part of a larger brain system known as the
The correct answer is: C. Limbic system. The limbic system is a set of brain structures that generates our feelings, emotions, and motivations. It is also important in learning and memory. By controlling our ability to feel pleasure, the limbic system motivates us to repeat behaviors that are necessary for our survival, like eating. But drugs of abuse take over this system, causing people to want drugs more than they want anything else, and teaching them to continually repeat the behavior. You can find more information at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-day-limbic-system/
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 simon25565 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What is in marijuana to make it addicting?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: THC--delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
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 spunky12 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: How long do you have to sniff glue/paint/sharpie to get high?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: the effects of inhaling sharpies can be immediate. this stuff is very dangerous, stay as far as you can.

stay smart and healthy
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 molly22 - GMG Community School, Iowa: Can you die after one time of smoking heroin?

Expert Icon Steve Grant: Yes, heroin can make you pass out, plus it suppresses the breathing reflex, and also can cause nausea and vomiting. If you have never taken heroin before you are particular at risk for taking to much which can cause serious problems, including death. Your brain will be very sensitive to the effects of heroin and you can pass out, stop breathing, and even choke on your own vomit. This is the way a lot of celebraties have died.
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 lindsey - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why are kids getting into drugs earlier and earlier in life now a days?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because they are getting access to them earlier than they used to.  Also they have the belief that other kids are using drugs, and they have peer pressure to get them to try and keep using drugs.
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 mwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what are the effects of second hand smoking

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Let's just say your friend is smoking and you are sitting next to him....you're not smoking, but you're breathing in the smoke from his cigarette...that's secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is pretty dangerous, containing more that 4,000 substances, several of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals.  Secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer in those who do not smoke. with and estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers. Children exposed to high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those whose mothers smoke, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects like asthma.  It also increases the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in infants.  Want to know more about tobacco addiction?  Click here for more information - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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 IMS522 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How does smoking affect a pregnant women?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Thanks for your question. Smoking cigarettes or marijuana would have clear effects on the mother as well as the fetus can be affected by what a mother takes into her body and also the air she breathes. Researchers are looking at the effects of smoking on the fetus - seeing whether fetal behavior is affected by taking ultrasound videos of the fetus - it does look like they might even go through withdrawal, just like their moms! One thing to note about smoking in particular--- because nicotine readily crosses the placenta, it can reach concentrations in the fetus that are much higher than maternal levels. There are some types of drugs that the fetus can get addicted to --opiates such as heroin, viocodin, oxytocin or morphine. When born, many of these infants go through a withdrawal process, and some have to be given methadone because of the discomfort.  No mom wants to do that to her baby---it just shows how difficult it is to get off drugs once you start.

For more information on this important subject, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Moderator Icon  Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young adolescents abuse. In fact, they are one of the few classes of substances that are abused more by younger adolescents than older ones. Inhalant abuse can become chronic and can cause death.
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 jen5858 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: is it true that if a doctor proscribes steroids to you it is okay?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: yes. Anabolic steroids can in fact be legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency, such as delayed puberty, as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass, such as cancer and AIDS.

thanks for the question
stay smart and healthy

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 Ims603 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: If achld live in qa house with parents that is addicted to drugs how would it affect on the child.

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It depends on the child and the other family members.  If the child is alone with that person he/she is at greater risk because an addicted parent will probably not be able to provide the emotional support that a child or adolescent requires.
Moderator Icon  Wonder why celebrities go in and out of rehab so much? Because it takes time to recover from addiction---and time to find the right treatment. Learn more by reading NIDA’s new booklet for teens- Drugs: Shatter the Myths at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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 Will - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What type of drug is the most addicting?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Methamphetamine and crack are probably the most addictive. There are also differences between people regarding who may be more sensitive to addiction to other drugs, such as alcohol.
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 vmartin - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What kind of drug is it that is typically put in your drink in clubs to make you.. more 'agreeable'?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Agreeable or knock you out cold so that you don't remember anything???  I think you may be referring to Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), a drug that is classified as sedative.  It's not legal to use in this country.  It was reported to to be put in alcohol drinks to unsuspecting drinkers. Rohypnol is often referred to as a date rape drug.  It can be added to beverages and ingested unknowingly by an individual because they can't smell or taste it.  The drug works by 'depressing' the brain,  rendering a person unconscious, unable to move or remember large blocks or periods of time. It is for this reason that date rape drugs are referred to as drug-assisted assault drugs. To learn more about the side effects and medical consequences of these drugs, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/RohypnolGHB.html.
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 pre calc - Northport High School, New York: Is caffeine just as addictive as hard core drugs?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: caffeine is an addictive drug allright, but it is atypical because it boosts dopamine not in the reward center but in more frontal regions of teh cortex, so its main acute effects are more cognitive than euphorigenic.
Hope this helps.
cheers

 
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If one of my family members started using tobacco, would it be a smart decision to just throw it all away without them knowing?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Unfortunately, while that may be tempting, it will likely just result in making your family member angry. Thinking strategically, for the long-term, you want your family members to feel like they can count on you when they need help, so I would focus on that and try to keep the problem out in the open where you can talk about it and try to help. 

Here are a few resources you can use: Calling this national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can get you information for quitting. Callers to the number are routed to their state’s smoking cessation quitline or to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a Web site—www.smokefree.gov—from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make stopping easier.  Finally, you might want to check out the section of our teen website that has information about smoking -- it might give you some information that can help you be even more supportive of your family members:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
Moderator Icon  Research shows that drivers on marijuana have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds. Learn more about the effects of different drugs here http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/
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 chazz - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Is cocaine an easily addictive drug?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Depends on how its taken. When its smoked or injected it is very addictive.  Its less addicitve when snorted, but even then it can produce addiction.
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 waddupyo123 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: what drugs kill your brain cells?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana.  Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet. In the case of alcohol in particular, this brain shrinkage increases with age. Even non-users have brains that shrink a little each year as we age, but alcoholism increases this shrinkage.
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 sapafap - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: how many drinks does it take to get alcohol poisoning for a 15 year old?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

If you drink enough alcohol, parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive can shut down. Then, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
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 Alondra - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is it true the compressed air in a whip cream can, can get you high?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: It's not actually the compressed air but the chemical that serves as the propellant: nitrous oxide (or laughing gas)

 thanks for the question 
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 Awoods - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can u get addictive to pain killers, if u take one like every day nd yout love it so much you cant stop taking it can u die?? thanks, Awoods:)

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Ouch! Who would want to do that? Yes you could die if you do that!  You might feel a 'high' but then you have to take more and more just to get the same high and then your whole life is dominated by running around trying to find enough drugs---what a mess! And then you take too many pills because you are desperate for the high and then you overdose. Did you know that more people die every year from painkiller overdoses than from heroin and cocaine combined? Painkiller abuse is no joke.
Moderator Icon  About 80% of 12th graders don’t use cigarettes, and about 91% of 12th graders don’t use smokeless tobacco.
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 TiffanyN. - Johnson Middle School, California: How can I get my dad to stop smoking?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Tiffiny N and thanks for the question. It is always hard when someone you care obout is harming themselves. We have some suggestions that can help, but remember it takes time and often many tries to stop smoking. All you can really do is show him you care and bring him this information: http://drugabuse.gov/treatingtobacco.html.
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 doug 71 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Is tobacco a drug?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Nicotine in the tobacco leaves is the drug.
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 dkillian - Einstein High School, Maryland: does marijuana always lead to other more serious drugs?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Not necessarily.  But someone who uses marijuana is at increased risk for using other, more serious drugs and for lots of other negative consequences. 

Here are some resources you may want to check out:
http://www.marijuana-info.org/
http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/marijuana.html

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 nakoma225 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: can markers make you high?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, they are considered inhalants and make you high in a way similar to alcohol.
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 bloody guns - Pekin Community School, Iowa: do drugs heart your hart

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, many do.  The ones that are most damaging to your heart are cocaine and methamphetamine.
PollI think drug users are losers.
59% - Yes
32% - No
10% - Maybe
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 rnnguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: if you mix drug,is it bad for you?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, because it increases the toxicity of the drug.  So, for example, its much easier to overdose when people combine alcohol with other drugs like painkillers.
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 Eve1996 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How do drugs effect the nervous system?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question - drugs of abuse act on many areas of the brain- those involved in learning memory, reward, pleasure, emotion and these areas involved in inhibitory control.  So drugs of abuse can hi-jack all these areas of the brain.

BUT it starts with most drugs of abuse directly targeting the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior.  But with repeated use, drugs hi-jack the brain, including areas control your emotion and ability to control you behavior, like your ability to control your urge to take the drug in the first place.  This creates a vicious cycle of addiction and use of the drug at the expense of everything else in your life- how awful is that??
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 selg2011 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: Can peer pressure lead to drinking and doing other drugs? What can teens do to avoid peer pressure?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Yes.  But it doesn't have to. One thing that teens can do to avoid peer pressure is to get involved with peers focused on positive activities that don't include drinking and drug use.  Talking to a trusted adult who can help to support a teen's decision not to use drugs can be helpful as well.  Getting the facts about how alcohol and drug use can affect a teen and the consequences that a teen could experience if they get involved with alcohol and drugs, can also help a person decide not to use drugs.  Also, it is good to learn skills for how to refuse offers to use alcohol and drugs.  There are prevention programs that teach youth these skills.  For more information, take a look at these resources:

http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf
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 Ashton E - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: If you take marijuana, do you become gruumpier person

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: probably not in the short run, but in the long runm regular marijuana users do report significantly lower life satisfaction, which is tantamount to be grumpier. i think.

cheers

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 Semaj N - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What is the most common illegal drug used by people?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: marijuana
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 master - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: what does your mind do when you smoke?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Cigarettes can increase attention in people that are addicted; smoking marijuana can make you mello and slow.
Moderator Icon  Dr. Cathrine Sasek is now participating in the Chat. Dr. Sasek does many things at NIDA but her favorite is working on NIDA’s Science Education Program. She has always had a fascination with science, in particular the brain and how it causes changes in how people think and behave, and she enjoys having the opportunity to share this with teachers, parents, and kids. When she is not at work, Dr. Sasek enjoys hiking, taking photographs and entering them in competitions, and playing with her two cats.
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 MaggieEllen96 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: is wine bad?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It depends on several factors, including how old a person is and how much they drink. For people under the age of 21, even moderate consumption of wine (up to 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men) is illegal and unhealthy due to the fact that the brain is still developing and that starting to drink at a young age increases the risk of becoming an alcoholic. However, for people 21 and older, moderate consumption of wine appears to be okay and might even help the heart stay healthy. Drinking at levels beyond moderation, however, increase the risk of cancers and other diseases.
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 madison - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is there a healthey way to get high?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: that's an easy one:
in short: follow your passion!!!
it works every time.

try it
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 loringjay - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: why does drugs affect teens more than adults b

Expert Icon Steve Grant: One reason that drugs may have more of an impact on teens is that the brain is still developing during adolescence.  In particular the pre-frontal cortex, which is involved in things like decisions and reasoning, matures during the teen years and even into the early 20's.  So taking drugs when you are a teenager may have a lasting impact on the part of the brain that is responsible for many human characteristics.

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 Sweetheart101 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: can drugs kill people?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes.  Cocaine and stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure to cause heart attacks and strokes.  Heroin and alcohol (and especially a combination of the two) can cause the brain to stop telling the chest to breathe, and people die from overdose for that reason.

Finally, driving while intoxicated kills a LOT of people, as another example of how drugs kill.
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 AdamsFootball29 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: what makes weed addictive if theres no nicotine

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Weed has THC, which is also addictive.
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 KarinaA - Johnson Middle School, California: how do you know if your friend is using drugs

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi KarinaG and thanks for the question. The main change is a change in the persons behavior, they are either more active or more sedated than usual. All of us have a day or two that we are a little different but you can tell when it is continuous and affects grades, the person does not want to go out with friends, is secretive and/or changes their friends. There are other physical signs like needle marks but this is extreme and behavior change is the most common.
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 Superman - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: what should i do if my friend sells drugs, i dont want him to get in trouble but he wont listen to me, so im left with little options

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Superman, wow, so great to hear from you!  There are a few options and talking to your friend is a good place to start, and trying to understand why he is selling drugs might help you convince him there are better ways to go.  You also should consider confiding in a trusted adult to help you deal with the situation, as you can use the support as well in helping your friend. If he is using drugs too, that might complicate his judgment even more, and if he's willing there are ways for him to get help on that front through the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Good luck and stay safe! 

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 JMerrill - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: Does taking steroids do anything to your body beside making your testicles smaller

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi
there is such a long list of ill effects that result from steroid abuse that i will just paste a link here for you to visit.
thanks for the question!!

 http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php


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 sls1695 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What is a mushroom (drug).

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Mushrooms are the delectable fungi that I buy at the grocery store and cook with my steaks...mm-mm-good!  Just joking, 'Shrooms' are Psilocybin mushrooms that cause hallucinations - profound distortions in the perception of reality. Under the influence of hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Some hallucinogens also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people. Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect can last as little as several hours and and as long as days, months, or years after taking the drug. 

For more information about drugs and LSD' target='_blank'>LSD, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Moderator Icon  Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs pose increased risk of health complications when combined with other prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Find out more facts at NIDA’s website for teens: www.teens.drugabuse.gov
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 Sdang - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: why do people contuine drugs use after the first time if they think and know that it taste bad and its bad for them, but they contuine anyways. why?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Many of them do it because of peer pressure, their friends insisting to them that its cool.
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 Julie - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Do drugs effect your brain?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork:  Yep. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well.

Most drugs and certainly alcohol, actually changes the structure and shape of parts of the brain, and can even shrink them! Recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter!  It also can effect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using. 

The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more drug over time to get the same high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control and get addicted, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
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 Andrew - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can drugs in general cause physical and self-control diseases such as anorexia and bullimia?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: We don't know of evidence linking drug use to anorexia or bulimia.
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 Alondra - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Does drugs make you stop growing? or slows it down?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: good question,
the only drug class i am aware of that can actually do this is anabolic steroids, which send a signal to the bones that says 'stop growing'
what a silly way to shortchange yourself.

 
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 mackenziem32 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Do drugs change your personality after you do drugs?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: They can.  To start with they can make you secretive and paranoid.  Also certain drugs make you mello and withdrawn; other drugs can make you more aggressive
Moderator Icon The effects of LSD (acid) are pretty scary! LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite.  Learn more about LSD here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html
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 Ibustos - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: people who quits drugs do they still have effects later?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes they can. The most recognized is the risk of cancer that even though reduced, can persist after a person stops smoking
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 IMS714 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: When youare driving why does marijuana messes with skills you need to drive safely ?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Does marijuana affect driving?

Yes--it affects the skills you need to drive safely--reaction time, motor coordination, and attention; and has been shown in driving simulator and road tests to impair performance.  Further, when combined with even a small amount of alcohol, the effects are worse than either drug alone.  Approximately 14% of fatally injured drivers in car crashes test positive for marijuana (sometimes in combination with other drugs).

Why? because the main active ingredient in MJ- THC  impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation,  THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. 
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 Robby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What do i do if im peer pressured into doing drugs and i dont and my friends call me soft?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: great question.
But, don't you always have the power to seek other (better) friends, who would not force you into doing things that you dont want to do. 
it looks to me like a no brainer...

good luck in your search
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  jpatel - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people get into rehab? What is rehab?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Rehabilitation is a program that helps a person stop taking drugs; there are different types of rehabilitation and these are also of different duration. During the period of rehabilitation the person is detoxified from drugs and receives behavioral therapy to teach them how to control their emotions and desires for taking drugs.
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 Hannah - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How old are most people when they start drugs?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Iowa! Drug use often starts in the teenage years....Age and use statistics show that young people usually initiate experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, and marijuana. The age of initiation for each of these substances is generally younger than for any other illicit substance. According to the latest data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the mean age at first use of tobacco is 15; alcohol, 16; inhalants, 16; and marijuana, 17.  Below is a NSDUH table showing mean age at first use for specific illicit drugs.  To get additional data from NSDUH, go to http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm#5.1

Figure 5.3 Mean Age at First Use for Specific Illicit Drugs among Past Year Initiates Aged 12 to 49: 2010

Figure 5.3

 
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 lthors - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: can you smoke alcohol

Expert Icon Aaron White: No. The heat would cause the alcohol to vaporize and burn off.
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 Cera.Sams - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: What would a drug do to an unborn child

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question! It really depends on several factors, but drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior.  The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome.  And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 Talia - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Can you get drunk or high off of rubbing alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: You should never consume the kind of alcohol that is in rubbing alcohol, also called isopropyl alcohol. The only type of alcohol safe for human consumption is ethyl alcohol, such as in beer and wine.
Moderator Icon  A 2009 study showed that 28% of high school students rode with a driver who had been drinking in the past month. What were they thinking?
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 ¥ - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: Can you drink ethyl alcohol straight?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Technically, you can consume ethyl alcohol straight, but its very high concentration of alcohol would likely hurt your mouth a lot. Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. A typical beer contains around 5% alcohol, while liquor contains around 40%. There are forms of distilled spirits that contain as much as 95% alcohol. Drinking it straight is not a great idea.
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 Bailey - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do you black out from rohypnol

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because it is a sedative/hypnotic drug.  It is primarly used to treat severe sleeping problems, where the person does not respond to weaker drugs.  In other words, the drug is doing what it is SUPPOSED to be doing.  However, because this is such a strong drug, doctors typically do not prescribe it for very long.
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 saltybeefstick - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: couldn't you blame the government for bringing wide spread drug use tot he united states? amphetamines were given to fighter pilots on long bombing runs, and MKULTRA brought LSD into mainstream culture, and the large quantity of marijuana and cocaine that enter the united states can't enter without help from those protecting our ocean and land borders, isn't it safe to say that we want drugs in our country?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: i don't think so.
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 Code G - GMG Community School, Iowa: Iowa. Is trying your parents medication illegal?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Code G and thanks for the question. In a word Yes. This is one of the common ways young people get medications and it is illegal. Even using medications for reasons other than prescribed is illegal.
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 tlaplant13 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what are some symptoms that a person is using?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Good question! There are questions people can ask to assess whether or not a person has a drug problem. As you can see, you really have to focus on people's behavior, and let that be your clue.  These do not necessarily indicate that someone is addicted, but answering yes to any of these questions may suggest a problem, which could require follow-up with a professional drug treatment specialist. These include:

  1. Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who had been using alcohol or drugs?
  2. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, to feel better about yourself, or to fit in?
  3. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?
  4. Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
  5. Do family or friends ever tell you to cut down on your use of alcohol or drugs?
  6. Have you ever gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?
Also, to learn more about addiction and the negative consequences associated with drug use, check out our website made especially for teens, at http://teens.drugabuse.gov.
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 Damian24 - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: What part of the brain does Marijuana affect?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Marijuana, like all drugs of abuse, directly affects the brain.  It has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory.  How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.'  These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation.  Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana. Smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. 

People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users.  This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives.  There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers.  Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse.  Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school.  Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.

Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
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 cameron - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can extasy harm you besides that its addicting

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, because some research shows that it can damage serotonin neurons in the brain.  These neurons help control emotions and a sense of well-being.  Using ecstasy increases risk for depression later, even after a person stops using.  Some other research on regular users suggest that they have memory problems.
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 Connor9 - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: What occurs in the brain while an indivisual is tripping?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: 'Tripping' (hallucinations) occur when a person takes a drug like LSD, which are hallucinogens (meaning they induce hallucinations -- which are profound distortions in perception of reality). Under the influence of LSD people can see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist!. It can also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people! Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin, which has a role in regulating perception, mood, body temperature and more.

The effects of hallucinogens like LSD are unpredictable and can also be long-term, lasting anywhere from as little as several hours to as long as several days, months, or years after taking the drug.  For more information about drugs and LSD, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
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 jjean - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: do peolple really abuse perscription drugs

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi jjean and thanks for the question,
Yes many people abuse prescription drugs. They are very powerful and relatively safe if use as directed. But if people experience a high from the medication and want more they can start abusing the medication. In fact more people died in the US in 2009 from prescription drug overdoses than car accidents.
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 IMS716 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: can scientists come up with a cure for trying to get people to stop all the drugs in the world?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: We are funding researchers to try to do this.  One strategy we are excited about is the development of vaccines--these will keep the drug from entering the brain, and interfere with the drug's rewarding and addictive properties.  However there is still lots of work that needs to be done before we succeed.
Which of the following drugs are addictive?
The correct answer is: All of the above. All of these drugs, even legal ones like nicotine and alcohol, affect dopamine levels in the brain and can disrupt normal brain function, which can lead to addiction. Learn more: http://drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
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 vmartin - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What exactly does rehab do to help you with your addiction?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Getting an addicted person to stop abusing drugs is just one part of a long and complex recovery process. When people enter treatment, addiction has often taken over their lives. The compulsion to get drugs, take drugs, and experience the effects of drugs has dominated their every waking moment, and drug abuse has taken the place of all the things they used to enjoy doing. First the person must go through 'detox' which means a doctor or nurse will take care of them while the drugs leave their system. Then, once they are feeling better, they will work with a trained counselor to help identify how they got hooked in the first place, and how to avoid the people and places that tempt them to use drugs. They might be given some medicine that will help with their drug cravings, because the drug has 'hijacked' the brain and has tricked it into thinking it needs drugs all the time.  Many people use drugs to 'escape' difficult circumstances at home or elsewhere in their lives. They might have a lot of emotional pain and need to learn to live without the haze of drugs. Rehab takes time because learning all of these things takes practice...sometimes the person will have to return to rehab as part of the recovery process. It takes courage to go into rehab because you will have to change many aspects of your  life. You can learn more about use and treatment of drugs in this booklet:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/treatment.html
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 Humann(: - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: If i smoke week after i take my ADHD medicine, will it cancel out the effects of my medicine or enhance it?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: We don't have enough information to say anything categorical about the interaction between marijuana and ritalin. But we do know that marijuana is not a benign drug in otherwise healthy individuals, so it would be silly to expect anything but an even worst outcome if people medicated for their ADHD consume marijuana, at any time.
don't you think?
 
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 ahernanyug - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: is there a drug that can damage your brain cells

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Research to date in rodents, and in brain scans of humans shows that alcohol and pretty much ALL drugs of abuse will change the brain's gray matter in one region or other-- yes, even marijuana.  Whether this is due to neurons actually dying or just shrinking and no longer connecting to as many other neurons is not well known yet.
Moderator Icon  Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation.
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 cnunez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: i now people who use multiple druds what should i do

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi cnunez thanks for the question. I know it is hard when all your friends are doing something and I assume you are not. If you are in this situation try to keep some distance because it is easy to get drawn into drug using and it is not worth it. If you want to help your friends, check out this information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
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 manuelguereca - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why is mushrooms a drug?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because some species of mushrooms secrete or produce a molecule called psilocybin.  This molecule affects the brain chemical system that uses serotonin.  In this way, psilocybin is like a form of LSD-- a hallucinogen.
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 johnnny - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What negative side effects are there for athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It can weaken their heart, which for an athlete can be devastating.
Moderator Icon  Do you have questions about drug cravings? Ask Dr. Steven Grant, a neuroscientist with a background in biology, chemistry, and physics. Although his favorite subjects in high school were English and History, he developed a liking and aptitude for science in college and went on to do post-doctoral work in brain systems and drug withdrawal. The study he is most proud of is a brain imaging study of cocaine craving that demonstrated that substance abuse involved more than the brain areas traditionally thought to be part of drug use, and opened the door to investigating the contribution of other cognitive processes in addiction. In his spare time, he likes to read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction and is interested in the performing arts. He has two daughters—one in college and one who graduated two years ago.
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 s.kate.e - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What diseases can you get by using drugs daily?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco) have been strongly linked to cancer.  The greater reasons for avoiding drugs and alcohol are the brain damage they can cause, and the potential for addiction.
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 W.Sarren12 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Why is alcohol considered a drug?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because like other drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, nicotine) it activates the pleasure centers of the brain and increases the chemical dopamine.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: If you use 2 different drugs at once, would the effects be different or stronger?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: That would depend on a number of factors...such as, what are the two drugs, how do each of these drugs individually affect the individual, is there something about the drug combination that can create a new drug, etc.  Just as there are potential drug-drug interactions with two or medications, there can be the same types of interactions with drugs of abuse.  For more information on drug abuse go to: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/

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 5432112345 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: how much alcohol is in hand sanitizer?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The level of alcohol needs to be at least 60% in order for the sanitizer to kill germs. Some products have levels of 70% or more. These levels are much higher than the levels found in distilled spirits such as vodka and gin. Importantly, consuming hand sanitizer is quite dangerous. While it contains alcohol, it also contains a variety of other, potentially toxic ingredients that are not meant to be consumed.
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 Dulles Middle - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Dulles Middle School, Sugar Land, TX -ADHD drugs are designed to slow a person down and allow them to become more focused. What effect do they have on a person that is not ADHD?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: these drugs won't really slow a person down, but will allow him or her to pay attention and focus on one task. What these drugs do is inhibit 'mind wandering'.
When abused by otherwise healthy, non-ADHD people these drugs will work like stimulant drugs, and depending on the dose and frequency of the use, their effects could vary widely.
You can read about the ill effects of stimulant abuse here:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ADHD.html

thanks for the question.

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 etran - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is it possible for someone to use drugs once and not get addicted? Is that possible?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, most people that take drugs only once don't get addicted.
Moderator Icon  It takes time to recover from addiction— not only for the brain to re-adjust, but to make lifestyle changes to avoid drugs. Think how hard it is for people trying to lose weight—they try different diets, exercise for a while, and lose a few pounds only to gain them back… until they can make lasting changes to keep the weight off. Same with quitting drugs—it may take several rounds of treatment before it sticks.
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 Megan - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How harmful is second hand smoke?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: We know that it increases the risk for lung diseases as well as cancer.  We also know that nicotine reaches the brain with secondhand smoke which may make you more vulernable to nicotine addiction.
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 mvrhs2 - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: What are the risks of a girl who is only 15 years old and 110 pounds getting drunk and blacking out?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Well, it depends on how much alcohol the individual consumes, how fast they drink it and whether they have any food in their stomach when they drink it. If the person drinks several servings of alcohol quickly on an empty stomach, the odds are high they will experience a memory blackout (i.e., not being able to remember what they did while drinking). That's because blackouts are more likely to occur when alcohol gets into the brain very quickly. When this happens, the memory area of the brain, the hippocampus, is easily shut off and the brain then stops recording memories until most of the alcohol wears off.
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 ims718 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How can you help your friend out when they are taking drugs and drinking alcohol?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: This is unfortunately a common question today -- it's one that too many teenagers have to deal with.  On the other hand, it's great that you're concerned about trying to help your friend.  And that's the very first thing you can do -- be a good friend, someone who can be trusted to provide good information, or at least listen when people need to talk. So educate yourself first about drugs and alcohol and the problems they can cause (see our great website for teens at http://teens.drugabuse.gov). Next, encourage your friend to talk to an adult that they can trust -- maybe a teacher or coach or a parent of another friend.  If they don't feel comfortable doing that but they are ready to seek help, then you can check out available treatment resources in your community (some are available just for adolescents) at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov.  If they're in crisis, then they (or you) can call 1-800-273-TALK to talk to a professional who can help.  Most of all, though, be the friend you'd like to have -- you can do a lot of good that way!
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 alexisb - Vista, Oklahoma: I had a family member who did marijuana. They are dead now but the doctors were not certain the drug use caused the heart attack. Could marijuana have caused it?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Marijuana might have contributed to it, because it causes increased heart rate.  There is probably no way for the doctors to tell for sure, though.
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 Lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: If you ingest psilocybin and drink orange juice, will the effects of the psilocybin be stronger?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: doubt it- psilocybin produces it hallucinogenic effects through the brain's neurotransmitter serotonin- orange juice does not directly interact with serotonin.
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 hahahahahahaha - Sidney High School, Nebraska: why is whine an alcaholic beverage if it comes from grapes?

Expert Icon Aaron White: I see how that can be confusing. Alcohol is produced when yeast, a single celled organism, eats and digests sugar. So wine is made from the sugar that is naturally present in grapes. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar the yeast feeds on. For example, liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can your mental health be affected with drugs and cigarettes or because of depression? Are there any other reasons why people kill themselves? Which affect is the worst?

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi: This is a really good but really tough question!  Drug use and mental health problems can definitely be related, but the relationship is complicated.  It is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg question.  Sometimes people use drugs when they are experiencing mental health problems in an attempt to feel better, but often use of unprescribed drugs leads to more problems, such as depression. If someone who isn't already having mental health problems starts to use drugs, the drug use can lead to problems (for example, problems at school, and in relationships with parents, family, and or friends), and these stresses can than affect their mental health.  Getting high can also lead to using other drugs; and drug use in general affects your brain functioning. Sometimes, effects such as memory problems can be lasting. 

We don't know everything we need to know about why people become suicidal, but we do know that mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD and alcohol or other drug-use disorders can increase the risk for suicide, so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan.  Suicide is often an impulsive act, and use of alcohol and drugs can make people act more impulsively.  And at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment. Suicide is preventable.  For more information about suicide prevention, resources and where to find help in your area, check out these links: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/selected-suicide-prevention-online-resources.shtml
PollI think drug users are cool.
15% - Yes
78% - No
8% - Maybe
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 monicawright - Cathedral High School, Indiana: can marijuana kill you?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, the most frequent cause is from accidents when driving under the influence.
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 ewims - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: my brother does some drugs and smokes cigarettes and my parents have countlessly tried to get him to stop but he wont. What could i do

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Your brother is fortunate to have family members who care about him. It's hard to be in this situation, seeing your brother going down a dangerous path and not being sure what you can do to help. First, let your brother know that someone cares about him. You can let him know you are concerned without being judgmental, and that there are people he can talk with in confidence. He may be more open to talk to a trusted adult or a medical professional if he feels that his privacy would not be violated. There are some resources for him that are anonymous - for example, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. They don't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect your brother with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Because talking with someone about his drug use can be uncomfortable, you may want to ask an adult you trust, like a teacher or coach, to help you figure out how best to help your brother. 
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 spartangirl - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: why do kids in middle school and high school feel the need to do drugs so early?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because they get exposed to them and perceive this as something other kids are doing and want to feel cool and to fit in.
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 Eve1996 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: What are the physical signs of addiction?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Eve1996 and thanks for the question. The physical signs of addiction depend on the type of drug being abused. I can give you some examples but this is not a complete list. If someone acts different than usual, either more sedated or hyper this is a sign.  Addiction can also cause poor grades and nodding out. Methamphetamine can cause heart problems and a loss of teeth--a 20-year-old can look 70! Needle marks are a sign of severe addiction and a high risk of HIV or hepatitis. Please see the attached web page for information on different types of drugs: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php.
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 kadenb - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Why does crack have such a fast effect?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Smoking cocaine (crack) delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, but do not last long. The high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes. The high from snorting cocaine on the other hand comes on slower and can last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is evidence that suggests that users who smoke or inject cocaine may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves--including becoming addicted--than those who snort the substance, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.
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 etran - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: This one is about smoking. O: If you inhale secondhand smoke, can you get addicted?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: We dont know the exact answer, but we know that you will get nicotine into your brain at doses that will affect it.  Based on this we believe that secondhand smoke exposure could  increase your risk of becoming addicted
Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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 manpanther2233 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: what are the negative of quiting drugs

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hmmm.  Can't think of any negatives with quitting drugs.  You stop risking your life, you're able to remember the last conversation you had, you're able to hold down a job and be a productive member of society, you stay out of jail, your brain can process basic information, the sky is bluer, life is all-around better.  So, you've stumped me on that one!
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 thisisdanky - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Someone give me one good reason why marijuana is illegal and/or dangerous

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Marijuana interferes with the mental state of the person in ways that can hurt others. For example, it can make you paranoid which can lead to more aggressive behaviors, it also can interfere with your motor coordination which can result in accidents that harm the person but also others. In addition, marijuana interferes with memory and learning so it will impair the educational achivement of the person.
Moderator Icon  Mental illnesses are not as rare of some people think. About 20% of youth will have at least one type of mental illness in their lifetime.
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 acole - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why is Marijuana considered as stress reliever?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: probably because you stop caring while stoned...
what do you think?
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 kmoore - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: my dad is smoking but wont admit it.What do i do????

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I assume you are talking about tobacco cigarettes. right? a few ideas come to mind....

1) you could go out and start jogging with him on a regular basis, see if he can keep up.
2) you can ask him to see his will, tell him you just want to make sure all his 'things' are in order in case he should die prematurely.
3) ask him for a pop urine test 
4) leave disgusting pictures of cancer victims laying around the house for him to discover, maybe one inside the medicine cabinet for him to find first thing in the morning...  

i am sure you can come up with more 
Hope this helps
cheers and good luck
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 jwarthen - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: what makes drugs so addicting

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Dopamine!!  Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good!
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 mfowler - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how do inhalants kill off brain cells???

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: We don't know exactly how they do it, but we know, for example, that they can dissolve the myelin that covers nerve cells.  Myelin helps protect the neurons and speeds the transmission of signals. 
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 absolution - The Blake School, Minnesota: If parents use alcohol, and could/are considered an 'alcoholic' how likely are you to become one as well, even if you've tasted things like wine and you hate the taste? Does it only take a few drinks?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow. Great question. Having parents who are alcoholics does increase the chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point. In general, a child with close relatives who are alcoholics are twice as likely to become an alcoholic than a child without alcoholic relatives. The odds go up more if you start drinking while you are a teenager. The odds decrease if you avoid alcohol until you are an adult. However, if you do choose to drink at any point in life, you should be aware of the increased risk you face of developing a problem with alcohol and drink only in moderation (up to 1 drink per day for females or 2 for males).
Moderator Icon  Repeated drug use can reset the brain’s pleasure meter, so that without the drug, you feel hopeless and sad. Eventually, everyday fun stuff like spending time with friends or playing with your dog doesn’t make you happy anymore.
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 acalais - MillSprings Academy, Georgia: Why do kids kill them selves because of broken hearts?

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi acalais:  It's sad but true, many kids can become very upset and even suicidal when their hearts get broken. Sadly, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.  At the time of a relationship break-up or when someone suffers a loss or major disappointment, they might not be able to see that things will definately get better with time. Suicide is often an impulsive act, and at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment.

But it's important to remember that suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation.  And suicide is preventable.  If you or a friend is feeling hopeless or suicidal, it's very important to talk to a trusted adult and get help.  If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). And check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml
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 naomi96 - Einstein High School, Maryland: is marijuana addictive?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Yup- MJ can be addicting--about 9% of users, 1 in 6 of those who start young, and 25-50% of daily users become addicted.  Research also shows that  MJ use creates a withdrawal syndrome similar to that of nicotine withdrawal, which can make it hard to quit. People trying to quit report irritability, sleeping difficulties, craving, and anxiety.  Yep...it's addictive!
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 Tweetysmine - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: What would happen if someone took too much of crank?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: If by Crank you mean amphetamine, overdosing is usually not fatal, but it can cause increased blood pressure and even hallucinations.
Moderator Icon Most teens are smart and stay away from steroids. As part of a 2010 NIDA-funded study, teens were asked if they ever tried steroids—even once. Only 1.1 percent of 8th graders, 1.6 percent of 10th graders, and 2.0 percent of 12th graders ever tried steroids.
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 fluffy246 - Johnson Middle School, California: why do people fell good when they do drugs ??

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: The short answer is Dopamine!!  Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good!
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 Papi - Einstein High School, Maryland: What are the limits of taking shrooms.

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: The active ingredient in these mushrooms, a molecule called psilocybin, is very rarely fatal.  However, too much of it can cause panic attacks, especially if taken by accident or otherwise unexpected. Other reactions reported in research studies include violence, aggression, homicidal and suicidal attempts, nasty hallucinations, and convulsions.
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 mchammer - Cathedral High School, Indiana: if i have athsma is it bad that I smoke?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes
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 ims722 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: does weed make you lose your memory

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, it interferes with the memory areas in the brain.
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 skiooo - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What long term effects does weed have ?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It decreases your motivation. It can also increase your risk for anxiety and depression.
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 ahernanyug - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: is it good for teenage boys to take stairods

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: I don't think it's a good idea.  While they may help you build muscles, they can also cause long-term damage to your liver, cause high blood pressure.  For males, steroids can cause testicle shrinkage (yikes!), baldness, breast development, and infertility. Teens risk permanently stunted height, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  Whew!!!  It's just not a good idea!
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 mvrhs2 - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: What do I do when all my friends are getting drunk and I don't drink?

Expert Icon Aaron White: If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation.  Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into - here are some tips:

Say no and let them know you mean it
Stand up straight and make eye contact
Say how you feel
Don't make excuses
Stick up for yourself

It might also be a good idea to connect with friends who don't drink and so won't put you in this tough position.

To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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 sthorpe - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If people start using drugs at a young age, will the be addicted their whole life?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Not necessarily , but their risk will be higher than if they had started using drugs as adults.  Also, there is effective treatment--so a person who is addicted doesn't have to be for their whole life.
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 MonicaM - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: I have friends that do drugs and they want me to try. What should i do?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hi Monica M - MR.  This is a tough situation to be in.  It sounds like so far you have decided not to do drugs.  I would encourage you to keep this up.  Also, I think that you should talk to a friend or trusted adult who can support you in your decision to refuse using drugs.  Getting some of the facts about drugs and the consequences of using drugs may help you see that you are making a great decision for yourself.  Stay strong!

These resources may be helpful to you:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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 IMS716 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: can smoking alone cause all kinds of cancer.

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Yep. Cigarette smoking causes cancers of the lung, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. Aren't those good reasons to never pick up a cigarette?
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 pandas - Walter Johnson High School, Maryland: can i smoke everyday and still live?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, if you are talking about cigarettes, but probably not nearly as long.  Even if lung cancer doesn't kill you prematurely, the increased chance of heart disease will.
Moderator Icon  A 2010 study found that about 1% of 8th graders, 2% of 10th graders, and 1% of 12th graders had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. That means about 99% of students don’t use methamphetamine! Learn more about meth and other stimulants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php
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 laumobe - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: which is more difficult to quit, smoking cigarrettes or meth?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Tough question to answer accurately as there is a wide range of differences in the ability for someone to quit abusing drugs such as cigarettes or methamphetamine.  Also, it really depends on the level of use, how early in life one starts abusing the drug, what are your genetic vulnerabilities,  and what your environment is like.  Therefore, you see the answer really depends on the specific question. 

If you want to learn more about treatment for drugs of abuse, check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html
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 dandangao - Einstein High School, Maryland: Does marijuana produce withdrawal symptoms when someone quits using it?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It can.  Increased anxiety is probably the most reported effect in clinical research studies.
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 Dulles Middle - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: WonderWaffle7-Why do CrystalMeth Labs explode ?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because of the chemicals and byproducts used in making meth from over-the-counter medications.  Sometimes these get spilled.  Even if the lab doesn't explode, it will leave toxic chemicals behind in the carpets and floors for the next occupants to deal with....
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 FAFERZ! - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: how much alcohol does it take for me to get drunk?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:

 1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
 2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
 3. How much they weigh
 4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males

Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 vmartinez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What do you have to do to get into rehab?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: There are many addiction treatment (rehab) programs available in different settings and communities.  To find out what's available near you, check out  http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov.  That link will let you search for programs that specialize in various kinds of problems (drugs, alcohol, mental health, etc) -- there are even programs that specialize in services for adolescents.  Although some programs require health insurance or the ability to pay their fees, others have sliding fee scales that can make treatment more affordable, or they can refer you to other services in your community.  Start with that link, and you'll see lots of options.  I hope this is helpful.
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 mfowler - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How would i get a family member to stop smokeing even when they promissed to quit after another family member had lung surgery and said they would go to a place to get help? I have tried to get this person to stop for a while and they say that this is there last cigaret.

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It is not uncommon for a person who really wants to stop smoking to not be able to.  There are medications that can help like Chantix, Bupropion and Nicotine Replacement Therapies. I would enocurage the person to seek help to stop smoking and to keep trying.  Sometimes it takes multiple attempts. 
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 315IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: is drinking wine while your pregnate health for the baby?

Expert Icon Aaron White: More than likely very bad for the baby. Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
Moderator Icon  Research shows that about 1 in 6 of those who use marijuana at least once in their teens will become addicted.
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 julian - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can heroin kill you

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, by suppressing the part of your brain that tells your chest to breathe.  Even if a person doesn't overdose and die, recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter!  It also can effect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using.  In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more heroin over time to get the same high.  A great risk can be the other junk in street heroin besides the heroin itself.  Sharing dirty needles is an EXTREME risk to get HIV and AIDS.
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 782250 - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: what age group is most likely to abuse drugs?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Give a shout out to Neshaminy High School in PA!  Drug abuse impacts the individuals, their families, and our communities. Everybody knows someone who is affected by drug abuse no matter what their age. Abuse and dependence for different susbstances vary by gender and age across the lifespan. Interested in the details? According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the highest rate of current illicit drug use was among 18 to 20 year olds (23.1 percent), with the next highest rate among 21 to 25 year olds (20.5 percent). If you want to see more data, you can access the NSDUH data at http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.htm#2.1
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 Allthatremains - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: I have a friend that likes to get high every time he goes to work...i am worried for him about the addiction but also i would not like to see him get caught and arrested...please i need help on what to do?!

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Well, there's a couple things you can think about.  First, what kind of job is this that he can get away with getting high all the time?  You're right to worry about him getting caught and arrested, but he also needs to be concerned about his health and about losing his job.  Not only would he have a bad employment record, which would make it harder to get the next job, but he also may get sick or become addicted with repeated drug use.  And you're right--having a drug arrest on his record will mess up all sorts of future opportunities.  There are a couple of resources you can look at -- one is our website designed just for teens, that can provide you with facts on drugs and their effects (http://teens.drugabuse.gov).  You can also look for treatment services in your area at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov.  It's a hard problem to deal with, but you're a good friend for being willing to try.  Good luck!
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 40012910 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the average age people start doing drugs?

Expert Icon Michelle Leff: The age at which people start using drugs varies depending on the drug.  When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 the average age at first use for inhalants was 16 years old, 18 for marijuana, 19 for Ecstasy, about 21 for pain relievers, cocaine, stimulants, and heroin, and around 25 years old for tranquilizers. Thanks for your question.
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 Jim Bob N - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: What does the term 'hammered' mean dealing with alcohol?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is a term without any scientific meaning and is used socially as another term for 'drunk' or 'wasted'.
Which is about the same size as our brain?
The correct answer is: D. Two fists together. Weighing about 3 pounds, the brain is made up of many parts that all work together as a team, each with a specific and important job to do. To get an idea of how big your brain is, make two fists and hold them together, knuckles facing each other, with the heels of your palms touching. More information on the brain and what drugs do to it can be found at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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 bthrash - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Does heroin affect your brain? if so how?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Recent data using brain scans of long-time users shows that heroin actually shrinks parts of your brain-- especially the gray matter!  It also can affect the white matter in the brain that connects cells together, though the white matter might recover a bit once people stop using.  In addition, the brain gets used to the molecules, and makes adjustments, that might require more and more heroin over time to get the same high.
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 Emily B - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: When people go to bed drunk, How many people do not wake up?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's tough to estimate. We only know about the cases where people actually die from drinking too much. We don't know how many people go to bed drunk but wake up just fine the next day. We do know that if a person drinks alcohol shortly before going to bed, the alcohol in their stomach can continue to be absorbed while they are sleeping and the amount of alcohol in their bodies will keep going up. So, it is possible to go to sleep after drinking and then die from alcohol poisoning in your sleep. Indeed, in 1999, something similar to this happened to a student at Duke University. Rahim Bathe went out with his friends and drank a bunch of alcohol right before heading home to bed. After he put himself to bed, the alcohol in his stomach was absorbed and his blood alcohol concentration reached a dangerous level. He threw up while sleeping but, because his brain was so impaired by the alcohol, he did not wake up. He inhaled the vomit and nearly drowned in it before eventually coming to and sitting up. Unfortunately, the vomit he did inhale caused an infection in his lungs. He died in the hospital a week later.
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 T-Rex - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Is Salvia a legal drug? And what are the effects of it?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Salvia divinorum and salvinorin A are not currently listed as a controlled substance by the DEA, however, a number of states have placed controls on Salvia divinorum and/or salvinorin A. Effects of this drug include seeing bright lights, vivid colors and shapes, dizziness, slurred speech hallucinations (seeing objects that are not present). Because the hallucinogenic effects of this drug are unpredictable, so are the risk of injury or death as a result of impaired judgment due to disruptions of sensory and cognitive functions
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 tsheehan - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: Can caffine actually damage you?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: caffeine is a drug that can cause dependence but it is a very mildly addictive drug with generally no major ill effects, except for the withdrawal symptoms that many dependent people experience when they miss their caffeine fix.
thanks! 
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 MHS SADD - Middletown High School, New York: How can we prevent our friends from doing drugs?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hi Middletown High School.  Great question!  There are a number of drug abuse prevention programs that work to reduce risk for using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.  Many of these prevention programs can be run in schools, and other places in communities.  Some prevention programs are targeted for all youth, to teach them skills that will help them to refuse drugs and alcohol, and some of the programs are for youth who may be at high-risk for using drugs, to lower the likelihood that they will use drugs. 

This booklet has more information on drug abuse prevention: http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf.  You should talk to adults at your school or in your community about what types of prevention programs will fit best where you are.

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 sthorpe - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If a woman smokes or does drugs while she is pregnant, will the baby always have a birth defect?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: No, it depends on the amount taken, the drugs used and their combination, and the stage during the pregnancy at which the drugs were used.
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 #wakaflocka$w@g - Rockville HS, Maryland: I am an athlete and i dont smoke or drink, what would weed do to me if i was to try it?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Probably get you kicked off the team if they test for drugs.  It could affect your lung capacity if you smoke a lot (wheezing, shortness of breath), and it could also affect your concentration and memory.  If you play football, you might not remember the playbook as well, or execute split-second decisions after the snap as well.  Really, not a good idea if you want an edge over the competition.
Moderator Icon  Have you seen the Sara Bellum Blog? It has all the latest information on drugs and drug abuse, and you can comment on what’s written. Check it out at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
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 Svelkova - Bulgaria: Which are the “symptoms” of someone who is on drugs except the dilated pupils?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: The answer really depends on what drug you are talking about, as there are different effects depending on the specific drug.

For example, here are some effects for marijuana:
  • seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
  • seem silly and giggly for no reason;
  • have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
  • have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
  • When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
You might see overall changes in his/her behavior. You might also look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends. In addition, changes in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. However, these signs may also indicate problems other than use of drugs. For more information on marijuana, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html 

Other examples, like Methamphetamine, can be quite harmful to your teeth.  With continued use, a condition called 'meth mouth' occurs, and it is probably caused by a combination of changes resulting in dry mouth, extended periods of poor oral hygiene, increased consumption of sugared soft drinks, and teeth grinding and clenching.  If you want to see some pictures of this, Google 'meth mouth.' A person who ingests crystal meth will experience an increased focus and mental alertness, lack of fatigue and a decrease in appetite. Continued high doses of methamphetamine produce anxiety reactions where a person gets fearful, nervous, and shaky; a methamphetamine psychosis in which the person can become paranoid and hallucinates; an exhaustion syndrome, involving intense fatigue and need for sleep after the stimulation phase; and a prolonged depression, during which suicide is possible. Crystal meth is reported to attack the immune system, so meth users are often prone to infections of different kinds, one being an MRSA infection. This could be a result of long-term sleep deprivation and/or malnutrition.  Other side effects of crystal meth use include twitching, jitteriness, repetitive behavior (known as 'tweaking') and jaw clenching or teeth grinding. It has been noted that methamphetamine addicts lose their teeth abnormally fast; this tooth loss may be due to jaw clenching, although heavy meth users also tend to neglect personal hygiene, such as brushing teeth. It is often claimed that smoking crystal meth speeds the tooth decay process by leaving a crystalline residue on the teeth and while this is apparently confirmed by dentists, no clinical studies have been done to investigate. For more information on methamphetamine check out this website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html

Thanks for the question.
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 jeffreyk - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Are there any specific social groups associated with certain drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, jeffreyk, that's a complicated question to answer.  If by social groups you mean certain ethnic or gender groups you can find out all sorts of information from the University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future Study (look at Appendix D), which has specific drug information for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders broken down by gender, race/ethnicity, and parental education among others.  If you mean social groups like boy scouts or kickball leagues, sorry I can't help you. 
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 fc bobcats - First Colony Middle School, Texas: Can you die the first time you use drugs?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, and this is because the sensitivity to the toxic effects of drugs varies between people.  There are people who cannot break down the drug efficiently, so the body reaches very high concentrations that can be deadly.
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 llamasarecool - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: are people who smoke weed more prone to canibilism

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: thanks for your question,
As far as I know, the munchies do not extend to the urge to eat human flesh...
Moderator Icon  Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
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 IMS714 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why does cigarette calm people nerves down ?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because nicotine act on receptors in brain areas involved with processing of emotions (including anxiety), such as the amygdala.
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 SPORKY - Skaneateles High School, New York: what negative health effects dose snorting Methylphenidate have.

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: There has not been much laboratory research on sniffed methylphenidate, but what research there is in human subjects (i.e. laboratory volunteers) shows mood effects similar to cocaine.  However, snorting methylphenidate also increased heart rate, which could increase risk of a heart attack.
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 IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What is the percentage of eighth graders using drugs in 2011?

Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hello IMS! The Monitoring the Future Survey estimated that in 2010, 20.3% of 8th graders used an illicit drug in the past year. These include, marijuana, inhalants, non-medical use of psychotherapeutics, hallucinogens, cocaine and others.  The data for 2011 will be released in December 2011. Keep an eye out for it at: http://monitoringthefuture.org .
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 danis.v - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: what are the effects of codine?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: thanks for your question

codeine is an opiate. opiates indirectly raise the levels of the pleasure chemical dopamine in thej brain, which causes euphoria. When these acute effects are  repeated over and over, changes in the brain's structure and function can lead to full blown addiction.

be smart and stay healthy
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 Gaby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how can you get cancer from smoking?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Based on solid evidence, cigarette smoking causes cancers of the lung, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, stomach, uterine cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. That's a lot of cancer. The good news is that fewer people are smoking now and lives are being saved.
Moderator Icon  Fact: Most people who start smoking in their teens become regular smokers before they’re 18.
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 footballer93 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: how addicting is nicotine

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It is estimated that between 20-30% of those that try cigarettes will become addicted
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 wreaves - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can u die from multiple drugs

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes! Interactions between alcohol drinking and popping certain painkillers combined can cause the brain to stop telling the heart to beat!  Micheal Jackson died from an interaction of a sedative and a painkiller. Of course too much of a single drug can kill you too, like a cocaine-caused heart attack. 
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 knguyen - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Many people in the world hear stories about people killing themselves. How come people still do it why they hear these horrible stories?

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi knguyen: That is a very important and complicated question.  Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. We don't know everything we need to know about why people become suicidal, but we do know that mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD and alcohol or other drug-use disorders can increase the risk for suicide, so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan.  Suicide is often an impulsive act, and use of alcohol and drugs can make people act more impulsively.  And at the time that a suicidal person is feeling at their worst, their focus might be on ending their suffering without considering how final suicide is and how many friends and family members would be affected. They may not realize that they can feel better with treatment. Suicide is preventable.  For more information about suicide prevention, resources and where to find help in your area, check out these links: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-in-children-and-adolescents/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml and http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/selected-suicide-prevention-online-resources.shtml
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 Agoraphobia - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What is the active ingredient in exctasy and what is its affect on you?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: MDMA, which is the synthetic drug referred to as Ecstasy, is a stimulant.   MDMA makes a person feel like they have lots of energy and happy, but it also distorts their sense of time, peception and touch. It can also cause bad side effects like nausea, chills, sweating, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, and blurred vision. MDMA can also interfere with a person's ability to regulate their own body, which on rare occasions, can be lethal and also toxic to the brain's serotonin nerve cells.
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 KapowKapowKapow - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How much Marijuana does it take to overdose?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Marijuana's risks at high doses are on the cardiac system in someone who is vulnerable, anxiety or psychosis (seeing or hearing things that aren't there, not knowing what is real and what is not), and accidents, especially when combined with alcohol.
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 K.Manzo - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Does marijuana need to illegal? I mean, it's a plant that grows naturally. Compared to marijuana, alcohol has the same or worst effects than marijuana. Maybe the US should have kept the ban on alcohol. But I guess there are more people that want to get drunk than those that smoke.

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hello K,
i can't really answer a policy question. But I can tell you this: marijuana may be a natural product but kids that smoke marijuana regularly are at increased risk of flunking or dropping out of school, performing at a much lower level academically and also later in the job market and in life in general. And these effects don't even take into account the significant risk of addiction.

All in all, pot is not a good deal.
Don't you think? 
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 cmedina - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what company are yall called

Expert Icon Carol Krause: We are the National Institute on Drug Abuse-NIDA. We are one of the 27 Institutes and Offices of the National Institutes of Health...the most famous research institution in the world. We are funded by the U.S. Government ---which means our research is funded by taxpayers like your parents and teachers. NIDA funds most of the world's research into drug abuse and addiction. The people answering these questions are mostly scientists and science writers...we love science and we come to work every day knowing we are helping to find scientific solutions to the problem of addiction.
Moderator Icon  There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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 evargas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if teens, under 18, begin to drink alcohol in excessive amounts, what are the long term effects they will have as they get older?

Expert Icon Aaron White: The teenage years are a very important time for brain development. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think well, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
Moderator Icon  Looking for a drug treatment program? Different types of treatments are available to meet your specific needs. You can get referrals to treatment programs by calling1-800-662-HELP (a confidential hotline), or by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on line at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
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 stratocaster - Sidney High School, Nebraska: How much alcohal does it take to make you drunk?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's just so hard to say. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk:

 1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
 2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
 3. How much they weigh
 4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males

Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous - and makes it more likely for the person to throw up. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
For more information on safe drinking limits adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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 sierralexi - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: What causes people to drink??

Expert Icon Aaron White: There are lots of reasons people drink.  Some people may get messages from movies, TV, and our general culture that drinking can make you feel 'cool.'  Others may feel they can escape other problems in their life by drinking.  But they cannot - drinking only makes any problems you already have much worse.  And there's nothing cool about throwing up in a garbage can or wrecking a car.
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 Eric quach - Johnson Middle School, California: How does a tobbaco effect on an athlethe when there on the field

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It depends.  If you're talking about cigarettes as the way to get the tobacco and nicotine, this will likely impair the athlete's lung capacity and respiration.  Not a good idea if you're trying to get an edge on the competition.  The nicotine might improve concentration a little, but this is probably not as effective as having a linebacker or fastball about to take your head off anyway...
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 Ims609 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: If a child lives in a house while their parents addicted to drugs,how will it affect the child's development?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: This is a tough situation for child's development.  Parents who are using drugs may have trouble providing the care, attention and support that a developing child will need, whether the child is young or a teenager.  This can have negative consequences for a child's development.  Also, the child could be at increased risk for using drugs later on.  Getting help by talking to a trusted adult would be a good first step for someone in this situation. 

Here are some resources that may be helpful:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

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 snoopy - Rockville HS, Maryland: What is the most common age that kids begin doing drugs at ?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, Snoopy! The age at which people start using drugs varies depending on the drug.  When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 the average age at first use for inhalants was 16 years old, 18 for marijuana, 19 for Ecstasy, about 21 for pain relievers, cocaine, stimulants, and heroin, and around 25 years old for tranquilizers. Thanks for your question, my regards to Woodstock.

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 pokemonmaster - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: What can crack do to you and your immune system?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Crack can interfere with the funciton of lymphocytes which are the soldiers of your immune syustem
PollI think marijuana is good for you because it's a natural herb from a plant.
26% - Yes
57% - No
17% - Maybe
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 Alexis&Katie1 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how much alchohol is over the legal limit?!

Expert Icon Aaron White: For someone under the age of 21, the legal limit is 0 (meaning any alcohol in the body is illegal). For someone above 21, it is still legal to drive a car if the blood alcohol content (BAC) is under 0.08%.

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Problem is, most kids binge drink when they drink. That means they drink enough over about 2 hours for their BAC to reach the legal limit of 0.08%. Kids can reach this level with less alcohol than adults. It takes about 4 drinks for the average woman to reach the legal limit and about 5 drinks for a man to reach it by binge drinking. For kids, the numbers look like this:
For boys:
Ages 9-13: About 3 drinks
Ages 14-15: About 4 drinks
Ages 16-17: About 5 drinks

For girls:
Ages 9-17: About 3 drinks

Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain - the ones that keep your heart beating and your lungs taking in air - will shut off.

For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/

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 BBradford - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Do people have the same feeling of highness or are there different types?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: very important question.
there are huge individual differences among the experiences that different people will derive from using the same drug. THis includes both differences in the desired effects (high) as well as differences in the adverse effects.
 
stay smart, stay clean
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 audraw6 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How can I stop the kids at the park when they do heroin?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Well, I'm not sure which kids you mean.  If these are friends of yours, you can discourage them from using heroin, and then be prepared to just walk away if you need to.  If they value your friendship, they may realize that they will lose the pleasure of your company if they're just going to hang out and get high.  If these are kids you DON'T know, then you need to leave that to the professionals -- call the local police department and they can go to the park themselves; that's their job.  In either case, while your intentions sound great, be sure to watch out for your own safety.  Good luck and I hope that helps.
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 dumb_dumb - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Why do people become addicted to prescription drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because some of them, especially painkillers, connect with certain molecules in the brain.  For painkillers like oxycodone, the body can develop 'tolerance' to the drug over time, where it takes more and more pills to get the same effect, and this is what can really cause the slide into addiction.  It's still a bit of a mystery why most people can quit, but some unfortunate people get hooked on them, and scientists are working to discover why!
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 YouLostTheGame - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: Which is the worst drug to use when you are pregnant?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: alcohol
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 jum - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Which is worst? Cigarettes? or Marijuana?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It depends on what, cigarettes are worse for cancer but marijuana is much worse for your brain.
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 nOlAn FuLtOn - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what is a gateaway drug

Expert Icon Aaron White: The concept of a 'gateway drug' is a drug that, once used, opens the door (or 'gate') to the use of other drugs. We do not tend to think about drugs in this way any longer. While it is true that many young people who start drinking alcohol go on to use marijuana and other drugs, this does not make alcohol a gateway drug. It could simply be that kids who decide to use substances use alcohol first simply because it is more readily available.
Moderator Icon  Drinking and driving can add up to tragic endings. In the U.S., about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
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 RAinz - Rockville HS, Maryland: What do steroids do, and what are their effects. Are steroids worth the risk if they actually make you stronger. Also, i have heard that olympic sprinters use steroids, and it doesn;t seem like it affects them.

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Most anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. Some people, especially athletes, abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle and enhance performance. Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, some of which may be irreversible, like liver damage, jaundice, high blood pressure, increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles (I for one think THAT is bad!), baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  Whew!!! 
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 pokemonmaster - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Can drugs give you a stroke?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: yes
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 tipple - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Is marijuana proven to be a gateway drug?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: There is evidence that early use of marijuana increases the risk for addiction to other substances, which is evidence that it may act as a gateway drug.
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 Svelkova - Bulgaria: Can drugs change the person’s character?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes!  While people can act differently when they're actually high at the time, continuous use of some drugs like meth or ecstasy can damage brain circuits that help us keep control over our emotions, leading an addict to become really disagreeable or nasty, for example.
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 Fluffy7 - Johnson Middle School, California: What are steroids?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Most anabolic steroids are synthetic substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. They are taken orally or are injected. Some people, especially athletes, abuse anabolic steroids to build muscle and enhance performance. Abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to serious health problems, some of which are irreversible. Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. UGH! Who would use steroids?
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 popkenblake - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: Can drugs make you smart or is there even a drug that makes you a little more intellegent?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Thanks, such a great question!

there are indeed drugs that can help you focus, pay more attention, or study for longer periods of time. These types of drugs are called cognitive enhancers, but no drug that I know of that will make you smarter or more intelligent.

Hope this helps
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 Lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: Does cocaine use kill brain cells? What are the long term effects?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It can kill brain cells because it impairs delivery of blood and oxygen to your brain which can result in the death of cells in the brain.
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 tgcheer - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: What are the dangers of meth?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Long-term brain damage. There's damage in terms of how brain cells communicate with each other, and lowered activity in general, as seen in certain special brain scans.  Other types of brain scans show reduced (shrunken or less dense) brain gray matter in people who use meth a lot!
Moderator Icon  Drug abuse by any method (not just injection) can put a person at risk for contracting HIV. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect the way a person makes decisions and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which puts them at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else.
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 Darnell - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: if u grew in a family with drugs what is the probibility that u will be a dug addadict?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: If your relatives are addicted to drugs it may mean that you may have inherited genes that make you more at risk for addiction, but that does not mean you will become addicted.  It means you are at higher risk and should avoid any experimentation with drugs whether they are legal or illegal.
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 Hank H - Skaneateles High School, New York: Are mushrooms very common anymore?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to Skaneateles High School! Alcohol and drug use do follow trends across generations and time. Different generations can abuse different drugs and/or alcohol in different ways. In Volume I of the Monitoring the Future survey (appendix E) there is a chart measuring annual prevalence of use for all seniors of hallucinogens other than LSD.  Numbers have gone up and down since 2001 with a high of 5.7 percent in 2004. In 2010, it was 3.7 percent.  To access the chart, go to the survey at http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html.  scroll down to the 2010 MTF survey and click on Volume I.  Then click on Appendix E.
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 ethan scicc. - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what birth defecs will alchol give

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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 Bruce - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do people kill themselves when taking any type of drug?

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi Bruce:  Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.  We don't know everything we need to know about what causes suicide, but we do know that drug-related suicides are a problem; for example, between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides.  There are probably different reasons for alcohol- and  drug-related suicides.  For example, we know that while people often use drugs because they think it will make them feel good, many drugs (including alcohol) are actually depressants.  Also, we know that many times, suicides are impulsive acts, and alcohol and other drugs can make people less inhibited and more impulsive.  Especially when people are on drugs or are drunk, they may not realize how final suicide is and how many friends and family members it will affect. Lastly, some people who use drugs might actually be using them because they already feel depressed and hopeless; but using alcohol or drugs or is not a good response to a bad situation.  We have good treatments for depression and other problems, including medication and talking to a therapist; these treatments have been shown to reduce suicide attempts. Therapy can help someone consider a different action when thoughts of self-harm arise.  If a kid is feeling depressed or suicidal, it's important to talk to a trusted adult and get help from a professional as soon as possible.

If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information on suicide prevention, check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml .
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 gadam - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: My uncle has taken a interest in beer and alchohol in general. He is a 'beer expert', and is starting to brew it him self. He seems stressed a lot of the time.Im wondering if in your opinion, he might be becoming an alchoholic. Please help.

Expert Icon Aaron White: A good but tricky question. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families. To learn more about what you can do to help, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

It is also a good idea to find an adult whom you trust and talk with them about your concerns.


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 ellieehambrecht - Rockville HS, Maryland: Why do people believe that smoking makes them cool?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: I've never really figured this one out.  I guess some people think that smoking makes them look more grown-up, or gives them something in common with the 'cool kids,' but it seems like an awful high price to pay to feel 'cool.'  Smoking is smelly, it ruins your skin, and of course it leads to all sorts of medical problems that you can't see -- lung cancer, emphysema, etc.  So, I'm stumped.  Why do some people think that smoking makes them cool? Maybe the tobacco companies are influencing them?? Check out our 'shatter the myths' booklet for more: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf.
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 dstammer - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: Is caffeine really a drug?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: it sure is, caffeine is a compound that can bind to specific proteins in the brain and influence how the  brain works. caffeine can cause dependence and lead to withdrawal symptoms if one tries to abstain from it. Even though the health effects of caffeine dependence are way milder than most any other psychoactive drug, caffeine is definitely a drug, and possibly the most frequently used around the world. 
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 jimmmmmy - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Are drugs like steroids addictive?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: They can produce addiction, although it may be a little different from some other drugs like cocaine, alcohol.  But it can be hard to quit steroids, and stopping has been associated with depression and suicidal thinking.   
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 JasmineJ - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Is smoking pot bad for the ages 5 up to 17

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Wait....do you know of a 5 year old that smokes pot??

Sorry...back to my answer, about 9% of  MJ users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% if you use the drug daily become addicted to MJ.  Also, because marijuana disrupts memory, so you can't learn and remember very well if when high on MJ. Also, heavy MJ users, in a recent study, reported lower life satisfaction, poorer physical and mental health, and decreased educational and career achievement compared to those not smoking.  So, it seems the younger one starts smoking weed, the worse the effects on their life and well-being....Tell that 5 year old to put down the weed! 
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 Brandon P - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: How long does it take for a person that is a alcoholic for there liver to become unfunctional?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking is really hard on the liver. It's hard to say how long it will take for a person who drinks heavily to experience liver failure since this all varies from person to person.

What we do know is that heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.
Moderator Icon  Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
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 commander2 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What should you do if one of your friends quits smoking but then picks it back up again?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It can be very hard for someone to stop smoking - many people go through several quit attempts before they are successful. Keep in mind that he is probably doing the best that he can and keep offering encouragement and support when you can.  The good news is that treatment and resources are available to help people quit.  Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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 kstelzer - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: What do narcotics do to your body?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: If you really mean 'narcotics' (and not just illegal drugs generally), these are frequently depressants that decrease respiration and heart rate.  Many narcotics like powerful painkillers cause the body to adapt to them, causing a person to have to take more and more over time to get the same effect on pain or mood.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Which speeds up the body system more, meth or cocaine?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Methamphetamine
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 ANgo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how many kids or ppl ask u Questions aready

Expert Icon Carol Krause: You asked your question at 2:16...It is now 2:40 and 8807 kids have asked questions---fewer than 1000 have been answered...We are sorry that we can't get to everyone, but we hope you are learning a lot by reading the Chat as it goes!  Check out the drug facts we are posting while you wait! In about a week, you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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 pekinwlr - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How many people die from drugs?

Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Thanks for your question. In 2007, there were over 27,000 deaths due to unintentional drug poisoning. However, this number doesn't include suicides, homicides or deaths due to drugged or drunk driving. For example, in 2009, 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. The most recent numbers will be released today from the CDC so if you'd like more information go to www.cdc.gov
Moderator Icon  Stephanie Older is online helping our scientists. She is NIDA’s top press officer---and everyday answers a lot of questions from news reporters. Her experience includes work as the media liaison for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and crafting public awareness campaigns for the Social Security Administration and the National Health Council's 'Putting Patients First' initiative. Stephanie holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore as well as a B.A. in communications from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School. Before joining NIDA, she worked as Attorney-Adviser to an Associate Chief Judge at the U.S. Department of Labor. When not handling press inquiries for NIDA, she is busy playing (and of course chasing and picking up after) with her four-year old son Owen and one-year old daughter Tessa.
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 ILoveMelissa - Rockville HS, Maryland: what is the difference between cocaine and crack

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Cocaine is a powder extracted from coca leaves and is typically snorted, whereas crack is a crystalized form of cocaine that is typically smoked.
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 mackenziem32 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Do drugs make you drive odd when you are driving?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes but it depends on the drug.  Alcohol and marijuana interfere with your reflexes and coordination but other drugs like opiates (prescription painkillers) and benzodiazepines (drugs to treat anxiety, like valium) can make you sleepy and drowsy.  Drugs like cocaine can make you aggressive and a risky driver.
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 wil - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how bad would it be if you got high and drunk at the same time

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Wil and thanks for the question. It is much more dangerous to mix drugs and alcohol together than to take either separately; the chance of respiratory depression is much greater. Many of the famous movie people who have died have had a mixture of drugs and alcohol in their systems. So using drugs or alcohol is dangerous, but mixing them together is many times worse.
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 IMS403 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What drug has the worst affect on the human body?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hard to say.  Too much alcohol at once when your body is not used to it will suppress the part of your brain that tells your heart to beat, and would kill you.  Too much cocaine at once, and you could have a heart attack or stroke.  Over the long term, all are harmful while people keep abusing.  Once a person quits, a lot of systems in the body can recover.
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 IMS326 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How can taking beer hurt your stomach

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol increases the amount of acid secreted in your stomach. That extra acid can really upset your stomach. Also, beer contains other ingredients beyond alcohol. People who are are sensitive to gluten, a protein found in wheat, can have a particularly difficult time digesting beer.
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 Xavier R - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Why do doctors give out pills that people sell

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: For the most part, doctors give out medications to relieve thier patients' symptoms.  Some patients do sell their pills.  I guess they need the money.  In any case, it's a bad deal for the person who buys the pills, because they can develop addiction or other adverse effects.
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 #fvswag - Rockville HS, Maryland: how many brain cells are lost after smoking weed?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: there is no evidence that we lose cells after smoking. marijuana does affect the way brain cells communicate with each other, and that's the main concern.
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 scarlott21 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Where are most teens smoking/drinking in the United States?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Thanks for your question scarlott21.  According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it looks like the highest rates of current alcohol use among teens (aged 12 to 17) are in the west and north eastern U.S.. Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all top the list. Current smoking rates among teens are highest in some of the northern and mid-west states. For more info check out the links above.
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 rams-r-beast - Rockville HS, Maryland: does your brain gets smaller when you use drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Certain parts of it, yes.  A more serious issue is that drugs mess up how parts of the brain communicate with each other for best effectiveness at thinking.  Alcohol especially shrinks the brain as drinkers age into older adulthood.
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 imissedjulia:( - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: why do people use hard core drugs like cocaine and heroine if they know it's extremely addictive?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Great question.  One answer may be because some people are attracted to very high-risk activities -- and drugs like heroin and cocaine are certainly very high risk, and can lead to injury or other medical consequences with just the first use.  But once people have started using drugs, the 'extremely addictive' feature is what prevents them from stopping easily.  Using these and other drugs actually affects your brain and how you make decisions.  Because of the effect on the brain, addiction leads to uncontrollable craving for more drugs as the brain searches for the 'high' that it got before.  It becomes a vicious escalating cycle that can be very hard to stop without professional help. 
Moderator Icon  Did you know that mental illnesses are brain disorders? There are differences in the structure and the way the brain functions in people with a mental illness.
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 piglover309 - Rockville HS, Maryland: why do people get the munchies?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi there.
thanks for the question
its a good one. We don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
Hope this helps.

stay smart
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 yes - Clinton High School, Iowa: do drugs have the same chemical structure as the neurons in your brain? how do they affect your brain

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: yes indeed. Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!

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 joseph - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can acohol kill you if you drink two bottles?

Expert Icon Aaron White: If it is two bottles of wine or two bottles of liquor, then yes for sure. If it is two bottles of beer then probably not.
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 JDistler - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: can you lose part of your brain the first time you use pot?and if so,how much?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: no, you can't lose any part of your brain the first time you use pot. 
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 blulf - Sidney High School, Nebraska: can you get high off germ ex

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, a person could get drunk off of hand sanitizer like Germ Ex because it contains ethyl alcohol, the kind of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. However, it can also make a person extremely sick due to the other ingredients in it. That's why the instructions make clear that hand sanitizer is for external use only.
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 Matt S - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: why does inhaling rubber cement get you high?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Because inhalants like rubber cement can affect the brain in similar ways to alcohol
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 avacado - Clinton High School, Iowa: What are the long term effects of drug/alcohol abuse?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to certain molecules on the surface of brain cells (or inside cells), like a key might fit snugly into a lock. They tend to fit because they happen to be shaped like molecules our brains normally have floating around. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention in focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Some drugs, like cocaine or methamphetamine or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, however, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from stopping looking to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine.

There can be other physiological effects of long term use. For example, alcohol can cause damage to liver cells, and there are known cancer risks with cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

Not worth the risk, I say!

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 acastro - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: are you most likely to get a disease(cancer and other things) if you start to drink at a young age , lets say 13 or 14?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a tough one and we really don't know the answer yet. However, we do know that heavy drinking during the adult years increases the chances of getting cancers of various types, particularly for women, and that starting to drink at a young age, like 13 or 14, is associated with a much higher risk of drinking heavily during the adult years. So, if you look at it this way, getting started young could indirectly increase your odds of developing cancer at some point in life.
Many teens abuse prescription drugs. How do most get them?
The correct answer is: B. They get them from a friend or relative. Most high school seniors who abused prescription drugs got them for free from a friend or relative; very few get them from the Internet.
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 Gaby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how does marijuana go to a drug from a plant?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: it is actually very common that plants contain chemicals that can cause different effects on the brain. Many are abused because they produce a high, and many of those are addictive.
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 DjD rek - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why don't they replace nicotine in cigarettes with something that isn't as addictive, or not at all, and that isn't as harmful?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because nicotine is the active ingredient that people actually WANT.  This molecule binds with receptors in the brain to ease nerves and improve concentration.  The real health problem is all the tar and other cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco leaf when it's ignited.
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 iyamsydney - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How can you advise someone to stop using the drugs without offending them or getting them upset?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: It depends on what type or relationship you have with them. If they are your friend you should approach them as such and tell them you want to help them.  If not you may want to invovle a person that is close to them so they can talk to them.  In the end, it is better to offend then than not to offer help.
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 p-ditty - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: If you are originally an extreme light weight and you keep drinking alcohol, will you develop a higher tolerence and not be a light weight anymore?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible. Tolerance is how the body reduces the effects that a drug has on it. Young people who can 'hold their liquor well' may be drinking at rates that put them at risk of developing a range of alcohol-related problems, including alcohol dependence. So you may be able to develop a higher tolerance the more you drink, but you will also experience more of alcohol's negative consequences.
Moderator Icon  Abuse is when someone takes a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription or in a way or amount that is different from what was prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs can have serious and harmful health effects, including poisoning and even death.
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 cnunez - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: a lot of people need mental help right?

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi cnunez:  It's true: mental disorders are pretty common, and over their lifetime, many people struggle with these problems and need help. In fact, mental illnesses are not as rare of some people think. About 20% of youth will have at least one type of mental illness in their lifetime.  But the good news is that we have good treatments for the mental health problems that affect children, teens, and adults.  Depending on the person and the problem, these treatments can include specific talk therapies (psychotherapies), medications, or a combination of treatments. 

So when someone is struggling, it's important for them to talk to a professional as early as possible to get help. Mental illnesses are real and can be treated. They are not often something a person can just snap out of. Some people do not get help because they are embarrassed or afraid to. However, getting help for mental issues is really no different than seeking help for a medical condition like diabetes.  If you or someone you know needs help go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml for information on who to talk to and how to find help in your area. Also see: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/support.asp?nav=nav02_0&content=2_0_support

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 KennethM - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: How does marijuana stops your growth?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: it doesn't
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 kbc2013 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: When you bake pot in food are you as hungry as you would be if you smoked it??

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: probably a bit less, because you are ingesting food at the same time as you are getting high.
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 Mohammed.K - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: When a kid that is 14 how do you force him to stop smoking?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: It is very hard to force someone to stop (or start) anything but it is possible to show them information that will help them to make a decision to stop. NIDA has an excellent web-site that has great information on quitting smoking--I highly recommend it as a starting point: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/. Also it is important to know that if someone starts smoking early in life, it is very often much more difficult to quit. 
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 ims623 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: can you die from doing pot?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, indeed drivers inotxicated with pot are at higher risk of accidents, which can have fatal consequences (especially when combined with alcohol--even small amounts).
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 ktbean - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: Why do opiates make you itchy?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: I LOVE this question!!!  I spent about 8 years studying opioids and itch! Opioids act at mu-opioid receptors in the brain to produce pain control but this also results in itch.  Unfortunately the exact mechanism for the itch remains unknown. 
Moderator Icon Steroids have many negative health effects.  For guys—shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk for prostate cancer. For girls—growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a permanently deepened voice.  Learn more about steroids here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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 Mpanther - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Can sniffing glue get you high? If so why?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes it acts in a similar way to alcohol by disrupting the membrane of the neurons in your brain. It can affect how these brain cells function, including those in the reward centers in the brain.
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 DjD rek - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What in baths salts makes you high?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: The designer, synthetic stimulants in bath salts make you high. 
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 Dulles Middle - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: The Cookie Man- Dulles Middle School- How do you stop drugs before it's to late?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Well, Cookie, the obvious answer is not to start in the first place, so that's actually the best approach :) .  Some drugs can have very serious medical consequences (like stopping your heart) just from using them just ONCE, and others can impair your judgement or motor functioning (for doing things like driving a car) which can bring about unwanted consequences (obviously). In that instance, 'too late' comes too soon.  Value your long-term options -- life's too short to mess it up playing around with drugs.  Take care.
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 jordan r - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: If i would take drugs will it kill any of my brain cells?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Our brains naturally lose neurons and other brain cells as we age, and our brain actually gets a little smaller over the years, even without drugs.  Some research studies indicate that long-term use of drugs, and especially alcohol, increases or accelerates this shrinkage.  Ecstasy can kill serotonin neurons that help you feel good and keep your emotions in check.
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 ktbean - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: How come if you begin using oxycontin and then switch to hydros or vicodin you can't get high off of them?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: All the drugs you mentioned are opioids. Using any opioid a lot can lead to tolerance, where the drug eventually starts to have less and less of an effect. The tolerance that a person develops to one opioid often carries over to other opiods, as well. This is called 'cross tolerance.'
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 kadenb - Pekin Community School, Iowa: does getting high on drugs affect your driving like getting drunk does

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, some drugs more than others.  For example marijuana makes your coordination much worse, whereas other drugs like cocaine can make you a more aggressive and risk prone driver.
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 chairman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Does cooking drugs into foods like brownies decrease the effects of the drug?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: it depends, but in general, any chemical exposed to high enough heat will lose a substantial portion or all of its biological activity.
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 tmwelch14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: when you smoke marijuana does it slow down your maturity level?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Marijuana, particularly in adolescents, can change the normal maturation process of your brain--which continues into the mid 20s. 
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 proudtobeastone - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: what kind of symptoms will come to a person if they stop taking drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It depends on the drug. If it is nicotine, stopping can cause irritability, nervousness, or sleep problems for a while, but these generally get better with time. If the drug is heroin, withdrawal symptoms can include muscle aches, anxiety, diarrhea, and vomiting. There are treatment centers that make withdrawal a lot less painful or help someone through this: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. It's worth it in the long-term.
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 Aliturtle - Sidney High School, Nebraska: If you smoke Marijuana for 5 months daily then quit, do your lungs go back to normal?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question.  Yes, unless there is some long-term damage caused by the initial daily smoking, they should recover. 

If you would like more info on marijuana, you should check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
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 acalais - MillSprings Academy, Georgia: What are some dieases from drugs

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Drugs can have many harmful effects on your body, the best known is cancer from cigarrette smoking, but others include, myocardial infarction (heart attack) from cocaine or methamphetamine, cirrhosis and liver damage from alcohol, infections like aids and hepatitis from injection of drugs or from sexual risky behavior promoted by drug intoxication.  Another is death from overdose and this can happen with alcohol, pain medications, or heroin.
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 37516 - Johnson Middle School, California: do steroids cause a big CHANGE in your life in the future?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: it surely does in some people who became dangerously aggressive or depressed as a result of their chronic anabolic steroid abuse.
PollIf I thought I needed drug treatment, I would know who to contact.
51% - Yes
21% - No
28% - Maybe
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 A.J. - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do you think most teens do drugs

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: There are a number of factors that may increase the chances that a young person will use drugs. We call these risk factors.  Risk factors may come from one or more sources, including social, environmental, or biological factors, and often more than one risk factor will be present. Just because someone has a risk factor it does not mean that they will use drugs. Youth also have many protective factors in their lives--things that reduce the likelihood of using drugs that could also be social (e.g., positive peer relationships), environmental (e.g., caring and supportive family), or biological (e.g., good self-control). But using drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and others, too. 

Here are some websites you may be interested in.
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
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 tyler h - Johnson Middle School, California: can some one die of nicoteen use

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Absolutely. Nicotine is what makes cigarettes so addictive. And cigarettes kill 440,000 people a year in this country alone! Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs and the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the U.S. Cigarette smoking accounts for 90% of lung cancer cases in the U.S., and almost 50,000 deaths per year can be attributed to secondhand smoke. Cigarettes and chew tobacco are illegal substances in most U.S. states for those under 18; a handful of states have raised the age to 19. Nicotine is highly addictive. The tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birthweight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children.
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 Jvarughese - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: can you please answer this qustion in the next 5 minutes/how can people die from getting drunk

Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

If you drink enough alcohol, it can shut down parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive. If those areas are shut down, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off.

Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
  1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
  2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
  3. How much they weigh
  4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.
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 qwertyuiop - Rockville HS, Maryland: im thinking about taking steroids does it really cause shrinkage?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: if you are thinking about it, you are not thinking clearly. Shrinking testicles are a well established effect of chronic anabolic steroid abuse. One of many. So if you think that bigger biceps will make you more attractive try to think about the whole 'package'

is it really worth it?
 
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 spartangirl - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what chemical changes are going on in the brain to make your body heat up when a person is on ecstasy?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Ecstasy stimulates the centers in the brain that regulate the temperature in your body, interfering with their normal function which is why tempertaure can increase when someone is on ecstasy
Moderator Icon  Hey---this year we are asking teens to tell the truth about drug issues. Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did!  Look for a poll question soon!
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 Ilovesoccer - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: Can painkillers be addictive?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Absolutely. Addiction to pain killers is common among people who use them without a prescription or in amounts not ordered by a doctor. The risk for addiction is much less when pain killers are used as specified by a doctor.  
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 llagria - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: who would you call if you need help

Expert Icon Carol Krause: It depends on what kind of help you are seeking. If you think you have a substance abuse problem you should talk to an adult you trust and ask for help immediately. It will probably not get any better without help.  If you need help with an addiction, you can find a link to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. In addition, if you know someone who is talking about terrible emotional problems, or even discussing suicide, have them call 1-800-273-TALK. It takes wisdom and courage to ask for help.

Your school counselor should be a good resource for you as well!
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 Kam - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Is there a different level from person to person to overdose?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes. There are large difference between people, some can overdoes with a relatively small amount of drugs whereas other require very large doses.  Some of these differences relate to past drug use, but also to genetics,
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 Dhall - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is there rehab for poeple recovering from heroin?

Expert Icon Richard Denisco: Hi Dahl
Most rehab centers can treat heroin addiction. This drug has been around for a long time and there is much experience with it. There are behavioral as well as medication assisted treatment methods. Which approach to use depends on different factors, and should be assesed by an addiction specialist. The main thing is to take the first step and talk to an addiction specialist. A large number of treatment centers that could help are listed on the SAMHSA web site under treatment centers. All it takes is to make a phone call and get information.
Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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 IMS424 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Can an addict stop their addiction?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: The short answer is YES but of course it's more complicated than that.  Addiction is a chronic (long-lasting) brain disease -- that means it actually changes the brain in major ways.  Recovery from addiction can also be a long-lasting process, but it can be done.  Scientists (including many working with NIDA) have identified a number of medications as well as behavioral (counseling) therapies that are effective for addressing many aspects of addiction, and we continue to work on more options.  You can learn about many effective treatment options by checking out our publication, 'Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment' (http://www.nida.nih.gov/PODAT/PODATIndex.html), or at our site for teens (http://teens.drugabuse.gov).
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 shannonl - Gahanna Lincoln High School, Ohio: 'Bath salts' have just been banned for a year in the United States. What can these chemicals do to the human body and brain?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question.
Unfortunately people are ingesting bath salts searching for a high, but many are finding serious consequences!  Bath salts contain chemicals similar to ectascy, amphetamine and cocaine, which are associated with bad side effects like dangerously elevated blood pressure and heart rates,  there have been reports of people becoming so agitated that their muscles started to break down, releasing chemicals that led to kidney failure. So, while it seems like bath salts woudn't pose any harm, used in the wrong way, it can be seriously dangerous stuff!
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 Peter T - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: i add cocaine to my lemonade mix. is this harmful to my body in any way

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Absolutely, cocaine is addictive and has many other ill effects.
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 Julie - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do people take pain-killers even tho they dont have any pain?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Very good question! Opiate pain killers produce euphoria, which is what these people are seeking. In fact, the feeling of euphoria is generally stronger when pain is not present. Taking these medications without a doctor's prescription or in amounts other than those prescribed can lead to addiction and other severe health consequences.
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 juice - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: If you drink a lot will it effect the brain after like 5 years.

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible. The teenage years are a very important time for brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 mrosario - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: where does K2 come from and does it have the same harmful effects of real marijuana?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: K2 is one of the products generically known as 'Spice”, which is used to describe a diverse family of herbal mixtures marketed under many names, including K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana (cannabis). Spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana, and regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms. Spice products are now illegal in the United States and most European countries. Its side effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. 
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 Wclimo - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: does meth affect your lungs?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Important question!  Methamphetamine is commonly smoked. Smoking meth is probably the most impure form of ingestion. In addition to the possible effects on teeth, it is very damaging to the lungs. Methamphetamine users who smoke can experience mild asthma. Another problem with smoking meth is the potential presence of byproducts created when the heated drug comes in contact with air. Even if the initial drug is pure methamphetamine, the act of smoking it produces other chemicals, some of which may be toxic.

In terms of snorting Methamphetamine, it is a powerful nasal decongestant, so methamphetamine users who snort it often have very clear nasal cavities. However, there have been rare cases of people snorting so much meth that their nose cartilage deteriorates, though snorting cocaine is far more likely to cause nasal degeneration, due to its vasoconstrictive properties. Snorting crystal meth may also cause meth mouth or meth teeth (tooth decay), since the nasal passages are directly connected to the mouth region, and it is theorized that damaging crystalline particles can still attach to the teeth. Another theory is that meth directly affects calcium balance in the body. Crystal meth has also been shown to decrease the production of saliva, the lack of which causes tooth decay.  In addition to these problems, there are many other damaging effects of methamphetamine to the airway on the way to the lungs.  Please see the following link for more information:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html


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 dustint32 - Pekin Community School, Iowa: When a person starts to do drugs can they stop

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: Yes, at the beginning the person can usually control when they start and stop but with reepated use they lose this ability and cannot stop even when they may be suffering harmful effects in their lives.
Moderator Icon  To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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 ZaCh! - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can 1 beer decrease your smartness

Expert Icon Aaron White: It is possible that it could for at least a few minutes. In some lab tests, we have detected memory and other impairments in people who have very low blood alcohol concentrations - maybe the result of just one beer.
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 chace002 - Rockville HS, Maryland: what is the best way to avoid becoming a drug addict

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Neighbors in Rockville High School!  In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions. Since drugs change the brain in ways that encourage compulsive drug abuse, quitting is often difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Best way-- is not to start using in the first place. Here's a link to our teen site about the brain and addiction -- the more you know about the science, the better you can make informed decisions: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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 Kaza999 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How bad is the meth problem in New England (specifically Vermont)? Speaking as a first responder, I want to know how many houses I should expect to be meth houses.

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi Kaza999, thanks for your question.  The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) reports data on teen health and behavior. According to their 2009 results for the state of Vermont, 3.8% of high school teens used methamphetamine in their lifetime. The second part of your question is much more difficult to answer, and you might want to check with your local health department and emergency rooms. The Community Epidemiology Workgroup (CEWG) reports on drug use trends in certain locations where we have representatives, so even though Vermont isn't covered you might find that information useful http://www.nida.nih.gov/pdf/cewg/CEWGJan2011_508.pdf. Thanks for your service as a first responder!
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 kstelzer - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: What are some long term effects on your body from taking hallucinogens?

Expert Icon Nora Volkow: In people who are vulnerable hallucinogens can produce psychosis (hearing or seeing things that aren't there, trouble with knowing what is real and what is not) that last long after taking the drug
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 soccer., - north carroll middle, Maryland: ON a highway, or any road, are there special cops just for drunk driving, or do they all do that also?

Expert Icon Aaron White: It probably depends on the way your State police works and how they train traffic safety officers. Most police officers receive at least basic training to prevent drunk driving, and there are a variety of special training programs they can take, as well.
Moderator Icon  Dr. Nora D. Volkow ---NIDA’s Director---is now online! Dr. Volkow runs a very large scientific Institute but she also still works in a science lab studying the brain. Her work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a disease of the human brain. As a research psychiatrist and scientist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the toxic and addictive effects of drugs. Dr. Volkow was born in Mexico, and earned her medical degree from the National University of Mexico in Mexico City, where she received an award for best medical student of her generation. She was recently named one of Time Magazine's “Top 100 People Who Shape our World.” Dr. Volkow is also an artist and avid runner---logging dozens of miles a week. Her niece is a high schooler in Mexico and just moved to India for a special student exchange program.
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 wreaves - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is nicotine addicting

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: YES! Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine found in tobacco.  Unfortunately, the younger a person begins smoking, the more likely they are to become addicted.  In 2007, more than 3 million American adolescents (aged 12–17) reported using a tobacco product in the past 30 days. In that same year it was found that nearly 60 percent of new smokers were under the age of 18 when they first smoked a cigarette. Of smokers under 18, more than 6 million will likely die prematurely from a smoking-related disease.  This all spells bad news for young smokers! 
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 evargas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: when a women uses steroids, why does their body begin to look like a guys body?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: because anabolic steroids are derived from the male sex hormone testosterone. and the sudden increase in testosterone (or its precursors) confuses the hormonal system in the female body.

thanks for a great question.
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 peguinlover99 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Can tabacco chewing give you gum cancer? How easily?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Both chewing and smoking tobacco can negatively affect your body. It's hard to say which will affect your body more, because so much has to do with each person's biology and the amount they smoke or chew. But we do know the more someone uses tobacco (in any form) the greater the effects can be on their body. Overall, chewing tobacco can cause damage to gum tissue and even loss of teeth. It also reduces a person's ability to taste and smell. Most importantly, smokeless tobacco contains cancer causing-chemicals that can cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. This can even happen in very young users who chew tobacco. In fact, most people who develop these cancers used to chew tobacco. Inhaling cigarette smoke pulls more than 4,000 chemicals into a person's lungs. The most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are tar and carbon monoxide. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems; smokers are at high risk for heart disease.

Whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain and increasing their chances of becoming addicted. Once addicted, it is very difficult to quit, in spite of the severe health consequences.

For more information on smoking or tobacco please go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco


Moderator Icon  Do you know someone who wanted a buzz and ended up in the ER? Alcoholic energy drinks are causing many underage drinkers to overdose on alcohol.
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 nighthawk - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: How long does the marijuana high last

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: The effects of smoked marijuana can last from 1 to 3 hours. If marijuana is consumed in foods or beverages, the effects appear later—usually in 30 minutes to 1 hour—but can last up to 4 hours. Smoking marijuana delivers significantly more THC into the bloodstream than eating or drinking the drug.

thanks for your question.
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 armstrong - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: How many pain killers can you take at one time without killing yourself? (I take two or three at a time since my pain gets really bad.)

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It depends on how biologically tolerant your body and brain is to the molecule in the pain killer, and this can differ between people, and can even change within a person depending on how long they've been taking the pills.  I'm worried about your increased use, and I strongly suggest you talk about this with your doctor. If you're taking more than the recommended or prescribed dose, you may also be risking some physiological damage. Certain painkillers especially lose their effectiveness as their body gets used to them.  As people keep taking more and more, they become at extreme risk of getting hooked on them.
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 alexis - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is it bad to drink when you are pregnant?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
What is Rohypnol?
The correct answer is: C. A date rape drug. It is a kind of drug called a benzodiazepine that is used as a “date rape” drug. If it is dropped into your drink you might be awake but will not remember anything, and you could be helpless against a sexual attack. You should always be careful when out with people you do not trust or know well.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html
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 563253 - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what does alchahol do to your brain?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. In the short-term, such as during a night of drinking, alcohol can do the following:

1. Frontal lobes - Alcohol turns off the frontal lobes, which are important for making good decisions and controlling our urges to do things that could ultimately be very bad for us. This increases the odds of getting into fights, getting injured, and taking dangerous risks.
2. Hippocampus - Alcohol suppresses the hippocampus, which is the brain area that makes our  memories. As a result, many people wake up the next day after drinking and have trouble remembering things that they did the night before.
3. Amygdala - The amygdala is in charge of warning us when we are in danger by making us feel afraid or anxious. Alcohol suppresses the amygdala, which makes it easier for us to do thing that normally would make us feel anxious or afraid. This increases the chances we will get hurt or do things we will regret.
4. Cerebellum - The cerebellum plays a big role in balance and walking. Alcohol impairs these abilities.
5. Brain stem - The brain stem contains areas important for keeping us alive. If these areas are shut off, such as by high levels of alcohol consumption (i.e., alcohol poisoning) we can die.

Alcohol also has long-term effects on the brain, particularly during the teen years. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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 jasonj - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: Why doesn't Obama block or shut down stores that sell Marijuana, Cocaine, Alcohol etc. Is it because he is trying not to take people out of their job or that he just doesn't want to

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Interesting question.  There are no stores that sell cocaine since it is illegal (except for a few select medical procedures in which it is used as a local anesthetic to block pain signals), and alcohol as you know is legal for adults even though it has many devastating effects on the public's health.  Some states have passed medical marijuana laws, although the Federal government still considers marijuana illegal because it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration which is responsible for approving all medication used in this country. So the question of how much the Federal government will interfere with what States are doing is the one that the Federal Government is wrestling with.  Unfortunately I don't have an easy answer for you.  What the Obama administration has said quite clearly is that legalizing marijuana is a non-starter. 
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 JAlicea - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How can you advise someone to stop using the drugs without offending them or getting them upset?

Expert Icon Lori Ducharme: Hi J -- great question.  It can be hard to know the right things to say to people who are caught up in drug abuse, especially when they relationships you value.  So, first, it's important to be a good friend and listener -- be someone your friend can trust for help when they need it.  One way to not upset them is to try and stick to facts rather than making value judgments.  We have a great website made just for teens (lots of information and not preachy) that can help you get factual information about drugs, their effects on the brain, and where to get treatment when your friend is ready to receive it.  Check it out at:  www.teens.drugabuse.gov.  Thanks for your question and I hope this is helpful!
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 meowman - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: does extacy make you black out when you drink a lot too?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Just drinking a lot of fluids could actually kill you too.
In addition to any acute toxicity of having ecstasy on board you should remember that ingesting more water than you need can increase your total blood volume. And since your blood volume exists within a closed circulatory system, you may be suddently increase your blood volume putting an extra burden on your heart and blood vessels.
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 ziana - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why do drugs make people aggressive?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: The drug most consistently linked to increased aggression, both in the real world, and in controlled laboratory studies, is alcohol.  Other substances not nearly so.  Alcohol is thought to increase aggression by impairing the brake pedals of the brain (like the frontal cortex) that stop us from doing rash or sudden things.
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 p3nqu1n-182 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: why would kids commit suicide while having alchohol

Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi p3nqu1n-182: Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.  We don't know everything we need to know about what causes suicide, but we do know that between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides.  There are probably different reasons for why so there are so many alcohol-related suicides.  For example, we know that while people commonly drink alcohol because they think it will make them  feel good, alcohol is actually a depressant.  Also, we know that many times, suicides are impulsive acts and alcohol and other drugs can make people less inhibited and more impulsive.  Finally, some kids who drink alcohol might actually be drinking because they already feel depressed and hopeless; but using alcohol or drugs or is not a good response to a bad situation.  We have good treatments for depression and other problems, including medication and talking to a therapist; these treatments have been shown to reduce suicide attempts. Therapy can help someone consider a different action when thoughts of self-harm arise.  If a kid is feeling depressed or suicidal, it's important to talk to a trusted adult and get help from a professional as soon as possible.

If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For more information on suicide prevention, check out http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml .
Moderator Icon  Joining us now is Dr. Lori Ducharme, a NIDA sociologist whose expertise is in the management and quality of addiction treatment services, including figuring out ways to get counselors and programs to increase their use of science-based treatment practices. She was born in the north (Massachusetts), spent years working in the south (Georgia), and finds Washington, DC to be an interesting cultural middle ground. Lori is an avid photographer, and when she’s not at work, she probably has a camera in her hand. Her favorite subjects are cities (Paris!), baseball (pitchers!), and zoo animals (pandas!).
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 14442481 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what cources you take to become an scientists?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Einstein HS, Maryland!!  We're neighbors.  This is a great question.  The courses you need to take to be a scientist (PhD), are varied depending on the discipline.  For example,  I went to college for 4 years, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. After I graduated, I worked for a few years, then decided to go back to school to get a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology. That degree took me another 4 years, but the timeframe for a PhD depends on the program and your area (it can take anywhere from 4-7 years). Most people who earn a PhD go through another training step, called a post-doctoral fellowship, or 'post-doc' for short.  I did one at the National Institutes of Health, and it was about 4 years more.  So, after high school, you can see that becoming a highly trained scientist takes time and dedication.  It's totally worth it--I get to be an expert who talks to junior high and high school students across the country.  How cool is that?!

Anyway, to answer your question more specifically, you'll need take courses, such as:
biology
chemistry
physics
math
history
evolution
genetics and epigenetics
molecular biology
psychology
anatomy and physiology
and, consider taking a few classes in speech and communications.  It's very important to be able to convey your scientific ideas to your colleagues in a way that many people can understand them. 
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 cthompson - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: About how long does it take to quit and recover from using drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: It depends on what they are addicted to. If marijuana users quit, it's often in their twenties after starting in their teens (so 10+ years to get around to quitting). Older age and marriage are predictive of quitting. But plenty of people remain addicted or frequent users of marijuana into older adulthood. Very few seek formal treatment. Stimulant and heroin users quit later and often heroin users remain on methadone (a treatment medication) or go back to using heroin. It can be a lifelong battle. 

Technically, it takes only one day to quit cold turkey, but fixing all the damage to relationships, employment history, and educational history can take a very long time and in some cases be insurmountable.

Some people remain in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) type groups their entire lives or cycle through patterns of recovery and relapse.

Most people who quit drugs do it without formal treatment but these people usually have less severe and shorter use histories.
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 Cat lover!:) - Sigourney Community School District, Iowa: Does sniffing a marker get you high?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: 'Sniffing' permanent markers can be dangerous. The chemicals in these markers are considered 'inhalants.' Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication---like being drunk. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, nearly all solvents and gases produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. Irreversible effects can be hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). The sad thing about inhalants is that the 'high' does not last very long but the side effects can last forever.
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 rbartlett - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: As a health teacher, what curriculums would you suggest for the middle school aged student when talking to them about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Thanks so much for asking! We have a special section on our Web site for middle school and other teachers---just click on http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html. We are especially proud of the Brain Power curriculum and the Mind Over Matter series starring 'Sara Bellum' which targets this age group. Please note you can order these materials free of charge from NIDA---the Web site will show you how. While we of course want to educate this age group about drugs, we also want to stress the importance of keeping the brain healthy. They will need it!
Moderator Icon  Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
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 pdunham - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what makes nicotine so addictive?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????how many ? marks are in this ?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: DOPAMINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Research shows that nicotine increases levels of dopamine in the 'pleasure centers' of the brain.  Overstimulation of dopamine neurons in these areas can change the brain over time in ways where higher and higher levels of nicotine are needed to feel the same effects they felt when they first began smoking....needing more and more of the drug to feel the same effects is one of the hallmark signs of developing addiction.
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 Thisman12 - Rockville HS, Maryland: Can swallowing a gallon of nicotine kill you ?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Less than a drop of nicotine will kill you on the spot.  It is one of the most toxic substances known!  For more information, see: http://drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/consequences.html.
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 p3nqu1n-182 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: I have never been exposed to drugs or pressured into to it. I am now 15, so does that mean it's over? all this long awaited peer-pressure help speeches and talked i get from teachers and parents was for nothing...I am never going to do drugs now right?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: It's great that you haven't been exposed to drugs or pressured to use drugs.  It sounds like you have made up your mind that using drugs is not for you, but it is a good idea to continue knowing what to do should you get into a situation where drugs and alcohol are being used--especially as you continue on in high school and then transition to college. 

Here are some websites that may be of interest to you:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
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 A.J. - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how many teens smoke

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: A shout out to North Ridgeville Middle School! Terrific question! The good news: according to NIDA’s Monitoring the Future study, smoking is at historically low levels among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders. The bad news: the decline in youth smoking appears to be leveling off. In 2010, rates for smoking in the past month were reported as 19.2 percent for 12th graders, 13.6 percent for 10th graders, and 7.1 percent for 8th graders.
Here's a link to the web site where you can find data for the whole survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html
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 eaglefootball - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: how do drugs mess with your body?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  We have some great research to answer this. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
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 40303826 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the alcohol level that you are not allowed to drive?

Expert Icon Aaron White: That depends on how old you are. In state in the US prohibits people under 21 from drinking at all, as well as driving after drinking any amount of alcohol at all. People 21 and older are allowed to drive legally with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) up to 0.08%, consistent with having a few drinks in an hour.

To learn more about how much alcohol is in a typical drink, check this out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/WhatCountsDrink/WhatsAstandardDrink.asp
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 awooten - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: How long does it take to get THC out of your system?

Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: That depends on a few things like how much the drug is used.  If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to remove the drug from your body, possibly more than 30 days.
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 crisi96 - Rockville HS, Maryland: does marijuana slow you down in speed

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hi Rockville!  If you mean does marijuana slow you in speed of cognitive processing and memory, there is evidence that it does affect these processes.  It also has been shown that with respect to driving, people may think they are driving more slowly, but drivers who are high are much more likely to have accidents. For more information on marijuana please visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
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 spunky12 - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: Can you hurt your body by taking aderol?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Adderall is a stimulant often prescribed for ADHD. It can be very helpful for kids who have been diagnosed with attention issues in school. Because it is a stimulant, it can sometimes cause a 'buzz' and some kids think it can make you alert or get you 'high.' However, like all prescription medications, you should only take Adderall if a doctor prescribes it for you. Only a doctor knows how much your body can tolerate and what is safe for you. Thanks for asking such a smart question!
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 Hope - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: Y is it that when i took perscription drugs i was able to quit them? by all rights i should have been addicted to them b/c i took them for two years b4 i stopped. If i did something different i would like to help my friends who suffer from this too.

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hello, Hope.  You are lucky. You were a regular drug user who did not get addicted and could stop using.

The problem is that a certain portion of regular users do get addicted.  Scientists are still trying to discover what it is about someone's genetics or personality that puts them at biological risk to lose control.
Moderator Icon  This year we have experts on mental health waiting for your questions about why teens are special---and why they sometimes have special problems.
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 laumobe - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: If a relative smokes or does drugs, would you, genetically, feel the effects of their actions?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I'm not sure I understand your question, but let me give this a try.  Drugs (even cigarettes or alcohol), can damage the fetus. Drugs act on the brain, and a fetus is at a stage where the brain is very active in its development. Drugs of abuse can have immediate effects that can last throughout the child's life.  Not only that, but recent research in animals has shown that if you take drugs while pregnant, not only can you damage the child, you can also damage your grandchildren--the children from the child who was exposed during pregnancy.  That's right--drugs can act on the reproductive system (through changing DNA in sperm and eggs) in ways that can be transmitted across generations.

Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
 
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 yeah - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: what motivates people to abuse drugs?

Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Very good question. Scientific research reveals that drug abuse/addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.  When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, the essence of addiction. Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things. The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure, with dopamine carrying the message. Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This chemical flooding of the brain changes it, creating an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
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 bsamaniego - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How are pain killers drugs?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Sugarland...what a great name!Pain killers are typically opiate-based medications (opiates contain opium or one or more of its natural or synthetic derivatives).  They are effective in reducing pain but they can be addictive is misused.
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 scott.18 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: how much would a teenager have to drink to become addicted

Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
  • Craving - a strong need to drink
  • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
  • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
  • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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 big papi 2 - Einstein High School, Maryland: How do drugs affect a user physiologically and psychologically?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Depends on the drug--they all work a little differently, although there are some common effects, especially in the brain.  Nearly all drugs of abuse affect a brain chemical called dopamine, which is involved in pleasure and reward.  Drugs increase dopamine, which makes people feel good and want to take the drug again and again.  But over time the effect start to fade, and the drug user needs more of the drug just to feel anything.  Also, natural rewards (chocolate, hanging out with friends) become less important as the drug starts taking over and becoming the priority.  Other brain systems are also affected by all drugs--for example, parts of the brain involved in memory.  As a result all sorts of memories associated with the drug--friends you used with; places you took the drug--can become powerful triggers of urges to use the drug, making it hard to quit.  Some drugs (e.g., alcohol) affect brain development, which is still going on in your teens; some affect the lungs (e.g., tobacco, marijuana).  There is almost no part of the body or brain that is not in some way affected by some drug. 
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 mrosario - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: which state has the most reported drug users?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to everyone at Golder Prep! Interesting question--thanks for asking! Depends on the substance...
A recent report developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provided valuable insight to state public health authorities and service providers on the scope of behavioral health issues affecting their states. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than half the current illicit drug use rate of Alaska (5.3-percent versus 13.5-percent) yet Iowa also was among the top 10 states with the highest levels of people age 12 and older currently participating in binge drinking (28.6 percent). Want to read more about it? The full report is available online at http://store.samhsa.gov/product/State-Estimates-of-Substance-Use-and-Mental-Disorders-from-the-2008-2009-National-Survey-on-Drug-Use-and-Health-NSDUH-/SMA11-4641.


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 40303826 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the alcohol level in a can of beer and a pint of liqour?

Expert Icon Aaron White: A typical beer contains 5% alcohol. A typical liquor contains 40% alcohol. A 12 ounce serving of beer and a 1.5 ounce serving of liquor contains the same total amount of alcohol (12 oz X 0.05 = 0.6 oz and 1.5 X 0.40 = 0.6 oz)

To learn more about how much alcohol is in a variety of drinks, check this out:
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/WhatCountsDrink/WhatsAstandardDrink.asp
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 27california - north carroll middle, Maryland: How many people die at a young age because of drugs?

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Good question 27california, but kind of a hard one to answer. The use of drugs can be associated with dying in various ways. Deaths related to drugs can be due to overdose, suicide, homicide, accidents, and infection or other chronic illness. The Centers for Disease Control reports that in 2008 that there were more than 36,000 deaths due to drug overdose (both intentional and unintentional). Additionally, about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
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 hi - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: what is 2cb? what happens on that drug?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: 2C-B is a synthetic psychedelic popular inthe 80s as an alternative to Ecstasy. Today, it is an illegal, schedule I drug. 

The human data on 2CB suggest it is a psychoactive substance capable of producing an intoxication with considerable euphoria and sensory enhancement which lasts for 6 to 8 hours. Higher doses have been reported to produce intense and frightening hallucinations.

not worth a try...
stay cool.
Moderator Icon  How many drinks does it take to reach the limit considered “intoxicated” by the legal system? Well, kids reach the legal drinking limit with fewer drinks than adults. Girls age 9 to 17 reach this limit with about 3 drinks. Boys ages 14 to 15 reach this limit with about 4 drinks, and boys ages 16 to 17 reach this limit with about 5 drinks. Of course all alcohol drinking by kids is illegal.
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 pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: Inniyyah- Kenmore Middles School Is huffing and inhaling becoming popular again.

Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, pdoug , I sure hope not! The effects of huffing are not pretty, ranging from hearing loss to heart irregularities to damaging your brain's white matter leading to problems with your spinal cord.  Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. In 2010, the Monitoring the Future Study estimated 8% of 8th graders, 5.7% of 10th graders, and 3.6% of 12th graders reported abusing inhalants in the past year. In recent years, we haven't seen an increase of huffing/inhaling, in fact use has been going in the other direction.  Learn more about inhalants and their effects at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php .
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 megmarie - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: When can you start to see changes in appearance from people who use drugs?

Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Tough to answer specifically.  Changes typically occur in one's behavior usually before their physical appearance changes.  Also, this is a pretty individual thing...that is, not everyone shows the same changes at the same time.  Some people can hide their use, whereas with others, it is immediately apparent. For more information check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov

Hope this helps.
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 fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Can you get addicted to prescription medicine?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Abuse of prescription medications like OxyContin is a big problem, not only for adults, but also for teens. In fact, in 2010, 1 out of 20 10th and 12th grade students have used OxyContin for non-medical reasons in the past year. Using these drugs for reasons, other than a doctor prescribes, can lead to bad consequences. For example, misuse or abuse of OxyContin can lead to drug addiction, overdose and death (almost 15,000 unintentional opioid overdose deaths total in the U.S. in 2008) -- not good!!  Need more information about prescription drugs?  Click on: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
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 soccer., - north carroll middle, Maryland: what percentage of people died from drunk driving in the U.S.A?

Expert Icon Aaron White: In 2009, approximately 11,000 people died in alcohol-related car crashes. In fact, statistically, one person is injured in an alcohol related car crash every minute in the United States. To learn more about alcohol-related car crashes and injuries, check this out:

http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/?s_cid=vitalsigns-092-bb
http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/pdf/2011-10-vitalsigns.pdf 

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 bulldogsforever - north carroll middle, Maryland: what percent of 8th graders used alcohol this year?

Expert Icon Aaron White: In 2010, 14% of 8th graders consumed alcohol in a typical month. That's about 1 in 7, and means that 6 out of 7 students in 8th did not drink.
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 Kelso C - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: Can a beer a day cause alcohol poison over 10 years?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Very unlikely. Your liver gets rid of one serving of alcohol, like a can of beer, in about 1.5 hours. Alcohol poisoning is caused when your body builds up a very high level of alcohol. Alcohol poisoning occurs from a single episode of drinking way too much. You cannot get alcohol poisoning from drinking a little bit over a long time. 

However, it is important to know that drinking alcohol during the teen years, presumably even just a serving per day, seriously increases the chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life.
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 A. R. - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Can drugs actually be helpful at times? If so would patients become addicted to the drugs?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, drugs can be good or bad, depending on how they're used. 

Drugs that are used to treat a diagnosed medical condition, even drugs that can be potentially addictive, can be very helpful and sometimes necessary, and should not lead to addiction as long as they are taken under the care of a physician and in the amounts that are prescribed. Also, over the counter drugs are not addictive as long as they are taken for the condition they were meant for, and in the dosages described on the container. 
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 Krazy Panda - The Blake School, Minnesota: By using drugs to feel better about oneself make you an addict or even an abuser?

Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hello Minnesota!  I went to Hopkins high!  You're technically a drug abuser once you start using drugs so much you start neglecting important things like schoolwork, and start blowing off people who you used to care about.  Once you can't stop yourself from seeking out and using drugs, and lose interest in everything else that used to give you a lot of pleasure, then you're an 'addict.' Being an abuser or addict really doesn't have anything to do with why you're using drugs.  Abuse and addiction are more about the CONSEQUENCES of drug use getting to be really bad.
Moderator Icon  Of the 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse, 27.1% involved nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, 21.2% involved illicit drugs, and 14.3% involved alcohol, in combination with other drugs.
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 tskow - Brophy College Preparatory, Arizona: I have heard that prescription drugs are less dangerous than street drugs. Is there any truth to that?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: This is not true at all. Many people mistakenly think that since prescriptions are provided by a doctor, they are safe, but prescription drug misuse (using them in ways or amounts other than prescribed) can be very dangerous, and can lead to addiction, overdose, death as well as other negative outcomes.  Please remember, that prescription meds are powerful drugs and should only be used under the supervision and as directed by your doctor.  Want to know more about prescription meds and what teens are thinking about them? Go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov or www.Gscholastic.com/headsup
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 AdamsFootball29 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Is weed addictive

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Yes--despite what some people might tell you, marijuana can be addictive. Approximately 9 percent, or about 1 in 11, of those who use marijuana at least once will become addicted. This rate increases to 16 percent, or about 1 in 6, if you start in your teens, and goes up to 25-50 percent among daily users. Moreover, among young people in drug abuse treatment, marijuana accounts for the largest percentage of admissions: 61 percent of those under age 15 and 56 percent of those 15-19.
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 jjean - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: i had a friend who got drunk and killed himself why did he do that

Expert Icon Aaron White: Such a great question. Also a tough one to answer. Sometimes, people kill themselves when they're drunk because the alcohol makes it hard for them to stop themselves from going through with the act. Sometimes people try to kill themselves with other drugs, such as prescription drugs, and they also happen to be drinking. Alcohol can increase the chances that the drugs will kill the person. Sometimes people who kill themselves were drinking to try to numb the emotional pain and the alcohol did not play a direct role. It was just another symptom of the problem. It is also important to know that drinking a lot can make depression much worse. So when people who are depressed use alcohol to try to medicate their depression, they can end up making it much much worse. 

You can learn more about depression in kids and teens here:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/depression-in-children-and-adolescents.shtml
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 sarrah - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is oxycotton used to still treat pain

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: OxyContin is a brand name for oxycodone, a powerful opioid analgesic.  It is still used for treating moderate to severe pain. Some of the formulations have been changed to reduce the abuse liability. 
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 AdnanS - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: What are mushrooms???

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hello Texas! Mushrooms or 'shrooms' generally refer to psilocybin, sometimes called 'magic mushrooms.' Only there is nothing really magic about them--they are just another drug that causes hallucinations.  Psilocybin is a plant with active compounds that have LSD-like properties and produce 'mind-bending' reactions, altered motor reflexes, behavior, and perception. The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose. Long-term effects such as flashbacks, risk of psychiatric illness, impaired memory, and tolerance have been described in case reports.
PollI have been to parties where parents serve alcohol to kids.
31% - Yes
53% - No
15% - Maybe
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 KennethM - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: When you pop pills why you dont remember what happen the next day?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: What pills are you popping?  I'd be sure to stay away from them if they make you forget things.  Some drugs can produce memory impairment.  For a list of commonly abused drugs and their consequences, go to www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.
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 Tinkerbell97 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: if most of your family smokes, what is the probability that you will end up smoking?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I am a geneticist, so I really like this type of question!! All diseases have some heritable component (this means that you can inherit them from parents), but how much you inherit can vary. Here's an example. Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic defect that, if passed on, causes a person's offspring (their child) to be affected. That means that Huntington's is 100% genetic. Inheritance, in the form of genes, plays a large role in drug addiction also.  In fact, research shows that drug addiction is about 50% heritable. BUT.....while genes play a big role, they are only part of the picture. Other factors, like having friends who don't use drugs, or being involved in sports and other recreational activities, also affect your risk of trying drugs and of becoming addicted to them. Researchers are trying to find the genes that make you vulnerable or resistant to addiction, in order to find ways to improve treatment and prevention approaches. Want more information on genes, addiction and teens? Check out: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
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 druggsss - Einstein High School, Maryland: Is your body affected by being drunk only a few times?

Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, it is. You experience the effects of alcohol each time you drink. 

With just a little alcohol in your system, you can experience:
Impaired balance and muscle coordination, which will make it more difficult to walk and drive a car.

As you drink more and you have more alcohol in your bloodstream, you can experience:
Impaired judgment and difficulty making good choices
Difficulty controling urges, making it more likely that you will do something dangerous
Impaired memory - you can wake up the next day not be able to remember what you did while you were drinking. 

Still more alcohol can cause potentially fatal side effects, including:
Difficulty breathing
Low heart rate
Loss of consciousness

Research shows that the odds of becoming an alcoholic sometime in life are higher when people drink as teenagers.
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 adamn - Johnson Middle School, California: is pain killers good or bad?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: They are good to treat pain when prescribed by a health care professional, but very bad when abused. 
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 andrea - Einstein High School, Maryland: Can you die of an overdose ?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Absolutely.  The term 'overdose' typically is used to describe a situation where a person has a severe negative reaction to taking a drug of abuse.  Death is one such negative reaction.  A very severe one. 
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 leapfrog33 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Can drugs kill sperm cells and vaginal areas?

Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Drugs can definitely affect sperm cells and the uterus. They can reduce fertility and affect hormones that are important for reproduction, and certainly affect the ability of sperm to travel, but I don't remember reading that they actually kill the cells. Drugs can still disrupt normal function even if cells aren't killed. Drugs never have one effect, in almost all cases they affect normal function as well. It is important to consider all effects when making an informed decision about using drugs or not. Thanks for your question!
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 madison - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Does weed make your grades go down?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: Absolutely. Marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning with a 'dimmed-down' brain most or all of the time. Compared with their peers who don't smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. Also, longtime marijuana users themselves report being less satisfied with their lives, experiencing memory and relationship problems, poorer mental and physical health, lower salaries, and less career success. There is all sorts of 'good to know' stuff at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/001.php#q03
Moderator Icon  Looking for a drug treatment program? Different types of treatments are available to meet your specific needs. You can get referrals to treatment programs by calling 1-800-662-HELP (a confidential hotline), or by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on line at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
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 SMYERS 407 - New Horizons, Tennessee: WHAT ARE SOME EFFECTS OF SMOKING K2?

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hello smyers

Emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. So, i wouldn't be surprised if some deaths were linked to K2 use.

Try not to touch the stuff..

cheers
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 785773 - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: Do perscription drugs kill faster then ones you get off the street?

Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Prescription pain killers can cause addiction and death if they are used inappropriately, for example without a prescription or in quantities not ordered by a doctor. So can some street drugs. Whether one would kill a person faster than the other depends on which specific drugs the person takes, how much, and his or her specific personal vulnerabilities.
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 Dorax - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: what's the best way to keep kids from smoking, drinking alcohol or abusing prescription and other drugs?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hello - there are a number of drug abuse prevention programs that work to reduce risk for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, including prescription drugs.  Many of these prevention programs can be run in schools, and other places in communities. 
This booklet has more information on drug abuse prevention: http://drugabuse.gov/pdf/prevention/redbook.pdf
Moderator Icon  When you go college you will experience a lot of changes in your life. Even though you are moving on to new and exciting things it can be stressful. It is important to continue to take care of yourself and if you are receiving treatment now to find out where and how to continue treatment when you get to college. The college counseling office is a good place to start, or check with an advisor. You can call them and arrange to visit them before you start school.
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 lraygoza - Johnson Middle School, California: Why do people smoke ? Do any of you smoke

Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi,
what a great question!!
People smoke because it is one of the most efficient ways (short of injecting) of delivering a psychoactive drug into the brain.
I don't know if any of those seating around me currently smoke. I know that one of them chews on nicotine lozanges to manage his nicotine urges, and I know that I was a heavy smoker when i was young, I was extremely lucky though because I woke up one day (i was about 19 years old) and decided to quit smoking right there and then. That decision probably saved my life!!

stay smart, stay clean.
 
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 jessicaraeann - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: is it possible to get addicted to sodas

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Some sodas have caffeine, others have sugar, and many have both.  A component of addiction is that the person affected has compulsive behaviors that make it difficult for them to moderate intake of common substances, like food and soda.  In this respect, sodas can be addictive.
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 Rachel cuz - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: has anyone ever died from smoking weed?

Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Rachel!  Thanks for suggesting this interesting question. The answer is yes. Smoking weed affects your judgment and impairs your coordination--take an example of driving while being impaired by weed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s study: in 2009, among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit --including marijuana, prescription, or over-the-counter), an increase from 13 percent in 2005. But even if you don't die, smoking marijuana can have serious consequences, from increased heart rate to problems with memory.  Here is a link to our teen site thatprovides the latest information on marijuana abuse: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php#what_is_it Stay safe!
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 58494 - Johnson Middle School, California: can drug make you stupitd

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Johnson Middle School, CA!  Thanks for your question.  Drugs can definitely make you stupid!  Here's an example: marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.
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 Jim Bob N - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Do steroids eventually killl you over time?

Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Jim Bob. This is a tough question because we don't really have the answer yet. Some investigators believe that steroids cause cancer, but there is actually little proof of this. Steroids can clearly mess up your development, especially when used during the teen years when sexual maturation is taking place. Also, you know that aggression is a major issue with steroid use - this can result in risky behavior that could endanger you. But if I had to give an answer right now, I think most people would say that steroids don't directly kill you over time, but why risk your life if all the answers aren't in yet? 
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 mina17 - International High School , : Is it a bad thing if I'm not into taking drugs?

Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Not at all! It's a great thing you are not taking drugs.  Most teens do not take drugs. Check out these websites for more information:
http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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 Svelkova - Bulgaria: What can be done for a person to prevent the use of drugs?

Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Really good question. Happy you realize that things can be done to prevent drug use.  There are science-backed programs that prevent drug use and addiction.  These programs have been designed based on what we know has worked. Successful prevention programs increase factors that protect people from drug abuse or reduce the risk for it in families, schools, and communities. Research has shown that science-based programs, such as those described in NIDA's Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, can significantly reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. For more information on preventing drug use and abuse, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/prevention/index.html.  Also, deciding to be your own person and resist the influence of peers who are experimenting with drugs or doing other risky behaviors is a good prevention tactic.
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 SSherin - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: Is there a cancer caused by drugs?

Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Yup -- Smoking is most certainly linked with cancer.  Here are some interesting statistics on smoking and cancer:

In the U.S. lung cancer is the 2nd most common type of cancer,  accounting for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined
In the U.S. about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking
Smokers are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer
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 39669 - Johnson Middle School, California: How does drugs affect your brain and body?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  We  have some great research to support the answers to your questions. Drugs affect the brain and body. Even occasional or experimental drug use can be dangerous, since drugs can have unexpected adverse health effects even with one use. And drugs affect your ability to exert good judgment--making it more likely that you might engage in risky behaviors that can have serious consequences, such as driving while intoxicated. Prolonged drug abuse can cause all sorts of medical problems--like lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction. When someone is addicted to drugs, they become the most important thing in that person's life, causing them major problems at school, home, and work.
Moderator Icon  In 2009, there were nearly 2.1 million Emergency Department visits nationwide involving drug abuse.
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 SergeantTT - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: How severe can 2nd hand smoke be?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: How's this for an answer: More than 50,000 people die every year as a result of second hand smoke. There is lots of good info on nicotine on this link: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/tobacco.html
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 idontdodrugs - Institute of Notre Dame, Maryland: Where is marijuana legal?

Expert Icon Susan Weiss: It is not legal anywhere in this country.  Some states have passed medical marijuana laws, however, it is still classified as a Schedule I drug by the Federal government--meaning that it has a risk for abuse and no proven medical benefit.
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 pokealotofsmot - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: how bad is snorting heroine for the nose?

Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question!  Snorting any drug is bad --and not only for the nose!  Check out this image: 
Opiates Act on Many Places in the Brain and Nervous System
Opiates Act on Many Places in the Brain and Nervous System

Heroin abuse is associated with serious health conditions, including fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, and—particularly in users who inject the drug—infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, and liver or kidney disease. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health of the abuser as well as from heroin’s depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin often contains toxic contaminants or additives that can clog blood vessels leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain, causing permanent damage to vital organs.

So, I hope you see that heroin is not just bad for the nose.
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 Robby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What makes marijuana bad for you?

Expert Icon Carol Krause: All forms of marijuana are mind-altering (psychoactive). In other words, they change how the brain works. Marijuana contains more than 400 chemicals, including THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Since THC is the main active chemical in marijuana, the amount of THC in marijuana determines its strength or potency and therefore its effects. The THC content of marijuana has been increasing since the 1980s.
  •  

     In the short-term, marijuana can cause:
    • problems with learning and memory;
    • distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch);
    • diminished motor coordination; and
    • increased heart rate.
  • In the long term, marijuana can be addictive. Approximately 9 percent, or about 1 in 11, of those who use marijuana at least once will become addicted. This rate increases to 16 percent, or about 1 in 6, if you start in your teens, and goes up to 25-50 percent among daily users. Moreover, among young people in drug abuse treatment, marijuana accounts for the largest percentage of admissions: 61 percent of those under age 15 and 56 percent of those 15-19.

    In addition, marijuana is the most common illegal drug found in drivers who die in accidents (around 14 percent of drivers), often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.  

    And---marijuana is linked to school failure. Marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning with a 'dimmed-down' brain most or all of the time. Compared with their peers who don't smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school.

    Are those enough reasons why marijuana is not a good idea for teens? There is a lot more information here: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/index.php
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     IMS408 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Do drugs make people calm or make them worse.

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Most drugs of abuse can be classified as stimulants or depressants. Stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, wake people up, make them more active, speed up their heart rate, increase their blood pressure and other effects. Depressants, such as heroin, do the reverse. Both are dangerous. 

    For more information about stimulants and depressants, check out www.teens.drugabuse.gov 
    Why do celebrities go in and out of drug and alcohol rehab?
    The correct answer is: B. Addiction is a complex and chronic disease that requires people to engage in long-term treatment and make difficult and sweeping changes in their lives.

    http://drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/treatment.html
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     Malinich - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: How does Alcohol effect pregnancy?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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     big papi - Einstein High School, Maryland: what wrong about 21 shots in your bday?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That level of drinking is frequently deadly. In the last month, at least a half dozen college and high school students have died from alcohol poisoning. Their blood alcohol levels were on average around 0.35%, as compared to the legal limit of 0.08%. A healthy 140 pound female would reach that level after about 10-12 drinks in a two hour period. For a 160 pound male it would require about 13-15 drinks in a two hour period. Anyone who weighs less would require less alcohol. This is way way lower than 21 drinks!
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     mwhite - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: do you think that when teens see people smoking on tv or in magazines, they want to to start smoking?

    Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Great question.  There has been research showing that some teens (not all) can be influenced  by seeing people smoke in ads, or on tv, or in movies.  Some of these researchers have also tried to understand why this happens, including understanding what is happening in the brain when teens are exposed to media with people smoking.  For more information on smoking, click on: http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/.
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     pre calc - Northport High School, New York: Is drug addiction a mental disorder?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Absolutely--drugs change how the brain works--which is why it can be so difficult to quit.  Drugs change the way you respond to natural rewards--like chocolate, and surfing--they don't matter as much; drugs change what is important in your life--getting the drug and taking it becomes most important; they change how you think and how you feel.  For all these reasons, and because scientists have shown quite clearly that the brain is changed by exposure to abused drugs, addiction is definitely a mental disorder. 
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     Zombie Man! - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Can the THC be removed from marijuana?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello Zombie Man.  THC is the primary active compound in marijuana. It can be removed by extracting the drugs with organic solvents (with chemicals in a lab). We actually do this in our experiments where we study the effects of drugs in drug users to learn about what a drug does. In our studies, we use placebo marijuana (marijuana where the drug has been removed) as a control in our experiments. So it can be done! Thanks for asking.
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     annemarie.p - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Besides peer pressure, whyy do some people do drugs even though they know what happens to them?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Annemarie--great question, IMO really gets to the 'heart of the matter.' What could be a big reason for you (like peer pressure) may not be the main reason for someone else (an escape from a stressful lifestyle). People start using drugs for a variety of different reasons, but absolutely NONE are worth the consequences of substance use addiction. Here is a great series on our teen site that will give you information about various drugs of abuse.  If you have the facts, you will be better able to make healthy decisions about drug use and abuse: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/
    Moderator Icon  A 2009 study showed that 42% of high school students drank some amount of alcohol in the past month. Want to know more? Ask our experts from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
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     maddiec - Project Change Recovery High School, Wisconsin: Are people who struggle with depression and anxiety as well as other mental disorders more prone to addiction?

    Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi maddiec:  For many teens (and adults) depression or anxiety and drug use go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, folks who are depressed or anxious use drugs to make themselves feel better (commonly called 'self-medicating'). This is not a good approach to treating depression or anxiety, and the drug use often leads to more problems. If someone is depressed and they are thinking about using drugs, this is a great opportunity for both prevention and treatment (preventing drug use and treating depression). Using drugs when depressed will only make it harder to treat depression or anxiety. So, if someone is depressed or has an anxiety problem, best to seek professional help - we have many effective treatments for depression and anxiety in teens.

    Here is some general information about depression: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/.

    And here is some more information about anxiety: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

    Want to know more about Depression in Children and Teens? See: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/

    To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment a good place to start is the Web site of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. www.samhsa.gov.
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     dprovencal - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: what does meth do to you

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is a stimulant that has it main effects in the brain. The effects of meth on the brain can lead to memory loss, learning impairment, movement disorders, and addiction. Use of crystal meth can lead to cardiac (heart) and neurological damage. Behaviorally, meth can lead to aggression, violence, and psychotic behavior. For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html. Hope this is helpful.
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: When people are drunk why do they kill themselves?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Such a great question. Also a tough one to answer. Sometimes, people kill themselves when they're drunk because the alcohol makes it hard for them to stop themselves from going through with the act. Sometimes people try to kill themselves with other drugs, such as prescription drugs, and they also happen to be drinking. Alcohol can increase the chances that the drugs will kill the person. Sometimes people who kill themselves were drinking to try to numb the emotional pain and the alcohol did not play a direct role. It was just another symptom of the problem. It is also important to know that drinking a lot can make depression much worse. So when people who are depressed use alcohol to try to medicate their depression, they can end up making it much much worse.  
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     uniquek - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: what happens if you mix prescription drugs with alcohol?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: What happens?  You're likely to suffer a bad reaction, hurt or even off yourself! Combining alcohol with another central nervous system depressants like Xanax or painillers like Vicodin can slow your heartbeat and breathing dangerously low levels that and may lead to death. Mixing these drugs increases their potency and thus their effects significantly. There is no set formula for what will happen when a person uses both alcohol and a prescription medication. Each person is different, and the results can potentially be fatal! Stay safe!  To hear more about what teens are saying about prescription drugs and alcohol, click on NIDA's teen site - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
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     shampoo-lady - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many teens smoke and die a year

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, shampoo-lady, thanks for your question.  According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study, about 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 19% of high school seniors reported they were current smokers (in the past month).  It's hard to say how many teens die from smoking because the general consequences related to smoking as a teen are experienced more often in adulthood, but I can tell you that about 443,000 Americans die each year due to smoking.
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     IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How do you test the different drugs they have all over the world.

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi IMS. This is a good question, because there are thousands of different drugs in different parts of the world. I am on the Prohibited Drug List Committee of the World Anti-doping Agency and we face this question all the time. We can't test for all drugs all the time. We take into consideration what drugs were available and also do screens for drugs that look for a wide variety of drugs. If anything comes up positive, then we do a specific test to confirm the drug in question. We have really sensitive and specific equipment that do a good job of identifying potential drugs. There are many more therapeutic drugs than drugs of abuse, so this narrows the field down. Great question!
    Moderator Icon  Between 2001 and 2005, 480 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related suicides.
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     acynicalchicken - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: Can large amounts of serotonin lead to schizophrenia?

    Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi acynicalchicken: This is a good but complicated question:  We don't really know all of the causes of schizophrenia.  What we do know is that there are probably many contributing factors, including biological factors (including genetic factors, brain chemistry and functioning) and environmental influences, some that operate very early in life, that together lead to risk for schizophrenia.  Scientists think that an imbalance in the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain involving the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate, and possibly others, plays a role in schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters are substances that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. Current theories do not point to serotonin specifically, but scientists are learning more about brain chemistry and its link to schizophrenia.  The most commonly used antidepressant medications involve serotonin (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs), since the serotonin system is part of current theories of depression.  But taking SSRIs correctly, such as when they are prescribed for depression and/or anxiety, has not been found to lead to schizophrenia.

    for more information about shcizophrenia and possible causes....

    for more information about antidepressant treatments....
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     Me - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: I don't appreciate how you lump alcohol, marijuana, and heroine all together in one category. Drugs like heroine and cocaine are highly addictive and can have almost immediate negative effects. But is it not true that minimal drinking of alcohol can actually have positive effects?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: You make a good point.  When we typically say that drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine are highly addictive. We base this on the scientific evidence for the class of drugs and the effects that they have on the brain.  However, clearly there are individual differences and not all people who abuse drugs become addicted.  We do try to mention the multidimension aspects to addiction -- such as an individual's genetics, the environment in which he or she lives, the age someone starts using, the route of administration (the way the drug is taken), the frequency of use, etc.

    Recent reports suggest that low levels of alcohol consumption can have positive health effects in adults.
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     Dulles Middle - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: WaffleMan22- Dulles Middle School Do the effects of stimulants occur faster than the effects of inhallants

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: in general, inhaled drugs reach the brain much faster than swallowed drugs. so if you are talking about a stimulant pill, the answer is yes
    User Icon
     big_dawg30 - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: can mountain dew be a form of steroids?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi.
    intriguing question, i wonder why you ask.
    mountain dew is mountain dew
    steroids are steroids
    no overlap between the two whatsoever.

     
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     Peaches - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: 
    • Why do younger teens choose to drink then to do other illegal drugs?


    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to you Peaches! Access and parental supervision can play a role in if a younger teen decides to use alcohol, drugs or refuses to! No matter how old or young: drug use is associated with a variety of negative consequences, including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, poor judgment (which palces teens at risk for accidents, unsafe sex), poor school performance, etc. Here are two interesting facts:
    Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids – more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. People ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
    PollI know someone who started smoking and wishes he could quit.
    57% - Yes
    31% - No
    12% - Maybe
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     JasmineJ - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: what are some gate way drugs?

    Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hi there! Gateway drugs are drugs that teenagers might experiement with or use first, such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants.  The 'gateway drug' idea is that once someone uses one, they will be more likely to go on to use other drugs after that.  So, it's best not to start using any drugs.
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     dma - Johnson Middle School, California: How do drugs affect a user physiologically and psychologically?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Drugs of abuse are molecules that bind or cling to receptors in areas of the brain that signal reward or pleasure. Many of these drug molecules have a positive effect, like relieving pain, by interfering with the pain system of the brain, or can improve attention and focus for people whose brains aren't 'tuned' well. Drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, or other strong 'stimulants' can increase heart rate suddenly, though, putting the user at risk of heart attack or stroke. The other serious risk is ADDICTION, where someone who uses drugs for fun or to treat pain loses control over the drug, and can't keep himself or herself from doing anything to get the drug and use it. Over time, the brain can form powerful associations between things we see in the environment that lead to experiencing drugs and alcohol, and ultimately the high. This is especially true for nicotine in cigarettes or heroin. The body suffers too, as people stop taking care of themselves in other areas (like diet) as their lives become all about getting the next hit of drug or alcohol. Most people who regularly use drugs or alcohol can stop themselves at some point and walk away from it. However, depending on the drug, a fraction of people who use it repeatedly will ultimately lose control, and it will truly wreck their life- either permanently, or the drugs will leave people in a useless fog for many years, until they can get themselves together. This happened to some close relatives of mine. Not worth the risk, I say!
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     AdnanS - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: What is the difference between prescribed marijuana and illegal marijuana???

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: There is no difference--same plant, same risks. 

    What are those: 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users.  2) Impaired learning and memory--for someone still in school, it may take away your competitive edge, especially if you are using it regularly--the effects can last more than 24 hours after last use. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while they are high, they can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there.  This usually wears off when the drug is out of the system.  But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident.  5) And of course, its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis. 
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     krissykat23 - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: On day i went home with my dad's friend and he was drunk. I had no way of getting out. I didnt know what to do. i decided to stay in. What should i have done?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: You should have gotten out of the car and called your mom or dad.  You could have gotten killed.  Also, you should not let your friend's dad drive you again. This may put a strain on your friendship, but your life is more important, and if he is a good friend he will understand.
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     kRobinson - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if there was a kid at my school that smoked weed shoud we tell the teaxher or should we just let them go ahead and get high

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: This is a difficult question that many young people face. You do not want to be a 'snitch' but you worry about your friend's health. Also, if someone drives while high on weed, it could actually endanger the lives of other people. My best advice is to discuss this with the school counselor or someone you trust at school, at your place or worship or another trusted adult.  You can ask the adult not to bring your name into the discussion. It is especially important to say something if you feel your friend is changing because of weed or other drugs, including alcohol. He or she could be addicted and could be on a dangerous downhill path.
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     Z.Ferrer - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what could happen if you decided to combine drugs together and take it at one time?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Hard to say. It is a gamble. Some drug combinations can be very dangerous.
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     alex - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can you overdose on steriods

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Good question, Alex. Steroids can have negative or adverse effects and you can become addicted or dependent on steroids, but people don't really overdose on steroids. It doesn't affect your respiratory system to stop breathing and doesn't cause your heart to stop beating. But it can really affect the way in which your body functions. Thanks for asking!
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Richard Denisco is now here to answer your questions. Dr. Denisco practiced anesthesia and pain medicine for a number of years. During this time he saw the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse on a number of his patients. As his interest in the field grew, he volunteered for over 2 years at a local drug and alcohol treatment center which treated a number of young people. He then completed a Masters of Public Health degree to better understand the science behind the clinical treatments, and to better understand the effect of various diseases on the community. His spare time interests are water skiing and boating in the summer and show skiing and ski-mobiling in the winter.
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     Joelle - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: Who drinks more- men, women, or teens.

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Males tend to drink more than females during both the teen and college years and into adulthood.

    In terms of who drinks more, teens or adults, that one is a little trickier. Adults who drink do so more often (more days in a month) than teens who drink. However, when teens drink, they drink more heavily (more drinks in a given drinking night) than adults.

    When you add it all up, teens who drink have about as many drinks in a month as adults, but they pack those drinks into fewer nights.
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     Jasparticus - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Which is deadlier, cocaine or heroine?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: i would stay equidistant of both if i were you.
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     Oscar - Brophy College Preparatory, Arizona: How is paint thinner being used as a drug and how does it harm the body?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Paint thinner is classified as an inhalant, along with chemical vapors from liquids like paint thinner, gasoline, and glue. All inhalants are very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing inhalants may result in addiction and death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). 

    You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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     InsightWBLALC - Insight Program , Minnesota: How many ecstacy pills does it take to kill you?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: thanks for the question.
    lets do some numbers:

    The single amount of ecstasy that would kill 50% of people taking it (so called LD50) is approximately 10-20 mg/kg.
    A typical pill contains about 90 mg of ecstasy, so a 60 kg man would have to take 900 mg (or about 10 pills) all at once to have a 50% chance of dying of an ecstasy overdose.

    stay cool.
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     ratman & bobin - Sidney High School, Nebraska: can you get addicted to steroids?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Ratman and Bobin,
    The answer is yes, you can get addicted to steroids, just as you can get addicted to other drugs. If you would like to know more about steroids, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php. Thanks for the question.
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     bettis - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: how come when you are high you want to fight someone

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: The quick answer to this question is that many drugs can alter one's inhibitions making him or her more impulsive.  Some drugs have direct effects on some people to make them more aggressive, such as PCP.  And after long-term use, some drugs will make people more aggressive and induce aggressive behaviors. For more information on drug abuse check out:
    www.teens.drugabuse.gov
    Moderator Icon  According to a 2010 study, 13.8% of 8th graders drank alcohol in the past month.
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     finere - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: if a passenger knows that their driver is drunk than why do they get in the car with them? By getting in the car with a drunk driver to me is like saying good-bye to your life as you close the car door.

    Expert Icon Aaron White: We agree! There probably are lots of reasons why someone would get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. Sometimes, the drinking driver is the person's parent or maybe the parent of a friend they are getting a ride from. Sometimes it's a friend that they trust and they believe the friend when he/she says they are okay to drive. Sometimes the passenger also has been drinking and isn't making good choices. We are so glad you have the right attitude and will never ride with a drinking driver!
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     rbartlett - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: As a health teacher. What things do you feel are the most important to address with the middle school aged students to help them learn to make informed decisions about not using drugs?

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Thanks for this very good question.  It is important to make sure that youth receive information that is developmentally appropriate. It is important for youth to know that drug use is not the norm (everyone is NOT doing it). It is important for youth to know the effects of drugs on the brain and body and how drugs effect their decisions and behaviors.  It is important for youth to acquire skills to be able to make good healthy decisions about drug use and other risk behaviors (e.g., communication, decision making and drug refusal skills). 

    Following are some key principles for prevention programs in schools: Programs should focus on children’s social and academic skills, including enhancing peer relationships, self-control, coping, and drug-refusal skills. If possible, school-based prevention programs should be integrated into the school’s academic program, because school failure is strongly associated with drug abuse. Integrated programs strengthen students’ bonding to school and reduce their likelihood of dropping out. Other types of interventions include school-wide programs that affect the school environment as a whole. All of these activities can serve to strengthen protective factors against drug abuse. (See examples of school-based programs in Examples of Research-Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs.)

    For information on priniciples of prevention in Drug Abuse Prevention Programs, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/prevention/applying.html.  In addition, a fun curriculum for teachers to use with middle school students can be found here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/brain-power.  Other information for teachers generally may be found here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html


     
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     fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Is there a cure or way to get over alcohol poisoning?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a tricky question and the answer is yes and no. Yes, because there are things you can do to increase the odds of surviving an episode of alcohol poisoning. No, because once someone drinks enough to experience alcohol poisoning, there is no way to reverse that. You just have to wait for the liver to break the alcohol down and get rid of it.

    The absolute best thing to do in case of an alcohol poisoning is to call 911 and get them to a hospital as soon as possible so they can be watched and cared for while their bodies struggle to survive. Until then, make sure the person does not lie on their back. Often, someone poisoned by alcohol will throw up and keeping them sitting upright will help make sure they don't inhale and drown in their own vomit.
     
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     alex - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what if you failed a drug test but didnt do drugs?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: In almost all cases, a drug test has both a screening test and a specific confirmation test that is able to accurate identify the drug. If you had a test that was not confirmed, you should complain and ask that it be confirmed. For instance, a test that looks for amphetamines might show up positive if you took cold medication, but when confirmed, you can clearly see if methamphetamine or amphetamine is there. So you have the right to get an accurate test. There are other reasons that you can get a positive test, like if you come up positive for morphine, an opiate, but really you just ate a lot of pastries that contained poppy seeds. The level for opiate testing was raised in part for this reason, so it unusual now for this type of case. And it isn't really a false positive because poppy seeds do contain morphine. Also, if you were prescribed and took codeine for pain or for a cough, your body will produce morphine. The confirmation test will look for codeine and morphine. If you really didn't use the drug, ask to see the confirmation test results and think about what you ate or took that could be a problem. But usually, if a drug test is positive, the person used the drug.
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     sweetheart97 - Swanson Middle School, Virginia: Why do kids in public schools think that doing drugs is a good way to be cool?

    Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Great question.  I do not think that this type of thinking is limited to kids in public schools.  Also, most kids in school do not use drugs.  There are a number of reasons that a young person will decide to use drugs. Deciding to use drugs can have a lot of negative consequences including losing friends, not doing well in school, getting in trouble with the law, and others, too.  So it is best not to start; it is not cool.

    Here are some websites you may be interested in.
    http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
    http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/peer-into-your-path
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_hiv1.php
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     kcrowe - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is inhalants?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Inhalants are chemical vapors from liquids like paint, gasoline, and glue can be very dangerous. Your lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Along with your 'high,' sniffing glue may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). 

    You can get more information from our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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     jspud69 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: does mixing different types of chew give you more of a risk for mouth cancer??????????

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi there,
    Probably not...Smokeless tobacco use carries some of the same dangers as regular smoked tobacco use, like cancer, and mixing different types of smokeless will not likley change the outcome. In general, smokeless tobacco products can have as many 28 different cancer-causing agents in it, likely regardless of brand!! Use of smokeless tobacco products also increase a person's risk for cancer of the oral cavity, which can include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the floor and roof of the mouth.  It is also linked with oral leukoplakia (yucky white mouth lesions that can become cancerous), gum disease, and gum recession (when the gum pulls away from the teeth). Let's not forget the totally disgusting 'juice' that needs to be spit out! YUk :s 

    Need more information on smokeless tobacco products??  See http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/smokeless.html
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     cheerleader96 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Does drug abuse affect your driving skills?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Absolutely. For example, 14% of those in fatal car wrecks test positive for THC (the active chemical in marijuana).  Driving is a complicated activity requiring attention and split second reactions.  Drugs of abuse typically interfere with driving performance. 
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     bayrein - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: Why do they still make drugs if people get addicted and die from them?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Some drugs are manufactured because they are very helpful for treating pain and other medical problems, but they can cause addiction and death when misused. Oxycontin and other prescription opiates are examples. They are safe when taken with a doctor's prescription, but should never be taken otherwise.
    Other drugs are manufactured even though they have no medical uses, precisely because they cause addiction. Money is the motive. People addicted to drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine will pay a lot for them.
    Moderator Icon  Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky.
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     health6 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is the most popular drug in the United States today?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: 
    Hello New York! Here are the big three among teens:  alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Here is an overview of our annual survey on drug use among teens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
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     TheIronSquanto7 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Are drugs fun?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Rochester Adams HS, MI!  Thanks for your question.  People say they use drugs because they think it will be 'fun.'  In fact, drugs have a very clever way of hijacking your brain mechanisms to make you think they are pleasurable: they cause the brain to release a substance called dopamine. But these feelings are short-lived. Dopamine--one of many known brain neurotransmitters--is intimately involved in important aspects of brain function, which makes it a key player in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine is present in regions of the brain that control movement, emotion, thought, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. In fact, when you have a nice meal or listen to your favorite music, dopamine signals your brain that something important has happened that needs to be remembered--prompting you to repeat the behavior. Drugs can cause a much more powerful release of dopamine so that such natural pleasures can no longer compete, because they cannot produce the same 'high' that drug abusers remember and seek to repeat. Eventually, people become focused on obtaining and using drugs at every opportunity--although recreating the initial high becomes nearly impossible. Dopamine is also involved in other brain disorders that have nothing to do with drug abuse: the tremors and other symptoms that characterize Parkinson's disease, for example, are the direct result of the loss of neurons that make dopamine.

    Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drug is needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.

    I'd say drugs are definitely NOT fun.
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     littlenaphun - Johnson Middle School, California: Why would some people use drugs in the first place?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: There are a lot of different reasons.  Peer pressure is a big factor. Some people start because they are seeking thrills or are bored, others because they feel bad and think drugs will make them feel better. Given how difficult it can be to quit, the best way to not become addicted to drugs is to not try them in the first place. 

    For some more information of drug abuse prevention, check out  www.teens.drugabuse.gov
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     N Rivera - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How can you tell if someone is addicted to drugs?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Whether someone is addicted to a drug has a lot to do with how it affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to drugs to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without the drug and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to drugs tend to have the following issues:


    ·  Craving - a strong need to use drugs

    ·  Loss of control - not being able to stop doing the drug once you've begun

    ·  Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness (for example) after they stop using the drug

    ·  Tolerance - the need to use greater amounts of the drug in order to get 'high'

    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    Also, the earlier in life a person starts using drugs, the more likely they are to become addicted. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.


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     bunnygirl - Sidney High School, Nebraska: How do you know if someone is on drugs

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Thanks for your question.  Here are some tell-tale signs of abuse, particularly marijuana, but also signs of general abusing:

    If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might:
    • seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
    • seem silly and giggly for no reason;
    • have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
    • have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
    • When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
    You might see overall changes in his behavior. You might also look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends. In addition, changes in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. However, these signs may also indicate problems other than use of drugs.

    In addition, you might find:
    • signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers;
    • odor on clothes and in the bedroom;
    • use of incense and other deodorizers;
    • use of eye drops; and
    • clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use.
    Hope this helps.  For more information on marijuana, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
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     Kevin.Bui - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is the number one used drug?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: 
    Hello Texas! Drug use can vary by where you live and what is readily available.  According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the most commonly abused substance among teens is alcohol, followed by tobacco.  The most commonly abused illegal drug is marijuana.  The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Here is more top-line data from the last MTF survey: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html
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     alitaptap - Rockville HS, Maryland: I heard that if you don't smoke throughout your teenage life, you're least likely to smoke in adulthood, is this true in most cases?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hey there in Rockville.  Yes, the evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts smoking, the more likely he or she is to become addicted to nicotine (active drug in tobacco).  We also know that the same is true for most drugs...that is, the earlier drug use starts, the greater the chance of addiction.  So yes, if you can remain 'smoke-free' in your teens, you will probably remain so as an adult. Please see the following link for more information on nicotine: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html

    Great question!
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     mingenthron14 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: IS it true that using a vaporizer to smoke marijuana is much better for you than smoking marijuana out of a pipe? Because smoke doesn't enter your lungs?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: A vaporizer works by extracting the chemicals from the plant at a lower temperature than by smoking.  In theory, this would result in less exposure of the lungs to the toxins produced by combustion.  However this has not yet been demonstrated to be the case, and in fact, this was shown not to be true for the nicotine in tobacco.  There may be reasons for this, like different ways of inhaling (more deeply), but we still don't know about the safety of a vaporizer as a delivery system.  Also, the other downsides to marijuana--addiction, memory disruption, etc remain whichever way you take it. 
    Moderator Icon  Compared with their peers who don’t smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school.
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     Aberryhill - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: If you get high will it affect your mental health?

    Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: hi Aberryhill:  this is a really good but really tough question!  Drug use and mental health problems can definitely be related, but the relationship is complicated.  It is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg question.  Sometimes people use drugs when they are experiencing mental health problems in an attempt to feel better, but often use of unprescribed drugs leads to more problems. If someone who isn't already having mental health problems starts to use drugs, the drug use can lead to problems (for example, problems at school, and in relationships with parents, family, and or friends), and these stresses can than affect their mental health.  Getting high can also lead to using other drugs; and drug use in general affects your brain functioning. Sometimes, effects such as memory problems can be lasting. 

    For more information about the effects of marijuana (including the link to other drug use) go to http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/002a.php#q04

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     olivia - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What is methamphetamine?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant that is closely related to amphetamine. It is long lasting and toxic to dopamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting powder taken orally or by snorting or injecting, or a rock 'crystal' that is heated and smoked. Methamphetamine increases wakefulness and physical activity, produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature. Long-term use can lead to mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and severe dental problems. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis
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     Benny20 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Where are Date Rape Drugs common? Which area is the most populated with Date Rape Drugs?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, Benny20 , that's a tough question to answer because, as the name suggests, some of the individuals who ingest these drugs do so unknowingly or unintentionally.  According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study intentional use of so-called date rape drugs is not that common- the number of high school seniors across the US who reported past year use of GHB is 1.4%, Rohypnol 1.5%, and Ketamine 1.6% overall.  Use is reportedly highest in the North East and lowest in the South.
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     pekinwlr - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How can you tell if someone has a drug problem?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Good question! There are questions people can ask to assess whether or not a person has a drug problem. These do not necessarily indicate that someone is addicted, but answering yes to any of these questions may suggest a developing problem, which could require follow-up with a professional drug treatment specialist. These include:

    1. Have you ever ridden in a car driven by someone (including yourself) who had been using alcohol or drugs?
    2. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, to feel better about yourself, or to fit in?
    3. Do you ever use alcohol or drugs when you are alone?
    4. Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
    5. Do family or friends ever tell you to cut down on your use of alcohol or drugs?
    6. Have you ever gotten into trouble while you were using alcohol or drugs?
    Which of the following is associated with teenage drinking?
    The correct answer is: D. All of these, plus school failure and injuries, are associated with teenage drinking.

    http://www.thecoolspot.gov/too_much.asp
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     R espinoza - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what is lsd?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: LSD is (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.
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     cheerleader961 - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: What is acid?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals. It was discovered in 1938 and is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains.

    While 'high' on LSD, sensations and feelings change much more dramatically than the physical signs in people under the influence of LSD. The user may feel several different emotions at once or swing rapidly from one emotion to another. If taken in large enough doses, the drug produces delusions and visual hallucinations. The user’s sense of time and self is altered. Experiences may seem to “cross over” different senses, giving the user the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. These changes can be frightening and can cause panic. Some LSD users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and feelings of despair, fear of losing control, or fear of insanity and death while using LSD.

    LSD users can also experience flashbacks, or recurrences of certain aspects of the drug experience. Flashbacks occur suddenly, often without warning, and may do so within a few days or more than a year after LSD use. In some individuals, the flashbacks can persist and cause significant distress or impairment in social or occupational functioning, a condition known as hallucinogen-induced persisting perceptual disorder (HPPD).

    Most users of LSD voluntarily decrease or stop its use over time. LSD is not considered an addictive drug since it does not produce compulsive drug-seeking behavior. However, LSD does produce tolerance, so some users who take the drug repeatedly must take progressively higher doses to achieve the state of intoxication that they had previously achieved. This is an extremely dangerous practice, given the unpredictability of the drug. In addition, cross-tolerance between LSD and other hallucinogens has been reported.
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     Hellothere - Rockville HS, Maryland: do medicated drugs get tested by animals?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: always!
    this testing is very thorough and is one of the early stages in medication development.
     
    thanks for the question
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     fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Do drugs affect different ages more than others?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs.  Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, the teen brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc.  Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.

    If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
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     jacey - Clinton High School, Iowa: What is worse, drugs or alcohol?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: thanks, you give me a great opportunity to tell you that alcohol is actually a drug, a very dangerous drug. all drugs are dangerous.
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     sapafap - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: how long does it take to get addicted to nictotien?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question.  It's not a simple one.  For some people, it's the first puff on a cigarette.  Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many.  They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again).  Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain.  Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  But, sapafap, you are better off not smoking in the first place!  You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
    Moderator Icon  Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks- especially if you smoke often.
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     HI - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What is the argument on why alcohol should be banned completly?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
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     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: i have a friend that went to a football game drunk, got arrested and was hospitalized.. how do i get her help? where do i go?

    Expert Icon Belinda Sims: Hello.  This is a tough situation, but trying to be supportive of your friend is admirable.  One thing you can do is express your concerns to your friend and offer to go with her to talk to a trusted person about her problems and get help--someone like her parents, or other trusted adult. Here are some resources that may be helpful as well:
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
    http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp

    To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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     95golfer - Skaneateles High School, New York: Do you believe that drug use is more effected by genetics or lifestyle? in other words, nature versus nurture?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, 95golfer...this is a great question.  The answer is that it is both nature AND nurture.  Research has shown that drug use is about 50% genetic and 50% environmental and other factors.  For more information, see: www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
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     Hank H - Skaneateles High School, New York: Can abused prescription drugs give you cancer?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: 

    not that i am aware of.
    pretty much everything in high enough of a dose can give you cancer. But you would die of an overdose much sooner...
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     ratman & bobin - Sidney High School, Nebraska: what happens if you drink gasoline?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Gasoline is a mixture of about 150 chemicals refined from crude oil.  It should not be drunk as it is a poison.  Some people inhale the fumes, but inhaling this can lead to lots of problems.  If you are interested in more information on inhalants, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html
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     armstrong - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What causes you to hallucinate when you 'do shrooms'?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Michigan! Mushrooms contain psilocybin, a psychedelic drug (similar to LSD) that produces hallucinations. Here is a link to info from our Research Report Series on Hallucinogens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/hallucinogens/halluc2.html#dissoc and here is a link to our Mind Over Matter series: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_hal1.php
    Moderator Icon  This year we have experts on the chat from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. So if you have any questions about the effects of alcohol, binge drinking, drinking and driving or more, ask now!
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     SPORKY - Skaneateles High School, New York: why was marinol approved by the fda if is is chemically identical to marijuana

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Because it is not a plant and it is not smoked.  It not being a plant is important, since the plant contains lots of ingredients with unknown health effects and varied amounts of these ingredients from plant to plant.  For something to be a medicine it has to have well defined ingredients that are the same from pill to pill.  This allows doctors to prescribe the correct dose to each  patient based on their age, weight, other prescriptions, etc. 
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     michaelw - Vista, Oklahoma: is it ture that if someone gives you a drink and says that it is alcohol and you drink a lot of it and if it is really not alcohol but you belevie that it is real can you still get durnk by it

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, this actually is true! Some researchers at universities have what they call 'bar labs', where they turn a laboratory into a bar. They give some students real alcohol and some students placebo, which the students think is actually real alcohol. Usually, students who get the fake alcohol say that they feel intoxicated, more relaxed, more talkative, and so on. This tells us that many of the effects that alcohol has on people is caused by what they think alcohol will do to them rather than what alcohol actually does to them.
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     TheIronSquanto7 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: how much caffeine does it take to kill someone?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: thanks for the question:
    lets do the numbers, shall we?:

    First to know is that one caffeine cup contains about the same amount of caffeine, which is about 80 mg.Now, the dose of caffeine that would kill half of a population of coffe drinkers (called LD50) is about 150-200mg/kg.
    So, a person having a mass of about 60kg, would need to consume at least 9000mg of caffeine, or about 112 cups to drop half dead.

    cheers

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     IMS326 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Does taking steriods really make you testicals small and your penis erectil dysfunctional?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello IMS326. This is an important question. Most people take steroids to improve their performance in sports or their body shape, but they don't think about the other effects of steroids that can certainly affect your behavior (think aggression) and your normal reproductive function. Yes, taking steroids could reduce testicle size and erection. This would depend upon the type of steroid, how much you took, and even your stage of development. It has been shown that steroids have serious effects on development if taken during puberty and adolescence. Any drug has multiple effects, so it is always best to only take them under the advice of a physician who can weigh the benefits of a drug and its negative effects.
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     Emily C - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: Before I was born, my Pap smoked for twenty years and told me that he just quit without taking any medicane or having any help. Is it possible to smoke for that long and just quit?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: It is possible to quit 'cold turkey,' as they say.  I'm glad your Pap was able to do it.  My Pap was too.  He had to get lung cancer to make him quit, but he was one of the lucky ones. His lung cancer was cured, although by removing part of his lung.  He just turned 80!  There are many people who need help quitting, though.  For more information on how to quit, see: www.smokefree.gov.
    Moderator Icon  You should always get help if you have symptoms of depression [or any other illness]. You would go to the doctor if you had a broken arm, right?
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     IMS326 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why is weed legal in Amsterdame, but not in united states and its way better than cigerrettes?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because the people of Amsterdam and the Netherlands, through their elected officials (politicians) made the decision as a society not to make certain drugs illegal.  One of the reasons that the United States is still having this same kind of discussion as a nation because the active component of marijuana, THC, can be addictive. For more information on mariijuana see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana and http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: How the spread of drugs can be stopped?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: That's a very good question. 
    As you can imagine, it's quite a challenge! People need to realize that while drugs of abuse can 'feel good', they can lead to serious health, social and community outcomes. Part of NIDA's mission is to inform and 'arm' the public with honest, truthful information about how drugs can affect a person's body and life.  We also conduct research to learn how to prevent use and also treat those who are also addicted to drugs. If people really think about the long term effects of these drugs and what it can do to them, their family and community, they won't want to use them...if people don't want them, dealers can't sell them.... Keep the questions coming!
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     thisisstupid2 - Clonlara, Michigan: malt liquor taste better when you have problems... word you confirm or deny this?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: I would deny this, as I do not like malt liquor. However, others might have a different opinion. Regardless, drinking alcohol to help deal cope with problems is a bad strategy, and one associated with becoming an alcoholic. Some people may get messages from movies, TV, and our general culture that drinking can make you feel 'cool.'  Others may feel they can escape other problems in their life by drinking.  But you cannot - drinking only makes any problems you already have much worse.  And there's nothing cool about throwing up in a garbage can or wrecking a car.

    It is so important to find healthy ways of dealing with problems in life. If the problems are just too big to deal with, it is vital to find an adult whom you trust and tell them about your struggles. Alcohol might seem like a useful way to cope, but it is not.
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     dbalderas - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How do drugs affect teens hormones and actions?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi there,
    Different drugs affect different systems in very specific ways. So, for a comprehensive list of effects i would encourage you to visit our website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
    But to try and answer your question i would say that:

    1)  in terms of hormones being affected, thge main class of drugs we are concerned about is the anabolic steroids, derivatives of the male sex hormone testosterone that can really screw up the hormonal balance. Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. 

    2) in terms of actions, i imagine you are talking about behaviors. Most drugs of abuse are a concern here because they can impair decision making, pushing you to take much higher risks that you would normally take if you were not under the influence of a drug.

    thanks for a great question!!
    stay smart and stay clean!
     
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     cthomasville - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: can you drive when you're high

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds:  Hello to Bishop Hall Charter School! Please don't drive while high --for your own safety and that of other in in the community! A nationally representative survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that in 2007, approximately one in eight weekend, nighttime drivers tested positive for illicit drugs. And if you look at the 2010 Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) study approximately one in twelve high school seniors reported driving after smoking marijuana within two weeks prior to the survey interview. Drugged driving is just as serious an issue as drunk driving or being distracted via cell phone/texting for our communties. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has launched a campaign on drugged  driving.  This link will connect you to information about research and community activities to increase awareness and reduce this dangerous practice: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/drugged-driving and here is the fact sheet from our web page: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/druggeddriving.html
    Moderator Icon  A 2010 study found that a small percentage of high school students abuse OxyContin- 2% of 8th graders, 5% of 10th graders and 5% of 12th graders. However, OxyContin abuse can lead to dangerous addiction for those who use.
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     hugsnotdrugs - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: If marijuana was legal, how much would it benifit the country?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: You're asking the science guys--and we can't ignore the fact that marijuana also has serious risks that would counter its benefits, and which would likely increase if it were made legal.  What are they? 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users.  Addiction means that you can't stop using even though you want to because it's messing up your life.  2) Impaired learning and memory--making it hard to learn new things.  For someone still in school or working a challenging job, it may take away their competitive edge, especially if they are using it a lot. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while they are high, they can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there.  This usually wears off when the drug is out of the system.  But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident.  5) Its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis.  So before anyone thinks about making it legal, they really need to think about the risks that marijuana poses and whether its worth adding another drug to the list that can harm the public's health. 
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     Rockstar - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: i've heard from news and such how much illegal drugs cost and i wanna know why their so expensive? is it because their on the black market or something?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Illegal drugs are expensive due to all the costs involved in keeping their production and transportation into the US out of sight of law enforcement in the nations where they are grown and prepared (like in South America), and here in the US.  It is this illegality that is a key reason these drugs are so expensive.  For example, you can price-shop legal products like ipods on ebay in real-time to get the lowest price, but in the shadow black market, a person might not have different sources to choose from.
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     Siegfried - Walter Johnson High School, Maryland: What is the mechanism that causes reduction of anger in ADHD medication users?

    Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: Hi Siegfried:  You ask a great question.  We don't know everything we need to know about how medications work on specific symptoms or their mechanisms.  Hopefully, ongoing research will help us understand mechanisms so we will know more about how they work and know how we can improve them.  But we do know that ADHD involves 3 types of symptoms:  inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.  For some people, this can be expressed as irritability or aggression.  Since ADHD medication helps with these related core problems of ADHD (hyperactivity and impulsivity), it probably helps reduce anger and agression and related problems. 

    For more information about ADHD and its treatment go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml
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     ashley - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what makes alcohol addicting?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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     ImNotAPanda - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: A question was asked 'Is Alcohol Bad For You.' and your responce didnt fully explain everything. Does alcohol bad for you even in moderation?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, for teenagers, even moderate consumption of alcohol appears to be harmful. Research shows that having alcohol during the teen years increases the odds of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life. This happens even if you drink at home with your parents. In fact, research in Europe, the US and Australia indicates that teens who are allowed to drink at home even while being supervised by parents are more likely to binge drink (drink enough over about 2 hours to get very drunk) outside of the home. It isn't clear how much alcohol is needed to directly damage the brain during the teen years, but it is probably more than the amount of alcohol considered to be moderate for adults (no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 for men). Even if the brain is spared from being damaged by moderate consumption during the teen years, the risk of becoming an alcoholic is increased significantly.
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     sapafap - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: what is thw worst drug for your body?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs on a scale of 'worse-ness.' The drug that is used by a person is the worst--so it's a case-by-case basis.  The reason for this vague answer is because people are different, and addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.

    No matter what, all drugs are bad for your body.  For more information on specific drugs and their actions on your body, see: www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/health.html.
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     AradrothSakurai - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What is the main cause of drug abuse

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Research over the past two decades has tried to determine how drug abuse begins and how it progresses. Many factors can add to a person’s risk for drug abuse. Most people at risk for drug abuse do not start using drugs, or become addicted if they do. However, something that puts one person at risk may not do the same for another.  Some identified risk factors include early aggressive behavior, lack of parental supervision, opportunties to use drugs, availabilty of drugs, and poverty. It is important to note that risks can be changed through prevention interventions. Of course, the best way to avoid drug abuse and addiction is never to start.
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     kaylee - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How can i help a friend not do drugs?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, kaylee, that's a tricky situation that I have, unfortunately, been in myself a number of times.  You could be available for your friend to discuss what is on his or her mind and why he or she is using drugs. You can encourage them to learn more about how drug use affects your body and brain by going to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.  If you think your friend has a problem and is ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk to a doctor, parent, teacher, or therapist to find help, or go to  http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP for confidential help 24/7.  You can't make your friend stop using drugs but you can provide support, show that there are many ways to enjoy life that do not involve using drugs, and let your friend know you're there to help when ready.
    PollI have had someone offer me a prescription painkiller when I had no pain.
    21% - Yes
    73% - No
    7% - Maybe
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     kyle - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how long does it take to get drugs out of your body?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello Kyle,

    First, it depends on how much drug is used.  If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to eliminate the drug from your body. The type of drug that you use also makes a difference.  If the drug is lipophilic (meaning it sticks to the fats in your body) like the active components in marijuana, PCP or LSD, the drug is stored in the body and takes longer to eliminate. For instance in chronic, daily marijuana smokers, it can take more than 30 days to remove the drug from your system. So the amount and frequency a drug used and the type of drug used are important factors. Also, remember that as long as the drug is in your body- it may be producing effects.  I hope this helps!
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     tcanha - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: Why does does marijuana make people happy

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hello, Martha's Vineyard!!  Marijuana has a variety of effects, and doesn't necessarily make people happy. Research has shown that weed affects the parts of the brain the allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions.  The active ingredient is called THC, which is a psychoactive drug that affects mood and behavior and can be addictive.  Using weed can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes--and chronic weed smoking can harm the lungs.  In addition, weed has been linked to a number of mental conditions, including depression and anxiety.  For more information, see: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
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     leapfrog33 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Can all of the drugs that we know of affect us negatively in some way?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Thanks for the question!
    By definition, all drugs of abuse can create problems in the lives of their user - marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol (and others) all can, can impair you ability to think and learn, lead you to make really bad decisions that could influence your health and safety (e.g., increase risk of accidents, injury, STDs and more), and can lead to addiction.  Want to learn more about what teens are thinking about drugs and how drugs impact the body?  Click on - http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/, http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php)
    Moderator Icon  Young people consume more than 90% of their alcohol by binge drinking. To learn more about peer pressure and alcohol use, check out this website: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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     InquisitiveMind - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: Do we know what kind of drug the Viking berserkers used in the middle ages, and is there a drug like that nowadays?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Thanks for teh intersting question.
    you are in luck becauise i am also an expert on ancient drugs of war (just kidding) 

    The berserks were the most feared and vicious fighters among the Vikings. They were really 'out there' when it came deviant behaviors, and lived well beyond what was accepted norm among Viking-tribes. For example, whenever there was a fight at hand, they would get themselves into this wild frenzy, partly by self-hypnosis but also partly by consuming wild berries and other toxicological plants. As a result, they would reportedly cause the 'berserks' run right at the front of the war-mobs, only dressed in a few loose pieces of fur, besmeared with dirt and blood, sometimes donning animal-masks. I can imagine they were a really frightening sight to any soldier standing on the other side of the warline. 

    Unfortunately, we don't have any reliable information about the active ingredients in the potions that these Viking potions contained, but some berries do have psychoactive properties.


     
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     Mariarn@sfps.in - Ortiz Middle School, New Mexico: What are the side effects of Vicodin (sp?)?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that is safe and effective against pain when used as directed by your doctor. It is part of a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain. There can be a bruef 'euphoric' feeling, or 'high' experienced by people taking opioids, and some people take them just to get that feeling. Opioids can have negative effects when abused like this, including nausea and constipation.   Taking a large single dose could even cause death. In fact, more people die from opioid overdoses in this country every year than from heroin and cocaine combined. Typically, they should not be used with alcohol, or many other prescripton drugs. Always check with your doctor before mixing vicodin with other drugs, including alcohol.
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     BasedGod - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: what is worse heroin or cocain?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: These are very different drugs, but both are highly addictive and cause thousands of deaths each year. Cocaine is a stimulant and heroin is a depressant, so they kill abusers in different ways. However, dead is dead, so it's hard to say one is more bad and the other is less bad. 
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     isabela - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: if marijuana is a herb, how is it bad?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Many drugs of abuse come from plants, and therefore can be considered 'natural.' For example, heroin comes from poppy plants, and cocaine comes from the coca plant. That doesn't mean they are healthy--think tobacco. Similarly, marijuana comes from a plant that contains THC, which is 'psychoactive' (it affects mood and behavior) and can be addictive. For more information on marijuana see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana and http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
    Moderator Icon  About 5% of children in the U.S. have ADHD. Scientists are studying new ways to help treat ADHD-learn more at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/new-nimh-research-to-test-innovative-treatments-for-children-with-adhd.shtml.
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     cole h - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: has the ammount of people whu use drugs changed in the past couple or years? and if so, has it changed for the better or for the worst?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Good Afternoon Bellefonte Area Middle School! Depends. I am going to anwser it using examples from the Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF) that has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Daily Marijuana use increased among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 2009 to 2010. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980s at 6.1%. In 2012, steady declines in cigarette smoking appear to have stalled in all three grades after several years of improvement on most measures.After several years of decline, current and past year use of Ecstasy has risen among 8th and 10th graders. This link will take you to the MTF web page where you can look at the press release with the latest data and if you want, you can even link to the complete survey (charts and all!): http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html
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     s morado - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: when doing LSD are you dreaming or are you doing things in real life while still affected with the drug?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Interesting question!  You would not be dreaming -- unless you are asleep and dream about taking the drug.  LSD can cause people to experience delusions and visual hallucinations that can be frightening. In fact, 'bad trips' can include terrifying thoughts and nightmarish feelings of anxiety and despair that include fears of insanity, death, or losing control that are acted out while you are awake. For more information about LSD, visit NIDA's website at http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html.
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     nssmith14 - The Blake School, Minnesota: why is four loco now illegal in the United States? because i know it's legal in Canada and other places, what makes it so threatening that the US has decided to make it illegal?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Four Loko is still around. While it contains quite a bit of alcohol, the caffeinated version is now illegal so the caffeine has been removed. One can of beer is 12 ounces and contains 5% alcohol. One can of Four Loko is almost 24 ounces and contains 12% alcohol. That means that a single can of Four Loko contains between 4-5 servings of alcohol. That's a lot of alcohol and can make it quite dangerous, particularly for people unaware of exactly how much alcohol is in one can of Four Loko. The original (now outlawed) version of the drink contained a large amount of caffeine. The exact amount is unknown as it is not publicized. The combination of lots of alcohol and lots of caffeine can lead to serious side effects from both of the drugs at the same time. The high alcohol content combined with the caffeine content had many parents and other adults worried about kids getting hurt from drinking it. This is why it was outlawed by the FDA and the caffeine was removed by the company that makes it.
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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: darric from kenmore: Is there a medical need for drugs like marijuana? Is there a way other than smoking it it that it can be taken?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: There is certainly a medical need, especially for the treatment of pain.  However, marijuana is not a good medicine, even if it is not smoked, for several reasons--its a plant that contains many chemicals (over 400), some with unknown health effects; the ingredients vary from plant to plant--medicines need to be able to have precisely controlled ingredients--so doctors know how much to prescribe and side effects can be prevented; marijuana's effects on your ability to think and remember make it not ideal.  Scientists are however interested in some of marijuana's ingredients that may have possibilities as medicines but with less risks than marijuana itself. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
    Moderator Icon  Did you know that vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among young people age 15 to 24? Evidence from both real and simulated driving studies indicates that marijuana can negatively affect a driver's attentiveness, perception of time and speed, and the ability to draw on information obtained from past experiences.
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     jojo2821 - Rockville HS, Maryland: what are some ways you can tell when you are abusing a drug?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hey Jojo in Rockville!  Thanks for your question.  Here are some tell-tale signs of abuse, particularly marijuana, but also signs of general abusing:

    If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might:
    • seem dizzy and have trouble walking;
    • seem silly and giggly for no reason;
    • have very red, bloodshot eyes; and
    • have a hard time remembering things that just happened.
    • When the early effects fade, the user can become very sleepy.
    You might see overall changes in his behavior. You might also look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility, and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends. In addition, changes in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. However, these signs may also indicate problems other than use of drugs.

    In addition, you might find:
    • signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers;
    • odor on clothes and in the bedroom;
    • use of incense and other deodorizers;
    • use of eye drops; and
    • clothing, posters, jewelry, etc., promoting drug use.
    Hope this helps.  For more information on marijuana, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
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     susan h - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is it true that grapr juice gets drugs out of your system

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: No, this is not true. There are many folk tales about how to beat the drug test. Basically, you are taking in a lot of liquid which causes you to excrete the drug AND dilute the concentration of drugs in your urine. Grape juice does not cause the drugs to be excreted differently other than this. Now you know that this old wives tale is exactly that.  Thanks for asking.
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     BlakeSchool - The Blake School, Minnesota: Is caffine addictive? How much caffine is too much?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Caffeine is addictive, and withdrawal symptoms include headache, dizziness, and shaking.  Too much caffeine can cause heart palpitations, and people with heart trouble should not have caffeine.
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     bro214 - Johnson Middle School, California: why are we doing this if we know not to do drugs

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: We are doing this because, even though everyone knows not to use drugs, people think that bad things won't happen to them if they try it.  Unfortunately, it's not that simple. For some people, the process of addiction is started after the first puff on a cigarette, or the first experience with any drug.  Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many.  They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again).  Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain.  Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  But, you are better off not trying drugs in the first place! You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
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     vinny - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: how do you stop drinking all the time when you want to

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Good question. If you can't stop on your own, there are plenty of sources of help. Finding an adult whom you trust, perhaps your family doctor, and talking with them about it is a good place to begin. Here is a link to further information about the signs of alcoholism and suggestions for quitting. While the site is tailored primarily for adults, the resources can provide good starting points for quitting and finding additional help if you are unable to do it on your own. It is sooo important to stop while you are still young to avoid doing any further damage to your body and allow your brain to heal and recover.

    http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/Support/ChooseYourApproach.asp

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     cam the amsome - Johnson Middle School, California: is profufol a drug.

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: With the death of Michael Jackson, you may have heard the drug Propofol mentioned in the news. Propofol is a common type of anesthetic––a drug that doctors use to “put people to sleep” for surgery. It is given to patients through an “intravenous drip,” (called an “IV” for short) that goes through a special needle into a patient’s arm, allowing the medicine to go directly into the patient’s bloodstream.

    Doctors who give patients propofol are generally known as “anesthesiologists” and have special training. These experts set up the IV, make sure the patient is “sleeping” comfortably, and then carefully watch the patient’s vital signs (like heart rate, breathing, etc.) while the surgeon operates on the patient. Doctors like using propofol because it leaves the body very quickly, which allows the patient to wake up after surgery more rapidly, without bad side effects. So propofol can be a useful drug when it’s given by people who are properly trained, but like many prescription drugs, it can be very harmful if used inappropriately. Right now Michael Jackson's doctor is on trial because some people think he gave the singer propofol and then did not watch him closely enough. Whatever the truth, propofol should be given only in a hospital setting where the patient can be closely monitored.
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     barantay000 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Does it hurt when you inject herion needles into yourself or does the drug kick in right away?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Dear Barantay000.  Needles hurt, no matter what you are injecting.  Haven't you ever had a filling for your tooth?  They inject an anesthetic in your mouth to deaden the area so they can drill.  Even the anesthetic doesn't kick in right away.  Also, if you inject heroin, you don't have to think about the pain of the needle, but you also have to think about the fact that you could be transmitting HIV, hepatitis, and other transmitted diseases through dirty needles.  Not good and not worth it.  For more information about the link between drug abuse and HIV, see: http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Belinda Sims has just joined us. She is a Developmental Psychologist and works in the Prevention Research Branch at NIDA. Her research at NIDA includes figuring out how to get drug abuse prevention program programs that work into schools, communities, and other settings. Dr. Sims is from Detroit, Michigan. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit and also attended Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. When not working, she is the personal chauffer for her 10 year old daughter, taking her to daily after school activities. Dr. Sims does find time to teach Sunday school, read, and watch science fiction—and, this year, she has taken up Hip Hop dancing and Zumba.
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     wexx - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: Why were synthetic drugs legal?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello wexx, that's a good question.  Synthetic cannabinoids were legal until last year when the Drug Enforcement Agency 'scheduled,' or labeled as illegal, 5 drugs with different structures. We have an analog law in the US, meaning that if a drug is similar to an illegal drug and has the same effects, it is illegal too. So these compounds are not legal any more and could make users and suppliers legally responsible. Before this new law, the structures of synthetic cannabinoids were significantly different from THC in marijuana and could not be prosecuted under the laws for marijuana. Thanks for asking! 
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     Rayne B - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what drug is most likely too kill you the first time you take it

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: A lot depends on how much you take the first time- that is, the dose you take- so overdosing the first time you use a drug of abuse can happen- for example sniffing inhalants can result in death from heart failure or suffocation (because of their effects on the lungs) the very first time you try them - not good! Heroin can cause respiratory depression which can cause death. Cocaine can lead cardiovascular effects, including disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks.  Using drugs is just not really worth the risk...you never know how your body will respond to them.
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     shannonl - Gahanna Lincoln High School, Ohio: Can you expalin what MOLLY is, and why it is so dangerous?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Molly is a slang name for for methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA. Its also known as ecstasy. It is a stimulant which shares its effects with other drugs of the stimulant class like cocaine and nicotine.  That is, it can make you feel focused and energized, it can produced hyperthermia and reduce your appetite, and it can alter the way your brain works.  You can see this by examining the decisions that people make when they are using the drug and when they are not--they are often very different. 
    For more information, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/mdma.html.
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     harry.h - Dulles Middle School, Texas: HH: Dulles Middle School Houston, TX Why is the consumption of alcohol illegal for minors under the age of 21 only in the United States?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The US created the 1984 law raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were getting hurt by drinking alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people killed in alcohol-related car crashes.  By contrast, kids drink more heavily in places like Europe and Australia, where the drinking age is lower than 21.

    For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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     fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: Do girls or boys do drugs more often?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to you at Ft. Settlement Middle School! According to a recent Monitoring the Future Suvery it is even...Past year use of Illict drugs among 12-17 year olds was 19.4% for both boys and girls in 2010, Here is a summary from last year's Monitoring the Future, an annual survey of drug use among 8th, 10th and 12th graders. Because the survey has been going on for years, it helps us see trends.  The summary is at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/10/mtf10overview.html  If you are interested in more details, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MTF.html.  We expect to release 2011 data from MTF some time in December.
    How many Americans die from diseases associated with tobacco use each year?
    The correct answer is: D. About 440,000. Of the 440,000, 49,900 deaths were attributed to people who were exposed to secondhand smoke. Check out this chart for more information: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/health/attrdeaths
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     reckless - Rockville HS, Maryland: If someone is using drugs what are some of the symptoms they will show?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hi reckless from Rockville. This is a great question.  Different drugs affect people in different ways - acute symptoms from marijuana use are different from acute symptoms from cocaine use.  In general though, you could see erratic behavior, mood swings, changes in appetite/sleep patterns, a decrease in interests/activities/school performance, isolation, and unexplained absences, etc.
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     IMS301 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: do drugs have any good affects

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, especially prescription medications that were developed to treat conditions like severe pain.  The issue is, that a certain proportion of people who use a mind-affecting drug will lose control over it (get addicted), making it risky.  If you're one of those who ends up getting addicted, it could really affect your life, and depending on the drug, pattern of use and luck, could do some physiological damage.
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     chairman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Will the illegal drugs today, ever be used for medical purposes?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Maybe some, if scientific research shows a given now illegal drug works better at treating a medical condition better than what is available with fewer negative effects. 

    What I think is more likely is that drugs similar to illegal drugs will be developed that have some medical benefits with less of the properties that made the illegal drugs illegal. We are working on some of these right now at NIDA for treating drug abuse and stopping pain...


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     elaine vo - Johnson Middle School, California: What percentage of america smoke?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hi, elaine vo, thanks for your question.  According to the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, about 23% of Americans ages 12 and older reported they are current (past month) cigarette smokers. 
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     wawesome - South Page Community Schools , Iowa: i have a friend that likes drugs what do i do to help him

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good question - If you are willing to reach out to them, you might try talking to them.  You could listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
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     uniquek - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: is marijana addictive?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Yup-it can be-Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction; that is, people have difficulty controlling their drug use and cannot stop even though it interferes with many aspects of their lives. Research shows that ~9 percent of people who use marijuana will become dependent on it. The number goes up to about 1 in 6 in those who start using young (in their teens) and to 25-50 percent among daily users. Other factors, like genetics, affect whether drugs like MJ can be addictive. 
    Moderator Icon  A 2010 study showed that 29% of 10th graders drank alcohol in the month before the survey.
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     Ethan D - Einstein High School, Maryland: i do weed how can i stop?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: It sounds like you've tried to quit, and that hasn't worked.  Try finding a trusted adult (at home or at school) who could help you find a good treatment program in your area.  You will probably be asked to go to a counselor for an assessment, and maybe a medical evaluation.  Most programs will design an individualized treatment program for you.  It'll be important to get the support from your non-using family members and friends, too. For more information on finding a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Good luck!
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     cole h - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: how is the candy chocolate considered a drug? i know that that is a silly question, but i want to know. also, i have another question, what is pcp and how is it used in the modern day world?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: OOH, good question!  I eat lots of chocolate. Chocolate contains small quantities of anandamide, a neurotransmitter (found in the brain) that is known to have a pain-relieving effect. It has been speculated that chocolate promotes and prolongs the feeling of well-being produced by anandamide. Chocolate also contains caffeine, theobromine and tryptophan. The name theobromine is taken from theobroma, which is the plant that the cocao comes from and is in the same family as caffeine.  Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. It is the rate-limiting step in the production of the mood-modulating neurotransmitter, serotonin. Increased serotonin function typically reduces anxiety. Yet tryptophan can normally be obtained from other sources as well; and only an unusually low-protein, high-carbohydrate meal will significantly increase its rate of intake into the brain.  So, chocolate has many compounds in it, that, when pure, could be considered a drug that has abuse potential. 

    PCP, or Phencyclidine, is also known as Angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel.  It causes dissociative feelings (a mental 'departure' from reality), distorting perceptions of sight and sound and feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety). Developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic, PCP was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects. The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.0% of 12th graders had abused PCP at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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     panchoj - Johnson Middle School, California: why in the world series in baseball they chewd tabacoo

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I don't know why baseball players chew tobaccoTobacco is a stimulant; it's also a very addictive drug.  Both chewing and smoking tobacco can negatively affect your body. It's hard to say which will affect your body more, because so much has to do with each person's biology and the amount they smoke or chew. But we do know the more someone uses tobacco (in any form) the greater the effects can be on their body.  Baseball players might think that chewing tobacco will help them in the short run (this has not been proven at all!), but it will definitely hurt them in the long run. Overall, chewing tobacco can cause damage to gum tissue and even loss of teeth. It also reduces a person's ability to taste and smell. Most importantly, smokeless tobacco contains cancer causing-chemicals that can cause cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. This can even happen in very young users who chew tobacco. In fact, most people who develop these cancers used to chew tobacco. Inhaling cigarette smoke pulls more than 4,000 chemicals into a person's lungs. The most dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are tar and carbon monoxide. Tar causes lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial diseases. Carbon monoxide causes heart problems; smokers are at high risk for heart disease.

    Whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain and increasing their chances of becoming addicted. Once addicted, it is very difficult to quit, in spite of the severe health consequences.

    For more information on smoking or tobacco please go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco.  

    GO REDSOX!!!


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     dandangao - Einstein High School, Maryland: What if a person wants to quit using the drug?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Dandango,  If someone wants to quit using drugs they should talk with a teacher, doctor, guidance counselor, parent, minister, etc about their drug use and about whether they need drug treatment.  Information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/  . 
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     Erin - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can peer pressure get a person off drugs?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: This is a great question!  I think that peer pressure is effective in helping someone who needs to get off drugs.  It depends on how serious the problem is, the drug used, etc.  Certainly 'peer pressure' and good friendships are a great start (and great support for recovery), but the person may need a medical evaluation and treatment, too.
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     avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: On average, how many students try any type of drug during their high school years?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, avincent, thanks for your question. The Monitoring the Future Study is a survey conducted by the University of Michigan every year where they ask 8th, 10th, and 12th graders about their drug use behavior and attitudes.  In 2010, around 20% of 8th graders, 32% of 10th graders, and 39% of high school seniors reported they had used some type of drug in the past year (includes any use of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, other hallucinogens, crack, other cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, sedatives (barbiturates), or tranquilizers not under a doctor’s orders).  About 1/4 of high school seniors reported they had used in the past month.  Is that more students or fewer than you were expecting?
    Moderator Icon  Underage drinking poses dangerous health risks and safety risks, including sexual risk-taking, car crashes, and unintentional injuries – either to yourself or to others.
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     Zombie Man! - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Is cocaine combined to make more potent effects?( example african brown-brown)

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Zombie Man,
    Drug users experiment with combining many different drugs to see the effects, and sometimes find mixtures that produce more potent effects. Sometimes the secret drug laboratories also combine drugs to produce potent effects. It is one of the dangers of using drugs when you don't know what is in the product, what it may have been cut with, or what other dangerous chemicals may be present. Thanks for asking.
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     johnny - Johnson Middle School, California: THANKS for the information

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Thanks for participating!
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     kcox14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many teens have tried meth in the last year?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hi kcox14. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey 1.2% of 8th, 1.6% of 10th and 1% of 12th graders used methamphetamine in the past year.
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     DragonSlayer69 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: What are the symptoms of smoking weed?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Crestwood
    How can you tell? Munchies!  If the person you're referring to snacks ALL the time, that is a sure sign!  Just kidding. I'm not sure if there are tale-tell signs someone is using MJ specifically (that is unless you see them doing it).  The most accurate way is a urine test. With marijuana if the person is smoking heavily the urine can stay positive for a month.  But people usuallly do show signs that they might be doing drugs in general, for example, they show less interest in activities, spends a lot of time sleeping, poor grooming, and poor grades, hanging out with a new crowd that uses drugs.  To find out more information and what teens are thinking about MJ, click on these links:  http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/ 
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     dsandoval - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: I have heard of a couple perscription drugs called Adderall and Riddelin when my friends call it the 'poor man's coke' and things like that. What are these drugs?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Adderall and Ritalin, like cocaine, are 'stimulants'- a class of drug that releases a chemical called dopamine in the mood and motivation parts of the brain.  It is not generally as intense and rapid a high as cocaine, because smoked or snorted cocaine molecules get to the brain faster, while Adderall is taken orally, which reaches the brain much more slowly and in small amounts throughout the day.  It might be cheaper because it is a prescription drug that could be taken out of someone's medicine cabinet and used inappropriately. 
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     Ian - Clonlara, Michigan: how many people are answering these questions? I entered mine a few hours ago.

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Very sorry Ian---we have received more than 6000 questions and we only have 40 scientists here...our fingers are working as fast as we can...  If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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     John M - Einstein High School, Maryland: what should you do if all your family is taking drugs and you do not?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: John - tough space to be in.  First, stay strong and take care of yourself.  Talk to a trusted friend, parent of a friend, teacher, coach, minister, etc for support.  Next, you can always try to reach out to your family members.  You can listen to them discuss their drug use, including why they use drugs.  You can make them aware of the negative consequences of drug use.  Information on this topic can be found at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html.  You can also talk to them about participating in drug treatment.  Information on drug treatment can be found at:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.  Even if they aren't ready for drug treatment, let them know you are concerned about their health, well-being, and your family.  And last but not least - don't fall into the trap of drug use yourself.  As you may see, drugs have a terrible impact on your brain, body, and life. 
    Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     s morado - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what part of the body does weed effect and how?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Marijuana, like all drugs of abuse, directly affects the structure and function of the brain.  It has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory.  How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.'  These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation.  Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana. Smoking marijuana is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other. 

    People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and in 25-50% of daily users.  This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives.  There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers.  Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse.  Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school.  Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.

    Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
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     letitbe - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: What happens when you try acid or LSD?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Martha's Vineyard Regional High School! Thanks for asking this great question. LSD (or acid) produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. With large enough doses, users experience delusions and hallucinations. Physical effects include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sleeplessness; and loss of appetite. This link will connect you to more info on LSD: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/acidlsd.html
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     LitterBox Nomad - Skaneateles High School, New York: Can you die from mixing certain drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Yes. Mixing drugs and alcohol can be dangerous---and mixing illicit drugs with prescription drugs can be dangerous. It is even dangeous to mix certain prescription drugs. This is why it is so important to only take prescription drugs as prescribed by your doctor, and never to mix drugs with alcohol.  We have actually heard a lot about these dangers when famous celebrities die accidently---and later it is reported they mixed drugs,and sometimes alcohol, not knowing how dangerous it would be.
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     jeff - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is in alcohal that makes you dizzy

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It is the alcohol itself that produces the dizziness. Alcohol affects the part of the brain that controls your balance, posture, and coordination.
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     Merk Prtner - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: This one time at band camp I was reading this radical book and it said that Cocaine affects the dendrites and the consolidation and long term potentiation of short term memories into long term memories, especially the semantic part. Is this true? If not, what does it affect?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of dopamine, a brain chemical (or neurotransmitter) associated with pleasure and movement, in the brain’s reward circuit. Certain brain cells, or neurons, use dopamine to communicate. Normally, dopamine is released by a neuron in response to a pleasurable signal (e.g., the smell of good food), and then recycled back into the cell that released it, thus shutting off the signal between neurons. Cocaine acts by preventing the dopamine from being recycled, causing excessive amounts of the neurotransmitter to build up, amplifying the message to and response of the receiving neuron, and ultimately disrupting normal communication. It is this excess of dopamine that is responsible for cocaine’s euphoric effects. With repeated use, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain’s reward system and in other brain systems as well, which may eventually lead to addiction. With repeated use, tolerance to the cocaine high also often develops. Many cocaine abusers report that they seek but fail to achieve as much pleasure as they did from their first exposure. Some users will increase their dose in an attempt to intensify and prolong the euphoria, but this can also increase the risk of adverse psychological or physiological effects.

    With respect to the effects of cocaine on dendrites, there is evidence from animal studies (for example, Terry Robinson at the University of Michigan) has shown that it does affect the structure/morphology of the dendrites and dendritic spines. And there is growing evidence in human cocaine abusers that various aspects of memory and other cognitive functions are affected by cocaine use.

    Hope this helps...and thanks for your interest in the brain!!!
     
    For more information on cocaine please see: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/cocaine.php
    Moderator Icon  According to a 2010 study, prescription and over-the-counter drugs are among the most commonly abused drugs by 12th graders, after alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco.
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     A. Robles - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: If a pregnant woman uses drugs what birth effects will the baby encounter?]

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to you --A. Robles! Thanks for taking the time to ask such a good question. Exposure to drugs can affect anyone across their lifespan, starting in utero.

    Effects can range from low birth weight to developmental deficits affecting behavior and cognition (impaired attention, language, and learning skills, behavioral problems, etc.) have been seen in children exposed to cocaine and marijuana, all of which can affect success in school. Methamphetamine exposure has been associated with fetal growth restriction, decreased arousal, and poor quality of movement in infants. Here is a link to info on prenatal exposure to drugs -- marijuana is mentioned along with several other drugs: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html 
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     IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What is the healthiest way to help stop addiction?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Stop using while under the care and supervision of a physician.  They are sworn to protect your confidentiality, and can keep tabs on what's going on with your body.  Also, for extreme alcoholics, suddenly quitting without the aid of certain medications can be fatal, because the body and brain has adapted to all that alcohol being present all the time.
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     aballiro - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: i think someone i know may be doing drugs what should i do?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey NH, If you are willing to reach out to them, and it poses no risk to you, you might try talking to them.  You could listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
    PollI have friends who try to talk me into smoking marijuana.
    33% - Yes
    51% - No
    16% - Maybe
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     marijuanaisbad - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: no one in my family thinks i'm pretty, but cigarette ads make people look pretty, shouild i smoke?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: That's not very nice of your family to say you're not pretty!  Cigarette ads are designed to sell you cigarettes, so of course they're going to try to convince you that if you use their product your life will be perfect.  In reality, smoking affects your looks in much less desirable ways.  The picture below shows twins- one who smokes and one who doesn't- and I think we can all agree that the smoking twin is not aging as gracefully as her sister.  Click on the link for other ways smoking will make you less pretty.  There are many positive ways you can feel pretty and good about yourself, but smoking is not one of them!

    http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-ways-smoking-affects-looks

    Photo of identical twins, one smoker
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     ..... - Einstein High School, Maryland: is it true that hamsters can drink more alcohole then a human can without dieing

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow, good question! I honestly am not sure about hamsters. However, I personally have given lots and lots of alcohol to rats and can tell you that rats definitely can handle more alcohol than humans without dying. Not much more, but more. Hamsters? Not sure!
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     Mr.Money - Rockville HS, Maryland: Is it possible to abuse OTC drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hey Mr. Money...Yes---it is possible to abuse over-the-counter drugs.  most commonly abused OTC drug is cough syrup that contains Dextromethorphan (DXM). DXM is a drug that suppresses coughing, and can be a welcome relief on a night when coughing keeps you awake.  Like many other medications, when DXM is abused—taken in high doses and for the wrong reasons—the consequences can be extremely dangerous. Named in reference to Robitussin, one of the most common cold medicines, “robotripping” describes the act of abusing cough and cold syrups by taking more than the recommended dose on the label. Someone who consumes more than the recommended amount of DXM is likely to experience hallucinations or dissociative “out of body” feelings for up to 6 hours. These side effects are similar to the hallucinations people experience when they abuse an illegal drug like PCP.

    But feeling detached from your body and hallucinating is just the start. Ingesting more cough syrup than recommended on the label can cause impaired motor function, numbness, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, permanent brain damage, and even death.
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     blake s - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: what makes people try drugs?

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Really good question. A common related question is 'Why do people try or use drugs when they know it is bad for them?'  Well, there are a number of reasons why people might try drugs. Some reasonsinclude to feel good, to feel better, to do better, curiosity, and peer pressure.  Unfortunately, knowing that drugs are harmful doesn't prevent people from using drugs. For more information on youth and drug use, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/.


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     Brian - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is wine or beer more likely to get you drunk?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The ingredient that gets you drunk, alcohol, is the same in both. The only difference is that wine tends to have more alcohol in it than beer. So, a person would have to drink less wine than beer to get drunk.
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: Why is k2 illegal and what is in it?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello yomama,K2, spice or synthetic cannabinoids are a whole class of new emerging drugs that have similar effects to marijuana but may be much more powerful. The chemical structures for many of these drugs are different than THC, the active compound in marijuana. Since these compounds were different than THC, they were legal until the Drug Enforcement Agency identified them as illegal beginning last year. There have been many adverse effects from K2 and other synthetic cannabinoids, including reports of heart attacks, driving accidents and suicides, so the drugs were recently scheduled as illegal drugs. As far as what is in it - which can be anything - that is one of the dangerous parts of using K2. It has been shown that often, the packages do not contain what is listed, and it is impossible to know what you are taking, how much you are taking, and how you will react to what you are taking. It is dangerous to experiment with these drugs where there is no control of how the drugs are produced, and what other toxic compounds may be present.
    This was a great question, thank you!
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: Can parents, older brothers or sisters help to a person who is on drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Definitely - family members are an important source of support to someone who has a drug abuse problem.  You can always listen to what your family member has to say about why they use drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects his body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  Even though they may not want treatment you can always tell them their health and well being are important to you and encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help. Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support for yourself.   Remember, you can't make your loved one stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let him know you care.
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     health212 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: what effects does synthetic drugs have on you?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Thanks for your question, health212. Spice, K2 or synthetic cannabinoids are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking when you use synthetic drugs - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. They are powerful stimulant drugs that cause your heart to race have even been reported to cause heart attacks in 16 year olds. Synthetic cannabinoids can produce relaxation and euphoria, but they can also cause panic reactions, bad feelings and hallucinations. The most frightening thing is that you have no idea what you are putting into your body or how you will react. Take care of yourself.
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     unicornzlawlz - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: What do 'shrooms do?

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. The active chemical in 'shrooms' is psilocybin. This is a hallucinogen that comes from certain types of mushrooms found in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. The use of psilocybin has been associated with negative physical and psychological consequences. The physical effects, which appear within 20 minutes of taking them and last approximately 6 hours, include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. The psychological side effects of psilocybin include hallucinations and an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Panic attacks may also occur, particularly with a large dose. See this link for more: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php.
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     FAFERZ! - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: does marijuana have long term affects?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Crestwood!!
    There are lots of lovely long-term affects associated with using MJ like impaired ability to learn and remember new information, increased risk of respiratory infections, and more.  MJ users are also known to be highly motivated!  Not!!!  In fact, there was a recent study where heavy MJ users reported less satisfaction with their life, educational and career achievement, income and more because of their drug use.  Thanks for your question.  Want to know more about the effects of marijuana?  Check out our site - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php, http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
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     daisy - Johnson Middle School, California: why do a lot of teenagers do drugs all the time?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Daisy, this is a good question.  People, of all ages, use drugs for a lot of different reasons.  Some people are curious, and just want to experiment, and may be a high 'risk-taker.'  Some people may feel pressured by friends or family to use drugs.  Some people say that they use drugs to feel 'better' - they want to alter their mood or memories or thoughts.  Some people, when they start to use drugs, have a problem with stopping their use - there may be something that makes them more susceptible to becoming addicted.

    Here are some statistics about drug use among teens: According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, almost 20% of teens, aged 12 to 17, used illicit drugs in the past year.
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     shannonl - Gahanna Lincoln High School, Ohio: Will you explain how Amy Winehouse drank herself to death?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Sure. For anyone, drinking enough alcohol can shut down parts of the brain that are important for keeping us alive. If those areas are shut down, the heart can stop beating and we can stop breathing. In essence, it's like alcohol flips a switch and shuts the body off. It appears this is what happened to Amy Winehouse. Based on reports in the media, she had five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her body and several empty bottles of vodka were found in her room when she died. Presumably, she drank enough alchol to shut off these vital centers in her brain and she stopped breathing.
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     SweetSacrifice - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What have you sacrificed, what friendships have you sacrificed, to keep someone 'safe' from drugs, even though the drugs they were doing (legal or non) were doing more good than harm?? If it took them away from their horrible lives and made them forget, and they didn't do anything stupid (like driving), what would you do?? If you know they're not going to stop, just hate you, what would you do to 'help' them??

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Sweet Sacrifice - Sounds like you think talking with your friend about their drug use will end your friendship.  I don't think that necessarily has to be true.  You can express your concern in a supportive and non-judgmental way.  Let you friend talk about their drug use and just listen.  Let them explain why they use drugs.  Also, you can give them information about how drugs are harmful to their body, brain, and life.  Information on this topic can be found at: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/.  Finally, if they are ready you can suggest they seek professional help.  They can talk to a guidance counselor, doctor, or teacher about drug treatment.  Information about drug treatment can be found at: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov. Be sure to take care of yourself.  Supporting a friend with a drug problem can be very stressful and difficult.  Make sure you reach out to trusted friends, family, and other adults for support.
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     drugsR4thugs - Sidney High School, Nebraska: Are kids with divorced parents more likely to do drugs rather than kids without divorced parents?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Yes, but only if the divorce results in less monitoring of the young person (i.e. who he or she is hanging out with and where and when).  My own parents divorced when I was nine, but my mother was on my case all the time. No drugs for me!
    Moderator Icon  There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     ghost - Einstein High School, Maryland: I heard that marijuana actually does less damage than alcohol, is this true?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss:  Yes--one reason is that there's more people using alcohol than marijuana--probably because of its legal status for those over 21.  Alcohol has known harmful effects on the teen brain and is involved in more than 40% of fatal crashes in those under 21. It is also responsible for major health problems--liver disease, cancer, and fetal alcohol syndrome.  But that doesn't mean that marijuana doesn't also carry serious risks--addiction, car crashes-especially in combination with alcohol, school drop out, and mental health problems in some. For more information, check out http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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     upnorte789 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: wat do i do if i know someone doing drugs?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hello Minnesota! (I'm from Minneapolis).  Thanks for bringing this up, and for caring about your friend. You may want to refer your friend to this website to get the facts behind drugs and drug use: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/activities/get-involved. You could also refer resources for him that are anonymous - for example, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. They don't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect your friend with a professional close by. If you feel uncomfortable approaching this person about the problem but care what happens to him, you may also want to talk to your school counselor or someone else in your community who may help you to sort out how to deal with this situation. 
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     WonderWoman75 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: How does morphine differ from heroin? (Besides the fact that heroin is completely illegal.)

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: hey wonderwoman!  Good question.  Both are opioids and derived from the poppy plant.  They both can reduce pain and each can result in addiction.  Heroin is less processed.  When heroin breaks down in the body, part of what it breaks into is morphine. In the early 1800's, chemists learned how to make morphine from heroin.  Morphine had some advantages in the treatment of pain and was more widely adopted as a pain killer.
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     ale - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is pain kiler addictive and what are the risks

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Many painkillers, especially the most effective ones like Percocet, interfere with a system in the brain called the opiate system, and can indeed be addictive, or 'habit-forming' as they say in drug advertisements.  This is, in my opinion, the biggest risk of taking them. Part of the problem is that the brain adapts to the medication over time, requiring more and more pills to get the same effects, which only drives the potential addiction process forward.  This is why doctors usually recommend over-the-counter medications like Advil first, and only give Percocet or other potentially addictive painkillers for extreme pain, and will try to keep monitoring the patient to make sure the pill use is not escalating.
    Moderator Icon  Treatment for mental illnesses include different kinds of psychotherapy and medications. It usually takes weeks or months for treatments to work so it is important to stick with it.
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     cgonzales - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: why do your eyes get bloodshot when you smoke marijuana?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hei Mr Gonzales.

    Great question: Cannabis widens blood vessels, an effect that is called vasodilation. The eyes contain a lot of blood vessels which widen when you are stoned; hence the blood within the vessels is more visible against the white of the eye causing red-eye. When the vasodilator in marijuana is metabolized (clears from the system), the blood vessels return to normal and the red eye disappears. This cannabis-induced red eye is different from the red eye caused by inflammation, allergy or injury. The root cause of marijuana's visodaltion effect is that marijuana increases the heart rate. The heart beats faster because the pressure is lowered.

    keep it safe, smart and stay healthy!!
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      lakerpro12 - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is nicotine so addictive?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Good question and the answer is quite complicated. Briefly, nicotine activates the brain's reward system, and over time changes it so that the person no longer feels normal without the drug.
    There are a couple factors that make it really hard to quit smoking.  When one smokes, they get a quick spike of nicotine in thier blood.  That helps make a drug more addictive.  Plus the average smoker get thousands of 'hits' of nicotine each year.  Increased numbers of 'hit' increases the probability of addiction, and make it harder to quit. 
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     tha2d - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: how many times do u take a drug to be addicted

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Good question. Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we can’t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genetic makeup, the genes that make each of us who we are, and the environment we grow up in each play a role. What we do know is that a person who abuses drugs risks becoming addicted--focusing their lives on seeking and using the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences. For more information on the brain and addiction, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#addicted.
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     hedwards - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why doesn't all states legalize marijuana for medical purposes?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: It is really not the role of the State to legalize medicines--that is the role for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and they have not approved marijuana to treat any medical illness at this time. That is because smoking marijuana has not been shown in rigorously conducted clinical studies to have medical benefits that exceed its risks--the same standard used to approve any medication. However, the FDA has approved certain medications that contain ingredients found in marijuana. These medications are usually prescribed to relieve symptoms in seriously ill patients, such as reducing nausea for cancer patients on chemotherapy or helping AIDS patients to eat more. Also, there is some new and exciting research looking at the biology of cannabinoids, the general class of molecules related to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. This research suggests new ways of treating pain and other illnesses without the dangers of becoming addicted or the health liabilities linked to smoking marijuana.

    See http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more information.
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     40303826 - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many brain cells gets killed from liquor, cocaine, meth, beer, nicotine, heroin, and inhalants?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi North Carroll Middle,
    Well, the exact number is 5,126,892.  If you had asked about tobacco, that number would go up.  Just kidding....we don't really know exactly how many...let's just say there could potentially be a lot of them.  Many drugs can be toxic to the brain.  For example, using inhalants damages brain cells.  Also, methamphetamine not only cause brain cells to not work properly, but can definitely 'kill' them. There's some new research that shows that some people that use methamphetamine might be more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease later in life.  What's Parkinson's?  It's a brain disease that occurs when dopamine neurons in the brain die.  This causes a person to lose the ability to control their muscles, which will eventually make it difficult to walk, talk and more. There's so much damage that drugs can do to the brain, so why risk it?  Click here for more information on drugs and how it affects the brain and body - http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
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     laura f - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what is vicodin?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Vicodin is a prescription painkiller that is safe and effective against pain when used as directed by your doctor. It is part of a class of drugs called opioids. Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the way a person experiences pain. Some people take opioids just to get 'high.' Opioids can have negative effects when abused like this.  Taking a large single dose could even cause death. In fact, more people die from opioid overdoses in this country every year than from heroin and cocaine combined. Typically, they should not be used with alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. Because these other substances slow breathing, their effects in combination with opioids could lead to life-threatening respiratory depression.

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     jamest - Neshaminy High School, Pennsylvania: what makes drugs addictive

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello there. Great question. This is probably more information that you want, but here you go. Think about how you feel when something good happens—maybe your team wins a game or you're praised for something you've done well—that's your limbic system at work. Because natural pleasures in our lives are necessary for survival, the limbic system creates an appetite that drives you to seek out those things. The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure, with dopamine carrying the message. Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This chemical flooding of the brain changes it, creating an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    A person who has smoked marijuana may have difficulty with his or her balance because of the drug's effect on what brain area?
    The correct answer is: D. The cerebellum. The cerebellum is a part of the brain that helps regulate posture, balance, and coordination during activities such as playing ball, picking up objects, and balancing. The cerebellum coordinates our voluntary muscle movement, like a puppeteer helping us put one leg in front of the other. See more at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-cerebellum/
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     shanaynay - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: was there a specific reason why acid was created

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: LSD was first synthesized in 1938 by Albert Hofman trying to recreate the properties of a chemical that had been previously been found in a fungus that grows on the rye grain. It was thought at some point that it could be used to treat some psychiatric conditions. But it did not pan out... 
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     cbanda - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: Do antidepressants have any negative side effects?

    Expert Icon Joel Sherrill: HI Cbanda:  Good question!  Antidepressants, like all medications, have positive effects, but there can be some side effects, as well.  On the positive side, they help people manage their depression or anxiety and feel better, in general.  But sometimes people experience various side effects; different people have different experiences with side effects, even if they take the same medication.  So if you are on antidepressants or are considering starting treatment, it is important to have an open conversation about different possible side effects with your doctor.  If you experience side effects that are hard to tolerate, you can have a conversation with your doctor about whether a different medication might be a better fit for you.

    For more information about antidepressant medications, including information about positive effects and potential side effects,see this NIMH publication: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml.  For lots more more information about depression, go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
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     jf - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how does alcohol effect a girl who is pregnant?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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     123u - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: is drinking alcohol worse then smoking?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow, good question. But also one that is very difficult to answer. Comparing alcohol to cigarettes is like comparing apples to grapes. Both alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to the body, particularly during the teen years when the brain is still developing and changing. However, because they do different things to the body they carry very different risks. Cigarettes, for instance, produce considerable damage to the lungs and can interfere with the ability to exercise, can make asthma and allergies worse, can disrupt sleep and appetite, damage the teeth and gums, and so on. Alcohol can interfere with brain development and potentially damage the developing teen brain. Alcohol increases the risk of injuries and death. Starting to use cigarettes and alcohol during the teen years increases the chances of becoming addicted. So, while both are unhealthy for teens, they are unhealthy for different reasons.
    Moderator Icon  Kate Egan works as the Communications Director at the National Institute on Mental Health. She works closely with the scientists at NIMH to find out all the interesting research they’re doing. Then she puts it into English – so people can understand it and realize how cool and remarkable it is. Making it understandable shows people how it can help them – both now and in the future. She works with journalists from all over the world so they can report on the research too. She’s part of a great team of people who create and maintain the NIMH website, shoot videos, and send out all their colorful publications. Kate grew up and now lives in the DC area, but spent 10 years in Atlanta. She likes to keep moving and can usually be found swimming, biking, kayaking and pretty much anything in the water. She’d like to install a treadmill or an elliptical machine in her office.
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     mrosario - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: If someone cant stop using drugs ,and they have gone to rehab what can they do to stop using drugs?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: This is an excellent question.  Addiction is a chronic disease; and unfortunately, that means that sometimes there may be relapses (like a flare-up from a chronic condition) along with periods of sobriety (no use).  It may mean that the person needs a more intensive type of treatment at this time, and hopefully, this may help with a longer period of recovery.
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     shannonl - Gahanna Lincoln High School, Ohio: I have a student who wants to quit smoking marijuana and has set it as a goal for himself. What advice to you have for him?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey teacher in OH - I would advise your student to get professional help.  Drug treatment can help him learn more about his drug use and develop the necessary skills to not use.  He will also need a strong support system of non-drug using family and friends.  More information on treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

    And congratulations on being the kind of teacher kids will come to and discuss their drug use.  You ROCK!
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     IMS227 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why is Alcohol so addictive?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
    User Icon
     dst22 - Rockville HS, Maryland: Are drugs on the street more dangerous today than they were 20 years ago?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Hmmm--good question. I think there are many different drugs on the street than there used to be, so the effects we're seeing are changing.  For example, so called 'designer' drugs that are made by amateur chemists and sold under the names bath salts or spice.  These are variations on other drugs (marijuana and amphetamine)  that have never been tested in human beings.  These drugs can be very strong and may contain dangerous impurities. Reports from poison control centers are increasing, and there have already been some deaths. Another recent and serious problem concerns abuse of prescription opioid painkillers. (Abuse means taking a medication not as prescribed or a medication that was not prescribed for you).  Their abuse is leading to record numbers of overdoses--more than heroin and cocaine combined.  And opioid painkillers, because they work similarly to heroin in the brain, are not only causing addiction--but some people that start out abusing painkillers move on to injecting heroin--with all the problems that brings, e.g. HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  It seems there are always dangerous drugs out there, so we are always working hard to find ways to help those who are already addicted, and prevent young people especially from even starting. 
    User Icon
     T&Mquestions - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Is beer a more better option than alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: First of all, beer is a type of alcohol. It contains the same kind of alcohol, ethyl alcohol, that wine and distilled spirits contain. For adults, having one (for women) or two (for men) servings of alcohol in the form of beer, wine or distilled spirits appears to be okay. For people under 21, alcohol is not only illegal but bad for the developing brain and can increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic later in life.  
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     megmarie - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: How come not all people who get caught with illegal drugs don't go to jail?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Well - I don't know but it could mean they just haven't been caught yet.  Possession of illegal drugs is a risky business and why take the risk?  Best thing to do is stay away from all illegal activity - including the possession of drugs.  For more information on drugs see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
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     IMS326 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What is angel dust and brown brown?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Again Louisiana! Angel dust refers to a drug called phencyclidine or (PCP) and brown-brown is a term the describes a form of powdered cocaine. Here is more info on cocaine from our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php and this link will connect you to PCP info: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php
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     548819 - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Do you have a life or are yall computyer?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: We might be scientists and science writers but we definitely have cool lives--have you read the bios we are posting?
    Moderator Icon  Some people mistakenly believe that “everybody’s doing it” and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves. Well, they need to check the facts, because that’s just not true. According to a 2010 study, about 8% of 8th graders, 17% of 10th graders, and 21%of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey.
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     Hank H - Skaneateles High School, New York: My grandfather has a problem with heroin and he doesn't want treatment. What can I do to change his mind?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hank - thanks for sharing and asking this question.  Helping a family member with their drug use can be difficult.  Here are some things to consider. You might try listening to what your grandfather has to say about why he is using drugs.  You can also encourage him to learn more about how drug use negatively affects his body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  Even though he doesn't want treatment you can always tell him his health and well being are important to you and encourage him to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your grandfather stop using drugs - you can only provide him with support and let him know you care.
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     fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: How many and what are the dangerous chemicals in marijuana?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Marijuana contains lot's of the same nasty chemicals that are in cigarettes.  However, the addictive chemical in marijuanna is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), not nicotine as in cigarettes... 
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     LaMo - Rockville HS, Maryland: What part of the brain is affected the most when one is 'high'? The Amygdala, Frontal Cortexm, Or____?

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Great question. As you probably know, the brain is the command center of your body. It controls just about everything you do, even when you are sleeping. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction. Drugs of abuse affect three primary areas of the brain:

    • The brain stem, which is in charge of all of the functions our body needs to stay alive and links the brain with the spinal cord to let the brain know what is happening to the body.
    • The limbic system, which controls our emotional responses, such as feeling pleasure when we eat chocolate.
    • The cerebral cortex, which contains the frontal cortex or forebrain, and powers our ability to think, plan, solve problems, and make decisions.
    For information on the effects of drug on the brain, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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     acastro - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: would you consider nicotine the most dangerous ingredient in tobacco/

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: There are lots of dangerous ingredients in cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive, and because of the terrible health effects of long term smoking (including 440,000 deaths a year), some people would say nicotine is the most dangerous ingredient. However, the the tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birthweight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children.
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     urmom - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: can you get drunk on this new mix called jenkem?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Fortunately, 'jenkem' does not appear to be a real drug and was a hoax that circulated a few years ago. It was supposed to be a hallucinogen made from fermented human waste. Not real, though! Gross!!!!
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     nathanielchambe - Vista, Oklahoma: can you drive ok when you are drunk

    Expert Icon Aaron White: No! Drinking even just a little bit of any kind of alcoholic beverage can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision - all necessary for you to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow or red light and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.

    In short, alcohol + driving = bad news!! 
    User Icon
     themowmow - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: what is the best way to quit smoking cigs?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: It's difficult for sure.  Look at how many people try to quit, time and time again.  However, you can do it, for sure.  As for the best method, it varies between people.  My advice, keep trying, and get support from your family and friends.  Here is a link with lots of useful information: www.smokefree.gov
    Quitting will make you feel better right away, and your risks for cancer and heart disease will quickly fall back to where they would be if you never smoked.
    Good luck!!!


    User Icon
     40008392 - north carroll middle, Maryland: How do drugs in general effect the brain cells?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Great Question! Drugs of abuse interact with nerve cells in the brain called Neurons.  Neurons communicate with each other 24/7 to control everything we do, think, and feel. Your brain contains about 100 billion neurons—100 billion!! - that are finely-tuned to work together to transmit information and messages in response to what's going on around (and within) you. 

    Drugs are chemicals. They work in the brain by tapping into its communication system and interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Different drugs—because of their chemical structures—work differently. In fact, some drugs can change the brain in ways that last long after the person has stopped taking drugs, maybe even permanently.  So, in a nutshell...how do drugs affect the brain?  It changegs the way it communicates and acts...it takes a well-oiled machine (your brain) and throws it off the tracks!
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     fort settlement - Ft. Settlement Middle School, Texas: What form does Ecstasy come in? Pills, liquid or what?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: MDMA---or Ecstasy-- is a synthetic drug that has stimulant and psychoactive properties. It is taken orally as a capsule or tablet. We do not know the full effect of ecstasy on the developing teenage brain. There is more information on Ecstasy on teens.drugabuse.gov.
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     iLuvLlamas3 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What should I do if i suspect one of my girliez is getting into trouble with drugz and alcohol?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: This is a hard situation to be in.  I think that your friend would appreciate an honest conversation with you; there are ways to discuss something like drug use without being confrontational - in fact, it'd be important to think about being very supportive and empathic.  Let your friend know that you care a lot about her, and that you are here to help her. If you'd like to help her find a substance abuse treatment facility locater, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Good luck!
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     tgcheer - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: How long do you stay in jail for drugs

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Trying to decide if the crime is worth the time?  Trust me it isn't.  Seriously -the answer to your question is 'it depends.'  The legal consequences for posession of drugs depends on the type of drug, amount of drug, and place where you are caught with the drug. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?'  The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs.  For more information on the consequences of drugs see: 
    http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html
    Moderator Icon  Someone new to challenge with your great questions has just entered the Chat. Dr. Jacqueline Lloyd is a scientists who studies how to help people avoid drug use and abuse, and how to prevent drug-related HIV transmission. Before working at NIDA, Jacqueline worked as a social worker and was involved in many drug prevention trainings. Jacqueline was born in London, England, but came to the U.S. when she was 8 years old, eventually attending high school and college in Massachusetts. Even though her favorite subjects in school were Spanish and math, Jacqueline always had an interest in “prevention” science and discovering what really works to help people. One thing she enjoys about work is helping scientists develop their research ideas, and getting young people interested in science. Outside of work, Jacqueline enjoys traveling and learning new cultures, as well as bike riding, dancing (especially salsa!) and just being outdoors, especially during the summertime.
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     noguz - Johnson Middle School, California: What are currently the deadliest types of drugs in America?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: 
    Greetings California!!  One of our scientists, Dr. Joe Frascella, offers this answer:  This question is complicated and the answer is not so simple. Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness and which drugs are most dangerous. There are just too many variables that would need to be considered: genetic (e.g., drug metabolism), environmental (e.g., drug availability) and developmental (e.g., age), all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.

    The fact that it is almost impossible to rank drugs, does not mean that we cannot identify factors that contribute to or influence the addictiveness of a particular drug. We can offer a nice example from the world of stimulants, where different routes of administration (i.e., how you take it) can have a profound impact on the ultimate risk of harm and addiction. Smoking cocaine (crack) delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, but do not last long. The high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes. The high from snorting cocaine on the other hand comes on slower and can last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is evidence that suggests that users who smoke or inject cocaine may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves-including becoming addicted-than those who snort the substance, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.

    Hope this answer helps.
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     jacob - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is alchohal no illegal but it is proven to cause moree damage than other drugs?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
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     orangetango45 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: If some drugs are illegal than why so some hospitals use those illegal drugs on patients?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Many drugs or medications can be either legal or illegal depending on the SITUATION WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN.  Amphetamine given to a patient by his or her licensed physician in an official prescription is legal, because things are under control, and the medication is to treat a valid, diagnosed medical condition. Amphetamine given out or sold by a private individual in a back alley is not legal in the US.
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     michaelw - Vista, Oklahoma: what is in BEER that makes people drunk or any alcohol for that matter

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It's the alcohol itself. There are several types of alcohol, but the type found in the beverages people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

    Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

    Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.

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     KarenP - M.R. Wood Center for Learning (alternative school), Texas: What is 'Kush'? What is the after effects? How many people use it a year?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi KarenP,

    Kush is a powerful form of natural marijuana, usually grown in a nutrient-rich water solution to make it more potent. Spice refers to synthetic cannabinoids that are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. Both Kush and Spice have similar effects as marijuana but usually are much stronger. The after effects of spice should be similar to those of marijuana that are poor decision making, poor learning and memory and effects on reproduction. These are effects that are shorter lasting after occasional use, but can last much longer if someone is a long term daily smoker. The drug builds up in your body with frequent use and effects can last a long time until you are able to slowly eliminate the drug from your body.

    We don't have good statistics on how many people are smoking Kush or the high potency marijuana because most people don't know the potency of the drug they are using. We do know the average potency of marijuana that is seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency in the US and it is about 6-7% now, while Kush is much more potent but less available. Hope this helps.
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     N Rivera - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: How long does it take to recover from drug abuse?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Addiction does not have to be a life sentence. It takes time to recover, and the addicted person will always have to be careful, but a person can get back to a normal life. Look at these images of the human brain and how long it takes to be normal again after drug-taking is stopped.

    Recovery of Brain Function With Prolonged Abstinence image
    Moderator Icon  Abusing any type of mind-altering drug can affect judgment and inhibition and can put you at greater risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). To learn the link between drug abuse and HIV check out http://hiv.drugabuse.gov
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     Daniel P - Johnson Middle School, California: when we do cocaine, do we run faster?

    Expert Icon Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant that is snorted, injected, or smoked.  You might be referring go cocaine's ability to make the user feel euphoric and energetic.  But, cocaine also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, which is associated with severals risks. Users risk heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, abdominal pain, and nausea. In rare cases, sudden death can occur on the first use of cocaine or unexpectedly afterwards. Thahks for your question. Here's a link for more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
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     dylan - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is it ok to drink at 14 years old

    Expert Icon Aaron White: No, because it is against the law for anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol. Research also says no.  That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects.

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     Guillermo - Einstein High School, Maryland: How can you apply for an internship at the NIH?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi Guillermo,
    good timing!!!!
    the summer internship program at NIH opens in November. stay tuned and visit the training website for instructions on how and when to apply:
    https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/sip

    the best of luck!!
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     chaya - Rockville HS, Maryland: Can cocaine damage you?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Yes, and very badly. Please see this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
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     allnewsither - north carroll middle, Maryland: whats up peoples heres my question. is drug patches as bad as real drugs

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Allnewsither, drug patches are just another way to give someone a drug--through the skin, rather than in a pill, or by inhalation or injection.
    The nicotine patch is a good example of why patches can be an advantage. When someone smokes a cigarette, they take some 4000 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, into their lungs. With the nicotine patch, they only get the nicotine, without the risks for cancer, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease those other chemical bring. 
    Another advantage of medication patches is that in some cases, they can deliver a drug more gradually and evenly than pills, injection, or inhalation. Again, the nicotine patch is a good example of why this is helpful. When someone puffs on a cigarette, they get a big hit of nicotine all at once, and that promotes addiction. When they receive nicotine through the patch, they don't get that big hit, so their addiction doesn't get promoted, but the steady dose keeps them from going into nicotine withdrawal. Over time, the lack of reinforcement can help them quit the drug altogether.
    So to answer your question, drug patches are real drugs. When used appropriately under a doctor's supervision, they are generally safe and helpful. When used otherwise, they can be dangerous.
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     Brian - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can alchohol effect your growth?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It's possible. Alcohol could affect growth in several ways. Alcohol alters hormone levels in the body, including levels of testosterone, which play an important role in muscle growth and in the physical changes that males go through during puberty. In females, the hormone changes can disrupt the menstrual cycle. Alcohol interferes with sleep (some people think it helps them sleep but it actually doesn't!). Because it interferes with sleep cycles, alcohol reduces the release of something called growth hormone, which plays a very big role in growth and development throughout the body.

    Alcohol also interferes with brain growth and development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the part of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
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     27california - north carroll middle, Maryland: What age do most smokers start smoking?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Good question. Most smokers initiate smoking between the ages of 12 and 25. When the 2010 National Survey of Drug Use and Health asked people between the ages of 12 and 49 when they started smoking, the average reported age of smoking initiation was around 19 years old.
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     mmmm - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: was micheal phelps affected by drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I can't really say anything conclusive about an individual case like MP's because I don't know his story. But people who do use drugs are definitely affected by them.
    Moderator Icon  People with mental illnesses are not “crazy” or “psycho.” Mental illnesses are real and can be treated. They are not something a person can just snap out of. A lot of people do not get help because they are embarrassed or afraid someone will make fun of them.
    Learn how to help a friend get help when they need it.
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     chronic - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: please answer my question my dad is experiencing the repurcusions of using crack, he is trying to calm down by smoking some herb, will this make him better or worse?

    Expert Icon Marsha Lopez: Hey, wow, that's a lot on your shoulders! Smoking herb is not a recommended treatment for the ill effects of crack use, combining drugs can be very unpredictable and dangerous, so I would recommend you encourage your dad to get the help he needs so he can be around to see you grow up. You can contact the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.  Good luck!

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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: How should I react if one of my friends is taking drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: This is a difficult question. First of all, stay true to yourself and your values. Do not let anyone suck you into the world of drugs. If you think a friend has a problem with drugs you should confide in a trusted adult. It is probably not something you can handle by yourself. People with drug problems often deny they have a problem and will argue with yout about it. Their desire for drugscan become intense and can even become more important than your friendship. It is part of the disease of addiction.
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     Anthony - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is alcohol itself addicting to a person?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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     s.kate.e - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What is the minimum jail time if caught with marijuana?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Well that depends on how much marijuana you posess and where you are when you get caught with it. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?'  The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs.  For more information on the consequences of marijuana use see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ 
    Moderator Icon  This is Dr. Joel Sherrill’s first Chat. He is with the National Institute on Mental Health, so if you have any questions about depression, ADHD or other issues about your feelings and behaviors, he is your man! He is a clinical psychologist who has done counseling with adults and kids, but he has spent most of his time focused on research. After growing up in Michigan, and then going to school and working in New York and Pennsylvania, he moved to the DC area, where he spends a lot of time complaining about how hot it is in the South. Before he came to NIMH, he focused on using research to develop and test interventions to help children and adults with depression and other problems. Now at NIMH, he helps researchers who are doing this kind of work at universities and other research centers all over the country. When not in the office, Joel can be found hanging out with friends or just hanging out at home reading a book or watching too much TV.
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     Hank H - Skaneateles High School, New York: The guy who used to babysit me does meth. We havent seen each other in years but I hear about him all the time and how sick he is getting from the drug. Am I too much of a stranger to approach him about it?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: If you are willing to reach out to him and it poses no risk to you - why not?  You might try listening to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
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     nighthawk - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: why does pot make peolple hungry

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi there.
    thanks for the question
    its a good one. We don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
    Hope this helps.

    stay smart
    User Icon
     lovetosplooge69 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What are the harmful effects of alcohol? How much alcohol does it take to drink to much?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For kids under age 21, all alcohol is unhealthy - and drinking it is against the law. That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!

    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis, jaundice, fibrosis and cirrhosis.

    Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer.  For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
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     Smiles - Sidney High School, Nebraska: If drugs are supposed to be harmful, why do they feel so good to the human body?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Drugs of abuse are harmful. They feel good because they produce release of certain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, or opioids. While a 'high' is one effect people can experience, drugs also produce a long list of BAD side effects that can result in death, coma, brain damage, stroke, hemorrage, depression, and so on, to name a few.
    If you are curious to know more, please see the link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    User Icon
     golfer50 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: do steroids have the same effect as drugs if very addicted

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Nebraska,
    Drugs have different effects on the body, but drug dependence or addiction may be similar in an individual's behavior around the time they spend getting and using the drug, and alienating family, friends, and colleagues. When addicted, an individual loses control over their drug habit - it takes over their life and becomes the most important goal, over other aspects that used to be important to them. So yes, they can have this same effect, but the areas of the brain that the drug works on and the acute and long-term effects on the body can be different. Steroids definitely can produce dependence and addiction.  You can find more info on steroids and its effects on the body and brain at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php.  Thanks for your question!
    User Icon
     mrosario - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: If a mother is taking drugs while pregnant will their baby become addicted to the same drugs later in life?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question but a very complicated one!  We really don't have a definitive answer to this question yet, but there is some evidence to suggest that this might be true.  What we do know is that drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior.  The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome.  And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

    User Icon
     Aaron - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: when you drink alcohol how long does it take for your pancreas to be affected

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol affects every organ in the body, mostly in negative ways. The pancreas is no exception. Some alcoholics develop a condition known as 'alcoholic pancreatitis', in which the pancreas becomes inflamed. Approximately 50% of alcoholics who develop pancreatitis die from it within 20 years, particularly if they keep drinking. However, the length of time it takes to develop the problem is unknown as this time. Nor is it known why some alcoholics develop it while others do not.
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     Austin - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do drugs given to you by a doctor not make you high

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Only medications that target certain molecules on brain cells can make you high.  Not penicillin or other antibiotics for example.  Certain medications, such as painkillers, CAN make you high, but carry with them a risk that you'll get hooked on them!
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     rathelt - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: Was heroin originally used as a prescription medicine for coughing?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi there,

    heroine is actually a crude preparation of a chemical called diamorphine.  Diamorphine is a narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of severe pain.
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: How can you help a loved one who does not see that drugs are not the best choice to solve difficult problems?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Great question.  Yes, there are things you can do to help a loved one who does not see the impact drugs are having on their life. First, you can listen to what your loved one has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  If they aren't ready for help yet, don't give up.  Just let them know you are there to support them whenever they decide to seek help.  Finally, because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
    Inhalants can harm the brain, affecting a fatty tissue that covers nerves called:
    The correct answer is: A. Myelin. Inhaling fumes or markers can eat away at the myelin lining that protects nerve cells. Without this protection, nerve cells can get damaged and may be less efficient in transmitting messages to other nerve cells. This can cause muscle spasms, tremors or difficulty with basic motor skills like walking, bending, or talking. For more information, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-axon/
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     IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why is Alcohol so addictive?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol becomes addicive primarily because affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    You can read more about this at: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/
     
    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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     blakeschoolSRD - The Blake School, Minnesota: How does drug addiction differ from adults and teen? Is it something that can be used responsibly like alcohol for adults?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs.  Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, the teen brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc.  Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.

    If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ For information on alcohol, go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism Web site at: www.niaaa.nih.gov.
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     Moon - Einstein High School, Maryland: How do pot addicts become addicted to marijuana if it is not addicting?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because it IS addicting-- in some users.  Scientists have some good indications of what factors in peoples' personality or their genes might help tip us off to who is most likely to go on to lose control, but this is still an area of ongoing study.  Most people can stop, but a small portion can't.
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     clorenzi - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: i know that drugs affect the brain and, basically, the whole body, but what exactly,on a molecular level, is in drugs that causes certain side-effects to happen?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: This is a great question. It is in their chemical structure. Each drug is different, but if you are curious to know more, please visit our website http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html and particularly our interesting and colorful booklet, the Science of Addiction: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
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     mvrhs2 - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: Hey what's cocaine?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain.  Coca leaves, the source of cocaine, have been chewed and ingested for thousands of years, and the purified chemical, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. In the early 1900s, for example, purified cocaine was the main active ingredient in most of the tonics and elixirs that were developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Pure cocaine was originally extracted from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca bush, which grew primarily in Peru and Bolivia. After the 1990s, and following crop reduction efforts in those countries, Colombia became the nation with the largest cultivated coca crop. Today, cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which means that it has high potential for abuse but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses, such as local anesthesia for some eye, ear, and throat surgeries. Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder and is also known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with inert substances such as cornstarch, talcum powder, or sugar, or with active drugs such as procaine (a chemically related local anesthetic) or amphetamine (another stimulant). Some users combine cocaine with heroin—in what is termed a “speedball.”  these are dangeous 'cocktails.' Cocaine produces an intense high, but it is also addictive and dangerous and most teens stay away from it.
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     LitterBox Nomad - Skaneateles High School, New York: I am addicted to tabacco. Whats the best way to quit?

    Expert Icon Dave White: LitterBox Nomad, overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but you're taking a brave first step to beating it. Remember there are a lots of folks doing it every day, and when you do, studies have shown that your risks for adverse effects such a lung cancer and emphysema will drop off quickly to the levels of folks who don't smoke. 
    To specifically answer your question, there are different kinds of help available, including medications and guidance from professional counselors. The best way to quit smoking will depend on the person. Check out this site for more information: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp.
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     ims - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: if a women is a alcoholic and she is pregnant will it hurt her baby?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
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     nathanielchambe - Vista, Oklahoma: how does beer effect your diving skills

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking even just a little bit of beer, or any other kind of alcoholic beverage, can seriously impact your ability to drive. Alcohol impacts the part of your brain that controls your motor coordination, your ability to make fast and precise movements, and your vision, all necessary to drive safely. In addition, alcohol can impair your judgement, and makes you more likely to take risks like driving through a yellow light rather than stopping and driving faster than the posted speed limit. Alcohol also makes people sleepy and increases the chances of falling asleep while driving. Each year, more than 10,000 people die in car crashes due to drinking and driving.
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     kesha12 - Johnson Middle School, California: why do people do drugs

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: That's a great question. There are many reasons. Some people are bored, some are depressed or anxious, some use drugs to overcome a sense of void and emptiness, some take them because their friends do. No matter what is the reason, all drugs affect your brain and can make people very sick.  Most regret it, sooner or later. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ for more.
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     calvin - Einstein High School, Maryland: i think my friend is doing drugs, what should i tell him

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Hi Calvin,

    Thanks for writing.  Tell him that it's probably not a good idea, since he might be in the tragic portion of people who regularly use drugs who go on to totally lose control over it.  Most recreational users can ultimately stop using on their own, but for those who can't, it completely ruins their lives, or puts them 'on hold' for many years until they can get it together!
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     ims301 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Do you think cocaine causes people to have seizures?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to Iberia Middle School!  The relationship between cocaine use and seizures is complex one. The likelihood that someone would experience a seizure can vary by frequency, mode of intake (how you do it), and the amount. Want to read more about it? Check out this link http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim1.php  Curious about it still? Why don't you become a drug researcher--you ask great questions:>
    User Icon
     Joelle - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: Why is it worse to do drugs when pregnant, and how badly can it effect the baby?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Thanks for this important question. Most drugs that a pregnant woman takes will pass through to the baby in varying degrees. No drugs should be taken during pregnancy unless medically necessary - a decision made between the doctor and the woman. The placenta's main function is to protect the fetus, but drugs do pass to the developing baby and can cause many problems. These drugs can affect the development of the child - in both ways that are visible at birth and ways that do not appear until much later in a child's development. Drugs can have very bad effects, like alcohol that can produce mental retardation, to other drugs that affect behavior, learning, and even drug dependence later in life. It is important to give a child the best possible start in life by avoiding drug use during pregnancy and when raising the child.
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     40009091 - north carroll middle, Maryland: can cemicals hurt you

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: Sure.   There are all sorts of chemicals. Poisons, food additives, vitamins, the list goes on and on.  I am guessing you are asking more about drugs.  Some drugs are medications, and when used properly should not hurt you.  Medications used improperly can certainly hurt you. For example prescription pain killers used improperly kill thousands of people each year.  Drugs of abuse (e.g. marijuana, LSD, cocaine…) each have a long list of negative effects on people. 
    For more info, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php

     
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: Does treatment really work? Are they people who quit drugs forever?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Yes to question 1!  Yes to question 2!  Drug treatment does work and some people are able to quit forever.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
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     chocolatemilk47 - north carroll middle, Maryland: Why do people smoke, even though they know it is bad for them?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: people cannot control their drug use (nicotine included) once they are addicted: that is the definition of addiction. Addiction is the compulsive use or the inability to control the use in spite of known catastrophic consequences. This is why you should never start, because drug use can very often spiral down to an uncontrollable addiction. 
    Moderator Icon  Do you have questions about the teenage brain? Ask Dr. Jim Bjork! He helps scientists who do brain imaging apply to the government for money to do their research. Before coming to NIDA, Dr. Bjork researched how typical teenagers behave in self-control tasks, and how healthy teenagers’ brains operate – especially compared to teenage children of alcoholics with and without behavioral problems. Dr Bjork has also compared teenager brains to those of typical young adults. He has studied these things to help understand why certain people may be at risk for developing a drug or alcohol problem. When he is not in his office looking at brain pictures or helping brain imaging research along, Dr. Bjork spends time with his wife and 4-year-old and 2-year-old sons – often watching or playing baseball. Once his kids are tucked in, Dr. Bjork is either playing on-line adventure games like Lord-of-the Rings Online, or is playing the saxophone professionally somewhere in the Washington, D.C., area (or at least in his basement if he doesn’t have a gig.)
    User Icon
     Mr.Money - Rockville HS, Maryland: What's crystal meth?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: It is a psychostimulant that works in a similar way to amphetamine. it produces a lot of very dangerous side effects, like permanent brain damage, strokes, and even death. 
    Please stay away from it! See http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html for more info. 
    User Icon
     nzenteno - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What organs do inhalants harm or affect?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Sugar Land Middle School! Thanks for asking a terrific question. Long term inhalant use has some very harmful effects to our body. It can break down myelin causing our nerve cells to not be very good at transmiting messages and can result in muscle spasms or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis (which by the way is disease that also affects myelin).  They can also cause serious harm to vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. Learn more about inhalants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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     ims306 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Are all drugs babd for you bro?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Drugs that are prescribed to you by your doctor and taken as instructed are generally safe and helpful. The same drugs taken without a doctor's prescription, or differently from the way they were prescribed, can be dangerous. Illegal drugs are all dangerous--that's the main reason why they're illegal.
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     kayla23 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What happens when you try a new drug for the first time?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi again kayla.
    One of two things can happen.

    You either like the experience or you don't.  If you do, chances are you will want to repeat it, whcih could take you down a very long and dark life path.
    Importantly, since you cannot predict your response to a drug the smart thing to do is to avoid ever trying a new drug. Don't you think?

     
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     InsightWBLALC - Insight Program , Minnesota: How long after you stop using drugs does it take for your brain to be functioning normally again, like to be able to do math?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: This is a great question, but it really depends on the drug. I wish I know what drug you are referring to....
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     Mgracia - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: hi my name gracia i go to golder college prep and i wanted to know if putting weed in your brownies is bad for you and does it effect you more?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hi Gracia, good to hear from you and good luck in your college prep course!  Your question is hard to answer directly. If you mean, is eating marijuana in a brownie safer than smoking, the answer is it is safer for your lungs.  For example, smoking marijuana is potentially addictive, is bad for the lungs, and the plant contains more than 400 chemicals with unknown health effects that vary from one plant to the other.

    However, keep in mind that marijuana has been shown to have direct effects on memory by affecting the systems in the brain responsible for learning and memory...which is not so good for college bound students like you!  How this happens is marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, called 'cannabinoid receptors.'  These receptors are found in the hippocampus --crucial for memory formation.  Also, the cerebellum, which is important for coordinating movements has lots of these receptors, along with the cortex that is involved in thinking and judgment. Also, the reward areas--important for motivation are affected by marijuana.

    People can become addicted to marijuana --in about 9% of all users, and 25-50% of daily users.  This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives.  There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers.  Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse.  Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school.  Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.

    Hope this helps, and you might want to find out more about marijuana by checking out: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php

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     ZaCh! - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: after you snort cocaine can you smell anymore?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey ZaCH!  Not only may you experience loss of smell, but also a chronically runny nose, nosebleeds, hoarseness, and problems swallowing.  Also, chronic users of cocaine can become malnourished due to the drug's ability to decrease appetite.  But I wouldn't ingest cocaine -- period.  It could cause severe bowel gangrene due to a reduction in the flow of blood to the intestines.  That's nasty!  If someone were to inject it, they could experience severe allergic reactions, increased risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases.  For more information on cocaine, see: www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Cocaine.html.
    Moderator Icon  A 2009 study showed that 10% of high school students drove after drinking in the past month. Any kind of drug- including alcohol, can make you dangerous behind the wheel.
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     adrienne.rodrig - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: what do you think is the worse drug of all time?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: That's a difficult question. They are all 'bad,' unfortunately, and for different reasons. For example, even though many people think it's not very dangerous, pot causes a lot of damage to your body and negatively affects memory and learning, among other things. Alcohol seems safe because a lot of people drink, but alcohol abuse and alcoholism is very common and can negatively affect a person's life, brain, and body. Cigarette smoking also seems not as dangerous as other drugs, because many people think that they can quit whenever they want. However, in reality, most people are hooked long-term, especially if they started smoking in their teens, risking lung cancer and other diseases.
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     sierralexi - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: 
    • How long does it take for steriods to affect your body system?


    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Bellefonte Area Middle School is the house (or I should say chat room!): Thanks for the cool question.  Some people, both athletes and non-athletes, abuse anabolic steroids in an attempt to enhance performance and/or improve physical appearance. Steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles rather than continuously. “Cycling” refers to a pattern of use in which steroids are taken for periods of weeks or months, after which use is stopped for a period of time and then restarted. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids in an attempt to maximize their effectiveness, a practice referred to as “stacking.”  It is difficult to give you a timeframe.  It would depend on how you take them, the type of steroid, the amount of excercise you are doing, and many other factors.  But the important thing to know is the medical consequences from steroids are pretty scary.  Here is some info from our Mind Over Matter Series:
    In guys, anabolic steroids can interfere with the normal production of testosterone. They can also act directly on the testes and cause them to shrink. This can result in a lower sperm count. They can also cause an irreversible loss of scalp hair.
    In girls, anabolic steroids can cause a loss of the monthly period by acting on both the hypothalamus and reproductive organs. They can also cause loss of scalp hair, growth of body and facial hair, and deepening of the voice. These changes can also be irreversible.
    More info is at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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     swagsauce - Einstein High School, Maryland: what happens to people who end there addiction to late? wont they still have long term effects?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: This is complicated, because evidence suggests that some brain structure/shape and functioning recovers after people stop using, but other elements of thinking well might not ever come back fully.  Ecstasty is particularly scary because it can cause permanent damage to serotonin neurons that help control whether we're in a good mood.  We really don't know much about how the brain recovers after long periods (like years) after people quit using.  It can at least be said, that there's enough evidence of brainpower coming back after people stop using, to suggest that really, people need to stop.  It can only HELP.
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     Julia - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: If an adult is smoking pot with a minor, what should you do?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Julia, tough question.  I would suggest you talk with a trusted adult like a parent, teacher, coach, guidance counselor, minister.  The negative impact of drugs, including marijuana, on the developing brain of adolescents is serious.  No adult should be encouraging a minor to do something that would negatively impact their brain, body, and health.  For more information on marijuana see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/  .
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     Krazy Panda - The Blake School, Minnesota: what is angel dust?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Hey there Krazy Panda,
    'Angel dust' or PCP is a synthetic (man-made) drug, which produces a 'dissociative' effect when taken.  It can distort how you perceive sight and sound and can produce feelings of detachment (not really being there). People who take angle dust can also experience bad psychological effects such as delusions, hallucinations, and anxiety. 
    PollI have tried to help a friend stop using drugs.
    35% - Yes
    55% - No
    10% - Maybe
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     Zombie Man! - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How does Marijuana affect (effect?) a persons emotions or brain over a long period of time (5- 20 years)

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Great question!!  this is an active area of research at NIDA. Chronic marijuana use has been associated with impairments of learning, memory, and executive functions. There was also a recent survey where heavy MJ users reported less satisfaction with their life, educational and career achievement, income and more because of their drug use.  Thanks for your question.  Want to know more about the effects of marijuana?  Check out our site - http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/Marijuana4.html
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     kayla23 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What's the worst thing that could happen while using drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Kayla,
    I am sorry to break this to you, but many drugs can kill you even after a single first use: alcohol, ecstasy and inhalants, for example, have been definitely linked to many deaths. 
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     AradrothSakurai - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Is there treatment for every drug abuse?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Great question - yes, we have drug treatment for every drug of abuse.  Behavioral treatments are used in the treatment of all types of drug addiction and help the addict learn to live without taking drugs.  In some cases we have medications that help people stop using drugs.  Currently we only have medications to treat alcohol, nicotine, and opiate addiction.  But we are working really hard to develop more!  For more information on drug treatment see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/  .
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     MOOMOO - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: I think i am starting to suffer from mental depression after using pcp for a year. I have started to cut myself this past year. Does pcp effect the nervous system?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi MooMoo.  Seems like you've had a rough year...and you are dealing with three significant problems - depression, cutting, and drug use.  Cutting and drug use are things that teens often engage in when they are feeling pretty bad to try and make themselves feel better.  PCP can effect the nervous system, but PCP use may not cause depression.  Oftentimes drug use and other mental illnesses go together - a situation known as 'co-morbidity.'  We do have treatments that can help you feel better and I would really encourage you to get help for yourself.  If you are not sure of where to go for help, I would start by talking with a school counselor, your doctor, or another trusted adult. 

    If you are stressed or in an immediate crisis, you can always call 1-800-273-TALK.

    For more information on depression and its treatment, see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.

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     Rockstar - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: parts of my dad's side of the faamily smoke cigarettes and i've been around them obviously since their family, some have quit or in the process of quitting but my question is are there any lasting effects from all this second hand smoke im exposed to?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hello! Thanks for your question. I'm very glad to hear that you have a smart family, since many of them have quit smoking or are in the process of quitting.  For information of quitting to help your family, please see: www.smokefree.gov.

    Secondhand smoke can be just as bad as smoking yourself.  Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco: sidestream smoke (smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar) and mainstream smoke (smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). Even though we think of these as the same, they aren't. The sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body's cells more easily. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more secondhand smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body--and they can still do damage to your brain.

    Secondhand smoke can cause harm in many ways. In the United States alone, each year it is responsible for:
    • An increase risk of becoming addicted
    • An estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are currently non-smokers
    • About 3,400 lung cancer deaths as a result of breathing secondhand smoke
    • Other breathing problems in non-smokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
    • 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually
    • Increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
    • More than 750,000 middle ear infections in children
    • Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of having low birth-weight babies.
    For more information, go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
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     DrugMan5000 - Rockville HS, Maryland: How long does weed stay in you

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello DrugMan5000,
    Certainly an important question but not an easy one to answer.  First, it depends on how much the drug is used.  If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to eliminate the drug from your body. Cannabis or marijuana is very lipophilic and is stored in the body and takes longer to eliminate. For instance in chronic, daily marijuana smokers, it can take more than 30 days to remove the drug from your system. So the amount and frequency of a drug used are important factors. When a drug is in your brain, it can still affect you long after your last use. We have shown in our research that the effects of long-term, daily cannabis use can still stay in your body up to around 30 days after last use. So the effects of this heavy use may remain for as long as the drug stays in your system. I hope this helps!
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     proudtobeastone - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: how come cocaine is bad for you, what does it do to your body?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci:  Cocaine increases brain levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, is highly addictive, and can do serious damage to your brain and body such as brain inflammation, strokes, and so on. Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html
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     Aberryhill - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: What are hallucinogens?

    Expert Icon Dave Thomas: The hallmark of these drugs, which include LSD, MDMA (methlyenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy), and PCP (phencyclidine) is causing distorted perceptions and hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not there). 

    For more info, see
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
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     2012SENIOR - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: why is marijuana illegal if it is an all natural plant?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: There's a long history on how marijuana became illegal.  For some of this, you can check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States.  But it remains illegal because of its health risks. What are the risks of marijuana? 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users.  Addiction means that you can't stop using even though you want to because it's messing up your life.  2) It effects learning and memory--makes it hard to learn new things.  For someone still in school or working a challenging job, it may take away your competitive edge, especially if you are using it a lot. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while your high, you can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there.  This usually wears off when the drug is out of your system.  But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident (14% of those who die in car accidents test positive for marijuana).  5) Its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis.  By the way tobacco is also a natural plant--too bad we can't make that illegal as well--think of all the lives that could be saved and suffering that would be avoided.
    Moderator Icon  We have scientists on the chat today from the National Institute on Mental Health. These super smart scientists can give you some general information about the brain and behavior--- about teens and depression and other issues, like ADHD and peer pressure. So ask away!
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     IMS305 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Is it worse for an animal or a human to take drugs?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: It's bad for both. We know this because a lot of the research on drug abuse has been done in animal models under humane conditions.  They aren't human, but they experience the same affects of drugs as humans do.  For humans, though, there are added consequences around family, and costs associated with diseases of addiction.  For more information on the medical consequences of drug abuse, please see:  www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/.
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     Zombie Man! - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Does marijuana stunt growth?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I am not aware of any data to suggest that marijuana stunts growth, from either humans or animal studies.
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     TheIronSquanto7 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: does cocaine kill brain cells?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. Yes, it does. In addition cocaine produces (among many other negative effects) brain inflammation, strokes, and so on. Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.
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     @cnolan18 - Clinton High School, Iowa: What are the criminal risks of marijuana?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Well that depends on how much marijuana you posess and where you are when you get caught with it. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?'  The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs.  For more information on the consequences of marijuana use see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ 
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     radtke - Sidney High School, Nebraska: Good moring can spiders be on drugs ????

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Some scientists studied that exact thing many years ago---to see what they found go to this booklet and check out page 7: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
    Moderator Icon  You have heard about binge drinking---but do you really know what that means? We have alcohol experts on the chat who can answer your questions about it.
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     MOOMOO - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: What are the side effects for PCP?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: There are many. Examples are death, coma, convulsions, paranoia, severe depression, memory loss, and mood disturbances resembling schizophrenia.  See http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/pcp.html for more.
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     BrendanW - Skaneateles High School, New York: Would why doesn't everybody take Ritalin?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Because medications usually have some side effects that could cause problems.  Ritalin suppresses appetite, for example, resulting in stunted growth/height in some studies.  There should be a real important biological reason (like fixing a real brain problem) to justify exposing yourself to side-effect risks.
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     blazerrrrrrrr - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: does marijuana contract your lungs?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. It can badly damage your lungs in many different ways. It also contains carcinogens and it's much more dangerous than people usually think.
    Please see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/  
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     bambi - Skaneateles High School, New York: Is there any real way of getting super powers? like if you fell into toxic waste or used some kind drug?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Sorry to burst your bubble, but super powers aren't real.  And drug abuse can result in serious, adverse consequences -- especially in teens. Get the facts here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php.  And, I'm pretty sure that toxic waste can cause cancer--but has never given anyone superpowers!!  Only in the movies, Bambi. 
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     eigwe - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can Maijuana effect your memory?

    Expert Icon Dave White: eigwe, marijuana can definitely impair your memory!  Other negative effects include distorted perceptions of reality, an inability to think clearly, and loss of coordination.  Some folks also experience increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and even panic attacks!  For more information check this link out:http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
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     Bruce - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: in my school a lot of kids are doing a drug called jenkem daily, its created from human waste, how dangerous is this to the brain?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Bruce,
    It is believed that this is a hoax according to media. It started with a report about Zambian children using this to get high, and then spread to US students using this substance. Are you sure that the kids in your school are doing it? Pretty gross if you ask me. I don't believe that anyone has studied it to know what this can do to your brain. The substances must be volatile so maybe it has effects like other volatiles in glue and cleaners, but I don't think there is any information on this. It is frightening to think that people are doing this without knowing what it can do to your brain and future life. I wouldn't try it. Thanks for asking.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Marsha Lopez’s experience runs the gamut from preclinical behavioral pharmacology (giving cocaine to rats) to military medical surveillance, but her current focus is drug epidemiology (the incidence, distribution, or control of a disease within a population) with a specific interest in co-occurring psychiatric conditions as they relate to drug use. She has 2 kids under the age of 4 (Marco and Gigi), and a 10-year-old yellow lab (Zachy), although most of her extended family lives in Argentina. When she is not at work, she enjoys baking and cooking.
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     qwerty - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: why do so many people try to self medicate?

    Expert Icon Jim Bjork: Usually for depression or other mood symptoms.  It's far safer, though, to get professional psychiatric treatment for what the issue is and get proper medication and follow up with a physician than to try to 'drink to forget' or use other remedies that may cause more problems to the brain long-term.
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     DragonSlayer69 - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: is pot a drug?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: yes, it is and although many people disagree, it can be dangerous. It can affect your brain in a very subtle manner and produce serious side effects.  Here's a recent booklet we updated on marijuana facts, designed for teens: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/

    Marijuana Facts cover
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     kcsd60 - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: i know quiting drugs is hared,but will scientists come up with a medicine to help quit them?

    Expert Icon Dave White: kcsd60, this is a great question!  There are already medications as well as other treatment options available to help people quit some drugs, such as opioids (eg., heroin, oxycontin), nicotine, and alcohol.  However, there aren't any approved treatments for cocaine or methamphetamine (both stimulants) dependence as of yet, but scientists are working hard to find effective and safe medications for these as well. For more information on treatment research check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Treatment.html.  Also, if you know someone who is need of treatment, you can have them call 1-800-662-HELP.
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     Zombie Man! - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Is it true that if you eat enough cough drops you will get high?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Zombie Man! Thanks for your question. I would say that generally eating loads of cough drops would not give someone a high (plus could you imagine your breath?). There has been some research done on cough syrup.  Many contain an ingredient called dextromethorphan (DXM). However, to get the 'high' or 'dissociative' state craved by people who use drugs, large quantities are needed. At high doses, DXM causes effects similar to that of the drugs ketamine or PCP by affecting similar sites in the brain. Ketamine and PCP are considered dissociative drugs, which make people feel disconnected from their normal selves. They affect memory, feelings, and thoughts. DXM is similar, and its abuse can affect control over movement, cause numbness, nausea, and vomiting, and can increase heart rate and blood pressure. As with just about everything in life zombie man--moderation is key!
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     Rockstar - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: why do people from the past put gunpowder in cocain to make brown brown?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I must admit I've never heard about this one before. But, according to wikipedia (for what its worth), 'brown-brown is a form of powdered cocaine cut with smokeless gunpowder, not 'blackpowder' mind you since smokeless powder contains nitrocellulose which is said to combat the negative side effects of cocaine, and is actually a drug prescribed for heart conditions. It, apparently, was reportedly given to child soldiers in West African armed conflicts'.

    But again, this was wikipedia. Sorry I don't have a scientifically rigorous source for you.
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     9009 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: have you ever done drugs redonna?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey 9009,  I've been asked that question before so fortunately I'm prepared.  I tried smoking in college but absolutely HATED it.  It made my breath stink, my clothes smell terrible, my nose burn - YUCK!  I've also used alcohol and still drink an occassional glass of wine.  But because my family is filled with people who are addicted to drugs I was always scared to try them.  I witnessed first hand the terrible consequences drug addiction has on a person's life and their family.  I didn't want to have to deal with all those problems so I stayed away from drugs.
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     MChrysafidis - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: is meth the the worst drug

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Thanks for this question. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that affects both your body and brain. It can be highly addicting. Continued use can lead to cardiac problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks. It can change brain structure and how the brain functions, which can lead to aggression, violence, psychotic behavior, memory loss, and changes in your movement or motor system. Like other stimulants, meth can affect your appetite and sleep.

    With respect to meth being the 'worst drug', this question is complicated and the answer is not so simple. Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness and which drugs are most dangerous. There are just too many variables that would need to be considered -- for example, genetic, environmental (e.g., drug availability) and developmental (e.g., age at which the drug is abused) -- all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.

    The fact that it is almost impossible to rank drugs, does not mean that we cannot identify factors that contribute to or influence the addictiveness of a particular drug. We can offer a nice example, where different routes of administration (i.e., how you take it) can have a profound impact on the ultimate risk of harm and addiction. Smoking crystal meth delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection but felt almost immediately.  These effects are very intense, but do not last as long as other ways of taking it.  Evidence suggests that users who smoke or inject drugs like meth may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves-including becoming addicted than those who snort the substance or take it orally, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.

    Also, each person's brain is different, so it's a little like playing 'Russian Roulette' if someone chooses to use drugs. The longer someone takes drugs, the more likely that he/she will become addicted and suffer long-term, harmful brain changes.

    For more information, please visit: http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/Methamph.html
    Moderator Icon  Did you know that in 2006, prescription pain medications, like Vicodin, were involved in more overdose deaths that heroin and cocaine COMBINED? For more facts about drugs, read NIDA’s booklet made for teens---called Drugs: Shatter the Myths. You can find it (and even order it for free) at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
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     Tyffani - Einstein High School, Maryland: Is Alcohol Bad For You.

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For kids under age 21, all alcohol is unhealthy - and drinking it is against the law. That's because the teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's development and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!

    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis, jaundice, fibrosis and cirrhosis.

    Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer.  For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
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     Hank H - Skaneateles High School, New York: My uncle's life partner, Rodney, comes over a lot for supper and smokes cigarettes. He does not go outside. And I am beginning to get a really bad cough because it's just all smoke, all the time. I'm not close to him so I cant tell him what to do though

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Tough spot.  Is it possible for you to talk with your parents?  Maybe they could support you and ask your uncle's partner to not smoke in your home.  Also, make everyone aware of the health consequences of second hand smoke.  Second hand smoke is associated with lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems.  Each year, ~126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke and almost 50 thousand nonsmokers die from diseases caused by second hand smoke exposure.  Based on these statistics I think you have the right to ensure Rodney smokes outside! 

    Want more information on secondhand smoke? Click on:http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/tobacco.html 
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     casey - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: How does marijuana get you high?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Thanks for the question Harrisburg High!
    Marijuana binds to specific proteins in the brain, so called 'cannabinoid receptors'.  These receptors are part of a finely calibrated 'endocannabioid' system found in the brain and the body that is involved in a whole host of functions, including pain regulation, reward, metabolism, mood and even immune function (how the body protects itself from infection).  Marijuana floods the system, disrupting many of the functions mentioned above.  OK...let's get to the 'getting high' part...MJ use results in a rush of dopamine being released in brain areas that are important in helping us to feel pleasure. Over time, this over stimulation changes the brain in ways that can lead to addiction and to withdrawal symptoms when drug use stops.
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     kjmasonhdz - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What's the difference between Kush and Spice?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi kjmasonhdz, thanks for your question.  Kush is a powerful form of natural marijuana, usually grown in a nutrient-rich water solution to make it more potent. Spice refers to synthetic cannabinoids that are highly powerful and sprayed onto an herbal plant mixture. The important thing is that you can't know for sure what you are taking - what drug, what strength, what dangerous contaminants you are putting into your body. These products are notorious for not being what they say they are. Spice compounds can be up to 100 times more powerful than natural marijuana. Both Kush and Spice have similar effects as marijuana but usually are much stronger.
    Drugs hijack the brain “reward” system, causing unusually large amounts of a natural neurotransmitter to flood the brain. This neurotransmitter is called
    The correct answer is: A. Dopamine. Some drugs produce a flood of dopamine in the brain, which causes the “high” or euphoria that people experience. Continued drug use causes the dopamine system to adapt, eventually becoming less responsive to normal rewards, such as listening to your favorite music or holding hands with a new boyfriend or girlfriend. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     monica - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is the best way to stop smoking??

    Expert Icon Dave White: Hey there, Monica! This is a good question.  Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but more and more people are doing it.  There are different kinds of help that are available, including medications and getting tips from professional counselors, and the most effective treatment option will vary from person to person.  Check out this site for more information: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp.
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     ashley - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how can percription drugs hurt/harm you?

    Expert Icon Dave White: ashley, this is an important question. Some people think that a drug must be okay if doctors use it. 
    Doctors can prescribe drugs safely because they know how the drugs work, who they can help and hurt, and how much is a safe amount. They also monitor patients during therapy to make sure problems aren't starting to happen. People who take drugs on their own usually don't know what the drugs do in their bodies, whether they have some condition that makes the drug dangrous for them, or how much is too much. By the time they know that they have a problem, it may already be serious and difficult to reverse.
    People who take opiates such as oxycontin or codeine without a prescription risk addiction and, if they overdose, potentially death. These drugs also cause drowsiness, which can be dangerous when driving or in other situations that require alertness. People who take stimulants such as amphetamine without a doctor's prescription risk addiction and potentially permanent reductions their memory and thinking ability.For more information check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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     Emily B - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: Why are drugs so addictive?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: There is a part of your brain called the limbic system, formed by many brain regions all connected to each other. The limbic system allows us to feel our emotions, but when people take drugs of abuse, these drugs can hijack the limbic system by releasing many chemicals, including dopamine--most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by prompting a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This creates an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our 'word of the day,' dopamine, here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-dopamine, and our easy-to-read Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    Moderator Icon  Studies showed that a type of psychotherapy called cognitive therapy reduced the rate of repeated suicide attempts by 50 percent during a year of follow-up. Therapy helps people consider alternative actions when thoughts of self-harm arise. Learn more about suicide prevention here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml
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     clorenzi - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: as some people abuse prescription drugs, is there a limit of how much prescription drugs you can get by prescription?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: For some prescription medications, there are limits on how many a physician may prescribe.  For the most controlled medications, the limit is generally enough to last a patient 30 days.  But for some medications, there is no legal limit on the number, and physicians may prescribe a 90 day supply (or even longer).
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     kyle - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: do drugs shorten your life?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. They sure can, in many different ways. Here are just a few examples:
    Some drug use, like smoking cigarettes, produce many kinds of cancer; some others such as cocaine, amphetamine, and psychostimulants, can cause strokes, heart attacks, and even death.  Others can cause brain hemorrage (bleeding).  Drugs like alcohol can cause many kinds of negative brain effects and liver disease, if abused. So abusing any drug, legal or illegal, can certainly shorten your life. 
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     bulldogsforever - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many car accidents happen from drugs or alcohol?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: We don't know for sure but one study found that about 34% of motor vehicle crash victims admitted to a Maryland trauma center tested positive for “drugs only'.  About 16% tested positive for 'alcohol only' and of 10% tested positive for 'drugs and alcohol'.  In the U.S., about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
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     tiffany - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: I want to know if doing drugs can cause you to do suicide in anyway? If you started doing drugs how long will it take for you to start being addicted to that drug?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Drugs impact the brain and behavior disrupting decision making and leading people to do things they would not normally do.  Unfortunately, this includes committing suicide.  Also, sometimes when people have drug problems, they feel hopeless, which could lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

    Want more information on drugs and information on getting help for someone considering suicide, go to:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/


    Also, we know repeated drug use is required to become addicted to a drug of abuse, but the number of times needed can vary depending on the person, their genetics and other environmental factors like friends who use drugs or stress levels, early trauma.  For cigarettes (tobacco addiction), usually by the time someone smokes 100 cigarettes they are likely to be addicted, needing to smoke often and craving cigarettes when they don't.  But for some though, they can smoke 100 or more and not crave or become addicted, while others smoke far fewer than that and show signs of addiction. 

    So again,  it can vary and right now we have no way to predict for sure, but there's still a lot we don't know about why and how people get hooked on drugs.  Also, just because a person doesn't get hooked doesn't mean they won't have bad reactions to a drug.  So, don't just try something because you think you haven't done it enough to get hooked.  ...you never know how your body (and brain) will respond to a drug...don't take the chance!

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     anonym0us - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: does doing drugs once make you a bad person?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Of course not.  People use drugs for many reasons, especially to get high or intoxicated, or to feel better if they have problems or are in pain.  We are working to reduce the stigma associated with drug use so they will get the help they need to quit using.  It doesn't have anything to do with whether or not someone is a 'good' or 'bad' person.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Dave Thomas has joined the chat. He is an expert on pain and analgesia, where he promotes the development of new pain treatments that have little potential to produce addiction. This is especially important for teens, since sometimes they take prescription pain killers without a doctor’s prescription. He also loves “cool science.” For example, he has promoted the use of virtual reality as a treatment and research tool. He also does graphic design work at NIDA and helps coordinate the Institute’s annual magnet design contest ---this year’s winning theme: “Connecting Hemispheres!” Outside of work, Dave is a pastel painter, and has shown his work at galleries in the Washington-Baltimore area. Dave loves to play Frisbee Golf at his cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania. His dogs, Rex and Zoe, love to tag along with Dave in the woods.
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     clorenzi - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if no one cares to tell you that you are addicted, what are signs to let yourself know and to stop yourself?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Taking care of yourself is always a good idea.  Others may not be able or willing to help but you can help yourself.  Typical symptoms of addiction include:

    Craving - a strong need to use a drug
    Loss of control - not being able to stop using once you've begun
    Continuing to use even though it causes physical health, mental or social problems (like arguments or missing school/work)
    Spending more and more time on drug use (either thinking about it a lot, spending time to get drugs, using drugs or recovering from use)
    Tolerance - needing more and more of a drug to get high
    Withdrawal - feeling bad when stopping use of drugs suddenly

    At first these addiction problems are subtle and mild but they can progress.  Because they progress slowly, people have a hard time recognizing the problems.  That's why other people often see them first. 

    Good luck!
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     awesomedude99 - north carroll middle, Maryland: Out of all drug users, about how many are underage?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Thanks for your question. Out of the nearly 39 million people who used drugs in 2010, about 4.7 million (or 12%) were aged 12 to 17.
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     IMS321 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Does PCP actually make you stronger or does it only make you feel stronger?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Good Afternoon to Louisiana! Phencyclidine or PCP is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol and has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. PCP is a “dissociative drug,” meaning that it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self. No, it does not actually make you phsyically stronger--people under the influence of PCP may not feel pain and their perception of sensory stimuli may be altered.  This link will take you to a page with more info on PCP: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/pcp.html
    What does “Detoxification” mean?
    The correct answer is: B. A process that enables the body to rid itself of drugs. The first step in treatment is to rid the body of the abused substance; however, detoxification alone is not sufficient to prevent relapse. Detoxification should be followed by treatment--behavioral (talk therapies); medications (e.g., nicotine replacement for smoking; the medication suboxone for opioids); or both. Detoxification may require physician supervision to minimize dangerous or painful symptoms - especially for drugs such as sedatives or opiates. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     kaylee_d - Rockville HS, Maryland: How effective is drug treatment? Why do celebrities go back to rehab again and again?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: I am so glad someone asked this question.  Drug treatment is extremely effective.  In fact, the treatment of drug addiction is as effective as the treatment for other chronic relapsing conditions like asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure.  Relapse - or the return to drug use - means a person needs more drug treatment, not that drug treatment isn't effective.  Just like when my grandmother's blood sugar goes up she needs more treatment for her diabetes. Unfortuantely stories about celebrities struggles with addiction can make it seem like treatment doesn't work.  But, remember there are lots of drug treatment success stories - they just aren't on People, US Weekly, Entertainment Tonight, FB, Twitter, etc.  For more information about drug treatement see: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ 
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: If you all who are replying to are anwsers do you have to do this?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I am doing this because I think it's fun--I am not forced.  I'm not chained to the desk...in a cold dark room...all alone....really!  I am sitting in a well-lit room with about 30 of my colleagues, and we are all answering questions from around the country.  It's cool.  I look forward to doing this all day and in many years to come.  Thanks to you and your school for participating!! 
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     blueberries - Einstein High School, Maryland: Some people say that some sorts of beers can help ease the pain of kidney stones; is any of this true? Does any type of alcoholic drink ease kidney stone pains or get rid of kidney stones?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: No, alcohol does not help the body get rid of kidney stones. In terms of pain relief, there are far better options!
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     nowornever - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: ive been drinking for years and am in the prosess of stoping but going through withdrawls..what should i do?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow, what a scary thing to go through. It is important to find an adult that you trust - like a teacher, friend, family member, school nurse, or pediatrician - and talk with them about this. Here's a way to find treatment centers in your area. http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ If you feel you are having any kind of crisis, you can call this hotline for help: 1-800-273-TALK.
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     simplyme - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: How does taking anti- depressants while smoking marijuana effect your reproduction system?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi simplyme,
    Just smoking marijuana alone can affect your reproductive system - marijuana can affect the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg, and also the fertilized egg's ability to implant in the uterus. Marijuana also disrupts hormone release that can affect fertility. Anti-depressants cover a large number of drugs of which each may have different effects on reproduction, but generally anti-depressants are not known to have major effects on reproduction. In fact, anti-depressants that are prescribed by a physician may help many people function better in life and live happier lives. Interactions between marijuana and anti-depressants are not too common. So the major issue is the effects of marijuana, which I mentioned above. Of course it is always better to avoid taking any drugs while pregnant except those that are medically necessary. It is always important to get as much information as possible before you make the decision to take any drug.  Thanks for your question!
    Moderator Icon  Between 2001 and 2005, 1,227 kids under 21 died as a result of alcohol-related homicides.
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     acastro - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: having had my dad use drugs at a early age, im afraid its hereditary. if it is, what can i do to avoid it?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. Just stay away from drugs. Both my parents were smokers and I hated it! This is why I always stayed away from smoking.
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     Peaches - Bishop Hall Charter School, Georgia: Is alcohol more harmful then marijuana?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes--one reason is that there's more people using alcohol than marijuana--probably because of its legal status for those over 21.  Alcohol has known harmful effects on the teen brain and is involved in more than 40% of fatal crashes in those under 21. It is also responsible for major health problems--liver disease, cancer, and fetal alcohol syndrome.  But that doesn't mean that marijuana doesn't also carry serious risks--addiction, car crashes-especially in combination with alcohol, school drop out, and mental health problems in some.
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     IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: how does tar mess up your heart

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello to Iberia Middle School! I'm guessing you are talking about black tar heroin? It has a consistency that depends on manufacturing methods, cutting agents, moisture levels, etc. Users who intravenously inject black tar heroin are at high risk of venous sclerosis-- a condition where the veins harden and narrow. The use of heroin (like other illicit drugs) can have serious negative effects on your physical health, particularly your heart and cardiovascular system.  Heroin is an opiate.  Check this link to info about opiates on our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_opi1.php and thisnext link will connect you to info on heroin that appears on our regular web site: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/heroin.html
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     ims - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How did you guys know that the inhalment of cocaine can cause brain damage?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. It has been shown by imaging studies, where pictures of people's brain were taken. Images from controls (non-cocaine users) and images from people that took cocaine were compared.  That is how the damage was seen. What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use?


    An image of a non-drug user brain beside a drug-user brain.

    Brain images showing decreased dopamine (D2) receptors in the brain of a person addicted to cocaine versus a nondrug user. The dopamine system is important for conditioning and motivation, and alterations such as this are likely responsible, in part, for the diminished sensitivity to natural rewards that develops with addiction.

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     superawesomeguy - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: if i do marijuana will i become even more of a super awesome guy?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi, superawesomeguy.  Marijuana, like most other drugs, affects the parts of the brain that allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions. Marijuana can alter your brain chemistry in ways that can have both short term and long term effects. In the short term--you run the risk of doing something dangerous when high--like driving and getting into an accident, or not studying and having your grades drop, or seeing your athletic performance decline, and getting kicked off a team. But in the longer term you also risk becoming addicted. Repeated drug use changes the brain (and the body) and could one day lead to addiction and other serious medical consequences. Interestingly, one of our researchers surveyed people that had used marijuana regularly for many years. The marijuana users reported diminished life satisfaction and more physical and mental health problems, which they attributed to the marijuana. They also had poorer academic and job outcomes and lower salaries than a group of adults from comparable backgrounds who did not smoke marijuana. So don't believe just what you see on the outside--some of these changes take time to happen, and some people are more vulnerable to problems associated with drug abuse than others. We don't know all the reasons why, but genetics and a host of other factors--age of first use, other mental health problems, stress, family difficulties, peers that use drugs--all contribute to someone's likelihood of becoming addicted or developing other health problems because of repeated drug use. Resulting in not so much of a super awesome guy, I'd say.
    You can read more about marijuana at http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.
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     alex - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how become getting high makes you hungry?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Good question, and we don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
    Hope this helps.

    stay smart
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     eigwe - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Can Marijuna effect your memory?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: It definitely can!  Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC a known psychoactive ingredient in MJ  causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation,  THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. 

    Research has shown that marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off.  So, unfortunately, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Not surprisingly, evidence suggests that, compared with their nonsmoking peers, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school. MJ use is associated consistently with reduced educational attainment (e.g., grades and chances of graduating).
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     nick_v - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do most rappers do drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: It must be a cultural thing, I guess.
    Many people mistakenly think that doing drugs is cool, and being cool is very important for a rapper's image. 
    What do you think?
     
    Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     hahahahahahaha - Sidney High School, Nebraska: how do you get hearpies?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease (one that requires sexual contact to be infected) with painful blister lesions in the genital areas.  However, many people with genital herpes infection do not know they have it. 

    • You can get genital herpes even if your partner shows no signs of the infection.
    • If you have any symptoms (like a sore on your genitals, especially one that periodically recurs) laboratory tests can help determine if you have genital herpes.
    • There is no cure for herpes, but treatment is available to reduce symptoms and decrease the risk of transmission to a partner.
    See http://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/ 
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     xXLeGiT_WoWXx - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: What should i do to get help from drugs? please help

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Realizing that there is a problem and you need help is a big step.  Good for you! You may (if you are of legal age) be able to seek substance abuse treatment by yourself.  However, any kind of treatment would be more successful if you had the support of responsible, trusted adults and friends.  Below is a link that lists treatment centers in Minnesota.  Good luck!
    http://www.theagapecenter.com/Treatment-Centers/Minnesota.htm
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     40009091 - north carroll middle, Maryland: dose sports help you live

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Absolutely. Physical exercise is one of the easiest and most beneficial natural highs.
    Regular exercise is known to release endorphins, which can trigger this natural feeling of well being and also BDNF in the brain, a molecule that has been shown to protect your brain.

    good question!!

     
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     sPeIaCn - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What are the long term effects of alcohol abuse?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Brain Problems
    The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!

    Body
    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

    For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

    Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

    If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, which basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.

    A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function. 

    Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer.  For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm

    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help your friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
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     nzenteno - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: How do you inherit a risk of addiction?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. It is inherited through our genes, stored in our DNA. These genes can make some people more vulnerable than others.
    Please see this fact sheet if you are curious to know more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html.
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     Laker11 - Skaneateles High School, New York: Does binge drinking happen more in college or high school?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking alcohol and binge drinking become more prevalent as young people get older, so it happens more in college than high school.

    Moderator Icon  Drug addiction can be treated with behavioral-based therapies in which people learn to change their behavior; and, for addiction to some drugs, such as tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or other opiate drugs, medications can help. Treatment will vary for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person’s specific circumstances. To find treatment programs, check out this website: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
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     ksalgado - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What are ways we can help our friends recover from drugs? What can we say to them or is there anything we can do?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Thanks for the great question. Yes, there are things you can do to help a friend with addiction. First, you can listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: Why do all drugs go for the brain?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi there, OK!
    Drugs are chemicals and their chemical structure actually mimics a natural chemicals (neurotransmitter) already found in the brain. Drugs work in the brain by tapping into the brain's communication system and interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. This disruption results in a greatly amplified message, ultimately disrupting communication channels. The difference in communication could be described as the difference between someone whispering into your ear and someone shouting into a microphone....WAY too much!!!
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     acahill - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: At what age do people become vulnerable to become addictive to drugs?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Addiction can begin at any age and the earlier someone starts using drugs, the more likely they are to become addicted.  Most addiction starts during teen years and recent research has taught us a lot about brain development during adolescence.  This is a major time for brain growth and change and drug use may be particularly risky for those who start early. 
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: How can I avoid contact with people who distribute and sell drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: The best way to avoid people who distribute and sell drugs is to stay away from them.  If you are dealing with peer pressure, strategies to consider include: (1) be your own person and don't follow the crowd (no matter how small...because no matter what they say...not EVERYONE is trying it), (2) be assertive about what you want and tell peers trying to influence you to do something like try drugs to back off -- you can give them reasons like 'I don't want to get addicted to drugs', 'using drugs is illegal', 'my parents will find out and kill me', or 'no thanks, I don't want any'. Just remember, your true friends are concerned about your health and your future, and they won't keep pressuring you to do things you don't want to do. Stay strong and remember it's your body...you get to make all the choices!!  For more information from real teens, see: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com, or www.teens.drugabuse.gov

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     acastro - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: who would be most likely to start weed: someone that has friends that do it, or someone that has parents that smoke weed?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: everything being equal, I'd say that both risk factors are particulalry bad omens.
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     proudtobeastone - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: can sharpie markers get you high?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Sharpies---or any permanent markers...can be dangerous if sniffed. The chemicals in these markers are considered 'inhalants.' Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, nearly all solvents and gases produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. Irreversible effects can be hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs). The sad thing about inhalants is that the 'high' does not last very long but the side effects can last forever.
    PollI think teachers do a good job of explaining the dangers of drugs.
    52% - Yes
    27% - No
    21% - Maybe
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     nehs student - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: My mom wants to start useing electric cigaretes instead of tobacco would that be better?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: These new electronic cigarettes are meant for smokers who want to avoid tobacco but are still addicted.  The electronic cigarettes are only for people who already smoke and need another way to get the nicotine they crave. We haven't seen any data on the health effects of these new electronic cigarettes so we really don't know whether they are any safer than smoked tobacco.  But they do not involve burning tobacco leaves and have no smoke.
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     J-Arias94 - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Who was the first person to smoke?? How did it start?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: That must have happened before recorded history, because we don't have a record.
    If I had to speculate, I'd say that the eureka moment happened when someone was standing next to a burning field of tobacco or cannabis.
     
    What do you think?
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     Aberryhill - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people get Meth Mouths?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is quite harmful to your teeth.  With continued use, a condition called 'meth mouth' occurs, and it is probably caused by a combination of changes resulting in dry mouth, extended periods of poor oral hygiene, increased consumption of sugared soft drinks, and teeth grinding and clenching.  If you want to see some pictures of this, Google 'meth mouth.' For more information on methamphetamine check out this website http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html

    Thanks for the question.
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     Oliverandy - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: how long does it take to stop being addicted?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: That is a great question.  We don't really have a single answer to that question.  People are all different and may take different lengths of time to quit using.  Some people are able to quit using drugs with the support of family and/or friends while others need treatment.  Some people need longer periods of time for treatment than others.  The good news is that treatment does work and recovery happens!  For more information on drug addiction see: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/ Information on drug treatment can be found at:http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/  .
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     kevinh - Vista, Oklahoma: how long are you in rehab to get clean of drugs or achahole addictitions

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Hi Kevin,
    This is a great question.  I ran a drug treatment program for over 10 years and saw a lot of people clean up their lives.  The time it takes varies a great deal.  For some people, they quit on their own and improve really quickly, but for others, it may be a long haul with months or years of treatment.  For those with long-term addiction, studies show that it is several years before their lives are stable and organized.  In these cases, treatment needs to be long term.  The question is who needs longer-term treatment and who will respond to short-term.  This depends on how severe the addiction has become and also on any other problems a person may have.  People who also have family trouble, legal trouble, mental illness and health problems generally need longer-term treatment and follow up.
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     Matt O - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: what are bath salts?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: This is a very important question, thanks for asking Matt.

    Bath salts are dangerous, new stimulant 'designer drugs' that were manufactured to get around the US laws. They are highly powerful and there is no control or regulation over what is present in these preparations. Often times, they don't contain what the package says and frequently, they are contaminated with other dangerous substances. There have been deaths associated with use of these drugs in Europe and now also in the US. The Drug Enforcement Agency recently added these drugs to the schedule of controlled substances. It is important that people understand the risks they are taking by using these new and unknown compounds. 
    User Icon
     IMS324 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why does cocaine get you high?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Because it causes the very sudden release of chemicals in your brain such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.  All drugs of abuse target the brain's pleasure center:

    Moderator Icon  Hey---this year we are asking teens to tell the truth about drug issues. Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did!  Look for a poll question in the next few minutes!
    User Icon
     vballlaker17 - Skaneateles High School, New York: What should you do if your at a party and someone is passed out from alcohol and your afraid they need to go to the hospital but your also afraid of getting people in trouble?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It would be way better to have a friend or two mad at you than for your friend to die. If you think there is a chance that someone you know might be in danger from drinking too much, please, please call 911 for help. It is a myth that one can help a friend sober up with coffee or cold showers, or that a person who is drunk just needs to 'sleep it off.' If you have any concerns, call for help!!

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     jgentile - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: how does doing cocain affect the nose and the brain

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Cocaine is a stimulant that has most of its effects on the brain, as do all drugs of abuse.  It is considered a stimulant because cocaine usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia. As a user begins to increase the dose and/or the frequency of drug taking, the duration and intensity of the high may lessen, and once it is over, users can feel very tired and depressed. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real possibility.

    Cocaine leads to an increase in the brain chemical, dopamine, and continued use can change the way your brain works and its structure. As for effects on the body, cocaine can increase your blood pressure, increase your heart rate, and can lead to strokes and heart attacks. It definitely 'pushes' your cardiovascular system. In terms of effects on the nose, cocaine is a vasoconstrictor, which can cause nasal and throat complications such as nasal itching, nosebleeds, sinusitis, laryngitis, and perforated nasal septum. For more information on cocaine please see: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/cocaine.php

    Thanks for the question.
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     Michael Muggli - Sidney High School, Nebraska: what does steroids do to your body?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Steroids can do nasty things to your body. Major effects of steroid abuse can include liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in 'bad' cholesterol. Also, males risk shrinking of the testicles, baldness, breast development, and infertility. Females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens risk permanently stunted height, accelerated puberty changes, and severe acne. All users, but particularly those who inject the drug, risk infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. You can find out more about steroids at teens.drugabuse.gov.
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     kyle - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do you call it cottenmouth when you smoke marajuanna

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Because you're mouth feels dry
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     Ariana - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: will you get addicted to drugs if you do it once?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question. It's not a simple one. For some people, it's the first puff on a cigarette, or the first experience with any drug.  Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many.  They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again).  Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain.  Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  But, you are better off not trying drugs in the first place! You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
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     poppy - Einstein High School, Maryland: what happen if diabetes patients used alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: First of all, if you are under 21, you should not drink whether you have diabetes or not. But, if you know someone above age 21 who has diabetes, you should advise them to be very careful about the amount of alcohol they drink. Some general guidelines from the American Diabetes Association include:
    Do not drink when your blood glucose levels are low
    Do not drink on an empty stomach
    Make sure to check your blood sugar levels before you drink any alcohol
    Make sure to eat and drink non-alcoholic beverages while you drink

    Also, anyone with diabetes should consult with their doctor before drinking alcohol.
    For more guidelines, check out: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/alcohol.html
    Moderator Icon  By age 18, more than 70 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink.
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     clorenzi - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how would i approach i friend who i want to help with their addiction?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: I'm really glad you asked this question. A lot of addicts say they don't want help because they are afraid to live without drugs. Treatment can show them how.  Here are some things you might consider when trying to help a friend who is addicted to drugs.  First, you can listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov).  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
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     bonjour - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: What are some myths and misconceptions of drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Here is a common misconception:  'Marijuana is not addictive.' It is addictive for many people. 9% of people will get addicted, and one in six will get addicted if they start as a teen.
    Here's another:' Prescription drugs must be safe because they are prescribed by a doctor.' This is sooooo wrong. Prescription drugs can be dangerous if taken without a prescription, or when not taken as directed. You can find more myths at teens.drugabuse.gov.

    This is National Drug Facts Week, where kids all over the country are shattering the myths about drugs. Check it out at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/index.php
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     meowzers5191 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: I bet if everyone was high we would have no war and everyone would be peacful. i think it should be a right to choose what you put into your body. why is it that drugs are ilegal? if people know what they are putting into their bodies it should be okay.

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Maybe so, but if everybody was high on drugs, we would not have food on our tables either.  
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     Logan~~W - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: DOeS sAlvIa MAKE yoU TriP? Is BAD??

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi there, good question.  Definitely, salvia can make you trip, like many other types of drugs. When someone takes a drug to get high, the drug hijacks the normal function of the brain system, and you disrupt the normal workings of the system. Depending upon what the system's normal function is, the bad effects differ, as do the situations you are in when you use drugs. It is important that you know as much as you can about drugs before you make a decision about whether to use them or not. Think about the short term and long term effects, and base your decision on the facts. Thanks for asking.
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     bobcat763 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what dose methamphetamine do to your body?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: great question. methamphetamine has many effects. the most important ones are that it releases chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrirne, which can lead to addiction.  It also can produce brain damage by killing brain cells.
    Please see this link for more: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_meth1.php
    Moderator Icon  This year we have experts on mental health waiting for your questions about why teens are special---and why they sometimes have special problems.
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     IMS - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Is there a difference between soft drugs such as marijuans and hard drugs like crack, cocaine and heroine?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hi there - This is a tricky question, but luckily, it has a pretty clear-cut answer.  All drugs pose risk to the body and brain.  This is especially true for teens whose bodies and brains are experiencing tremendous growth and change.  Using drugs can significantly impact the brain affecting learning, memory, concentration, attention, decision making, and may lead to addiction.  Repeated drug use also has serious medical consequences including the development of lung cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and more.  Bottom line, why play Russian roulette with your health and life?? No drug is without risk.

    For more information about drugs and teens, check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php
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     Kaza999 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Okay, this question is *not* derisive--but why does the school system spend so much time on how bad marijuana is, when there are much more dangerous drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, and meth? Marijuana may be bad for teenagers, but is less physically addictive and destructive than the harder drugs that we have less info about.

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a very reasonable question.  As a physician, I am concerned about use of all substances which might harm development and health.  This includes tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs in addition to heroin, cocaine and meth, etc.  Part of the focus on marijuana is based on the idea that people who use other drugs often start with marijuana before moving on to cocaine, heroin and others.  The idea is that if we can help them avoid marijuana, we may help to reduce other drug use also.  Of course, we are concerned about the effects of marijuana, too. 
    All drugs can be dangerous.  That doesn't mean that everyone who uses gets into trouble.  But even though many say it is safe, marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC, a known psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation.  THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. 

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     ZaCh! - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what does pcp do?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Giving a shout out to North Ridgeville Middle School! PCP (phencyclidine) was developed in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic. Its use has since been discontinued due to serious adverse effects. It is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol and has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. It is considered a hallucinogenic compound (like Peyote, Psilocybin, LSD) and while the exact mechanisms by which hallucinogens exert their effects on us remain unclear, research suggests that these drugs work, at least partially, by temporarily interfering with neurotransmitter action or by binding to their receptor sites. This link will take you to more info about side effects and medical consequences: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/pcp.html
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     ims - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: my sciense teacher name is mr davis. he said that cocaine can do more than just mess up your brain. can it realy kill you

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi ... Once again, your teacher is correct.  Repeated cocaine use can produce addiction and other adverse health consequences. In 2008, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), nearly 1.4 million Americans met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for dependence or abuse of cocaine (in any form) in the past 12 months. Further, data from the 2008 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report showed that cocaine was involved in 482,188 of the nearly 2 million visits to emergency departments for drug misuse or abuse. This translates to almost one in four drug misuse or abuse emergency department visits (24 percent) that involved cocaine.  For more proof, just check out this story . . . Leonard Kevin 'Len' Bias (November 18, 1963 – June 19, 1986) was a first team All-American college basketball player at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Boston Celtics as the second overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft on June 17, but died two days later from cardiac arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat) induced by a cocaine overdose. He is considered by some sportswriters to be one of the greatest players not to play at the professional level. Cocaine can definitely kill you.
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     bottom2015 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: would it be okay to date someone who is addicted to meth?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Serious question - I can't tell you who to date but I can say that I wouldn't want my friends or family members dating a meth addict.  That's because meth has a profound impact on the brain and behavior.  The addict will have a complusive need to use drugs despite negative consequences - including problems with family, school, person they are dating, the law, etc.  Addicts are not good at relationships with other people because their primary relationship is with their drug of choice.  If they are a meth addict, they may not be very dependable, trustworthy, or able to consider your feelings and needs. Perhaps you can be their friend - listen to them talk about why they use drugs, make them aware of the consequences of meth use, encourage them to participate in treatment.  But, date someone else - somone who isn't using drugs. For more information on methamphetamine and getting help, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html and http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html
    Moderator Icon  According to a 2010 study, 1.6% of 8th graders, 2.2% of 10th graders, and 2.9% of 12th graders had abused cocaine in any form and 1.0% of 8th graders, 1.0% of 10th graders, and 1.4% of 12th graders had abused crack at least once.
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     kyle - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: do stariods make you short tempored

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Nice to hear from you Kyle! I'm guessing you are talking about anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) which are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male sex hormone testosterone...These drugs are legally prescribed to treat conditions resulting from steroid hormone deficiency (like delayed puberty), as well as diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass but are sometimes abused to enhance athletic performance and/or improve physical appearance. You are correct that many users while on anabolic steroids have reported extreme mood swings and irritability. For other health consequences go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php and here's a short video about steroids from Dr. Ruben Baler, one of our scientists:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/video.php?video=z9Ynf2kPNIc
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     me - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: How did marijuana start? Did someone just decide to smoke some random plant?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Probably, or perhaps some keen early observer noticed the behavioral mellowing effects that the plant had on some animals.  This BTW is actually been reported to be the way humans discovered coffee.
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     susan h - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: i think drugs are stupid and bad

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: My best advice to you is to stay true to your values and don't let others change who you are on the inside. Sometimes it takes courage and a steel will. 
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     madsav - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: There's a boy at school who continues to try to sell me drugs. I've seen what can happen if someone gets hooked on drugs. What is a good way to say no and keep this person away from me?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Good for you for realizing that you don't want to use drugs.  I think that general avoidance (if you can) and a polite but firm 'no thanks' over a period of time will send the message to him that you do not want to buy drugs from him, and he'll stop 'wasting' his time asking you.  Good luck!
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     pekinwlr - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What are the effects on children if the parents are on drugs?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  We know that drug use runs in families and with both parents addicted, there is a higher chance of becoming addicted.  Also, parents who abuse alcohol and other drugs often have trouble being good parents.  They may have mood swings, be unpredictable, become hostile or abusive, and generally have trouble taking care of other people, let alone themselves.  But that doesn't mean that there is no hope.  If parents can quit, they may do much better.  Either way, it is important to reach out for help. Talk to a school counselor or teacher, contact 1-800-662-HELP, or visit the SAMHSA Abuse Treatment Facility Locater at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: george from kenmore: why do people say marijuana is only psychologically addictive when it isnt.

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Many people don't believe marijuana is addictive, but it is. Approximately 9% of people who use marijuana become addicted, about 1 in 6 among those who start using as teens, and 25-50% of daily users. In 2009, 18% of people entering drug abuse treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug (70% of those aged 12-14; and 72% of those 15-17)  representing more than 350,000 admissions. When someone who is addicted to marijuana tries to stop, they may experience symptoms such as irritability, sleeping problems, anxiety, loss of appetite, and strong cravings for the drug, which can make it difficult to quit.
    Check out our booklet for teens to get more information: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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     jiveturkey802 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Hi, I was wondering about whether any of the individuals who are responding to these questions are in conjunction with each other, or discuss their responses with each other? I also wish to state that I appreciate the input from all of the sources on this website, although some answers to questions asked seem partially biased or based more off of speculation rather than scientific fact.

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: We are all sitting in a large room filled with laptops answering your questions. Sometimes we chat with each other about certain questions, and we like to share especially interesting questions. You can see what it looks like by going to this link and checking out the photos or video we made on previous Chat Days. http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/index.php

    Each scientist can answer the question the way he or she likes...so naturally some will have differing opinions. However, we are all working off the the same science base---things about drugs we have learned at the Institute after many years of research. We realize that our voices are not as loud as the ones you hear in the mass media, TV, Internet music or movies, which often encourage drug taking. But we think it is important that teens get the most accurate, not the loudest information about drugs.
    Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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     Brian - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do steroids effect how you play sports?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: because they change the biophysical properties of your muscles, which affects strength and stamina. 
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     MaryJaneBaby - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Im addicted to Marijuana, i have been smoking for years and cant stop. I have spent almost a thousand dollars on this drug. How can i stop?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: It sounds like you've tried to quit, and that hasn't worked.  Try finding a trusted adult (at home or at school) who could help you find a good treatment program in your area.  You will probably be asked to go to a counselor for an assessment, and maybe a medical evaluation.  Most programs will design an individualized treatment program for you.  It'll be important to get the support from your non-using family members and friends, too. For more information on finding a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.  Good luck!
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     cooldude78 - Skaneateles High School, New York: can you get drunk off of orange juice?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: No. But, you might be surprised to know that fruit juices, like orange juice, can contain small amounts of alcohol. When yeast, which exists naturally in the environment, interacts with the sugar in juice, alcohol gets produced. Luckily, the amount of alcohol is so small that a person literally would have to drink gallons of juice to feel the effects. 
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     cesarnajera - Vista, Oklahoma: can you run faster when you are high on cocain?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I doubt it, although it is possible that someone on any stimulant drug might be able to run farther.
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     mr. Bunker - Einstein High School, Maryland: Is it normal if after smoking k2 your heart rate is constantly fast and when eating it gets worse?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Mr. Bunker,

    This is an important question.  If you have had this reaction to smoking or eating K2 or spice, you know what this drug can do to your body. K2 is a very powerful stimulant drug that has been reported to cause heart attacks in 16 year olds. The drugs are up to 100 times as powerful as marijuana with a racing heart being one of the most common signs. When you eat the drug it lasts longer but still has the same type of effects. This is a dangerous drug to be experimenting with.  I hope this information helps! 
    Moderator Icon  Research shows that drivers on marijuana have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds. Learn more about the effects of different drugs here http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/
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     abcd - Rockville HS, Maryland: what is crack?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: great question. Crack is the freebase form of cocaine. Like cocaine, it increases brain levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, is highly addictive, and can do serious damage to your brain and body.  Please see this link for more info: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Cocaine.html.
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     Logan~~W - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: what are the chemicals used in synthetic mary J

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: There are many chemicals that have been found in Spice products, and being designer drugs that try to avoid detection, they are changing all the time. However, I can tell you that one of the first ingredients to be identified was the so called JWH-018,   which was actually 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) or AM-678 (if you must know). This is an analgesic chemical from the naphthoylindole family.

    Hope this helps
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     kayla23 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How many people have died this year from drugs?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hello kayla23. In 2007, there were over 27,000 deaths due to unintentional drug poisoning. However, this number doesn't include suicides, homicides or deaths due to drugged or drunk driving. For example, in 2009, 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. The most recent numbers will be released today from the CDC so if you'd like more information go to www.cdc.gov. Thanks for your question!
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     awmm - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what are the side affects of tobacco

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: How's the weather in PA??
    Well the BIG C- 'Cancer' is the most serous side effect associated with tobacco use.  Tobacco use kills approximately 440,000 Americans each year, with one in every five U.S. deaths due to smoking. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body, causes many diseases, including heart attck, cardiovascular disease (the leading cause of death in the U.S.) and compromises smokers' health in general. Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those around them, causing the same diseases in those who may have never taken a puff!  To be honest, I'm not real sure why anyone would still use tobacco, are you?
    The biggest part of the human brain, which contains the main “thinking center,” is called the:
    The correct answer is: B. Cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the mushroom-like outer part of the brain (the gray matter). It is divided into four areas called lobes, and makes up about three-fourths of the entire brain. The front part of the cortex, frequently called the frontal lobe, is the thinking center. It powers our ability to think, plan, solve problems, and make decisions. Long-term exposure to drugs of abuse interferes with the cerebral cortex's ability to control behaviors related to drug abuse. Check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
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     oscar - Einstein High School, Maryland: tabacco and alcohol kill thousands of people every year, but marijuana has never been linked as a direct cause of death. why is weed illegal when it doesn't cause any deaths directly but alcohol and tabacco do, and they are more addicting than weed. In comparison, weed isn't all that dangerous as the other two drugs.

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: You're right--we already have 2 major legal causes of premature death and disability--tobacco and alcohol.  And now you are suggesting we add a third one--marijuana.  You may not think there are risks of using marijuana but here are a few: it can be addictive--someone who uses it a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their lives.  About 1 in 6 teen marijuana users become addicted, and 1 in 4 if you use it every day or nearly every day. And because it affects how you think and remember things, and your coordination, you may lose your competitive edge--in sports and in school.  And of course smoking anything is not good for the lungs.  All of these risks go into the mix when you think about weed being made legal.  And, although people don't overdose on marijuana--they do get into car wrecks--almost 14% of people fatally injured in car wrecks test positive for marijuana, often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.  For more info on mj, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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     tcanha - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: how many highschool kids get achohal poisining

    Expert Icon Aaron White: This is difficult to answer because the exact number isn't known. However, we do know that, in 2009, more than 50,000 kids ages 12-17 had to be taken to the emergency department for reasons related to drinking alcohol. We simply do not know how many of those kids were treated for alcohol poisoning versus things like falling down the stairs or getting in car crashes. 
     

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     tdellota - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: if i smoke heroin will it kill my fetus?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: At the very least, smoking heroin or doing any other drug (even cigarettes or alcohol), can damage the fetus. Drugs act on the brain, and a fetus is at a stage where the brain is very active in its development. Drugs of abuse can have immediate effects that can last throughout the child's life.  Not only that, but recent research has shown that if you take drugs while pregnant, not only can you damage the child, you can also damage your grandchildren--the children from the child who was exposed during pregnancy.  That's right--drugs can act on the reproductive system in ways that can be transmitted across generations.  So think twice--and then think again before you do something that could damage your fetus.  You may have to face those consequences of your choice in the coming generations of your family. For more information, you can go to the Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse fact sheet: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html. And if you need help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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     Guillermo - Einstein High School, Maryland: What, if any are the long term effects of date rape drugs?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Hello Guillermo--thanks for asking a such an important question today. Common date rape drugs include GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid), ketamine and rohypnol.
    These drugs often have no odor, color, or taste and can be added easily to drinks without the victim’s knowledge. The effect of these drugs (in the short-term) can affect judgment, behavior, and memory and can place someone at risk for unwanted sexual activity which can have long-term consequences for someone's health (both physically and mentally). If you know of or think someone may have been a victim of date rape, encourage them to talk to a trusted adult -- a parent, a teacher, coach or doctor.  Our sister agency, SAMHSA, offers a hotline.  Call 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
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     ocarpenter14 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How do drugs manage to affect your brain; is it a chemical reaction between substances in the drug with your brain?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Good question.  Yes, in a way it is a chemical reaction between the chemicals in the drug and those in your brain.  When you take a drug of abuse (including illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco), it affects the part of the brain called the limbic system, which allows us to feel our emotions.  Our brains can get 'hijacked' by drugs of abuse as they cause many chemicals to be suddenly released.  Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This creates an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    Moderator Icon  Mental illnesses are caused by a combination of biological, environmental, and social factors. Researchers are trying to find out the exact causes.
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     alexaandshannon - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: can drinking and smoking cause any long term affects on your body if you do it sometimes at a young age?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi New Egypt.
    Absolutely!!  Did you know your brain is not fully developed and mature until you're 25 year of age!! And brain developmental factors are important in drug abuse. Since drugs can affect how the brain develops, drug use during adolescence may be particularly harmful to the still developing brain.  Drug effects can be also 'cumulative' so the more and longer you use the more likely to have long-term effects- think cigarette smoking and lung cancer.  Also, research shows that ealier a person starts using drugs, the more likely they are to have drug and other problems, like with family relationships, grades, etc.  So the younger a person starts and the longer they continue to use drugs, the more risk for addiction and other negative effects associated with drugs of abuse. Learn more about how drugs affect a person's brain and life, click on http://drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
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     ZaCh! - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what are shrooms? what do they do?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Mushrooms or 'shrooms' generally refer to psilocybin, sometimes called 'magic mushrooms.' Only there is nothing really magic about them.  Psilocybin is a plant with active compounds that have LSD-like properties and produce 'mind-bending' reactions, altered motor reflexes, behavior, and perception. The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose. Long-term effects such as flashbacks, risk of psychiatric illness, impaired memory, and tolerance have been described in case reports.
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     clorenzi - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: what is the minimum sentencing for possesion of drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey there - the answer to your question is 'it depends.'  The legal consequences for posession of drugs depends on the type of drug, amount of drug, and place where you are caught with the drug. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?'  The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs.  For more information on the consequences of drugs see: 
    http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html
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     ¥ - Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Massachusetts: Is eating marijuana in foods better or worse for you than smoking marijuana?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Eating marijuana has its own set of risks (although maybe not so much for the lungs).  Its hard to control how much you take, since the effects take longer to come on if you eat it and you may not know how much you've taken.  This has led to reports of severe anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis.  Other risks are similar--the potential for addiction: 1 in 6 teens who use marijuana; the disruption in learning and memory; problems with coordination--and driving, etc. 
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     zcooper - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: do drugs effect mentally ill people any different from mentally healthy people? if yes; in what way?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Drugs can have the same effects on everyone--making them intoxicated or high and causing problems like overdose, accidents and mood swings.  But people with mental illnesses may be especially vulnerable to problems from drugs.  They seem to be more likely to become addicted when they start using and many find that their mental illness symptoms get much worse with drug use.  As a psychiatrist, I saw many patients with this problem and the most important thing they could do for their health was to quit using drugs.
    Moderator Icon  Fact: By age 15, more than 50 percent of teens have had at least 1 drink.
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     Leonard t - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: Why are the people that do use drugs have no money?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hi LT - I'm not sure it is true that ALL people who use drugs have no money but over time drug use does have a big impact on your life.  People become addicted which means they complusively use drugs in spite of negative consequences - including legal, financial, and career problems.  For more informaiton on drug use see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: From your data have you found that there are some drugs that are more popular among certain races than others.

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  We have a lot of data about drug use in the United States.  You might check out the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh.htm) for details about this question.  In brief, all the drugs of abuse have been seen in the different racial and ethnic groups and in both men and women.  But some drugs do differ in how common they are in different groups.  For instance, menthol cigarettes are more commonly used by African Americans than other groups.  Methamphetamine is used less by African Americans than by others.  These differences give us clues about what causes the spread of drugs.  These causes might be social factors or biological ones. 
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     me - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: what exactly does basalts do to you? and why are people going crazy after they take it?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello to me from Pennsylvania,

    Bath salts are a group of dangerous new drug stimulants. First, you don't know exactly what is present in these illegal substances so you take a great risk every time you use bath salts. Often, the illegal drugs that are manufactured in secret labs don't contain what you think they do - they may contain dangerous contaminants or cutting agents. These are generally stimulants that cause your heart rate and blood pressure to increase to dangerously high levels. They also tend to produce hallucinations and cause panic reactions. These drugs are dangerous and can kill you, so it is not surprising that many people react strangely after taking them. In reality, people who take bath salts are experimenting on their own bodies with, sadly, many unhappy endings.
    Moderator Icon  Sheri Grabus is online helping our scientists. She is NIDA’s deputy press officer and helps write materials for non-scientists. Sheri was trained as a neuroscientist and has also taught college courses in the field of psychology, including courses specific to drugs of abuse and their actions. Immediately prior to joining NIDA, Sheri ran a small-town Chamber of Commerce. When not at NIDA, she is busy playing with (and of course chasing and picking up after) her three young children. And sometimes she even gets time to go scuba diving with her husband, who is a jet pilot in the Navy.
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     DrippinSwag'Goo - Einstein High School, Maryland: How can someone tell if someone else is using steroids?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: you can never be sure, but the extrenal appearance sometimes is quite obvious: if you see a young guy working out regularly with hanging breasts, going bald prematurely and with agressive acne all over, the chances of anabolic steroid abuse are pretty good. For a comprehensive list of signs of steroid abuse you can check out the following link:
     http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/steroids.html

    all the best to you.

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     unicornsrawesom - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: i have friends doing a lot of drugs and i want to fit in wat should i do

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Dear Vermont - Dare to be different!! Seriously, dealing with peer pressure to use drugs can be intense for teens but remember drugs have a really negative affect on your body, brain, and behavior. Tips for handling peer pressure include: (1) be your own person and don't follow the crowd (no matter how small...because no matter what they say...not EVERYONE is trying it), (2) be assertive about what you want and tell peers trying to influence you to do something like try drugs to back off -- you can give them reasons like 'I don't want to get addicted to drugs', 'using drugs is illegal', 'my parents will find out and kill me', or 'no thanks, I don't want any'. Just remember, your true friends are concerned about your health and your future, and they won't keep pressuring you to do things you don't want to do. Stay strong and remember it's your body...you get to make all the choices!!  For more information from real teens, see: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com, or www.teens.drugabuse.gov
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     fluffyfaye - north carroll middle, Maryland: what makes people addicted to drugs?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Drugs change the brain -- they act on the parts of the brain that let you feel pleasure and that are important for survival.  So when you use a drug you over activate those parts of the brain, and when the effects wear off, you want more.  Also drugs act on parts of the brain responsible for memory and for controlling your behavior.  When you take a drug over and over again the brain starts to change--things that used to make you feel good don't work anymore; when you see people you used drugs with or places where you took drugs, you feel a strong urge to take them again, and your ability to make choices based on future consequences is compromised.  All of these changes make it harder and harder to stop, even if you realize the huge toll drugs are taking on your life--disrupting your relationships with family and friends, your schoolwork, athletic performance, etc. 

    But there is hope--treatment can work, and people do recover their lives after addiction. Still, the best advice is not to start.
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     upnorte789 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: What does ecstasy do to you?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Ecstasy increases chemicals in a part of your brain called the limbic system, which makes you feel your emotions. The most important chemicals released by ecstasy are dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. While the release of these chemicals gives you an initial feeling of 'high', ecstasy also kills your brain cells and that damage is permanent. Check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html for more info.
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     BsHs - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Would it be worst for your body to snort or smoke drugs?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: The answer is:  Yes!  Any way you ingest drugs is a bad way.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again).  Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain.  If you smoke them, you are also causing major insults to your esophagus and lungs--eventually causing diseases such as lung cancer.  Snorting also can cause major damage to your nose and septum--why would you want to do that?  Snorting is also dangerous because you can deliver high -- and possibly lethal -- doses of drugs very quickly. For a list of commonly abused drugs and their routes of administration, go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html.
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     tle - Johnson Middle School, California: is it possible to stop useing drugs

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Absolutely it is possible to stop using drugs.  Some people are able to decide to stop taking drugs and quit on their own with the support of family and friends.  Some participate in 12-step programs like AA or NA and others need to participate in treatment where they learn how to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
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     madsav - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: Does doing drugs influence sexual activities?

    Expert Icon Bethany Deeds: Good Morning to Totino-Grace High School and fanastic question! The use of alcohol and other drugs can certainly affect your judgment in the 'heat of the moment' and increase your risk for negative health outcomes (STDs, HIV, unplanned pregnancy, etc.). Here is some info from our teen site on risky behavior:   http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_hiv1.php; Have you seen the Sara Bellum Blog? It has all the latest information on drugs and drug abuse, and you can comment on what’s written. Check it out at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
    A person who is addicted to drugs can experience a severe reaction when trying to quit---this is called:
    The correct answer is: B. Withdrawal. Although withdrawal symptoms can occur following long term medical or non-medical use, they are often a contributor to relapse in those who are addicted. Symptoms vary according to the abused drug. With heroin, for example, withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes with goose bumps. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     Alexis&Katie1 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How can you get a friend to quit doing drugs?!

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Alexis and Katie - Terrific question.  The first thing you can do is listen to what they say about their drug use including why they are using.  It is always a good idea to encourage your friend to confide and seek advice from a trusted adult.  If they don't realize the negative health consequences of drugs on their body, brain, and life, you can send them to the NIDA website (www.drugabuse.gov) to learn more.  You can also encourage your friend to seek treatment.  More informaton on drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/  If your friend is not ready for help, don't give up.  Keep reaching out and hopefully someday soon they will be ready to get help. 
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     NG - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How much hard cider would be equivalent to a glass of wine?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That depends on how much alcohol is in the hard cider. The types of hard cider purchased at stores tends to contain the same amount of alcohol as standard beer (5%), making one bottle of cider equivalent to one glass of wine.
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     BrendanW - Skaneateles High School, New York: What is the difference between dependence and addiction?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: A good but tricky question. Physicians sometimes use these words to mean the same thing.  But, often, 'dependence' means having withdrawal or tolerance to a substance. Withdrawal occurs when someone quits using a drug suddenly.  This can include very serious symptoms like seizures or delirium or can be much milder with symptoms like irritability and trouble concentrating. The term 'addiction' means that someone has developed a regular pattern of drug use that includes withdrawal and tolerance but also such symptoms as:
    • Craving - a strong need to use a drug
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop using once you've begun
    • Continuing to use even though it causes physical health, mental or social problems (like arguments or missing school/work)
    At first these addiction problems are subtle and mild but they can progress.  Over time, these problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families. 
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     tnn - Einstein High School, Maryland: how long does it take to get hooked on drugs?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. It can take as little as one time. Many people try a drug once, then keep on going back to it over and over. This is because drugs of abuse produce an unconscious memory in your brain of their pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take the drug again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
     
    Moderator Icon  Do the actors in your favorite movie smoke? Research says that teens who see a lot of smoking in movies are more likely to start smoking themselves. Sometimes characters smoke to look edgy and rebellious; but sometimes it’s just about “product placement”— the tobacco industry trying to get into your head and your pockets.
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     Raelynn - Pekin Community School, Iowa: If a father that does drugs gets a woman pregnant, are the drugs in his sperm and will it effect the baby?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Raelyn

    I wouldn't worry about that really, But i would worry a lot about a drug abusing father. Having drug abusers in the house is one of the strongest predictors of deviancy later in life, like criminal and drug abuse behaviors. So I would recommned to try and really do something about it.

    good luck to you.
     
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     austin - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do people start drugs if they know it will kill them

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hello - People begin taking drugs for lots of reasons but common ones include: they are bored and want to experience something new, they feel bad and have heard drugs can make you feel good, or their family/friends have encouraged them to use drugs.  Regardless of the reason people try drugs, they have a powerful impact on the brain, body, behavior, and shoud be avoided.  To learn more about drugs and teens see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/  .
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     Logan~~W - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Can you get drunk off of hand sanitizer?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, because it contains ethyl alcohol, the kind of alcohol in alcoholic beverages. However, it can also make a person extremely sick due to the other ingredients in it. That's why the instructions make clear that hand sanitizer is for external use only.
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     keegan - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can you mix different kinds of drugs to get high faster?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Well, you can mix some drugs together that will result in the two being more potent than either alone. For example a combination of cocaine and heroin can be more potent and have more negative effects than either used along. The 'slang' term for this  combination of drugs is known as 'Speedball.' There are big problems with this combo...namely addiction, overdose and death.  Does the name Chris Farley mean anything to ya?  Not trying to be preachy, but just trying to emphasize that chasing a 'faster high' can be really dangerous and lead to a 'fast death'.
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     ahart - Sidney High School, Nebraska: what is the most common drug people use and die from?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey NE - great question.  About 570,000 people die annually from drug use.  That breaks down is about 440,000 from diseases related to tobacco, 85,000 due to alcohol, 20,000 due to illicit drugs, and 20,000 due to prescription drugs.  For more information see the NIDA website: www.drugabuse.gov
    Moderator Icon  Most suicide attempts are expressions of extreme distress, not harmless bids for attention. A person who appears suicidal should not be left alone and needs immediate mental-health treatment.
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     Austin - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is the diffrence between drinking or doing drugs at the age of 21 than at the age of 20

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Really no big difference between drinking/doing drugs at these two ages.  What we do know is that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs.  Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, at adolescence, the brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc.  Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.  One thing that we do also know is that the brain is still developing some at the ages of 20 and 21.

    If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/

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     mgeiger - Vista, Oklahoma: how can you tell if someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hi there, great question - Drugs and alcohol impact the brain and behavior.  You can often tell someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol because their coordination, reaction times, speech, and decision making are impaired.  Over time they may become addicted.  We think someone is addicted when they seek and use drugs complusively despite negative consequences. Complusive drug use has many negative consequences including affecting your brain's ability to learn new tasks, memory, concentration, and ability to exert good judgment.  Prolonged drug abuse can cause medical problems -- lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction.  Drug use can also cause personal problems, poor school performance, and even arrest. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/ for more information related to the medical consequences of drug use.  Sometimes people don't realize how serious their drug use is and deny the negative impact.  If you know someone in this situation, you can point out the negative affect you see that drugs are having on them.  A specific NIDA website that you might want to check out is: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#behavior. If the person you care about is ready to stop using drugs, talk with a professional like a doctor or therapist to find treatment.  You can also go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP to find treatment programs in you area. Use this as an opportunity to reach out and get help. 
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     rlococo - Sidney High School, Nebraska: What do inhalants do to your brain?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, nearly all solvents and gases produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness. Irreversible effects can be hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs).
    Moderator Icon  Hey-we have alcohol experts here. Send us your alcohol questions.
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     BlackLavender - Rockville HS, Maryland: if someone only smokes cigars, are they at less risk of cancers and other ilnesses caused by cigarettes?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Hmmm. Cigars release many dangerous chemicals that are damaging to your lungs and body, but there fewer studies on them, compared to cigarettes. Hopefully, we'll have clear data on that question in the near future.  Good question, thanks.
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     IMS311 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How many people die from cigarettes each year?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Cigarette smoking kills an estimated 440,000 U.S. citizens each year. Too bad---these are all preventable if only the people had said 'no' to smoking.
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     peruman50 - Rockville HS, Maryland: can a small sip of alcohol make me addicted?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It really depends. Research shows that having even a few sips of alcohol at a young age can increase the chances of becoming an alcoholic at some point in life. We still do not know why and it is likely that some people are at greater risk than others. So, it's possible.
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     fbg$ - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: how bad is it to have a 7 hour blackout time and durring that time you were subosedly still drinking and playing horse shows.

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Blackouts are periods of amnesia during which the brain is not able to make any new memories. The fact that the person in your example experienced a 7 hour blackout means they probably drank a very large amount of alcohol - maybe even enough that they could have potentially died from it. Blackouts do not always indicate that a person has a problem with alcohol, but they are a warning sign that the person is drinking in a very dangerous way. To avoid serious trouble, this person should avoid alcohol completely.
    Moderator Icon  Some people think becoming addicted to a drug is just a character flaw, but it’s not. The first time people use drugs, it’s usually a conscious decision they’ve made. But once people become addicted, they are dealing with a difficult brain disease.
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     shampoo-lady - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many kids do drugs a year

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: In 2010, almost 5 million teens, aged 12-17, used drugs in the past year. This translates to about 1 in 5 teens!
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     helenp - Rockville HS, Maryland: what are the long term affects of being addicted to cigarettes?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, Helenp.  As you know nicotine is highly addictive, and long-term exposure to the more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, other respiratory disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, secondhand smoke (smoke from someone else's cigarette) can also cause health problems to the people around them.
    The good news for people with nicotine addiction is that help is available. There are medications and strategies that don't use medications. NIDA is working to increase the number of options, too--for example, by developing and testing anti-nicotine vaccines. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
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     Cameron - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: If your parents are addicted to drugs are u more likely to do them to?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Yes, you are. This is why it is a great idea to stay away from them. However, many people with parents who are addicted to drugs (like cigarettes or alcohol, for example) hate those drugs and stay away from them. Both my parents smoked a lot, and I hated it! I can't stand the smell of smoke and I never smoked. So, if you never try a drug, you have zero chance of becoming addicted.
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     alexisb - Vista, Oklahoma: last month, a freind of mine asked me if i wnated to spend the night at her house. i said yes, but the next day she asked me if i would do weed with her. i said no and told her i would be out of town that day. my other freind she asked will be staying the night with her. i dont want her to be doing bad things. how could i convince her to not be exposed to these kinds of influnces?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hi there! OK - dealing with peer pressure to use drugs can be tough.  You are to be congratulated on not being influenced by your 'friend' and minimizing contact.  You could suggest similar strategies to your other friend.  For example: (1) be your own person and don't follow the crowd (no matter how small...because no matter what they say...not EVERYONE is trying it), (2) be assertive about what you want and tell peers trying to influence you to do something like try drugs to back off -- you can give them reasons like 'I don't want to get addicted to drugs', 'using drugs is illegal', 'my parents will find out and kill me', or 'no thanks, I don't want any'. Just remember, your true friends are concerned about your health and your future, and they won't keep pressuring you to do things you don't want to do. Stay strong and remember it's your body...you get to make all the choices!!  For more information from real teens, see: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com, or www.teens.drugabuse.gov
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     finere - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: how does meth give you meth moutth?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Methamphetamine has physical properties as well as psychoactive ones, and one of them is that it is a potent vasoconstrictor.  That is, it reduces blood flow.  Your mouth and gums need a lot of blood flow to maintain good health;  when you compromise that blood flow repeatedly, it can't do its job (supplying nutrients and oxygen to the gums) and after repeatedly reducing it, your gums no longer protect your teeth.  The gums recede, and you may loose teeth.  The other thing is that meth reduces your motivation to take care of yourself, and the meth user often neglects simple things like brushing his/her teeth.  But without that daily oral hygiene, your mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and cavities. Meth mouth is pretty disgusting, isn't it? Here is a fact sheet from our web site about meth:http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html 
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     yamomma - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: Can marijuana affect pregnancy?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi yamomma

    thanks for the question!

    Animal research suggests that the body's endocannabinoid system plays a role in the control of brain maturation, particularly in the development of emotional responses. It is conceivable that even low concentrations of THC, when administered during pregnancy, could have profound and long-lasting consequences for both brain and behavior. Research has shown that some babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancies display altered responses to visual stimuli, increased tremulousness, and a high-pitched cry, which could indicate problems with neurological development. In school, marijuana-exposed children are more likely to show gaps in problem solving skills, memory, and the ability to remain attentive. But this type of research is very difficult to interpret because it is never perfectly controlled. Thus, more research is needed to disentangle the drug-specific factors from the environmental ones.

    Hope this helps
    All the best to you.
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     urmom - Einstein High School, Maryland: What steps is the governemnt taking to regulate illegal drug?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hello urmom,

    The government addresses the illegal drug problem in many ways. You are probably most aware of the efforts to keep drugs from coming into our country from smuggling at the borders and the Drug Enforcement Agency's effort to find secret laboratories in the US that manufacture illegal drugs. But there is much more that the government does to prevent and treat drug addiction. For instance NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, supports 85% of the world's research on drug abuse. We are trying to find out how drugs work in your brain and body in hopes of helping many people that are addicted to drugs. We are trying to find medications that will help people to stop using drugs. Others in the government offer treatment programs and try to make drug treatment more effective. Also, we conduct research about newly emerging drugs of abuse, like spice and bath salts, so that we can inform people about the toxicity of these drugs and help them make informed decisions about whether to use the drugs. As you can see, education is another important function that the government performs. 

    This was a great question, thanks!
    Moderator Icon  Now in our chat is Dr. Bethany Deeds. She is an interdisciplinary scientist whose expertise is the social epidemiology of drug abuse (how where we work, play, learn and live affects our health). Dr. Deeds went to high school in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. When she is not enjoying her work life, you can find her enjoying her personal life --watching science fiction with her husband, crafting with her daughter and running with her dog Nikita!
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     Tinkerbell - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How do I help a friend with alcohol addiction?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Such a good question. The best thing to do is find an adult that you trust and talk with them about it. Drinking at such a young age is dangerous for lots of reasons. One is that people are more likely to get hurt if they drink alcohol. Another is that the brain is still growing and changing at that age, and alcohol could affect this person's brain in a negative way.
     
    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help your friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

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     monica - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do people trun to drugs when there depressed??

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi Monica.  Oftentimes people turn to drugs when depressed as a way to make themselves feel better - something known as self-medicating.  This is not a good approach to treating depression.  If someone is depressed and they are thinking about using drugs, this is a great opportunity for both prevention and treatment (preventing drug use and treating depression).  Using drugs when depressed will only make it harder to treat a depression.  So, if someone is depressed, best to seek professional help - we have many effective treatments for depression in teens.

    For more information on depression and its treatment, see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.
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     sierralexi - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what is a gate way drug?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  The idea of a 'gateway drug' is that once someone uses one, they will be more likely to progress and use other drugs after that.  Gateway drugs are those drugs that are first used by teenagers, such as tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants
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     Harold 2 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How does alcohol impair one's vision?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol affects your ability to use the muscles attached to your eyeball to move the eyes and focus. It also affects your ability to track objects moving in front of the eyes. This is one of reasons that police officers who suspect a driver has been drinking will test the driver's ability to follow an object, usually a pen, with their eyes as the pen is moved from side to side.
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     clw - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what is the most used drug

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: The most used drugs are nicotine and alcohol...then marijuana and prescription painkillers. Check out teens.drugabuse.gov for more information!
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     Jenny - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: Who can you talk to about drug abuse ?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Great question Jenny.  There are lots of people you can talk to about drug abuse: family, friends, teachers, coach, guidance counselor, physician, minister, etc.  If you have a drug abuse problem the most important thing is to talk to someone, reach out, get help.  For more information on drug abuse/treatment see: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and http://www.drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html  .
    Moderator Icon  Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs pose increased risk of health complications when combined with other prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, illicit drugs, or alcohol. Find out more facts at NIDA’s website for teens: www.teens.drugabuse.gov
    User Icon
     taylor - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: what are some of the cemicals that make drugs adicting?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Thanks for your question. When people take drugs of abuse, they can cause a release of chemicals like dopamine or opioids in your brain. These chemicals give you a very short-lived high, but they can also produce long-lasting damaging effects in your brain, including addiction. See: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/.
    User Icon
     Soccerplayer007 - Rockville HS, Maryland: What causes you to be addicted to alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol addiction has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system.' All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
    User Icon
     puppies! - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: How many times do you have to try drugs before you are addicted?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning, Totino-Grace!
    We know repeated drug use is required to become addicted to a drug of abuse, but the number of times needed can vary depending on the person, their genetics and other environmental factors like friends who use drugs or stress levels.  For cigarettes (tobacco addiction), usually by the time someone smokes 100 cigarettes they are likely to be addicted, needing to smoke often and craving cigarettes when they don't.  But for some though, they can smoke 100 or more and not crave or become addicted, while others smoke far fewer than that and show signs of addiction. 

    So again,  it can vary and right now we have no way to predict for sure, but there's still a lot we don't know about why and how people get hooked on drugs.  Also, just because a person doesn't get hooked doesn't mean they won't have bad reactions to a drug.  So, don't just try something because you think you haven't done it enough to get hooked.  ...you never know how your body (and brain) will respond to a drug.
    User Icon
     Kai D - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Does adderall stunt growth?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Research has shown that the stimulants used to treat ADHD can reduce growth is some people.  It's uncertain whether taking time off the medication (such as during the summer) can help to reverse this effect.  That's one of the reasons why doctors are careful to prescribe these medications only to people who definitely need them. 
    PollI think drug users are losers.
    59% - Yes
    32% - No
    10% - Maybe
    User Icon
     fury - north carroll middle, Maryland: what disease dose smoking cause??

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Cigarette smoking causes 440,000 deaths a year...including 90% of all lung cancers. Nicotine is not only addictive, the tar in cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Pregnant smokers have a higher risk of miscarriage or low birthweight babies. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory illnesses in children. Other cancers have been linked to smoking. Not smoking can be the single best decision you can make about your heath.
    User Icon
     monkey413 - Einstein High School, Maryland: why isn't alcohol banded

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
    User Icon
     xFeelTheBeatx - north carroll middle, Maryland: What was the first drug ever created/discovered?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: we don't really know, but in all likleihood it was the alcohol containing juices of some fermented fruit.
    User Icon
     swagsauce - Einstein High School, Maryland: what if you injected alcohol what would happen?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Interesting question. For one, it would burn like crazy!! If you get enough in your blood, you will experience pretty much the same effects as you would from drinking it. But, you would get drunk much faster with an injection than with drinking normally because the alcohol enters your bloodstream directly, rather than first getting processed in your stomach. The intense burning caused by the alcohol would be enough to prevent someone from repeating the experiment.
    User Icon
     health212 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: what is herion and what are the effects?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hello Minnesota.  Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant.  Heroin enters the brain, where it is converted to morphine and binds to receptors known as opioid receptors. These receptors are located in many areas of the brain (and in the body), especially those involved in the perception of pain and in reward. Opioid receptors are also located in the brain stem—important for automatic processes critical for life, such as breathing (respiration), blood pressure, and arousal. Heroin overdoses frequently involve a suppression of respiration.

    After an intravenous injection of heroin, users report feeling a surge of euphoria (“rush”) accompanied by dry mouth, a warm flushing of the skin, heaviness of the extremities, and clouded mental functioning. Following this initial euphoria, the user goes “on the nod,” an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Users who do not inject the drug may not experience the initial rush, but other effects are the same.

    With regular heroin use, tolerance develops, in which the user’s physiological (and psychological) response to the drug decreases, and more heroin is needed to achieve the same intensity of effect. Heroin users are at high risk for addiction—it is estimated that about 23 percent of individuals who use heroin become dependent on it.
    User Icon
     girly17 - Rockville HS, Maryland: what kind of treatment do drug addicts get in rehab?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Drug treatment helps people learn to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
    User Icon
     j - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Why are prescription drugs better than non prescription drugs?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: hi J,
    Actually prescription drugs are quite dangerous. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has data showing that over 14,000 people die from prescription pill overdoses each year. The dangerous chemicals in prescription drugs are just about the same as street drugs.  Just because it comes in a pill, doesn't mean it's safe!
    Moderator Icon  There are many myths about mental illness. Find out more here: http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/learn.asp?nav=nav01_1&content=1_1_mythsfacts.
    User Icon
     DjChop - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why do people get the munchies after smoking weed?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi DjChop

    Good question, and we don't have the full picture yet, but we think it's because the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) affects (among other brain centers) a region called the hypothalamus, which controls hunger and satiety signals in the body.
    Hope this helps.

    stay smart

     
    User Icon
     qrizvi - williamsville east high school, New York: what kind of people take drugs?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: This is a great question.  ALL kinds of people use drugs.  People use drugs for a lot of different reasons.  Some people are curious, and may like to take risks. Others take drugs because they want to change how they are feeling or thinking at the time.  These people may or may not have a problem with depression.  Some people may feel pressure from friends to try drugs.
    User Icon
     michaelw - Vista, Oklahoma: is it true that you can lose your job because of drugs even the weekest one

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Yes - if drug use is impacting your performance on the job you can certainly be fired.  Addictive drugs impact the brain in powerful ways and affect our ability to focus, concentrate, learn new things, and make sound decisions.  Most employers want employees with these qualities and compromising them means you can't perform well on your job.  For more information about how drugs affect the brain see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/  .
    User Icon
     modlin - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: is there any medicinal value in any of the drugs prohibited by the DEA? There was an article about a study that found MDMA could be an effective treatment for cancer, and the debate about medical marijuana has been getting more intense all the time. Are these drugs so dangerous that they aren't worth the medical and economic benefits they could provide?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Drugs are scheduled under the Controlled Substances act based on their risks for abuse and medical benefits.  Drugs in Schedule I--which include MDMA, heroin, and marijuana--are considered to have a high risk for abuse and no proven medical benefits.  Some of these drugs are now being tested in clinical studies to determine whether they are safe to prescribe for a particular condition and offer benefits that exceed the risks. If they meet the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA; responsible for approving all medications in this country) to be approved as a medicine, then they can be rescheduled and prescribed accordingly.  But until then, they remain in schedule I are considered illegal. 
    User Icon
     casey - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: What chemicals are in meth?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: 'Meth' is methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine.  Here is more info on meth: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html
    Moderator Icon  Marijuana affects skills required for safe driving- alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time- so it’s not safe to drive high or to ride with someone who’s been smoking.
    User Icon
     taylor - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How do people find new drugs to help with medical issues like asthma or headaches

    Expert Icon Dave White: Taylor, the best way to find new medications to help with medical issues such as asthma or headaches is to talk to your doctor!
    User Icon
     mr. Bunker - Einstein High School, Maryland: While taking medications is it even more dangerous to smoke marijuana? what does is damage most when on meds?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: MrBunker:
    As a physician, I am always concerned about how drugs mix with prescriptions.  It depends on the type of medication that is taken with marijuana.  For some, like antibiotics, there are generally no major interactions with marijuana.  But for others, there may be dangers.  For instance, medications that cause sedation (or sleepiness) can interact unpredictably with marijuana.  The most important thing is for people to tell their doctors about all the drugs they use so they don't end up with a dangerous or deadly combination.
    User Icon
     jordan - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can doing drugs cause ur baby to be unhealthy?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question! It really depends on several factors, but drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term effects on the brain resulting in problems for example, in memory, attention and behavior.  The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome.  And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

    If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
    User Icon
     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: How many people are killed by marijuana overdose each year?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hello B-Dizzle! While no deaths have been reported from smoking marijuana, a study in 2009 found that among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit, prescription, or over-the-counter). Overall, marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims. Among high school seniors, 12% reported DUI of marijuana in the 2 weeks prior to the survey.
    User Icon
     matolso1 - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: how does drugs effect the human brain?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: That is a good question.  When you take a drug of abuse (including illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco), it affects your brain. Being addicted to a drug means that changes have taken place in the brain that prevent someone from being able to control their urge to seek and use the drug. The part of the brain called the limbic system, which allows us to feel our emotions, can get 'hijacked' when people take drugs of abuse as many chemicals are suddenly released.  Most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by producing a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This creates an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    User Icon
     ale - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: is pain killer addictive and does it have any risks afterwards

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Prescribed painkillers are in a class of drugs called opioids. They can be highly addictive when not taken as prescribed by your doctor. If taken regularly, your body can get used to them and it will be uncomfortable and dangerous to suddenly stop using them. This is why you must follow your doctor's instructions when taking opioids. And if you have been using them without your doctor's knowledge, don't be afraid to ask your doctor for advice on how to safely stop taking them.  You can find more information at http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html
    Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
    User Icon
     monkey413 - Einstein High School, Maryland: can alcohol make you sleepy?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, for sure. Alcohol is considered a 'central nervous system depressant', meaning it slows down brain activity. As a result, it can make a person feel very sleepy.

    Interestingly, while alcohol makes people sleepy and might even make them fall asleep faster than normal, alcohol actually disrupts sleep. People who sleep after drinking alcohol do not sleep as long or as deeply as people who do not have alcohol before going to sleep. So, while alcohol does make people sleepy, it is not good for sleep.
    User Icon
     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: are there natural highs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: 
    Absolutely, and that's why it is so silly to seek artifical ones that can and do harm your brain and overall health.

    The active ingredient in any basic receipe for a natural high is this (are you ready?): find out what you are really passionate about (whatever it is, except drugs, of course), nurture that passion and then follow it to wherever it takes you. It works every time, and you will never regret it.
     
    User Icon
     BriCronin - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: If someone starts drinking at a very very young age, does it affect their growth?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It's possible. Alcohol could affect growth in several ways. Alcohol alters hormone levels in the body, including levels of testosterone which plays important roles in muscle growth and the physical changes that males go through during puberty. In females, the hormone changes can disrupt the menstrual cycle. Alcohol interferes with sleep (some people think it helps them sleep but it actually doesn't!). Because it interferes with sleep cycles, alcohol reduces the release of something called growth hormone, which plays a very big role in growth and development throughout the body.

    Alcohol also interferes with brain growth and development. Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make the part of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember things. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.
    User Icon
     lkhan - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Why do people in depression mostly look forward to drugs???

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi lkhan.  Intresting question...I'm not sure if it's that people with depression look forward to using drugs, or if it's that they use drugs as a way to help make themselves feel better - something known as self-medicating.  This is not a good approach to treating depression.  If someone is depressed and they are thinking about using drugs, this is a great opportunity for both prevention and treatment (preventing drug use and treating depression).  Using drugs when depressed will only make it harder to treat a depression.  So, if someone is depressed, best to seek professional help - we have many effective treatments for depression in teens.

    For more information on depression and its treatment, see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml.
    Moderator Icon  According to a 2010 study, 2.7% of 8th graders, 7.7% of 10th graders, and 8.0% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Learn more about Vicodin and other opioids here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/the-facts/opioids#faq
    User Icon
     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: How is people in jail still getting drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Have you ever heard the phrase, 'where there's a will, there's a way'?  People interested in selling or taking drugs can work very hard to get them - even in prisons and jails. My best advice to you is 1) don't use drugs - they have a very negative impact on your body and brain; 2) don't go to jail - its not a nice place to be; 3) don't take drugs to someone in jail - its illegal and you could end up there yourself.  For more information on drugs see:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ 
    User Icon
     alexis - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: would a 13 year old doing drugs have a different effect on them than a 21 year old doing the same ones?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs.  Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. Clearly, at the age of 13, the brain is still developing, changing, making new connections, etc.  Drugs at this age can effect all of these processes and affect normal brain and cognitive development.

    If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    User Icon
     urmom - Einstein High School, Maryland: Oh hi there! I want to know why alcohol is not banned. If it is a toxin, then why hasn't the FDA banned it?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
    User Icon
     Tinkerbell - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Is it true that ecstacy can increase your sexual desire?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi Tinkerbell,
    The answer to your questions is yes and no.  Some people who use ecstasy do say that it increases their sexual desire. Ecstasy is what is called an empathomimetic drug- it makes you feel close to people, open and trusting, but ecstasy also is known to be depressing later, after the high subsides. This depression or 'Tuesday blues' can be serious, and might be accompanied by a lack of sexual desire along with a lack on interest in doing anything at all.
    User Icon
     Tinkerbell - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How dangerous is alcohol to pregnant women, and what effects does it have on the baby?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Drinking while you are pregnant can seriously affect a baby's development. A range of problems, the worst of which is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result. Babies born with FAS are not addicted to alcohol themselves, but they do have smaller brains, abnormal facial features, and often have life-long learning and behavioral problems. It is the leading preventable birth defect associated with mental and behavioral impairment in the United States today.
    User Icon
     asdfghjkl - Einstein High School, Maryland: is it true that wine is good for the heart?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For adults, one (for females) or up to two (for males) servings of alcohol can help decrease the chances of developing heart disease. However, any more than that increases the risk of developing a host of problems, including liver and pancreas diseases, weakened immune system, and certain kinds of cancers.

    For more information on how alcohol can affect your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm

    There are no known benefits of alcohol for teenagers, only negative effects.
    User Icon
     dragonslayer2 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: IS MARIJUANA THE LEAST DEADLY DRUG??!?!!?!?!? PLEASE ANSWER

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Hi DragonSlayer,
    All drugs can be dangerous.  That doesn't mean that everyone who uses gets into trouble.  But even though many say it is safe, marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC, a known psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation.  THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. 

    Our understanding of marijuana's long-term brain effects is limited, but research continues....
    Moderator Icon  Some mental illnesses such as depression or PTSD can increase the risk for suicide so it is important to get help and stick with a treatment plan. Learn more about depression here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
    User Icon
     mcglovin - north carroll middle, Maryland: what are the side affects of alcohol

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Any form of alcoholic beverages can be quite dangerous for teenagers, but the specific side effects depend on how much you drink and how much alcohol you have in your system.

    With just a little alcohol in your system, you can experience:
    Impaired balance and muscle coordination, which will make it more difficult to walk and drive a car.

    As you drink more and you have more alcohol in your bloodstream, you can experience:
    Impaired judgment and difficulty making good choices
    Difficulty controling urges, making it more likely that you will do something dangerous
    Impaired memory - you can wake up the next day not be able to remember what you did while you were drinking. 

    Still more alcohol can cause potentially fatal side effects, including:
    Difficulty breathing
    Low heart rate
    Loss of consciousness

    Bottom line: most side effects of drinking alcohol can be damaging and even dangerous.
    User Icon
     glitter - north carroll middle, Maryland: How many arrests are made in the U.S.A from marijuana users every month?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Glitter, don't know the answer to your question.  You might check with the sherrif's department in your county to see if they keep and release those types of statistics.
    User Icon
     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: When you smoke marijauna, why does it give you the 'munchies?'

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Thanks for the question, Lisa.  The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9 hydrocannabinol) and it binds to proteins in your brain that are endocannabinoid receptors.  The 'endo' refers to naturally produced cannabinoids that your brain makes, but are 'hijacked' by the extra THC you take in when you ingest marijuana.  Now those receptors did not evolve in your brain to give you a high when you smoke, but are located in parts of your brain that regulate some very important functions in your body.  Some are located in the hippocampus, a brain structure thought to be important in finding your way in the space around you, some in your frontal cortex which is important for learning.  Still others are found in another structure, the hypothalamus, and they help regulate your appetite.  When you stimulate those receptors, you get hungry.
    PollI think drug users are cool.
    15% - Yes
    78% - No
    8% - Maybe
    User Icon
     taylor - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: who figured out that dogs can detect drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Ohio,  I have no idea who figured out that dogs can detect drugs, bombs, or any of the other objects they can detect.  But isn't it cool they can be trained to help protect humans from themselves?
    User Icon
     Merk Prtner - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How come people try drugs in the first place?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question! There are lots of answers to this question.  Generally, people take drugs because they like the way drugs make them feel. Some people take drug because they are bored...because of peer pressures...to be cool...to feel better (in a sense, to self medicate themselves), etc.  Drugs have direct effects on the brain systems called the 'reward systems.' Drugs cause a release of a brain chemical called dopamine, and it is this release or surge of dopamine in the brain that is associated with the rush and feeling of high.

    Whatever the reason people decide to take drugs, we know that drugs can lead to continued use and addiction. We also know that some people are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs and thus run the risk of addiction and the negative affects of drugs on the body and brain. For more information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, and questions and answers, please visit www.teens.drugabuse.gov. Thanks for the question!
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     ryanzorn - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: are protein workout products bad?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi ryanzorn.

    I don't think so. if they contain just protein, they should be fine. And you do need a lot of protein to rebuild those muscle fibers that were torn down during heavy lifting...
     
    Moderator Icon  No---everybody is NOT doing it. Only about 20% of 12th graders say they have smoked pot in the past month.
    User Icon
     TotiGracStudent - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: How many years could you lose from your life after doing 1 year of meth?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: No one knows for certain when they will die, so it is impossible to determine this--you could be hit by a truck whether you are using it or not.  But use puts you more at risk of committing impusive behaviors that can put you in harm's way.  It can also have untoward cardiac effects while you are using.  Best to stop if you have not done so already.
    here's a fact sheet with more info: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html
    User Icon
     adrianatapia - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: what is amphetamines?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Amphetamines are stimulants, chemicals that increase other chemical substances in your brain such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
    see link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/ADHD.html for more on stimulants. 
    User Icon
     Spuds - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: i was at a party last weekened and i think i had sex with another a guy that was missing teeth because he was crazy high on meth or angel dust. does this mean i have hiv and/or drugs in my body?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: HIV can definitely be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse among other things!  Drugs, however, are not transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse.  If you're concerned about your health, it would be worth going to see your doctor and discussing your concerns.
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     larryeast - Vista, Oklahoma: can people become immune to the affects drugscan do to your body?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning! 
    Maybe not immune but a person's body can become tolerant to the effects of drugs.  So, what is tolerance?  That happens when a person takes a drug and over time their body no longer responds to it in the way it did at first and they need more to get the same effects they used to. Stated another way, it takes a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same level of response achieved initially. Tolerance can be a big problem with drugs, like opioids like morphine and heroin (just as an example).  Over time and with repeated use, the person uses higher and higher doses to get the same 'high'. 
    Moderator Icon  Wow! We are impressed by these great questions---we are answering them as fast as we can!  Keep the questions coming!
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     mjkervan14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is butthash?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a new one!  I had to look it up.  Unverified reports indicate that butthash, also known as Jenkem, is a way to get high from huffing fecal material.  It sounds disgusting, and I haven't heard of people actually doing this.  A better use of your time would be to study hard and do well in school!  For more information about the consequences of drug use in general, see: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php.
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     A-Bird - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Does pot effect you motor skills?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Yes, it sure does. There are lots of receptors for THC (the active ingredient in pot) in the brain regions that control balance, motor coordination, and sensory perception. Impairing all those functions at the same time can really impair your motor skills.
     
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     jamie22 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how many people died from doing weed in 2011?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Great question! While no deaths have been reported from smoking marijuana, a study in 2009 found that among fatally injured drivers, 14 percent tested positive for at least one drug (e.g., illicit, prescription, or over-the-counter), an increase from 13 percent in 2005. Overall, marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims.
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     Abby - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: if you do drugs one time will your get addicted?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hi Abby---this is an excellent question. It is difficult to answer however because everyone is different...What happens to one person might not happen to the next. The first time someone uses a drug of abuse, he or she experiences unnaturally intense feelings of pleasure. The reward circuitry is activated—with dopamine carrying the message. Of course, drugs have other effects, too; a first-time smoker also may cough and feel nauseated from toxic chemicals in a tobacco or marijuana cigarette.

    But the brain starts changing as a result of the unnatural flood of neurotransmitters. As a result, dopamine’s ability to activate circuits to cause pleasure is severely weakened. The person feels flat, lifeless, and depressed. In fact, without drugs, life may seem joyless. Now the person needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up to normal. Larger amounts of the drug are needed to create a dopamine flood, or “high”—an effect known as “tolerance.”

    These brain changes drive a person to seek out and use drugs compulsively, despite negative consequences such as stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse—this is addiction.

    This is what is so difficult about teens and drugs---drug dealers will try to get you to use, telling you that you won't get addicted if you try it just once. But everyone who is addicted did not plan on it---for some reason they decided to take the drugs again and again.  When you go from 'using' to 'addicted' is different for every person.
    Moderator Icon  Jan Lipkin is deputy communications director at NIDA. She works on national health campaigns and programs, such as the Emmy award-winning ADDICTION project on HBO. She spends most of her non-work hours volunteering at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., splitting her time between reptiles and great apes.
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     xXLeGiT_WoWXx - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: I go to my friends house sometimes and their parents force me to do drugs and say i cant tell what should i do?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Really heavy question, Minnesota.  First, realize that no one should ever force you to do something harmful like taking drugs.  You might consider not going back to that friend's house again or talking with a trusted adult about this issue.  Often a parent, teacher, coach, doctor, minister, parent of a different friend can help find solutions to complicated problems.  My advice - don't keep carrying around this secret.  Reach out and get help.
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     qwerty - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why do more people turn to drugs today then twenty years ago?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Not really.  It turns out that the rates of use varies by drug. For example, rates of smoking and alcohol are considerably lower today than 20 years ago.  Yet, at the same time, rates of other drugs are higher -- for example, marijuana and the non-medical use of prescription drugs. It's not always clear what drives the fluctuations in drug use rates over time, but we do know that perceptions of harm is one factor that influences drug use.  When risk of drug use is high, rates of drug use are low.  So, to the extent that people today are less concerned about the risk of drugs, then we can probably anticipate an increase in drug use in the near future.  We are quite concerned about marijuana use, which is becoming more and more acceptable, particularly because of the legalization-of-marijuana movement.  This movement tends to downplay the risks of marijuana, which may over time increase the rates of marijuana use.   
    Moderator Icon  Between 2001 and 2005, 252 kids under 21 were injured or died as a result of alcohol-related poisonings.
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     keefe - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is marijuana illegal? It is healthier than cigarettes, and has 0 deaths reported from it unlike alcohol.

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: You're right--we already have 2 major legal causes of premature death and disability--tobacco and alcohol.  And now you are suggesting we add a third one--marijuana.  You may not think there are risks of using marijuana but here are a few: it can be addictive--someone who uses it a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their lives.  About 1 in 6 teen marijuana users become addicted, and 1 in 4 if you use it every day or nearly every day. And because it affects how you think and remember things, and your coordination, you may lose your competitive edge--in sports and in school.  And of course smoking anything is not good for the lungs.  All of these risks go into the mix when you think about weed being made legal.  And, although people don't overdose on marijuana--they do get into car wrecks--almost 14% of people fatally injured in car wrecks test positive for marijuana, often in combination with alcohol or other drugs.  For more info on mj, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
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     holatomit3 - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: So I play a lot of sports and get pains of all kinds is it ok to take pain killers atleast four times a day just to cease the pain. Is this ok or am I hurting myself?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: So there is a dichotomy here--you play sports to remain fit, but you take pain relievers because the activity makes you feel sore.  Talk to your coach or a sports doc about how you are moving in these sports.  They can suggest ways to move that would be less damaging to you.  Now we get to the painkillers.  Anything you take that often over an extended period of time that allows you to do this physical activity in spite of pain can't be entirely good for you.  Some painkillers, like ibuprofen (a very good antiinflammatory) can affect your kidneys over the long term, and large doses of acetominophen can harm your liver over time.  If you are taking opiates as painkillers 4 times a day, it is very likely that it will be very, very difficult to reduce your use or quit because you may have become dependent or even addicted.  Over time, the same amount of opiate produces a smaller effect or less relief from pain, so you will need to use more.  If this is what is happening, you really need to see a medical professional who can help you reduce or stop this usage.  Long term use of opiates can slow your digestive processes, slow your breathing (and athletes need all the oxygen they can get!) and reduce your cognitive abilities (if you don't know what that means, you may have already been affected--get treatment now!).
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     orange66 - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: Why are drugs so addictive

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: There is a part of your brain called the limbic system, formed by many brain regions all connected to each other. The limbic system allows us to feel our emotions, but when people take drugs of abuse, these drugs can hijack the limbic system by releasing many chemicals, including dopamine--most all drugs of abuse cause a 'high' by prompting a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. This creates an unconscious memory of the drug's pleasurable effects that prompts the desire to take it again (and again), possibly setting you up for addiction. Check out our 'word of the day,' dopamine, here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-dopamine, and our easy-to-read Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
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     A-Bird - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Can someone die from smoking pot?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi A-bird,
    Very unlikely, unless you are driving while stoned or something like that, the fact is that marijuana can't kill you. But you'd be wrong to think marijuana is a benign drug that can only hurt you when mixed with other drugs. In fact, marijuana can acutely and severely impair how your brain functions, things like memory and learning that can in the long run really derail your academic achievement and long term plans for your life. Besides these significant cognitive deficits there is a significant number of regular users who will become addicted. So, all in all, pot is not a good deal, when you really think about what you get in exchange.

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     xXLeGiT_WoWXx - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: Im addicted to meth i dont know what to do and i need help. what should i do?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Wow Minnesota - this is a really important question.  You should definitely reach out and ask for help.  Here is some information about meth abuse: http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/RRMetham.pdf . Please consider talking with a trusted adult - teacher, guidance counselor, coach, doctor, minister, etc.  Talk with them about your meth use and desire to get help.  Information on drug treatment, including treatment in Minnesota can be found at: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/TreatmentLocator/faces/addressSearch.jspx?state=MN .  Don't suffer alone anymore - take steps toward getting help NOW!
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: Why does my ADHD pills make my hands go numb and i see stuff thats not there?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi yomama.  This is an excellent question, but one that I can't answer without knowing more about you and the medication you are taking. While there are side effects that are typically experienced with a specific medication (you can often read the list on the medication labels/inserts provided by your pharmacy) there are side effects that may be less common, as well.  If you are concerned about the side effects of your medication, I would encourage you to have an open and honest conversation with the doctor who prescribed the pills for you.  While it can be hard to do sometimes, it is extremely important for you to be honest with your doctors about all of the effects a medication is having on your body so that he/she can help to determine the best treatment for you. 

    For more information on ADHD and the medications commonly used to treat it see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml.
    What drugs are associated with risky sexual behavior that could lead to HIV infection?
    The correct answer is: E. All of the above. All drugs of abuse can affect judgment and decision-making, which can lead to risky behaviors like having unprotected (or even non-consensual) sex. This puts people at risk for acquiring HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Check out NIDA's Learn the Link site at http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/english/learn/overview.html
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     clownfish - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: how do drugs affect the brain?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  First, it depends on the drug in question. Generally, all drugs of abuse affect the chemical in the brain called dopamine.  This release of dopamine causes the pleasurable feelings, which can be the start of the process of abuse that can lead to addiction. The definition of addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, such as losing your job, doing poorly in school, getting arrested, or getting sick. As mentioned, addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use. Initially, all drugs of abuse, either directly or indirectly, increase the activity of the chemical dopamine in the brain's reward centers, which is what makes people feel good. However, with continued drug use and excessive activation of dopamine neurons, the brain starts to adapt to the good feeling, so more drugs are needed to achieve it. This causes people to become dependent on the drug, to feel bad when it is not in their system, and to seek and take the drug compulsively--without even thinking about it. Another way that drugs change the brain is to affect the ability to make decisions, such as judging what's important, what's healthy, and what's dangerous. The compulsive seeking and using of drugs even in the face of potentially devastating consequences is the essence of addiction.

    That said, drug addiction is a treatable disease - with medications (in some cases) and behavioral or psychosocial therapies. Treatment should focus on a person's individual needs, since many people who are addicted to drugs also have other serious problems, including other mental illnesses. Drug addiction is often chronic (long-term), with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. But relapse doesn't mean failure, just that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted to ensure long-term recovery.

    To learn more, check out 'The Science of Addiction' at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/ or also check our teen site for more details about how drugs affect your brain: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

    Hope this helps.
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     drugs345:) - north carroll middle, Maryland: why is a drug called angel dust

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi drugs345,

    Angel dust refers to a very strong drug called PCP or phencyclidine. This name can refer to a lot of different aspects of the drug: it makes you feel like you are outside of your body looking down on yourself; you sometimes feel you have no worries and all is right with the world; you could also die from the drug - as many do. For instance, someone who is high from angel dust might drive very aggressively or think they can fly off buildings.
    Thanks for asking us!
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     kid - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota: why is peer pressure such a huge factor in teen's temptations for drugs and alchohol?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Hi Totino-Grace HS!
    There are many reasons people start using drugs, and of course a key part is what's going on around you.  We are all influenced by our friends, family and social setting.  It may be helpful to realize that most people don't use drugs.  Less than half of high school seniors use drugs and very few use them regularly.  Even though it seems like 'everyone is doing it', that's not really the case. 
    Moderator Icon  Like playing games? Try out these Brain Games on our website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/havefun/index.php
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     Julia - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What is the most abused prescription drug?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hi Julia---there are different kinds of prescriptionn drugs that are abused but the most common for teens would be a class of drugs called opioids...prescription painkillers like Vicodin and Oxycontin. NIDA's annual Monitoring the Future Survey of 10,000 teens says that about one in 10 high school seniors admits to abusing Vicodin. The good news is that means 9 out of 10 are smart enough to stay away from it, unless prescribed by their own doctor.
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     Cameron - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: Does doing drugs make you more wanting to commit suicide

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi Cameron.  Excellent question.  Suicide is a major public health problem, and the third leading cause of death among adolescents.  We know that doing drugs is a major risk factor for suicide.  While we are still learning more about why this is, but one of the reasons could be that suicide is often an impulsive act.  When you are doing drugs, or high, you are pretty uninhibited, therefore more likely to act on any thoughts you might have.  Being high also makes you less able to think through the potential consequences of your actions - and there are, obviously, some pretty significant consequences involved with a suicide attempt.  If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide, whether you are doing drugs or not, help is available 24/7 through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  The Lifeline is a free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the crisis center closest to the caller. The phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

    For more information on suicide prevention, see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml.
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: What should I do, if I understand that my children do drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: As a parent, I can imagine this is an extremely difficult position for you.  The first thing you can do listen to what your children are saying about their drug use - including why they are using drugs. Second, you can express your concern and make them aware of the negative impact drugs have on their brain and behavior.  NIDA has a website specifically for parents and teachers that you may find very helpful: http://www.nida.nih.gov/parent-teacher.html

    Finally, you can talk to them about entering treatment.  I am not familar with treatment resources in your country but you might ask a medical professional for advice or help.  We found this website about treatment in Bulgaria, yet I don't know about the quality of the treatment providers: http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/bulgaria-drug-addiction-treatment.html. Please make sure you get support for yourself - and talk to other trusted family members or friends for support.
    Moderator Icon  There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     warriorkid - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: why do they say marijuana is a gate way drug

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Because most  people who use so called 'harder' drugs like cocaine or heroin have used marijuana first. Tobacco and alcohol are also considered gateway drugs. The controversy about gateway is whether using marijuana causes use of other drugs or just happens to be more available and therefore is used first.  Scientists are still trying to work that out, but regardless of whether marijuana is a gateway drug, it has risks of its own which should make you think twice before using it. Check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more information on what marijuana does to driving, school performance, and risk of addiction. 
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     Laker11 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what could you do if a friend is doing drugs in school and you tell them not to but they dont listen?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a hard situation.  People often don't do what we say and coping with friends or family who don't take care of themselves or do dangerous things is always frustrating.  I ran a drug treatment program for over 10 years and often had patients who didn't do what we recommended.  The key is to let people know calmly and clearly that you don't like what they're doing.  But arguing or fighting generally doesn't help at all.  Most important is to take care of yourself and not let you friends drag you down with them.  Good luck!
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     Anthony - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How does marijuana affect your thinking?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form new memories and to shift focus. THC a known psychoactive ingredient in MJ  causes memory impairment by altering how information is processed in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation,  THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia—parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time. Therefore, learning, doing complicated tasks, participating in athletics, and driving are also affected. 

    Our understanding of marijuana's long-term brain effects is limited, but research continues....
     
    Moderator Icon  Please welcome your CHAT DAY moderator---Dr. Gaya Dowling. Dr. Dowling heads up the Science Policy office at NIDA. Her job is to make sure the public learns about and understands what the science says about drug abuse and addiction. Although Dr. Dowling’s favorite subjects in school were math and science, she never expected that studying science would give her a chance to go to the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, as she did when NIDA’s work on the HBO film Addiction won an award. She has two kids—a three year old girl and a four-year old boy who loves to play the guitar.
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     alyssa29 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what if a friend is doing drugs and you know even thoughyou shouldnt, what should you do, should you confront them or not?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: Hi alyssa29. This is a hard situation to be in.  I think that your friend would appreciate an honest conversation with you; there are ways to discuss something like drug use without being confrontational - in fact, it'd be important to think about being very supportive and empathic.  Let your friend know that you care a lot about him/her and that is why you want to talk about this issue.  Good luck!
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     cooldude78 - Skaneateles High School, New York: i had a friend who wante me to start chewing tabacco, he said that it was a traditonand someone else needs to do it then just hime.what should i do?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Well, that's a hard question.  Chewing tobacco becomes a habit and an addiction just like smoking cigarettes.  The companies that make chewing tobacco want people to use their product and keep using it.  Because tobacco (and the nicotine in tobacco) is addictive, people who chew find themselves stuck on it just like smokers.  Chewing tobacco causes mouth and throat cancers and definitely causes addiction.  Good luck with your friend.
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     Tomy-Fett - Skaneateles High School, New York: Is the American law about alcohol a reason why kids are attempted to drink in secret ? What's your opinion about that ?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That is an important question, and a tricky one to answer. Kids tend to drink 'in secret' because it is against the law. But, because of our laws, American kids drink less overall. The US created the 1984 law raising the minimum legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were getting hurt by drinking alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people killed in alcohol-related car crashes.  By contrast, kids drink more heavily in places like Europe and Australia, where the drinking age is lower than 21.
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     klheuer - north carroll middle, Maryland: If a child has a parent who is an alcoholic what is the chances that his children will have the disease

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. Studies have shown that children of alcoholics have a greater chance of becoming alcoholics themselves, but there are also many examples of children of alcoholics who absolutley hate alcohol and so they stay away from it and never become alcoholics. This link will tell you more: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/.
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     SPORKY - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is the most abused prescription drug?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Prescription drugs that are abused can be sedatives (like sleeping pills and tranquilizers), stimulants (like medications for ADHD), and pain killers (like Vicodin, Oxycontin, Demerol, Codeine and others).  The most commonly abused are the pain killers.  This is true for teens and adults.  Pain killers are the most commonly abused of the prescription drugs and are responsible for over 10,000 deaths each year in the USA.
    Moderator Icon  It takes time to recover from addiction— not only for the brain to re-adjust, but to make lifestyle changes to avoid drugs. Think how hard it is for people trying to lose weight—they try different diets, exercise for a while, and lose a few pounds only to gain them back… until they can make lasting changes to keep the weight off. Same with quitting drugs—it may take several rounds of treatment before it sticks.
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     sarahw - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: What happens to children whose mothers are abusing drugs while the child is in the womb?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question! It really depends on several factors, but drug exposure to a baby can cause serious damage. Prenatal exposure can affect a child and affect his or her brain and behavior development. The consequences of drug exposure can range depending on many factors. Negative consequences can be short or long term affects on the brain resulting in problems in memory, attention and behavior.  The effects to the baby depends on what drug, how much, and what time during pregnancy. There is an amazing amount of development going on from the moment of conception through birth, and scientists are examining exactly how drugs can affect the developing baby. Some people think that only street or hard drugs can affect the baby, but cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug abuse such as oxycotin and vicodin also has affects. For example, smoking has been related to infant mortality, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome.  And scientists are looking at how smoking might affect gene expression (how genes turn on and off) in the fetus. Pretty amazing stuff. Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html and http://www.nida.nih.gov/consequences/prenatal/

    If you know someone who needs help with an addiction, you can find a substance abuse treatment facility by calling 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
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     Chat day - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What is the effect of smokeing weed could you die from it

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: This is a good question.  When people smoke weed they generally increase their heart rate and experience a wide range of feelings- from euphoria and relaxation to panic reactions.  These reactions depend on the person and the drug potency and how they smoke the drug. The effects on your body don't usually kill you - it is the things that you do when high that could be dangerous- like drive when high, lay in the middle of a busy street... your ability to make good decisions is reduced when smoking marijuana. However, if you smoke spice or synthetic cannabinoids, it is a different story. There are reports of 16 year old kids having heart attacks after smoking these new drugs. They can be up to 100 times more potent than weed and have poorly understood effects on the body and brain.  Check out the marijuana infofacts website for more information: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html
    Thanks for sending in your question!
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     bluemann - north carroll middle, Maryland: how long does it take for steroids to affect your body

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Steroids are affecting your body all the time--your body makes them itself!  But if you were to take steroids, they won't work by themselves--you still have to exercise.  And it is not quick (how often do you go see people who have been using the gym for years and do not seem to have any physical changes?)  So it will depend on the intensity of the exercise, how long you do it, and which ones you will do--just like you weren't using steroids at all. And BTW, it isn't such a good idea to use anabolic steroids to build muscle.  You can do that through exercise and healthy eating and avoid all the negative consequences that come with abusing steroids.  Here's more info: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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     cassandra - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: when in college you have a lot of work, will using someone else's drugs to try and stay up to get a paper done have long term effects on you?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  We've seen more and more use of drugs to try to perform better recently and this is a dangerous approach.  What research has shown is that people who use these drugs to perform better often have trouble with alcohol, marijuana or other drug use.  It is part of an overall pattern of drug abuse that isn't at all safe.  The response to drugs is unpredictable and some people find they become keyed up and unable to focus while on stimulants.  This doesn't help them do better but causes other problems.
    PollI think marijuana is good for you because it's a natural herb from a plant.
    26% - Yes
    57% - No
    17% - Maybe
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     acahill - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What exactly in the body becomes addicted to the drugs?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. There is a part of your brain called the limbic system, formed by many brain regions all connected to each other. The limbic system allows us to feel our emotions, but when people take drugs, these drugs hijack the limbic system by releasing many chemicals such as dopamine and opioids. Check out our colorful Science of Addiction booklet for more info:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ 
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: The need of trying some drugs is just a frustration and desire for something different, for something interesting that you do not have in a real life, is not it?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hello - and thank you for your question. Yes - sometimes people use drugs because they are wanting to try something new.  This is especially true for teens.  However, drug use is a risky business and negatively impacts your body, brain, and behavior.  For example, drug use can lead to fighting with your family, problems with friends, poor performance in school, difficulty learning new things and concentrating, and even addiction.  If you are bored and went to try something new consider learning to play a musical instrument, taking up a new hobby or sport, traveling to new places, or making new friends.  All these activities are a much safer way to combat boredom. 
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     briana&ashley - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: Why do the internet prove information on how to make drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hey that is a fantastic question. We live in a country that protects free speech---so people can write about what they want. But I agree that it is pretty stupid and just plain wrong for people to be giving instructions about things like how to make drugs---why would you help people hurt themselves? That is why NIDA scientists have a Web site for teens filled with ACCURATE information. We think it is important for you to have a place on the Internet that you can trust. Check out teens.drugabuse.gov.

    This is National Drug Facts Week---a week where communities all over America are holding events with scientists and experts about drugs so teens can ask questions and get accurate answers. You can check out the National Drug Facts Week Web site to see if there is an event near you, at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/. If not, then next year you can organize an event of your own---the Web site tells you how!
    Moderator Icon  Between 2001 and 2005, 2,075 kids under 21 were injured or died as a result of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents.
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     tyreec - Vista, Oklahoma: can you break a habitt by yourself

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Well maybe ... but most people need support from somewhere - either treatment, family, friends, a coach, or teacher.  Drug treatment helps people learn to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.  .
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     yomama - Vista, Oklahoma: If high why do people do suicide?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi yomama.  Great question.  Suicide is a major public health problem, that takes life without regard to age, income, education, social standing, race, or gender. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24.  As a result, many steps are being taken at the local, state and federal levels to prevent suicide.  There are many risk factors for suicide, one of which is substance use.  This may be because suicide is often an impulsive act - when you are high, you have reduced inhibitions, so you are more likely to act on whatever thoughts you have, and much less likely to think through the consequences of your actions. 

    If you or someone you know are thinking about suicide, help is always available.  The Lifeline is a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the crisis center closest to the caller. The phone number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

    For more information on suicide and its risk factors see http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention/index.shtml.
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     HannahS. - Pekin Community School, Iowa: If you have asthma, will the steroids in the inhaler effect the baby?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  In general, most substances that a pregnant woman takes are also distributed through the placenta into the developing baby.  It's really important that a specialist physician (an obstetrician) advise a mother about what medications are safe.  Some are totally safe and some can be dangerous. But an asthma attack is really dangerous and can be life threatening, so don't quit medications without checking with a doctor.  Also, really important is to avoid all tobacco, alcohol and drugs during pregnancy.  Tobacco causes babies to be smaller and can cause brain changes.
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     alexis - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How do you know if your addicted to a drug?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Alexis,
    Very good but difficult question. The reason is that a standard feature that characterizes this disease is an inability to recognize that you have problem in the first place, particulalry if you are at an advanced stage of the disease. However, at earlier stages of the disease, it might be possible for you to do the following test: see if you can quit and remain abstinent (of any drug!!) for say, two weeks. If you can't and feel the urge to use again that probably means that the behavior has become compulsive and beyond of your control; therefore you are likely addicted. Even if that's the case though, you should know that there are effective treatments available.

    You may find useful information in the following link:

     http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

    Good luck to you!
    Moderator Icon  Risk factors for attempted suicide by youth include depression, alcohol or other drug-use disorder, physical or sexual abuse, and disruptive behavior.
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     harleetiff14 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can drugs cause suicide?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Good, but complicated, question.  It seems likely that drug use can increase the risk of suicide in some people.  Many drugs have a 'disinhibiting' effect on people, which means that it can make people more impulsive, which is potentially very dangerous.  So, if someone is feeling really down or sad, doing drugs can make things worse. 
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     pekinwlr - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How many years do you get in jail for drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Iowa - the answer to your question is 'it depends.'  The legal consequences for posession of drugs depends on the type of drug, amount of drug, and place where you are caught with the drug. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana: http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. But my question to you is, 'why risk it?'  The best way to stay out of jail is to not engage in any illegal activity - including the posession of illegal drugs.  For more information on the consequences of drugs see: 
    http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/drugid/ration-03.html
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     jamie22 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is roofies called the date rape drug ?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Roofies are rohypnol--which is actually from a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines (like a strong valium).  They can be slipped into a person's drink when they are not looking, and  have no taste or odor so they will be undetected. Rohypnol can make a person overly relaxed and not able to defend themselves, and it also makes you forget what happened while you were under the influence.  That's why they've been associated with date rape. The message--know who you are hanging out with, and keep track of your drink (which i presume is not alcoholic since that would be illegal :)  Thanks for asking.
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     theos sethj - Bellefonte Area Middle School, Pennsylvania: are all drugs addictive

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Most drugs of abuse like cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, amphetamine can be addictive because they directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good!  You can check out NIDA’s Web site to learn more at:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/
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     LittlePeep218 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: My dad is addicted to heroin. He comes home 'blazed' every day. My mom is an alcoholic and all my friends smoke weed. Should I start doing drugs to fit in?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a hard situation.  I suspect that you already know the answer to this question.  Addiction runs in families and anyone with family members (especially both parents) who are addicted (to heroin, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) is at risk of becoming addicted.  If you start to use in order to 'fit in', you put your entire life on the line and have a really high chance of becoming addicted yourself.  I ran a drug treatment program for over 10 years and we always tried to help the families of people with addiction.  It sounds like you could benefit from talking to a counselor yourself.  For help, you can contact 1-800-273-TALK, visit the SAMHSA Abuse Treatment Facility Locater at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/, or talk to a school counselor or teacher.
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     chenoahsmall - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: do you think Europe has the right idea for a drinking age of 18 and having parents let their kids drink in moderation?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: In general, no. It turns out that kids not only start drinking at younger ages in European countries compared to the US, they also get drunk at earlier ages and are more likely to binge drink than teens here. In other words, European teens do not drink more moderately than teens here in the US. In fact it is the opposite. Other research tells us that kids whose parents let them drink at home are more likely to develop problems with alcohol than kids who can't drink at home. Taken together, the facts tell us that the 'European model' is not one that would produce the desired results here.
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     IMS216 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: what is the most dangerous commonly used drug?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: What's up, Iberia!
    The drug most frequently used by teens and adults is nicotine... followed by alcohol. After that, the most frequently used drugs are marijuana and illicit use of prescription medications.  Oh...all of these drugs can be dangerous.
    Moderator Icon  Carol Krause, M.A. is on the chat and answering your questions! She is NIDA’s Communications Director and has a Master’s Degree she earned while covering the Watergate hearings many years ago. Ms. Krause has worked at both the U.S. Capitol and at the White House. With a lot of help from NIDA’s scientists, she created CHAT DAY and NIDA’s new observance, National Drug Facts Week. She just raised 2 teenagers herself, a boy and a girl, who are happy and drug free. Ms. Krause has read the complete transcripts of the past four CHAT DAYs and knows all about the kinds of questions kids have about drugs and drug abuse. In her spare time she likes to pursue creative hobbies, like beading and painting and walking her dog Blazer.
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     caylor123 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How long does any drug stay in your body?? Like how long before you can pass a drug test?

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Hi caylor123,

    Certainly an important question but not an easy one to answer.  First, it depends on how much the drug is used.  If you only use the drug occasionally, it takes usually 2 to 3 days, but if you use the drug every day for a long time, it will take much longer to eliminate the drug from your body. The type of drug that you use also makes a difference.  If the drug is lipophilic like the active components in marijuana, PCP or LSD, the drug is stored in the body and takes longer to eliminate. For instance in chronic, daily marijuana smokers, it can take more than 30 days to remove the drug from your system. So the amount and frequency a drug is used and the type of drug used are important factors.  I hope this helps!
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     ashley - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is it that if your parents smoke, that your more likely to?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Well, that's a smart question. Indeed, the genes you inherit could put you at risk for addiction.  You've probably heard the term 'nature vs. nurture' referring to inherited traits versus how you were raised or what your environment was like growing up.  The truth is that both are important, almost in equal parts, according to the research to date.  If you have a family member who smokes and if you grew up around cigarette smoke, you need to be extra careful about the decisions you make when it comes to trying cigarettes.  Because if you never start, you can't get addicted, right? 
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     BsHs - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Are all drugs addictive?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Most drugs, including cocaine, tobacco (nicotine), methamphetamine, alcohol, heroin, and more have addiction potential becuase of their effects on the brain's reward system. These drugs flood the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior.  Once a person reaches the point where they are using drugs, regardless of the consequences...addiction is likely a possibility!
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     5a1b1 - Sidney High School, Nebraska: What does a persons brain look like after a year of inhalants?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Inhalants are pretty damaging to the brain.  Here are some facts on inhalants and their effects to the brain:

    The lungs absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream very quickly, sending them throughout the brain and body. Within minutes of inhalation, users feel 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. The high usually lasts only a few minutes.  Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system.

    One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.

    Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis—a disease that also affects myelin.

    Inhalants also can damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough oxygen -- also known as brain hypoxia -- depends on the area of the brain affected. The hippocampus, for example, helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly abuses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems and plan ahead will be compromised. And, if the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily.

    Inhalants can be addictive. Long-term use can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, and mild withdrawal symptoms.

    In terms of effects on the body, regular abuse of inhalants can cause serious harm to vital organs besides the brain. Inhalants can cause heart damage, liver failure, and muscle weakness. Certain inhalants can also cause the body to produce fewer blood cells, which can lead to a condition known as aplastic anemia (in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells). Frequent long-term use of certain inhalants can cause a permanent change or malfunction of peripheral nerves, called polyneuropathy. For more information on inhalants check out this link:  http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html

    Hope this helps.


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     bacon101 - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: how much doses of meth can a person withstand before they die?

    Expert Icon Dave White: bacon101, I seriously hope you don't know someone who wants to find out firsthand!  To answer your question, it really depends on how much meth the person takes and whether they have any underlying health conditions, for example a vulnerability to cardiac arrhythmias. Short of dying, meth use causes adverse effects such as addiction, mood problems, violent behavior, anxiety, insomnia, and terrible teeth ('meth mouth') to name a few. If meth is injected, there are also risks of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.  For more information check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html.
    Moderator Icon  You have heard about binge drinking---but do you really know what that means? We have alcohol experts on the chat who can answer your questions about it.
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     IMS209 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why are y'all so slow at answering quesiton?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hi Louisiana---well, so far we have gotten 3204 questions. There are only 40 of us here. You do the math! We are working as fast as we can. If you don't see an answer to your question by the time your class period is up, you can go onto the CHAT DAY site in a week or two. We will post the entire transcript and you can search for your answer using your school name or your user name. Not all kids get their questions answered BUT we try to cover most topics that get asked. So you can also search by topics...like if you asked a questions about marijuana, for example,  you will be able to search all of the answers that talked about marijuana.
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     14928408 - Einstein High School, Maryland: how can i avoid marijuana?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Great question.  The best way is to practice how to say no with friends or in a class.  Letting your friends know ahead of time that you don't use and don't want to use is key.  Programs like Life Skills Training can help teach people how to say no to drugs.  We have great information about preventing drug use on our website www.drugabuse.gov.  While there, be sure to check out Marijuana, Facts for Teens at http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
    Marijuana was a contributing factor in what number of emergency room visits in 2009?
    The correct answer is: C. 375,000. In the 2009 DAWN survey of hospital ER visits, marijuana was involved in 375,000 emergency room visits, with about two-thirds (65%) of patients being male, and 12 percent between the ages of 12 and 17. Learn more: http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/marijuana2.html#scope
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     larryeast - Vista, Oklahoma: when you do drugs do you have a better chance of getting mental illness?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi...interesting question.  As far as we understand it, mental illness isn't something that you can just get...depending on the illness, there are multiple causes of the disorder, usually a mix of biology and environment.  In the case of doing drugs, the most common mental illness you may develop is a substance use disorder, the repeated use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs to produce pleasure, to alleviate stress, or to alter or avoid reality (or all three).   Often people think that mental illnesses such as depression or bipolar disorder are caused by drug use.  That's not the case.  It's confusing because many people (adolescents and adults) take drugs when they are experiencing symptoms of these other disorders as a way of treating themselves (self-medication).  This is not a good way of managing symptoms of a mental disorder.  The best thing to do is to seek professional help (we have many treatments that work), and to stop drug use before it starts.  For more info on treating mental disorders, see: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/index.shtml.
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     jacob - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what's the difference for a 13 year old to drink or smoke against a 21 year old?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. The brain of a 13 year-old is very delicate, because it is not yet fully developed. The brain cells of a 13-year-old are very sensitive to the damaging effects of alcohol or cigarette smoke, more sensitive than those of a 21-year-old. Imagine a very young tree that is still very fragile. When a brain of a 13-year-old is exposed to alcohol or smoke, the damage produced to this brain can be devastating. See http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf for more.
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     chenoahsmall - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: can you stop doing drugs without help from family friends, or doctors?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Some people quit using drugs without treatment - but I'm not sure they are able to do it successfully without the help from family or friends.  For a person addicted to drugs it is extremely difficult to quit.  Research indicates that the support of family, friends, and treatment are extremely important. Here is a website about treatment approaches: http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/InfoFacts/IF_Treatment_Approaches_2009_to_NIDA_92209.pdf. Another helpful website is: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/. For more information on drug treatment see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
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     Laker11 - Skaneateles High School, New York: which drug is the most addictive?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question- A lot depends on how the drug is administered (the way you take it).  Injecting or smoking a drug gets it to the brain within seconds (really quick!), making it very potent and more addictive. This causes a really quick and large increase in the brain chemical dopamine (which is associated with pleasure and addiction). This is also what is associated with the 'rush' associated with using drugs in this way. Getting this quick 'high feeling' can also increase the likelihood that a person will use the drug again...which of course increases the likelihood of addiction.  Bottom line drug potency increases if a drug is injected, smoked or even snorted- not a good thing! But drugs such as alcohol and prescription drugs can be addictive too- so don't fool yourself- most drugs of abuse can lead to addiction!
    Moderator Icon  Teens abuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, including to get high, to treat pain, or because they think it will help them with school work. Explore what happens when teen use prescription drugs here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/choose-your-path/
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     michaels - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: why do people do drugs?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Lots of reasons--but mostly because they don't consider the risks of it.  Some of the reasons: friends or family members may be using drugs, they think it will make them feel good (which it might for a short time), they are sad and don't know how else to cope with their problems, or just because drugs are available and teens like to try new things.  But the problem is that what might feel good in the short run could cause problems in the long run (or even in the short run--think car accidents).  Drugs affect the brain--that's the real reason why people take them and keep taking them.  Drugs act on areas of the brain involved with reward, pleasure, and survival. This makes you want to take them again and again--and that can lead to problems in all parts of a persons life.  Also the teen brain is a work in progress--it doesn't fully mature until the mid-20's so messing with it by taking drugs could have lasting effects on who you become and what you achieve. 
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     Raelynn - Pekin Community School, Iowa: What part of the brain triggers addiction?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question - actually addiction involves many areas of the brain- those involved in learning memory, reward, pleasure, emotion and these areas involved in inhibitory control.  So drugs of abuse can hi-jack all these areas of the brain.

    BUT it starts with most drugs of abuse directly targeting the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. The over stimulation of this system, which rewards our natural behaviors, produces the euphoric effects sought by people who abuse drugs and teaches them to repeat the behavior.  But with repeated use drugs hi-jack memory circuits driving drug use and at the same time some drugs impair parts or you brain that control your emotion and ability to control your behavior.  So when all these regions of the brain are hijacked by drugs with continued use it leads to addiction - this uncontrollable desire/need to take the drug over and over again creating this vicious cycle of addiction and use of the drug at the expense of everything else in your life- how awful is that??
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     Katelyn - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How does marijuana affect driving?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Katelyn,

    Marijuana contains a chemical called THC that binds to many parts of your brain, including those in charge of balance, motor coordination, and sensory perception. You can see how interfering with information processing in those centers can put you at risk of driving impaired and getting involved in an accident.

    Hope this helps.
    Take care
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     drugfree2012 - Golder College Prep HS, Illinois: What are other street names for marijuana?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: There are lots of different names and sometimes it varies by where you live and how old you are...names like pot, ganga, weed, grass, and '420.' When I was in college in the 1970's everyone called it 'grass' or 'pot.' Now the term 'weed' is popular. The name really doesn't matter---what matters is that we don't really know the effect that marijuana has on the developing brains of teens---except that the younger you are when you use it, the more likely you are to get addicted. And the more often you smoke it, the more likely you will get addicted. We also know that kids who smoke it do more poorly in school, and are more likely to get in car accidents. For more information check out teens.drugabuse.gov.
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     monkey2coolyoda - north carroll middle, Maryland: what does heroin do to you :]

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. Heroin activates some proteins in your brain called opioid receptors. These receptors, when activated, release many chemicals such as dopamine, which trigger a series of events leading to feeling of high, but also to addiction and dependence. Check out this link for more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Heroin.html
    Moderator Icon  Joining us now is Dr. Marilyn Huestis---one of NIDA’s top chemists! She also serves on the World Anti-doping Agency’s Prohibited Drug List Committee that determines the drugs that are not permitted in sports, and the Transportation Research Board and National Safety Council that work to reduce drunk and drugged driving. Her research focuses on cannabis or marijuana, MDMA or Ecstasy and in utero drug exposure (drugs taken by pregnant women.) She monitors brain activities, cognitive performance and the physiological effects in people who use drugs. She has many years of experience as a forensic toxicologist performing post mortem and emergency toxicology (think CSI!) Dr. Huestis works to develop the science of toxicology in many countries around the world and loves to travel. She also loves skiing, tennis and teaching toxicology to University of Maryland graduate students.
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     amunteanu - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: If there is more help out there for those addicted to drugs and alcohol, why don't more people seek it if it's healthier for them?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Vermont - There are lots of reasons why people don't participate in drug treatment.  Some people simply don't realize they have a problem with drugs.  Sometimes people know they have a problem but lack insurance or money to pay for treatment.  Others are simply afraid of what life will be like without drugs.  Drug treatment can help people learn to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment, such as medications - which can help some people with their drug problem. Also behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs.
    This pdf provides some helpful information: http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/InfoFacts/IF_Treatment_Approaches_2009_to_NIDA_92209.pdf.  For more information about drug addiction and treatment visit: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
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     Bruce - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: what is the effect of cocaine on the brain? and how many times does it take to become addicted?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great questions. Cocaine acts in the brain by artificially increasing the levels of chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine.

    As for your second question, it can take as little as just one time to become addicted to cocaine. Studies have shown that even a single cocaine exposure puts a dangerous memory in your brain. This memory can hijack your ability to make good decisions and can make you more vulnerable to wanting to try the drug again, possibly setting you up for addiction.  Cocaine is highly addictive, as are other stimulants. Here's a fact sheet on cocaine: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html 
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     urmom - Einstein High School, Maryland: what are the long term effects of marijuana??

    Expert Icon Marilyn Huestis: Thanks for asking this important question. Cannabis, or marijuana, has long-term effects on memory, thinking, and decision-making.  But the good news is that our research indicates that with sustained abstinence - not using the drug for a long period of time (more than 30 days) - your brain returns toward normal function. If you think about it, this is what we really see happening in the world. Many people smoke pot when they are young and the acute effects on memory and performance are well known, but later in life they stop drug use and perform well. But they never regain the time they lost when they used marijuana and performed poorly in school - that can change the path their life takes.

    Other long-term effects that are not well understood are, lower immune response and effects on the lungs. We know that active marijuana use affects reproduction, but we don't know the long-term effects of marijuana use on reproduction. The system in the brain that marijuana effects is important for many other functions and we don't yet know all of the long-term effects of heavy, chronic use. There's lots to think about for how you function on marijuana and about what it might mean for your future.
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     john doe - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is spice

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi John

    'Spice” is used to describe a diverse family of herbal mixtures marketed under many names, including K2, fake marijuana, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and presumably, chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. While Spice products are labeled “not for human consumption” they are marketed to people who are interested in herbal alternatives to marijuana (cannabis). Spice users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana, and regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms. Spice products are now illegal in the United States and most European countries. Its side effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. So, I wouldn't be surprised if some deaths were linked to K2 use.

    Stay smart, stay healthy
    Moderator Icon  About 80% of 12th graders don’t use cigarettes, and about 91% of 12th graders don’t use smokeless tobacco.
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     hugsnotdrugs - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Why do people's eyes get red after smoking marijuana?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Hey there, hugsnotdrugs! The active drug component of marijuana (THC) decreases pressure in the eyes and cause blood vessels to dialate (enlarge), which makes the eyes to appear more red. Hugsnotdrugs--that's cool.
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     donoe - Einstein High School, Maryland: My dad smoked for some of my life, but he quit a few years ago. Will the second-hand smoke that I experienced affect me later in life?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: First, congratulations to your dad for quitting!!  That is a very hard thing to do.  No one can really tell if the second-hand smoke will affect you, but the fact that it is no longer in your environment can only be a positive influence.  Smoking can contribute to a lot of different diseases, and all of them take a long time to develop, so the shorter the exposure, the better it is for your future health.
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     MasterOfAwesome - Rockville HS, Maryland: can you have a negative affect on a drug on the first try

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Rockville High!
    Some find it hard to believe, but yes - a person can definitely experience really bad effects (like adverse reactions, overdose or death) the first time they use drugs. The effects of drugs on the body can be unpredictable- not everyone reacts the same to a drug, and some can experience negative effects. For a  drug like LSD, for example, it's an hallucinogen that can cause profound distortions in perception of reality. Under the influence of LSD people can see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist!. It can also produce rapid, intense emotional swings and result in fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people! 

    Another example is cocaine, which can cause increase heart rate, which for some vulnerable people could lead to cardiac arrest. You may not be old enough to remember this, but Len Bias was an All-American b-baller from University of Maryland, and a #1 draft pick for the Boston Celtics a few years back.  Len went out celebrating with his friends one night, took cocaine, had a heart attack and died. All that potential down the drain. 

    I'm not trying to scare you here...just giving you the facts.  Do me a favor, if you are thinking about trying drugs, go talk to a trusted adults first.  Also, learn more about the effects of drugs and addiction by clicking on our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/!

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     Cookie Monster - Rockville HS, Maryland: why do people get addicted to cigarettes?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Great to hear from another student at Rockville HS!  Nicotine is the active ingredient in cigarettes, and the way it interacts with its receptors in your brain makes it addictive and acts as a stimulant.  With repeated usage, the brain produces more receptors for the nicotine, and makes you want to get more of that chemical.  Pretty soon and almost imperceptably, it becomes really hard to stop because you have become dependent on having extra nicotine in your brain.  It is a lot harder to quit if you start as a regular user when you are a teen.  The good news, though, is that there are medications and behavioral therapies that can help you quit and treatment works.  Here's more about tobacco addiction:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php 
    Information about smoking and prevention can also be found at www.smokefree.gov.
    Adderall can be an effective medication to treat ADHD, but it can be dangerous when taken by those who are not prescribed it. What percentage of high school seniors report taking Adderall for non-medical reasons?
    The correct answer is: D. 6.5%. According to NIDA's 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, approximately 1 in 15 high school seniors reported taking Adderall in the past year for non-medical reasons, meaning they used someone else's prescription or they took it to get high. See more at: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html
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     larlhamc - Archbishop Hobn High School, Ohio: Are teens today having more problems with drug addictions than in the past?

    Expert Icon Michelle Leff: I would say that the answer to this question is, 'Yes.'  While people may state that we have better ways to collect information about use (about everything!) and better means of publicizing that information, it is also true that availability of different prescription drugs (used for non-medical purposes), and illicit substances has increased; and the types of 'drugs' abused has increased.
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     adbeam95 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Is marijuana harmful to the brain? Can it cause brain damage such as drugs like LSD?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi, thanks so much for your question.

    The short answer is yes, the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) interferes with the normal communication in the brain, so regular, heavy or chronic use of marijuana can impair how your brain functions, things like coordination, memory and learning are particulalry sensitive to the effects of THC. The cumulative effects can derail your academic achievement and long term plans for your life. Besides these significant cognitive deficits there is a significant number of regular users who will become addicted. So, all in all, pot is not a good deal, when you really think about what you get in exchange.

    Just think about it.
    All the best to you.
     
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     chenoahsmall - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: can you or someone with you save your life if you OD?

    Expert Icon Dave White: chenoahsmall, if you've overdosed, the chances of being able to save your own life are slim, since you'll likely be incapacitated. Whether a friend can save you or not, will depend on what you've taken and how much. You should never put yourself in this situation and avoid taking/experimenting with drugs.
    An overdose is a medical emergency. Every moment counts. If you ever encounter someone who has overdosed, call for help immediately! Check to see if they are breathing, and if not, start giving them CPR (only if you know how).
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     Mike Hawk - Einstein High School, Maryland: My parents are both meth addicts, What should I do to stay off it.

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Wow.  I ran a treatment program for over 10 years and we worked all the time with families to help them cope better with the situation.  I hope you have a counselor or someone you can talk to.  That can really help.  The most important way to stay off of methamphetamine is not to start using.  We know that drug use runs in families and with both parents addicted, you have a higher chance of becoming addicted.  Avoiding starting is key.  Good luck!
    Moderator Icon  Stimulants like cocaine cause the body’s blood vessels to narrow, constricting the flow of blood, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. The heart may work so hard that it temporarily loses its natural rhythm. This is why there have been many cases of people dying suddenly from heart attacks after using cocaine. More information on stimulants can be found here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim2.php
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     natalie14 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: are all drugs additive

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Yes, they all are. The timing changes from person to person, but all of them are equally dangerous and can lead to addiction. Read our colorful Science of Addiction booklet to learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     sPeIaCn - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why do so many people turn to drug use?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good morning Pennsylvania! The short answer is - to feel good, to experience something new, or perhaps due to the influence of family or friends who take drugs.  All addictive drugs strongly affect the human brain and among other things cause an increased release in certain chemicals in the brain that make us feel good.  This good feeling is what we describe as the 'high' we get from using drugs.  Over time drug use changes the structure of the brain and the way it functions leading to a complusive urge to seek and use drugs despite negative consequences.  More information on drugs can be found at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php.
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     glitter - north carroll middle, Maryland: why does meth make you feel good when its so bad

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. It makes you feel good because on one hand it releases chemicals in your brain, such as dopamine and serotonin (see the graphic below), that give you that great feeling. BUT, at the same time, after releasing those chemicals, meth kills your brain cells, producing permanent damage to your brain and even causing death in many cases. Check this link for more on meth: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/meth.html
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     larryeast - Vista, Oklahoma: can depression drive someone to do drugs?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi larryeast.  That is a great question.  Yes...depression and drug use often go together, resulting in what's called a 'co-morbidity' - multiple medical/mental health conditions that are occurring at the same time.  Sometimes, folks who are depressed use drugs to make themselves feel better (commonly called 'self-medicating').  This is not a good approach to treating depression.  If someone is depressed and they are thinking about using drugs, this is a great opportunity for both prevention and treatment (preventing drug use and treating depression).  Using drugs when depressed will only make it harder to treat a depression.  So, if someone is depressed, best to seek professional help - we have many effective treatments for depression in teens.  Here's a link for you to find out more about depression: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

    Moderator Icon  Dr. Michelle Kim Leff is now online. Dr. Leff grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Pattonville High School. Since high school, she has attended school and worked in Boston, New York City, San Antonio, Washington DC, Seoul, South Korea, and now Baltimore. She is a child/adolescent psychiatrist by training, and works as a research facilitator/administrator at the NIDA Intramural Research Program. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, 15 year old daughter, and 13 year old daughter. She enjoys watching her daughters as they play sports - tennis, soccer, fencing, and squash. She herself likes to swim, run, and volunteer in her community.
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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: What are the harmful effects of electric cigarette's?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: These new electronic cigarettes are meant for smokers who want to avoid tobacco but are still addicted.  The electronic cigarettes are only for people who already smoke and need another way to get the nicotine they crave. We haven't seen any data on the health effects of these new electronic cigarettes so we really don't know whether they are any safer than smoked tobacco.  But they do not involve burning tobacco leaves and have no smoke.
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     sierra_r - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: marijuana alone is not harmful to anyone else but the user, apparently, so why can't it be a personal decision? Really, why is it illegal? It cannot kill you and it only hurts other people when mixed with alcohol or another legitimately harmful substance. weed is okay in moderation, am I right?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Sierra, thanks so much for your question.

    I love your question!!. Indeed, it is a fine line that society walks when it decides which things to keep legal and which ones to make illegal. This is why we are having so much debates all the time about this. This debate is healthy. But the picture becomes much clearer when the risk of bad outcomes targets young people. In these cases we must err on the side of caution. Yoiu are absolutely right, unless you are driving while stoned or something like that, the fact is that marijuana can't kill you. But you are mistaken if you think that marijuana is a benign drug that can only hurt you when mixed with other drugs. In fact, marijuana can acutely and severely impair how your brain functions, things like memory and learning that can in the long run really derail your academic achievement and long term plans for your life. Besides these significant cognitive deficits there is a significant number of regular users who will become addicted. So, all in all, pot is not a good deal, when you really think about what you get in exchange.

    Just think about it.
    All the best to you.
     
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     #1 Health Class - Skaneateles High School, New York: Since tobacoo/cigarettes are so dangerous, why do they put all the chemicals in them? Could they make cigarettes without the nicotine and tar?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Nicotine is a normal component of the tobacco leaf, obtaining nicotine is what drives a lot of people to smoke.  But tobacco leaves are really complex and have a lot of other chemical in them naturally, including the tar.  Cigarette manufacturers attempt to minimize the delivery of some of these things, like tar, by adding filters to the cigarettes, but these filters do not stop all the chemicals from entering your lungs.  These manufacturers also add things to cigarettes to make you like them more (increase their addictiveness) so that you become a lifetime user and their cash flow will continue.  Many years ago, some tried to make cigarettes out of other vegetable matter, like lettuce leaves, but these were not big sellers and they were quickly eliminated from the product line.  Here's more about tobacco addiction:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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     PaigeJensen - Pekin Community School, Iowa: If the hospital knows that a mother does drugs does she get to keep the baby or is the baby taken away?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good question, Iowa - but I don't know the answer.  Questions regarding the custody of children are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis and depend on the ability of the mother to provide a safe and loving home for the child. Child protective services will be interested in knowing that the mother will be in a treatment program and will participate in parenting sessions. In many cases drug addicted mothers are referred to treatment by their OB/GYN or hospital providing their care.  Treatment can provide an opportunity to learn more about the severity of their drug addiction and receive the appropiate care to stop using drugs and even learn important parenting skills.  For more information on drug treatment see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.  .

    Moderator Icon  Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. In 2007, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. If you or a friend are ever in crisis call the suicide prevention number 24 hours a day: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress or a bad situation.
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     cohen - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Are amphetamines addictive?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Middlebury!
    Yep! Amphetamines, like most other drugs of abuse increases the brain chemical dopamine, leading to high levels of the chemical in the brain. Dopamine is involved in reward, motivation, the experience of pleasure, and motor function. Amphetamine’s ability to release dopamine rapidly in reward regions of the brain produces the intense euphoria, or “rush,” that many users feel taking the drug.  And with repeated use the brain can 'crave' the drug leading to compulsive drug use- addiction!-yikes!  Learn more about amphetamines by clicking here: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php, http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html
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     mgeiger - Vista, Oklahoma: what kind of mental health issues do drugs and alcohol trigger?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi, and thanks for the question.  The most common mental health issue that could be directly caused by drug and alcohol use would be substance abuse or dependence disorders.  Substance abuse disorders involve excess, or inappropriate use of the drug, while dependence means your body has reached a point where it 'needs' the substance in order to function.  Thankfully, there are effective treatment programs for both.  Drug and alcohol use is often associated with other mental health disorders (like depression), but as far as we know, drug and alcohol use does not cause the disorder to develop. However, lots of people who use drugs often have other mental health issues as well. 
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     Tyffani - Einstein High School, Maryland: If Weed Is So Bad Why Is It Perscribed To People???

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Well, it really shouldn't be prescribed since its not an approved medication by the Food and Drug Administration--which is responsible for approving all medicines that are prescribed in this country.  They have a strict process for deciding what is a medication based on careful clinical studies that show safety and benefits that are greater than the risks.  Marijuana has not met this standard yet.  Nevertheless some states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, which may be putting patients at risk of not getting proper treatment for their illness, and of other consequences, including addiction, problems with learning and memory, increased risk of car accidents, and lung problems from smoking.  Nevertheless there are ingredients in marijuana that may have medical benefits, and scientists are working hard to study those to come up with new medicines with less side effects.  Also, there is an approved medication called Marinol that contains THC--the active ingredient in marijuana, but in a pill form.  Marinol is approved for treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy and severe weight loss associated with AIDS. 

    One other thing to consider--even if marijuana were to be approved as a medicine, that would not mean that its OK for anyone to use.  There are strong painkillers (opioids) that are prescribed to treat severe pain.  But their abuse is leading to major problems--including huge increases in overdose deaths in recent years--outnumbering heroin and cocaine combined. 
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     mgeiger - Vista, Oklahoma: do kids become addicted to drugs easier than adults?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Evidence seems to suggest that the earlier one starts abusing drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted to the drugs.  Of course, there are lots of individual variability with respect to ease of becoming addicted, but kids are particularly vulnerable to the addicting effects of drugs. 

    If you are interested in learning more about this topic and other related issues, please check out:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/
    Moderator Icon  Hey-we have alcohol experts here. Send us your alcohol questions.
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     Raelynn - Pekin Community School, Iowa: How do drugs make people abusive?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Some people can be aggressive and mean without drugs.  But when they get intoxicated, they become even more unpredictable and hostile.  This is really common with alcohol, too.  Alcohol and other drugs often cause people to lose control of their behavior and when they become addicted, they may have longer term changes in their personality.  When we look at those who get arrested for violence, drug and alcohol use is really common. 
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     hedwards - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What is a good way to say no to alchohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: If someone is pressuring you to do anything that's not right or good for you, you have the right to resist. You have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away from a situation.  Sometimes resisting isn’t easy, but you can do it with practice and a little know-how. Keep trying, even if you don’t get it right at first. You can resist alcohol or anything else you may feel pressured into - here are some tips:

    Say no and let them know you mean it
    Stand up straight and make eye contact
    Say how you feel
    Don't make excuses
    Stick up for yourself

    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
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     bambi - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is oxycontin?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Hi bambi - Oxycontin is a prescription opioid drug that is commonly prescribed by doctors for chronic pain. This drug is a depressant and acts on the brain and body at opioid receptors. Check out this site for more info: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
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     ims206 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: What in most drugs cause a high???

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Great question. Drugs of abuse (including alcohol and nicotine) release chemicals in our body. Most all cause a 'high' by prompting a spike in the brain chemical dopamine. Many other substances are involved as well, but dopamine is a major player. Check out our 'word of the day' -- dopamine! -- here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-of-the-day-dopamine/
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     jacob - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why are steroids so bad if all they do is give you muscle?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: They can give you more than you bargained for because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. And they may make you stop growing tall before your time as they hasten the closure of the long bones in your legs.  They may also increase the risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible.  Are those enough reasons to keep away from abusing steroids? See more at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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     snoopy - Rockville HS, Maryland: what in drugs makes people get addicted to them ?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning, Rockville High!  Welcome back!!!
    The short answer is Dopamine!!  Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good! Want to learn more about addiction?  It's easy...just click on http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
    PollIf I thought I needed drug treatment, I would know who to contact.
    51% - Yes
    21% - No
    28% - Maybe
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     12345 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: How do you know the difference between a person who is addicted to marijuana or it has just become a habit for them?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: A good but tricky question. A 'habit' means that someone is using regularly and that is often the first sign of addiction.  But only someone trained to evaluate a person's drug use can tell for sure. People who are addicted to marijuana tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to use marijuana
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop using once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, poor sleep or poor concentration after stopping marijuana
    • Tolerance - the need to use more and more marijuana in order to get 'high'
    At first these problems are subtle and mild but they can progress.  Over time, these problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families. 
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     princess torie - Einstein High School, Maryland: how does drugs get to the fetus of an prregnant women?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Great question! The mother is source of lots of things that a developing fetus needs, like oxygen and nourishment.  These are delivered very efficiently through the umbilical cord and placenta, in which the fetus is protected before birth.  Small molecules like nicotine (and alcohol) also pass through the placenta easily but large molecules do not.  So if you take in nicotine by smoking (or using replacement products like the nicotine patch), your baby will too.  Remember that this is the time when the greatest and most important development occurs--if you smoke, please stop for the sake of that new individual! 
    Here's some more info on Smoking and Pregnancy from our Nicotine Research Report : http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/useRisks.html#maternal
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     Firefly - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why do you pass out if you smoke too much weed??

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: From what I have been able to look up, passing out is a fairly uncommon occurrence; although a lot of people claim they get really light-headed and feel like they are going to pass out.  I think the simple answer is that if you smoke to the point of passing out/unconsciousness, you are overdosing on the drug, and this could be dangerous. For more information on this drug see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html 

    Hope this helps.
    Moderator Icon  A 2009 study showed that 28% of high school students rode with a driver who had been drinking in the past month. What were they thinking?
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     swagking - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: what is better for you beer or hard alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: They both contain the same drug -- alcohol. For the most part, a single serving of any alcoholic choice (for liquor, this is a 1.5 ounce serving of 40% alcohol; for beer, this is a 12 ounce serving of 5% alcohol) has the same amount of alcohol and therefore has the potential to produce the very same risks. Because liquor is so much more concentrated than wine and beer, it is absorbed into the body more quickly and can produce effects much more quickly.

    For more information on standard drink amounts for different types of alcohol, check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/ The main ingredient is the same -- alcohol. The only difference has to do with the concentration. In general, one 12 ounce beer contains the same amount of alcohol as 1.5 ounces of hard liquor. So, for an adult, a single serving of beer is essentially the same as a single serving of hard alcohol. No amount of alcohol is healthy for teenagers due to the fact that their brains are still growing and changing and alcohol might interfere with those changes.
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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: Cynthia-From Kenmore: What makesdrugs addicting?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: What's up Kenmore!!
    The short answer is Dopamine!!  Most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain's reward system by flooding the brain with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, feelings of pleasure and addiction. When a person takes drugs, brain circuits that use dopamine are over stimulated (over stimulated in fact) and is what a person feels is the 'rush' associated with taking drugs. This 'rush' is what makes people repeat the behavior (drug use) and over time, this abnormal stimulation of the brain can lead to 're-wiring' the brain in a way that leads to addiction-not good!
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     hotdigidydowg - north carroll middle, Maryland: how do immagrants smmugle drugs to the us and sell them and not get in trouble and we r the ones who get in trouble and why do they come here and i herd that they come here because of the drug wars and what are drug wars

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Drug smuggling and drug dealing is caused by many people.  Many drugs are produced right here in the United States and aren't smuggled from other countries.  And the large quantities of drugs are often brought to the USA by organized crime groups.  That's what the police and DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) fight all the time. 
    Moderator Icon  Many people think that abusing prescription drugs is safer than abusing illicit drugs like heroin because the manufacturing of prescription drugs is regulated or because they are prescribed by doctors. But that doesn't mean these drugs are safe for someone other than the person with the prescription to use.
    Moderator Icon Dr. Ruben Baler is online to answer your questions!  He went to high school in Argentina and received his PhD at the University of Miami.  He is an avid soccer fan and follows the team Boca Juniors.  He has two kids, one of whom is still a teenager.  He loves talking to teenagers about the effects of drugs on bodies, brains, and behavior.
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     Kaza999 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How can I tell the difference between someone who isn't breathing due to heroin overdose (cause you need a certain medicine in that case) as opposed to someone who's stopped breathing from some other cause?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Thanks for asking about overdosing.  This is a medical emergency!  Of course, if someone isn't breathing, the most important thing is to get emergency help (call 911 right away and start CPR).  Unless you know that someone is a drug user or if you see marks on their arms (or somewhere else) from injections, it's hard to tell why someone isn't breathing.  The ER docs or EMS (ambulance) staff will give Naloxone to someone who isn't breathing to see if that can reverse an overdose.  Naloxone blocks heroin (and all other opioid chemicals) in the brain and can reverse an overdose.
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     superman - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: If used correctly, will Ritalin positive affect the user?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Hi Superman.  The short answer is yes.  Ritalin can have positive effects...if used correctly.  The longer answer...Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is a medication often used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  It is part of the larger class of stimulant medications.  I know, it seems a little odd - if someone is already 'hyper' why would you give them something that sounds like it would make them more hyper?!  Because of the biology of the disorder, the truth is, if someone who has ADHD takes stimulants it is actually calming.  You wouldn't get high from taking the medicine, but the medicine will help with things like attention and concentration.  However, just like any other medical condition, you should not take medicine for something you don't have, as the effect on your body would be different than what is expected.  Addiction to stimulants can happen if they are taken without medical supervision.

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     mkelley - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: if you went clean from drugs would your stay damaged

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Thanks for the question...if you are asking a question about whether you can recover from the physical and/or psychological/cognitive effects of a drug after abstaining, the general answer is yes, of course, depending on the nature and extent of the 'damage' caused by the drug or drugs.  Going clean is always a good thing! For more information on the science of addiction check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/ 
    Hope this helps.
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     gingenthron - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Can someone who has been on a drug for too long not be able to break an addiction because they are too dependent on the drug? If this happens, do they have to remain on the drug in some way for the rest of their life? Is there another way?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Vermont,  Yes - people who have been addicted to drugs for some time are able to quit.  Many times they need drug treatment to help them.  Drug treatment helps people learn to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For specific information about treatment approaches, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Treatmeth.html. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.  .
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     molly.harmon - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: why is it that the legal drinking age in the U.S is 21? when you can do anything else at the age of 18, like buy a gun or a lottery ticket?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: In 1984, the US raised the legal drinking age to 21 because too many young people were being hurt by alcohol. Raising it to 21 helped to significantly reduce the number of young people getting killed in alcohol-related car crashes. Research we've done since supports this decision. Now we know that the brain keeps growing and developing until after the age of 21 and alcohol can interfere with this development - and even damage the teenage brain. For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Amy Goldstein has joined us. She is with our sister Institute---the National Institute on Mental Health. She is a child clinical psychologist, trained to work with kids of all ages to manage problems such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit disorder. Dr. Goldstein likes to say upfront that psychologists are not psychics – we can’t read minds, and only know what you tell us. Amy grew up in New York, but has treated children and their families in Cleveland, Baltimore and Philadelphia in all sorts of settings (hospitals, schools, homes). Her primary job now involves working with researchers across the country to develop and test programs to prevent mental health disorders before they start. When not in the office, Amy can be found chasing her toddler around town, watching too much reality TV, and catching up on sleep.
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     Lunchboxhero - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: Why does Paroxetine cause drowsiness and how does it treat Anexity attacks?

    Expert Icon Amy Goldstein: Good question Lunchbox Hero. Paroxetine is one of a class of medications called SSRI's, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. The name describes how the medication works - it increases the amount of serotonin, a natural neurotransmitter, that is available in the brain. This is key in the treatment of several anxiety disorders, include anxiety, or panic attacks, as it helps to control symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb inside. Taking these medications may make it easier to go through psychotherapy. Sleepiness and drowsiness are common side effects of antidepressants like paroxetine.  Sleepiness and drowsiness may occur during the first few weeks of taking the drug but then often goes away. Sometimes the medication dose needs to be reduced or the time of day it is taken needs to be adjusted to help lessen these side effects.
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     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: does hairspray make you high?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hairspary belongs to a broad class of abusable products called inhalants. People who abuse inhalants often do it because they are more easily available than alcohol. Indeed, inhalant abusers seek a high that is similar to the high they may achieve from drinking alcohol. 
    This is a particulalry dangerous kind of high.

    you can learn much more about inhalant abuse in our site: 
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/inhalants.html

    Be smart, inhale only clean air, stay healthy

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     IMS210 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: How come some people are greatly effected by doing drugs when others aren't?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: This is a great question. How a person reacts to a drug depends on different factors that include their individual biology (like their genes), their background and environment, and how old they are when they start, for some. Drugs activate brain chemicals--and your response to a drug like alcohol could be different from my response to that same drug.  Here is a link to a blog that will help with this question:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/angles-of-addiction/
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     SPORKY - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is freebasing

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Thanks for your question. Freebasing is a way to use cocaine.  Freebasing cocaine involves vaporizing the powdered substance of cocaine into smoke, which is then smoked into the lungs. 
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     TB-Rville1334 - Rockville HS, Maryland: ive heard acid stays in your system forever?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: This is not true. Acid, or lysergic acid (LSD), is reported to have a half-life of 3-5 hours, meaning that the drug concentration in your body drops by 'half' over this period of time. LSD produces unpredictable psychological effects, with 'trips' lasting about 12 hours. Over a period of hours or 1-2 days at most (depending on how much a person has taken), the drug concentration will drop and be eliminated from your body. Check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/acidlsd.html for more info. 
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     KimC - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Can Oxycontin have any really bad long term effects

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Oxycontin is an opioid that is used to help millions of adults and teens manage pain.  Abuse of prescription medications like OxyContin is a big problem, not only for adults, but also for teens. In fact, in 2010, 1 out of 20 10th and 12th grade students have used OxyContin for non-medical reasons in the past year. Using these drugs for reasons, other than a doctor prescribes, can lead to bad consequences, like addiction.  Misuse or abuse of OxyContin can lead to drug addiction, overdose and death (more than 12,000 unintentional opioid overdose deaths total in the U.S. in 2007) -- not good!!  Need more information about prescription drugs?  Click on: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html
    Moderator Icon  We are getting thousands of questions from teens all over the country and outside the U.S. We are working as fast as we can to answer them---so please be patient! If your questions don’t get answered while you are waiting you will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered! The transcript will be posted in about a week.
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     GarrettEnck - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Will steroids give me bigger muscles?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Yes and no.  Steroids by themselves don't do much, but they can help build muscle when you person who uses them is also exercising.  In fact, with rigorous and vigorous exercise, done in rhythms that allow your body to recuperate and build, you can achieve results that are indistinguishable from those produced by the combination of steroids and exercise.  It seems that people think that using steroids will make the process work faster, but it all takes work all the time.  Why complicate the process with an extra chemical you don't need?
    Here's some more info on anabolic steroids from our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php
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     titan12 - north carroll middle, Maryland: if your at a party and there is drugs and someone blocks the exits and your stuck inside and you know the people there will beat you up what should you do

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Wow.  That doesn't sound like a fun party.  Hopefully, someone has a cell phone and can call for help.  If not, keeping a low profile and keeping quiet is the safest approach until you can find a way out. 
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     thisisstupid2 - Clonlara, Michigan: Is anyone on this site doing this because they want to?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: hmmmm---taking the whole day and talking to a bunch of interesting teens or working at our desks and in our labs all day long...which sounds more interesting? And as for the teens asking all the questions and getting smarter about drugs? Sounds like a good day to me.
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     LittlePeep218 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: My mom is currently an alcoholic, but she is in denial of being one. She claims she just likes her drinks and they barely have any alcohol in them so its none of my concern. What can I tell her to make her believe it is my concern since I am her child and I do care? I have told her that before.. Also how can I help her? she has a therapist but she lies to him so it doesn't help....

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Wow, what a difficult position to be in. It might be helpful for you to find an adult that you trust and talk with them about this. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure if your mom is an alcoholic. However, here are some common signs:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    To learn more about how to help someone you care about, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
    Moderator Icon  Heading to college? Learn the facts about drinking in college here:
    http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/snapshot.aspx
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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: Aisha kenmore do the drug laws differ from state to state and if so, why?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hello - and thanks for your question. I Don't know that I can really answer the question about 'why' the laws regarding illicit drugs differ from state to state.  What I do know is that the legal consequences for posession of drugs differs by type of drug, amount, and where you are when you get caught. Here are the Federal penalities for cocaine and for marijuana 
    http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ftp3.shtml. My advice - don't possess or use drugs and then you don't need to worry about legalities.
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     sarahw - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: How hard is it for someone to break a 'family tradation' of alcohol/substance abuse?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a great question.  We learn all sorts of things from our families.  Some of these are good for us (getting along with other people, having a sense of humor) and some are dangerous (driving fast, getting into fights).  Drinking, smoking and other drug use can also be family traditions.  Sometimes this means learning how to use alcohol in moderation as an adult but other times it means watching people drink so much that they get into trouble.  These can be hard traditions to change, but with practice, people can change.  You have choices in what you do!
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     NIDA Admin - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why is ecstasy used in 'Raves'?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Ecstasy is a drug, which has both stimulant and psychedelic properties, is often taken for the feelings of well-being, stimulation, and the distortions in time and sensory perceptions that it produces. MDMA first became popular in the 'rave' and all-night party scene because it allowed users to have increased energy and endurance, so people use this drug to dance all night.  However, there are some negatives that one must be aware of relative to the rave scene...and that is, the drug can result in dehydration, exhaustion, and hyperthermia (increased body temperature) that can be fatal.

    Hope this helps.  There is certainly much more information on MDMA/ectasy at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html
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     hnferguson14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How much would a teenager have to drink to become addicted?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: A good but tricky question. There really isn't a specific amount of alcohol a person has to drink to become addicted, and only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure whether they are addicted. In general, a teenager is more likely to become addicted to alcohol if they have a family history of alcoholism (meaning they have parents or siblings with alcohol problems), start drinking at younger ages or have problems with depression or anxiety. 

    According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help a friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
    Moderator Icon  Joining us is Isabelle Thibau, who will be assisting our experts. She graduated this May with a degree in Chemistry and French. Isabelle greatly enjoys working at NIDA, which often involves “translating” information from Science to English. In her spare time, Isabelle loves to cook, study nutrition, sketch wildlife, do crafty things, and watch the seasons change.
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     nicholsk - Waxter' Young Women Facility, Maryland: Waxter's Facilty from MD: Students would like to know these two questions.... Why do your eyes turn red during and after you inhale marijuana? How long have drugs been around?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi,
    thanks for the questions

    1) Cannabis widens blood vessels, an effect that is called vasodilation. The eyes contain a lot of blood vessels which widen when you are stoned; hence the blood within the vessels is more visible against the white of the eye causing red-eye. When the vasodilator in marijuana is metabolized (clears from the system), the blood vessels return to normal and the red eye disappears. This cannabis-induced red eye is different from the red eye caused by inflammation, allergy or injury. The root cause of marijuana's visodaltion effect is that marijuana increases the heart rate. The heart beats faster because the pressure is lowered.

    2) psychoactive drugs have been around like forever. I imagine that ever since our early human ancestors experienced the high from drinking the juices of a fermented fruits, they've been experimenting with plant extracts and more recently with designer drugs that mimic their chemistry and behavioral effects.

    Hope this helps.

    cheers


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     lilmonkey - Rockville HS, Maryland: my friend is only 16 and she is alreay addicted to alcohol i think shes been addicted to alcohol for 2 years what is the alcohol doing to her body and brain?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    If you see this in your friend, she likely does have a problem. Her health is definitely at risk.

    Brain Problems

    The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!

    Body
    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

    For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

    Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

    If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, which basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.

    A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function. 

    Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer.  For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm

    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help your friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
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     IMS220 - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Why does The same drug work differently on different peoples' bodies?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: This is a great question. Because while we all have the same brain regions (and brain cells) that respond to drugs, our genetic background (DNA) and the environment also play a very important role. Drugs activate brain chemicals and--depending on your own biology--your response to a drug such as alcohol could be different from how I respond to that same drug, for example.  Here is a link to a blog that will help with this question:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/angles-of-addiction/
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     jnotis33 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what are the side affects of inhaling vapors?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hello Middlebury Union High School!  The lungs rapidly absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream, quickly spreading them throughout the body, including the brain. Within minutes of inhalation, users can feel a 'buzz' or 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant users may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. But with repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. The most important effects occur in your brain. Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others can remain for a long time, because they stick to fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers (axons). Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their electric messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers. Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can result in muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis--a disease that also affects myelin. Inhalants also affect other parts of your body, especially when used repeatedly. They can cause serious harm to vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. Inhalants can cause heart damage, liver failure, and muscle weakness. Certain inhalants can also cause the body to produce fewer blood cells, which may result in a condition known as aplastic anemia (in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells). Frequent long-term use of certain inhalants can cause a permanent change or malfunction of peripheral nerves, called polyneuropathy.
    Interesting fact:  In 2010, 8% of 8th graders, 5.7% of 10th graders, and 3.6% of 12th graders reported abusing inhalants in the last year.  check our teen site for more info on inhalants: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
    Moderator Icon  This year we have experts on mental health waiting for your questions about why teens are special---and why they sometimes have special problems.
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     BriCronin - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: Let's say i've been smoking Cocane, for 7 years, (not really) could i stop automatically and change who i am and start over, or would i need to get help and slowly use less and less.. Or would it be impossible to stop smoking it? I have this question because it's always been something i have wondered... And what are some ways to help peers or family to stop smoking Cocane and other serious drugs? Another question i have is, Are there help centers around the world that could help prevent smoking

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: These are good questions.  I ran a treatment program for over 10 years and saw lots of people with addiction to cocaine (especially crack cocaine).  It was hard for people to quit using, but with help they were able to turn their lives around.  This usually meant working hard with the patient and their families to provide a safe drug-free home.  Of course, not using in the first place is a better idea.  We can't predict who is going to become addicted or have a health problem from cocaine so the only safe approach is not to start, or to quit right away.  For help, you can contact 1-800-273-TALK or visit the SAMHSA Abuse Treatment Facility Locater at http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
    Moderator Icon  A 2009 study showed that 24% of high school students engaged in binge drinking in the past month. That means they drank enough within about 2 hours to become legally intoxicated.
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     miranda - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: How does adderall affect the brain

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Adderall is a stimulant and its effects on the brain are to increase the brain chemical called dopamine. Adderall and Ritalin stimulate your brain and make you feel more alert. Teens might think that’s an advantage when taking a test at school, however, that kind of use is actually drug abuse, and can hurt you.

    You can get more info on stimulants like Adderall at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Prescription/Prescription.html
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     avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: What are long-term effects of steroid use?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: I am guessing you mean the usage of anabolic steroids, which are the only class of steroids that are abused.  (The other classes are estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, cholesterol and Vitamin D and these do not promote muscle growth, which is the hallmark of an anabolic compound.)  The effects of anabolic steroids are going to depend not only on the exact type and amount of drug that is used, but, very importantly, on the person that is taking them. When steroids are abused, they are usually ingested or injected at much higher doses (10-100 X) than what is prescribed by a doctor. Anabolic steroids are usually prescribed to treat conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. In other words, they are prescribed to correct low levels of the hormone. As one would expect, steroids' effects will be very different in someone with normal levels of the testosterone. For example, if a healthy young adolescent administers steroids, the resulting abnormally high levels could signal his or her bones to stop developing, leading to stunted growth. Such hormonal disruptions will have different effects in males and females.  When steroids are used for non-medical purposes, they are a problem because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. Examples of other effects are increased risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible.  check out a video one of our scientists made about steroid abuse -- you can find this and other videos on our teen site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/video.php?video=z9Ynf2kPNIc
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     bbassett - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: how bad is chewing tobacco?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Chewing tobacco can be just as bad as smoking, although perhaps not as rapidly addictive as smoking. Smokeless tobacco (such as chewing tobacco and snuff) still increases the risk of cancer, especially oral cancers.
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     mkelley - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: why is it different for some people to get drunk

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Alcohol affects people differently for lots of reasons. Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
    1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
    2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
    3. How much they weigh
    4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
    In general, as the amount of alcohol in the body goes up, a person becomes more and more affected. In addition, a person who drinks alcohol regularly might need more alcohol to become drunk than someone who never drinks alcohol. This is called tolerance.

    Learn more about how the risks of drinking alcohol here:
    http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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     LittlePeep218 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: I have a friend who smokes weed almost daily and he tells me that hes not addicted, and that it's not bad for him, I have no reason to worry. I always get angry with him and tell him to stop because it is bad for him and he shouldn't do that but he says its nonaddictive and I have no proof against him, so I can't defend my opinion or help him. Do you have any information I could tell him to possibly get him to stop smkoing weed? I care about him a lot and don't want him getting hurt.

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: You are a good friend, and hopefully your concern will get through eventually even if he is not ready to listen yet.  One of the problems with addiction, is that people often don't realize they are addicted until something big happens--in school, with their families, getting into a car wreck, etc.  Obviously you don't want your friend to reach that point.  One challenge you might pose to him is to ask him to stop using for just 2 weeks--just to see how it feels--and to prove to you that he can.  I suspect that will be much harder for him than he thinks.  That might be a first step in helping him recognize that his marijuana use is not all under his control--that in fact, he is falling under the drug's control. 

    We have lots of information on our website that you could share with him--check out our booklet for teens: http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/  Also, here are some other facts you might try: Approximately 9% of people who use marijuana become addicted, about 1 in 6 among those who start using as teens, and 25-50% of daily users. In 2009, 18% of people entering drug abuse treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug (70% of those aged 12-14; and 72% of those 15-17), representing more than 350,000 admissions (TEDS, 2009). Along with craving, withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, sleeping problems, and anxiety can make it difficult for long-term marijuana smokers to quit.

    Good luck with this--its so important and I applaud your efforts.  Also, if he becomes interested in getting professional help, he can call 1-800-273-talk.  This is a hot line, and they can connect him with treatment in his local area. 
    Which of these statements are false?
    The correct answer is: The correct answers are A, B, and C. (A) You cannot tell in advance if you will become addicted. It is true that some people are more at risk than others—if you have a family member with drug problems you may be at greater risk since addiction is about 50 percent genetics. (B) Addiction is linked to long lasting changes in the brain, including memory triggers that can induce severe drug cravings and relapse. Recovery is a life-long process for some. (C) An estimated 1 out of every 11 people who try marijuana become addicted to it. For those who start in their teens, the chances go up to 1 in 6; and for daily users, the addiction rate is 25-50 percent. (D) True: Mari¬juana's effects on atten¬tion, memory, and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often. Check out NIDA's Drugs, Brains and Behavior: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     kalynnschopf - Vista, Oklahoma: is it true that when your parents smoke its more likely you will?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: Yes. Studies have shown that this is true. Importantly, it does not mean that you will. It just means that it's a great idea to be more careful and not start in the first place. 
    For example, both my parents used to smoke, but I hated it just because of that, and I never smoked. 
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     jbruce - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: my mom smokes how can i get her to stop

    Expert Icon Dave White: jbruce, it's fantastic that you want to help your mom stop smoking.  I'm sure you know that there are a number of risks associated with smoking, including an increased risk of cancer, but studies have shown that when someone stops smoking, their risk for these drops rapidly to where it would be if they had never smoked.
    Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but more and more people are doing it. You can help your mom with encouragement, and by telling her about the different kinds of help that are available, including medications and guidance from professional counselors. Check out this site: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp 
    Moderator Icon  Mental illnesses are not as rare of some people think. About 20% of youth will have at least one type of mental illness in their lifetime.
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     blueberries - Einstein High School, Maryland: When a persons' frontal lobes of the brain get smaller dues to drug abuse; what those this mean, how does this change show in real life?

    Expert Icon Anto Bonci: This is a great question. Smaller frontal lobes means reduced activity for them. A reduced activity of your frontal lobes would make you unable to properly plan a series of actions, or to switch from one action to another. In simple words, it narrows people's thinking so they obsess about certain actions (like searching for a drug).  Read here for more on how drug abuse can affect your brain: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/teen-brain-work-in-progress/
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     avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: How do some people become addicted to drugs so quickly?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, Butler County HS in Kentucky!  People do drugs generally because they have become addicted to them--likely because they started using them at a young age.  Addiction is a disease characterized by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, like dropping out of school, losing your job, getting arrested, or getting sick.  People who use drugs, especially at an early age, are more likely to become addicted more quickly because the young adult brain (like yours) is still growing and changing.  In fact, science tells us that the brain continues to develop at a rapid pace up until age 25, when development starts to plateau.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that make your ability to make decisions very weak--especially at young ages.  Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov.
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     etillman - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: What part of the brain becomes addicted to the drug?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Drugs act in different parts of the brain because they interact with various proteins called receptors that they bind to.  For example, opiate drugs like OxyContin bind to several different neuronal populations, some in the back of the brain, and some in the front.  Stimulant like cocaine bind to transporter proteins located within a particular set of neurons called the dopamine neurons.  Neurons are arranged in circuits in the brain and they talk to each other;  ultimately all drugs that are abused interact with dopamine neurons and enhance the activity/release of this transmitter, and this action is thought to produce the rewarding effects of any drug.Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
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     malcary - Rockville HS, Maryland: most people who use marijuna, say marijuna does NOT affect you... is that true?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Good question, malcary.  The answer is no.  Marijuana DOES affect you - it is a drug that acts in the brain and the body. In the brain, marijuana can produce short-term effects including distorted perceptions, memory impairment, euphoria, and difficulty thinking. In the body, marijuana can irritate the lungs and can eventually cause lung cancer.  Check out more facts on marijuana at http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html 
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     pocahontis1233 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: why do drugs affect our system so much???(by our i mean the human race) please anwser soon thank you so much <3

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Michigan: I like your question.  Drugs have such a powerful impact on us because of the way they affect our brain.  All addictive drugs strongly affect the human brain and among other things cause an increased release in certain chemicals in the brain that make us feel good.  This good feeling is what we describe as the 'high' we get from using drugs.  Over time drug use changes the structure of the brain and the way it functions leading to a complusive urge to seek and use drugs despite negative consequences.  More information on drugs can be found at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php. And of course, the 'human race' is globally impacted by HIV/AIDS, which is one of many significant negative consequences of drug use. You should consider doing a report on this topic!
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     andrew - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How many red bulls can i drink before i die?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Andrew,

    lets do the numbers, shall we?:

    First to know is that one 250 ml can of Red Bull Energy Drink contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, which is 80 mg.Now, the dose of caffeine that would kill half of a population of coffe drinkers (called LD50) is about 150-200mg/kg.
    So, a person having a mass of about 60kg, would need to consume at least 9000mg of caffeine, or about 112 cans of red bull, cheers.

    50 of caffeine is around 150-200mg/kg. So, for a person having a mass of about 60kg, I would need to consume at least 9000mg of caffeine, or about 220 cansThe LD50 of caffeine is around 150-200mg/kg. So, for a person having a mass of about 60kg, I would need to consume at least 9000mg of caffeine, or about 220 cans
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Marina Volkov has entered the Chat. She works at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one of NIDA’s sister Institutes that is part of NIH (The National Institutes of Health). NIMH is all about understanding, preventing and treating mental disorders like depression, ADHD, or schizophrenia. At NIMH, she tries to make sure that everyone knows about the latest NIMH scientific findings, and how these findings can help us all prevent or treat mental disorders. A neuroscientist by training, Dr. Volkov was born in Washington, DC and has lived in the same 5 hour stretch of I-95 from DC to New York her whole life. When not at work, she’s most likely at the movies or watching endless episodes of Glee. And no, she is not related to NIDA’s Director, Dr. Nora Volkow.
    User Icon
     Jordant - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How much alcohol does it take usually for a person to be over the limit?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For someone under the age of 21, the legal limit is 0 (meaning any alcohol in the body is illegal). For someone above 21, it is still legal to drive a car if the blood alcohol content (BAC) is under 0.08%.

    Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
    1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
    2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
    3. How much they weigh
    4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
    Problem is, most kids binge drink when they drink. That means they drink enough over about 2 hours for their BAC to reach the legal limit of 0.08%. Kids can reach this level with less alcohol than adults. It takes about 4 drinks for the average woman to reach the legal limit and about 5 drinks for a man to reach it by binge drinking. For kids, the numbers look like this:
    For boys:
    Ages 9-13: About 3 drinks
    Ages 14-15: About 4 drinks
    Ages 16-17: About 5 drinks

    For girls:
    Ages 9-17: About 3 drinks

    Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain - the ones that keep your heart beating and your lungs taking in air - will shut off.

    For more information on safe drinking limits adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/

    User Icon
     GradyW - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Can you swim well when your high, or would you just drown like when your wasted?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Just had a similar question about driving, and the answer is simple...if you are high, your abilities to drive, swim, or do other activities that require concentration and some physical effort, being high can negatively affect your behavior and performance. For more general information on the science of addiction check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/

    Hope this helps.
    User Icon
     rawr - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: how much/often to smoke until you're addicted?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey Rawr--thanks for your question.  It's not a simple one...for some people, it's the first puff on a cigarette.  Factors that underlie addiction (to cigarettes or other drugs of abuse) are many.  They include genetic factors, environmental factors, age, etc.  Science has shown that drugs can cause biological changes in your brain that weaken your ability to make decisions (like deciding to not use drugs again).  Of course, the more you use drugs, the more they can weaken the brain.  Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  But, Rawr, you are better off not smoking in the first place!
    You can check out NIDA’s Web site at: http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
    User Icon
     jckahn14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Can drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana affect athletic performance if you are not under the influence while you are playing?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Both alcohol and drugs like marijuana can cause problems with athletic performance.  Marijuana can hurt your lungs and breathing--something all athletes need for peak performance.  Alcohol can cause headaches and fatigue after drinking, and in the long term, heavy use of alcohol can damage the body in many ways. 
    Moderator Icon  Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium), and stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs.
    User Icon
     Hancock - Sugar Land Middle School, Texas: Is drug use hereditary?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Well, that is a pretty sophisticated and smart question.  The answer is that genes you inherit could put you at risk for addiction.  You've probably heard the term 'nature vs. nurture' referring to inherited traits versus how you were raised or what your environment was like growing up.  The truth is that both are important, almost in equal parts, according to the research to date.  If you have a family member who has had a problem with drugs or alcohol, that is all the more reason you should be extra careful about the decisions you make when it comes to experimenting with drugs, including trying cigarettes and alcohol.  Of course, regardless of family history, it's best not to gamble with drug use.
    User Icon
     soccerplayer52 - north carroll middle, Maryland: why do people do drunk driving when they know they can get really hurt, death, or kill someone?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It is so hard to know for sure. One of the most dangerous things about drinking is that it impairs your judgment, and so you makes you more likely to do something risky without thinking about the consequences. Some people recognize how dangerous it is but don't think anything bad will happen to them. Other people know it's dangerous but they justify it by saying, 'Well how else could I get home from the party/bar?' Still others just aren't aware of how dangerous it is and they think they drive just fine after drinking. The reality is that even a single serving of alcohol can impair the ability to drive and increase the chances that a crash will occur. It is a dangerous and reckless thing to do.
    User Icon
     sushifish101 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What are long-term effects of marijuana

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning!
    One of the biggest long-term effects is addiction -- 1 in 6 of those who start young, and 25-50% of daily users become addicted.  Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. In one study, heavy marijuana users reported that they felt their use had negative effects on how well they have done in their life job-wise, family-wise as well as their cognitive abilities and social life.  All in all, they felt like their drug use stopped them from achieving all they wanted to in their lives. Want to learn more about the effects of MJ? Click on: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Marijuana/default.html 
    User Icon
     BrendanW - Skaneateles High School, New York: What effects of doing brown brown (a cocaine gunpowder mix) rather than just straight cocaine?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hi Brendan.  This is a mixture of cocaine, which has the psychoactive effects, and fine particles of gunpowder, which has no known psychoactive effects.  It seems that if you are using this combination, you are taking a psychoactive compound and a contaminant, which cannot be good for you.  It could be that this combination, which seems popular in Africa, is a way to dilute the cocaine and make it go further.  It does not seem worth it. 

    Cocaine belongs to a class of drugs called 'stimulants,' because they usually make you feel euphoric, energetic, hyperstimulated, and mentally alert. The high from snorting may last 15 to 20 minutes, while smoking may last 5 to 10 minutes. Cocaine can also make you feel hypersensitive to touch, sights, and sounds. Some cocaine abusers report feelings of restlessness, irritability and anxiety. Some of the immediate effects after using cocaine include constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils, increased heart rate and blood pressure. Heavy doses can lead to violent behavior and users may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitches, and paranoia.  Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug, and while it can make you feel high when you first use it, addiction is a very real albeit unpredictable possibility. Naturally, the wisest move is never to start.
    Moderator Icon  We have scientists on the chat today from the National Institute on Mental Health. These super smart scientists can give you some general information about the brain and behavior--- about teens and depression and other issues, like ADHD and peer pressure. So ask away!
    User Icon
     Andrew - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what are the steps of seeing that someone is an alcoholic?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: A good but tricky question. Only someone trained to evaluate a person's drinking habits can tell for sure. According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help a friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp
    User Icon
     kcox14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what are yhe best ways to say no to drugs?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Great question.  The best way is to practice with friends or in a class how to say no.  Letting your friends know ahead of time that you don't use and don't want to use is key.  Programs like Life Skills Training can help to teach people how to say no to drugs.
    User Icon
     Chivas88 - Rockville HS, Maryland: what happens when you dont breath in the smoke when your smoking?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Greetings Rockville HS!  You may not be smoking!  But if you are taking in any smoke at all, you are increasing the likelihood that the tiny particles in cigarettes will find their way into your lungs anyway (after all, you have to breathe sometimes!) and even people exposed to second-hand smoke can have bad health outcomes.Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
    User Icon
     vballlaker17 - Skaneateles High School, New York: What should you do when you know someone on your sports team does drugs? you don't want to get them kicked off but you want to help them?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good morning - this is a difficult spot to be in because you want to help your friend without getting them into trouble.  You might consider the following: first, you can listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs. I'm not sure which drug your teammate is abusing, yet if it is steroids, you might find this youtube video helpful: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/video.php?video=z9Ynf2kPNIc. Some people think that drugs can enhance their sports performance, yet unfortunately, it has many negative physiological consequences. You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, coach or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP. Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
    Moderator Icon  Now online is Dr. Ericka Boone, who works on science policy issues and educational programs for NIDA. While Dr. Boone is an expert at understanding how drugs affect the brain and behavior, a large part of her work involves translating complex scientific research into everyday language that non-scientists, like high school students and members of Congress, can understand. Dr. Boone was a research scientist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she conducted research on how chemicals in the brain help to shape the way humans bond with their mates and babies. Dr. Boone recently moved to the Washington, DC area with her very smart, very funny and very handsome 14-year old son, Evan.
    User Icon
     leprechaun - Pekin Community School, Iowa: Can a New Born be Dependent on a Drug right away?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Unfortunately. Exposure during pregnancy to any number of drugs (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, opioids) can have a variety of profound and/or subtle physiological effects on a new-born baby. http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html
    User Icon
     princess torie - Einstein High School, Maryland: can a food be a drug?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Ahh, great question!  Some people refer to food as being as addicting as say, cocaine.  For some people, they exhibit behaviors that are similar to those of someone addicted to drugs. That is, uncontrolled seeking of food and consumption.

    Here are some of the characteristics of addiction, can you see why some people can consider a food a drug (substitute the word 'food' for 'drug' below)?

    • Taking the drug more often or in larger amounts than intended.
    • Unsuccessful attempts to quit; persistent desire, craving.
    • Excessive time spent in drug seeking.
    • Feeling intoxicated at inappropriate times, or feeling withdrawal symptoms from a drug at such times.
    • Giving up other things for it.
    • Continued use, despite knowledge of harm to oneself and others.
    • Marked tolerance in which the amount needed to satisfy increases at first before leveling off.
    • Characteristic withdrawal symptoms for particular drugs.
    • Taking the drug to relieve or avoid withdrawal.
    Hope this helps.
    User Icon
     Tom - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is the main ingredient in alcohol

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Good question! There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

    Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

    Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
    PollI have been to parties where parents serve alcohol to kids.
    31% - Yes
    53% - No
    15% - Maybe
    User Icon
     catch22 - north carroll middle, Maryland: if you smoke while pregnant does your baby become deformed?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: No, your baby will not be deformed if you smoke while pregnant.  But you will be compromising the oxygen supply and delivering nicotine to your fetus during its most critical developmental period.  We know now that babies born to smokers can be smaller than normal when they are born, and some studies show that these babies may have developmental problems and somewhat decreased cognitive abilities (shorter attention spans, inability to focus on a task) that may be related to maternal smoking.  It does not seem fair to start a new life with any handicap that can be avoided by better behavior. Our nicotine research report has a section on smoking and pregnancy at http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/nicotine/nicotine.html
    User Icon
     brittanyb - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how can you help someone who has an alcohol problem?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Such a good question. The best thing to do is find an adult that you trust and talk with them about it. Drinking at such a young age is dangerous for lots of reasons. One is that people are more likely to get hurt if they drink alcohol. Another is that the brain is still growing and changing at that age, and alcohol could affect this person's brain in a negative way.
     
    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids and how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help your friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

    User Icon
     larlhamc - Archbishop Hobn High School, Ohio: What is the number one reason teenagers use drugs?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: I hate to say it, but it depends...on the drug, where they live (region in the country), the neighborhood, the school, their family, lots of variables. The bottom line is there are lots of reasons that teens use drugs.  I think some think that it will make them seem cool.  I think some do it because they are told not to and that makes them want to use them.  But it is a very risky thing to do, and I think that when you see someone who is high, it won't seem so cool after all.  I'm glad you are thinking about it.  Stay safe.  Be cool...without drugs :-) Check out our teen blog on this question: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-drugs/
    User Icon
     Hyper4Hetalia - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Do genetics determine your likelihood of abusing drugs and alcohol?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I am a geneticist, so this is my favorite type of question!! All diseases have some heritable component (this means that you can inherit them from parents), but how much you inherit can vary. Here's an example. Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic defect that, if passed on, causes a person's offspring (their child) to be affected. That means that Huntington's is 100% genetic. Inheritance, in the form of genes, plays a large role in drug addiction also.  In fact, research shows that drug addiction is about 50% heritable. BUT.....while genes play a big role, they are only part of the picture. Other factors, like having friends who don't use drugs, or being involved in sports and other recreational activities, also affect your risk of trying drugs and of becoming addicted to them. Researchers are trying to find the genes that make you vulnerable or resistant to addiction, in order to find ways to improve treatment and prevention approaches. Want more information on genes, addiction and teens? For more information: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
    User Icon
     urstupid123 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what in meth makes it blowup

    Expert Icon Dave White: urstupid123, this answer is going to blow you away.  There are a number of very dangerous gases and vapors generated during the methamphetamine making process.  Some are poisonous, and one is explosive!  It's a 'killer' job.
    Moderator Icon  Wonder why celebrities go in and out of rehab so much? Because it takes time to recover from addiction---and time to find the right treatment. Learn more by reading NIDA’s new booklet for teens- Drugs: Shatter the Myths at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/booklet.php
    User Icon
     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: does crank effect your driving abilities?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Crank certainly can affect one's abiilities to drive a car.  It is known that in the short term, stimulants can produce feelings of tremendous joy, increased wakefulness, and decreased appetite. People who abuse them can become more talkative, energetic, or anxious and irritable. Other short-term effects of stimulants can include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; dilated pupils; nausea; blurred vision; muscle spasms; and confusion.  All of these effects certainly can alter one's driving. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html
    User Icon
     Manuel - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: Where do you get the statistics you are using and what corporations are funding them.

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Hi Manuel. Thanks for your question.  We get our statistics from studies that we (at the National Institute on Drug Abuse) fund through grants and contracts, mostly through universities and research organizations.  The money for the grants and contracts come from Congress, not corporations.  This is an important fact to keep in mind because it allows us to conduct research without pressure from corporations.  For example, in our studies of smoking, we have found that adolescents, compared to adults, are at increased risk of nicotine addiction; the adolescent brain is vulnerable to the addictive properties of nicotine.  This finding motivates us to prevent youths from smoking, because doing so among kids is likely to prevent them from becoming chronic smokers. Our goal is to improve public health, so prevention is a major goal of ours. 
    User Icon
     avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: Are they any negative effects of drinking moderately?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For adults, one (for females) or up to two (for males) servings of alcohol can help decrease the chances of developing heart disease. However, any more than that increases the risk of developing a host of problems, including liver and pancreas diseases, weakened immune system, and certain kinds of cancers.

    There are no known benefits of alcohol for teenagers, only negative effects. Starting to drink under the age of 21 is associated with an increased risk of developing alcoholism, getting injured in various ways and developing chronic diseases later in life.

    For more information on how alcohol can affect your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
    User Icon
     HankH - Skaneateles High School, New York: What was the first popular American television show to cover drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: I really don't know, but alcohol, alcoholism and cigarette smoking have been depicted in popular TV shows since its very beginnings.
     
     
    User Icon
     erin88 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: is addiction a disease?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Cathedral.
    Yes - addiction is a disease that affects not only a peson's brain, but also their behavior. There are a lot of factors involved in whether a person will become addicted to drugs, however, like their family history/genetics, whether they hang around friends who use drugs, their age, whether suffer from depression, schizophrenia, etc.  It's not about weak will or being immoral - it's about how drugs affect your brain that increase the chances that someone will become addicted to drugs.  Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches to help people stop doing drugs or even prevent them from doing them in the first place.  Need more information on drugs and how they affect the brain?  Click on:  www.teens.drugabuse.gov, a Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities.
    User Icon
     Tyffani - Einstein High School, Maryland: So if you use drugs you're puting your life at risk?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Yes, especially with teens, because your brains are still developing. Also, drugs and alcohol affect the way you think, which means you might do some pretty stupid things when you are under the influence that you wouldn't do otherwise--like driving drunk or getting into a car with someone else who is drunk.  About 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40 percent (1,900) in car crashes. Check out
    http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf for more.
    User Icon
     jeffreyk - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: What are some short and long term affects of MDMA?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, jeffreyk.  This is a good question.  MDMA is a stimulant that also has hallucinogenic properties (distorts perception and can cause hallucinations). While MDMA is in the body, it can produce nausea, chills, and sweating, and interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. In some cases people have become so overheated that they developed convulsions and died--a particular danger when people take the drug and engage in strenuous exercise in a hot environment, for example at raves.
    These effects occur because MDMA disrupts neurons that produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates mood, sleep, body temperature, and other things. Over the long term MDMA can cause lasting damage to these neurons. Folks who regularly use the drug have been shown to have a tendency to get depressed or anxious and have a hard time remembering things.  For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html
    Moderator Icon  Now on the Chat is Dr. Antonello “Anto” Bonci, a neuroscientist who heads up NIDA’s labs. Dr. Bonci got his medical degree in Rome, Italy, and later moved to America to work at the University of California at San Francisco. He moved all the way across the country to become the Director of NIDA’s Research Program in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Bonci’s research explores how drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, affect the connections between neurons in the brain.
    User Icon
     urmom - Einstein High School, Maryland: why isnt alcohol banned?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
    User Icon
     soccerplayer52 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what is the average amount of people that have died because of drunk driving?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: In 2009, approximately 11,000 people died in alcohol-related car crashes. In fact, statistically, one person is injured in an alcohol related car crash every minute in the United States. To learn more about alcohol-related car crashes and injuries, check this out:

    http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drinkinganddriving/?s_cid=vitalsigns-092-bb
    http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/pdf/2011-10-vitalsigns.pdf 

    User Icon
     Tiny Toot - north carroll middle, Maryland: What can methane do you that would be fatal?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, Tiny Toot.  Inhaling methane (as well as other inhalants) can push the oxygen out of the lungs and literally suffocate the user. This can cause serious brain damage or even death! Steer clear of trying it.
    User Icon
     blackcat12 - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: What is the difference in effects between overdosing on prescriptions painkillers like vicodin and street drugs like cocaine and heroin?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Great question--all of these drugs can kill.  In fact, just today, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta released new facts about overdoes showing that over 14,000 people died from prescription pill overdoses in 2008. The dangerous chemicals in prescription drugs are just about the same as street drugs.  Just because it comes in a pill, doesn't mean it's safe!
    User Icon
     xFeelTheBeatx - north carroll middle, Maryland: Which drugs do the most and least damage?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough:   All drugs of abuse can have long-lasting effects on the body and brain. The damage done to the body or brain depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect brain signaling and change the way the brain receives messages.  A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). 
    Moderator Icon  A 2010 study found that about 1% of 8th graders, 2% of 10th graders, and 1% of 12th graders had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. That means about 99% of students don’t use methamphetamine! Learn more about meth and other stimulants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php
    User Icon
     3[ARC]WABBLE - north carroll middle, Maryland: does sniffing a marker actually make you high

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Sniffing a marker can make you high. Liquids in the marker vaporize at room temperature once you open the cap. These are called inhalants and are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, you can experience a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness.
    User Icon
     Bourque - Iberia Middle School, Louisiana: Can a person become addicted to a drug after only one use?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a good question.  When you take an illegal drug, it affects your brain. Being addicted to a drug means that changes have taken place in the brain that prevent someone from being able to control their urge to seek and use the drug.  Everyone's brain and natural brain chemistry are a little different, and while it is unlikely addiction would occur after a single use, the effects you feel could prompt you to want to use again, and from there it would be a very slippery slope. It's hard to say at what point you would become addicted, but we no for sure you can't get addicted if you never take the drug. Really...there are better ways to have a good time. 
    User Icon
     lexy9 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how can help your friend stop smoking??

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, lexy9. It's fantastic that you want to help your friend stop smoking. Smoking puts your friend at risk for cancer and many other things she really doesn't want, but studies have shown that when someone stops smoking, their risks for these things rapidly go down to where it would be if they had never smoked.
    Overcoming nicotine addiction is hard, but more and more people are doing it. You can help your friend with encouragement, and by alerting him or her to the different kinds of help that are available, including medications and getting tips from professional counselors. Check out this site: http://www.ahrq.gov/path/tobacco.htm#Userhelp 
    User Icon
     Gary - South Central High School, Ohio: Why have bath salts become so popular so fast?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Why some drugs become popular and others don't is an important issue.  Bath salts are dangerous chemicals which got a lot of attention on the Internet.  Many people heard about them and some ended up trying these drugs.  We've been hearing reports from emergency rooms in many places about people getting really sick from these drugs. 
    User Icon
     mr. Bunker - Einstein High School, Maryland: Do people die of smoking artificial drugs like k2? (which I believe is legal).

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hello Mr Bunker

    Actually, spice products like K2 are labeled “not fit for human consumption” and are nows illegal in the United States and most European countries. Its side effects, like the ingredients, often vary, but emergency rooms report seeing people with rapid heart rates, vomiting, agitation, and hallucinations. So, I wouldn't be surprised if some deaths were linked to K2 use.

    Hope this helps


    User Icon
     Mr.flopicuse - Skaneateles High School, New York: Is it true that if you do meth, your invinceible?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Mr.flopicuse, meth is a stimulant and can make one feel euphoric, energetic and mentally alert, but it can also cause irregular heartbeat, drastic increases in blood pressure and body temperature. Long-term use can lead to mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and severe dental problems.  It definitely does NOT make you invincible.  Fact is, there's no such thing as being invincible. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html 
    Moderator Icon  Repeated drug use can reset the brain’s pleasure meter, so that without the drug, you feel hopeless and sad. Eventually, everyday fun stuff like spending time with friends or playing with your dog doesn’t make you happy anymore.
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     snoopy - Rockville HS, Maryland: how many time do you have to take a drug before you are abusing it ?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: That's a really good question.  At NIDA, we consider all use of an illegal drug (including tobacco and alcohol for teens) to be abuse, but if you want to know how many times it takes before you start to lose control and risk becoming addicted that's a much harder question to answer.  It depends on you--your genes, your family circumstances, how old you were when you started using; it also depends on the drug and how you are taking it--when you smoke or inject a drug it gets to the brain really fast, and that can make it more addictive more quickly.  It always a risk--since the 'loss of control' can sneak up on you quickly without your even being aware of it. 
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     GradyW - Cathedral High School, Indiana: People always discriminate against mexicans about taking more drugs, but is this really true?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Great question GradyW! No, this is not true.  On the contrary, there have been many studies that have shown that Mexican-American youth are at lower risk for using drugs.  Interestingly, the longer that a Mexican-American lives in the United States (after arriving from Mexico), or the more acculturated they become to the U.S. culture, the greater the risk of drug and alcohol use.  This seems to suggest that the process of 'Americanization' (I may have just invented this term) decreases the protective effect of the Mexican family (which is associated with lower risk of drug and alcohol use), and thereby increases the risk of drug and alcohol use. The breakdown of the traditional family system, which typically protects kids from drug use, seems to erode during the acculturation process.   
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     kcox14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What are the best ways to say no to drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Indiana: One way is to live on a mountain top with no other humans!  Just kidding - plus I'm not sure how many mountain tops there are in Indiana ... Unfortunatley I'm not sure you can avoid peer pressure entirely.  You can however be prepared to handle it.  Here are a few tips: (1) be your own person and don't follow the crowd (no matter how small...because no matter what they say...not EVERYONE is trying it), (2) be assertive about what you want and tell peers trying to influence you to do something like try drugs to back off -- you can give them reasons like 'I don't want to get addicted to drugs', 'using drugs is illegal', 'my parents will find out and kill me', or 'no thanks, I don't want any'. Just remember, your true friends are concerned about your health and your future, and they won't keep pressuring you to do things you don't want to do. Stay strong and remember it's your body...you get to make all the choice!!  For more information from real teens, see: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com, or www.teens.drugabuse.gov
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     T-sizzle - north carroll middle, Maryland: can you die from second hand smoke faster than smoking?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Die faster?  Is this a race?  If it is, dying from smoking is an awfully slow one.  Yet every year in the US, about 440,000 die from smoking (usually over many years), and of these, about 49,000 die from exposure to second-hand smoke.  You can prevent this painful process by avoiding smoking and places where people smoke.  Take charge of your life and do things that will perserve it!
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     Andrew - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how does cigarrette smoke get into your lungs when you just blow it back out?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Great question, Andrew.  All of it does not come back out and the tiniest particles are what settles in your lungs and can create problems for you.
    Check out our teen site for more informaiton about tobacco addiction:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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     chicky - north carroll middle, Maryland: Do you think everyone will try drugs at least once in their life time...even if they dont get addicted?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Not everyone will - but, lots of people do try drugs.  The problem is we can't predict who will keep going with drug use or get addicted.  And anyone who uses can get into trouble--like having an accident or having a heart attack. 
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Wilson Compton is a psychiatrist, and directs NIDA's Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research, which researches the interactions between individuals and their environments that contribute to drug use. He has been the principal or co-principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Dr. Compton loves the beach, and likes to spend nearly every weekend at his house in Bethany Beach, Delaware. He enjoys playing games such as—bridge, scrabble, crosswords, and sudoku.
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     Batman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Could someone get high off of second-hand smoke?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Do you mean a 'contact high' from second hand marijuana smoke??  If so... the answer is yep!  If you breath enough of the second hand smoke, the active ingredients of MJ like THC get to the lung and to the brain.  It can also get into your hair, etc.  So...don't hang around folks that are smoking...especially if you have to take a pee test any time soon!!!
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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: What is the difference between USING and ABUSING drugs?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a very good question.  NIDA considers using any illegal drug (or prescription drug not prescribed for you) as 'abuse.' However, appropriate use of a drug for a legitimate medical reason could fall under the category of 'using.' There is no consistent vocabulary across the addiction field, which it seems you have picked up on!
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     cassandra - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: when someone uses do they know how addicted they are? do they know they can't stop?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Great question, Cassandra.  We think someone is addicted when they seek and use drugs complusively despite negative consequences. Complusive drug use has many negative consequences including affecting your brain's ability to learn new tasks, memory, concentration, and ability to exert good judgment.  Prolonged drug abuse can cause medical problems -- lung cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and addiction.  Drug use can also cause personal problems, poor school performance, and even arrest. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/ for more information related to the medical consequences of drug use.  Sometimes people don't realize how serious their drug use is and deny the negative impact.  If you know someone in this situation, you can point out the negative affect you see that drugs are having on them.  A specific NIDA website that you might want to check out is: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#behavior. If the person you care about is ready to stop using drugs, talk with a professional like a doctor or therapist to find treatment.  You can also go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP to find treatment programs in you area. Use this as an opportunity to reach out and get help. 
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     Hyper4Hetalia - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What are some of the main signs that someone is high?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hmmm...well, that depends what the person is 'high on' but, there can be changes in the person's mood and behavior.  For example, some drugs like PCP, can lead to really erractic behavior, rapid speech, aggression or intense sweating. But for alcohol , the person may reek of alcohol, may have slurred speech, dilated pupils or be very uncoordinated/about to fall down when walking.  MJ causes red eyes and the 'munchies'! MJ also dilates pupils, and people can become more  cheerful, sleepy, slow. Want to know more about the effects of drugs?  Go to our site!  There's lots of good info!  http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/; http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
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     MobyNick - north carroll middle, Maryland: Does sniffing a marker get u high?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: It can, because the chemical that makes marker dry so fast is also the inhalant that can give you a high. 

    Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young adolescents abuse. In fact, they are one of the few classes of substances that are abused more by younger adolescents than older ones. Inhalant abuse can become chronic and can cause death. Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. Learn more about inhalants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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     kawsar5008 - williamsville east high school, New York: if the conpanies know the danger of drugs why do they still make drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi kawsar
    thanks for the question, it's a really good one

    you have to take a wider view here. medications are technologies, and every technology has the potential for positive and negative uses (think PBS vs dancing with the stars, for example)
    Companies make drugs to put into medications that alleviate people suffering and save millions of lives daily when used as instructed or prescribed and supervised by a doctor: Think about it: would you like to live in a world in which every severely depressed person committed suicide? I doubt it.

    the dark side of this equation of course is that some of these live-saving medications also have the potential to cause serious problems like addiction, if abused.

    The answer then is that, if you look at the numbers, the benefits we, as a society, derive from medications far exceed their adverse effects, even abuse and addiction.
    I hope you agree.

    cheers

     
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     grbuechler14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What are the pros and cons of medicinal marijuana?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Good question. Some people feel marijuana helps them chill out or relax.  Other people like the high it gives them. There are also possible medicinal uses for the active ingredient in marijuana--THC--but these are still under study, and marijuana itself has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease or condition.  However, marijuana has risks, too.  Some of the cons include short-term effects, such as impaired memory and learning, and long-term effects, such as addiction. Plus, anything that's smoked is not good for your lungs. Go here to learn  more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
    Moderator Icon  When the chat is over, we will post the transcript (be patient---it will take a week or two.) You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     mmondrik - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: Many people that are focused on their bodies and appearance use steriods. Along with using steriods these people also take supplements and different inhancers that they purchase at GNC. Are all of the supplements and inhancers safe to use? In addition can these products increase the urge to use steriods?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Anabolic steroids, like testosterone, are used by people who want to get stronger or appear bigger or to lose weight. Although your own body produces steroids, people who abuse them are usually taken in far greater doses than those that are prescribed by doctors to treat medical conditions.  But there is a down side when steroids are used for such non-medical purposes, because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. Examples of other effects are increased risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible.

    Other steroids like estrogens, progesterones, and cortisol are not anabolic and have other uses, ranging from contraception to immune suppression (such as asthma inhalers).  These do not build muscle (like the anabolic steroids) and in fact, break muscle down.  Your body produces all these steroids in very small amounts at times when they are needed, and they help maintain a healthy body.

    Products that you buy as supplements and enhancers can in fact contain steroids...and many other things because supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as all drugs (and foods) are.  Many of these are produced in foreign countries that have no rules over the manufacture of these supplements, and they are not required to identify all the ingredients in the supplements.  This can be dangerous, as we saw a few years ago, when some supplements that contained the stimulant ephedra resulted in death to some of its users.  When these supplements are shown to have bad halth effects, the FDA an step in and remove them or ban them for sale, and that is what the FDA did. 

    I doln't know of any substance that can increase your urge to use steroids!
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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: Which states is it legal to buy medical marijuana?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: None--according to federal law, since it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for approving all medicines in this country based on carefully controlled studies that establish their safety and benefits.  This has not happened for marijuana, however 16 states and Washington DC have passed medical marijuana laws. Check out our booklet for teens to see why NIDA is worried about the med marijuana laws--there are risks to using it, and you should be aware of them: addiction, learning and memory problems, impaired driving and maybe mental illness as well. http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/
    Moderator Icon  Research shows that about 1 in 6 of those who use marijuana at least once in their teens will become addicted.
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     playaplaya457 - C. H. Yoe High School, Texas: What is the possibility of someone overdosing on pain pills? How many would you have to take for you to overdose on them?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a really serious issue.  Every year, more than 10,000 people die from overdoses of pain pills.  One problem is that the safe amount of these medications differs over time and for different people.  Someone who has taken these medications for a long time may use a high dose to take care of their pain but that same pill could cause an overdose in someone else. 
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     kcox14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What are the long-term health risks of alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For teenagers, one of the major long-term health risks has to do with the effects of alcohol on the brain. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!

    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

    For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

    Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

    If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.

    A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function. 

    Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also contribute to problems with your pancreas and heart. It can also impact your immune system, and can increase your risk for certain types of cancer.  For more information on how alcohol can impact your health, check out: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
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     peacelovemusic - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: My dad is a recovering alcoholic. He's been sober for 6 years now. Ever since he stopped, his live has been hard. He lost his job last year and ever since then he's depressed, he gets angry all the time, and I'm afraid that he'll start drinking again. He doesn't think he needs counsoling, but he's been going to AA meetings. I miss the fun loving dad I used to have. What can I do to help him?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Peacelovemusic - Dealing with parental drug abuse is tough and I know this from first hand experience becuase my father was also an alcoholic.  It is good that your dad is attending AA because this is a place where he can get support in his recovery.  Sounds like you need support too.  When I was living with a father who had a drinking problem I needed people I could talk to that I could trust.  You can talk to a friend, school counselor, or trusted adult that can provide you with support by listening and by helping to make sure you aren't impacted negatively by your dad's struggle with alcohol.  Also, you might explore the possitility of family therapy where your entire family can go talk about how to heal and support each other. Al-Anon or Alateen (a program for teens)  http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/ really helped me and might be helpful for you too.  For information on Al-Anon and Alateen meetings in Michigan see: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/meetings/michigan.html. Please take care of yourself.  .
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     taylorelizabeth - Skaneateles High School, New York: what percent of teenagers under the age of 14 do drugs?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Hey taylorelizabeth, thanks for your question. Based upon a recent (2010) national survey of high-school students, about 21% of eighth graders have used drugs in their lifetime.  About 1 in 10 eighth graders reported current use of an illicit drug, that is they've used it in the past month.
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     DustyB - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What are the long term affects of daily drug usage

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Hi DustyB,
    Long term, daily drug use can affect a variety of physiological systems such as heart functioning (e.g., cocaine), liver functioning (e.g., alcohol), gastrointestinal functioning (e.g., opioids), and of course brain functioning (all drugs of abuse). However, many or all of these effects can be reversed over time if a person is able to quit.
    Moderator Icon  We’d like to introduce Jennifer Elcano to the Chat. Jennifer has been a professional writer for about 20 years, specializing in making highly technical or scientific jargon accessible by general lay audiences. She began her career as a magazine writer, worked several years with a small communications firm, and in 1994 started her own successful business, Elcano Communications. She joined NIDA in 2005 as a science writer, lending her skills to the variety of publications NIDA develops for different audiences. She has 4 kids, ages 11–25, and enjoys playing in a band with her husband and son, and doing triathlons in the summer.
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     LittlePeep218 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Can smoking weed help your ADHD? a few of my friend's claim it can, but I don't necessarily believe them...and I do have ADHD.

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Don't believe them.  Some people like smoking marijuana and say many untrue things to convince other people to use.  Marijuana does not make people with ADHD perform any better.  Of course, scientists are looking for better treatments for ADHD and we hope to have ways to help people concentrate better and be able to control their hyperactivity better, too.
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     jbbolton14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many Hydrocodone pills would it take to be a lethal dose for someone?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, Cathedral High, IN.  This is a complicated question because it depends on the person taking them.  Reactions to drugs that people take differ from person to person and also depend on what other drugs they've taken.  So there is no right answer.  For more information, specifically on prescription drugs, you should check out:  http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/prescription/prescription.html.
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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: How many brain cells are killed with each shot of alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It's so hard to know for sure. In fact, it's not clear whether a shot of alcohol kills any brain cells at all. But, alcohol can hurt the brain in ways other than killing brain cells. This is particularly true for teenagers.

    The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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     talkwithurchest - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: i was told marihuana is good for you is this true?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: The FDA, which approves all therapeutic drugs in the US has not approved marijuana for the treatment of any disease or condition.  That's because it hasn't been proven safe and effective in carefully controlled studies with patients.  Marijuana is not likely to become a medicine for several reasons--it contains more than 400 chemicals, some with unknown health effects; its ingredients vary, and it can affect your ability to think and remember--so not ideal for a medicine. Plus, anything that's smoked is bad for the lungs. However, scientists are interested in some of marijuana's ingredients that could have possibilities as medicines but with fewer risks than marijuana itself. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
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     carebear - Skaneateles High School, New York: Which drugs take effect the fastest?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Great question -That depends on how the drug is taken/injested.  Injecting or smoking a drug gets it to the brain most quickly, which also increses it's potential to be addictive. 
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     taylorelizabeth - Skaneateles High School, New York: how likely is a younger sibling to a teenager who uses drugs daily to use drugs themselves?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hi Tailorelizabeth.  Great question! Since we know that drug addiction is partly due to genetic effects, and siblings share 50% of their DNA (just like they share 50% of their DNA with their parents), it is likely that the younger sibling is just as vulnerable to use drugs as the older one.  We also know that genetics is only part of the picture--environment is also a major factor.  If the older sibling uses drugs, it creates an environment for the younger sibling to more easily access and use drugs -- and ultimately become addicted.  But, to be vulnerable, genes, environment, age, and other factors are at play--so genes don't pre-determine whether or not someone becomes addicted--it's the whole picture.  For more information: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/genetics.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/real-teens-ask-addiction-hereditary/.
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     pdoug - Kenmroe Middle School, Virginia: tatiana kenmore are kids still having pharm parties where they are bringing different meds and puttting them in bowl and mixing them.

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: That sounds really dangerous to me.  You don't know what's in the pills.  Some may not cause any trouble and others could be really dangerous.  A pill that is safe for one person can cause an overdose in someone else.  That's why these need a doctor's prescription--to make sure they are taken by people they will help.
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     jbruce - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: Does soda have alcohol in it

    Expert Icon Aaron White: No. You might be surprised to know that fruit juices, like orange juice, can contain small amounts of alcohol. When yeast, which exists naturally in the environment, interacts with the sugar in juice, alcohol gets produced. Luckily, the amount of alcohol is so small that a person literally would have to drink gallons of juice to feel the effects.
    Moderator Icon  Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that the amount of alcohol in your blood, also called blood alcohol concentration (BAC), reaches 0.08g/dL, which is considered legally intoxicated.
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     T-sizzle - north carroll middle, Maryland: What are the effects of steroids?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Anabolic steroids, like testosterone, are used by people who want to get stronger or appear bigger or to lose weight. Although your own body produces steroids, people who abuse them are usually taken in far greater doses than those that are prescribed by doctors to treat medical conditions.  But there is a down side when steroids are used for such non-medical purposes, because they disrupt the normal production and balance of hormones in the body, and can lead to a long list of alterations, such as reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, male-pattern baldness and breast development in men. In the female body, anabolic steroids abuse can cause masculinization. This means that females may experience decreases in body fat, coarsening of the skin, and deepening of the voice. Women may also experience excessive growth of body hair (chest, chin, back, etc.) and lose the hair on their head. Examples of other effects are increased risk of blood clots and damage to heart muscle. Most important, with continued steroid use, some of these effects can become irreversible.  Our teen site has more information on steroids: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php

    Other steroids like estrogens, progesterones, and cortisol are not anabolic and have other uses, ranging from contraception to immune suppression (such as asthma inhalers).  These do not build muscle (like the anabolic steroids) and in fact, break muscle down.  Your body produces all these steroids in very small amounts at times when they are needed, and they help maintain a healthy body.
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     Shrimpypoo - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How can I tell if a person is using drugs and how can I help that person stop?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Good question.  You must be a caring person. The signs of drug use can depend on what drugs someone is taking--but if they're not doing as well in school or at work, or they're not doing the things they used to really enjoy, then they may be in trouble. Also, if you know a person really well and suspect they are using drugs, it is likely you are right.  The sooner you can talk to them the better.  I think if you ask them in a supportive way and not attack them for it, they might admit to it.  And when they know that you don't think it is cool and that you are really worried about them, they might think twice about continuing to use drugs.  They are really lucky to have someone like you in their life and you can make a big difference. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, a good place to begin includes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Web site, www.samhsa.gov. Thank you for asking the question.
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     superman - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: Is marijuana physically addictive?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Yes--about 9% of users, 15-50% of daily users become addicted.  That means they have trouble quitting when they want to.  When someone who is addicted tries to quit, they may experience a withdrawal syndrome--not unlike what happens with tobacco (nicotine).  The symptoms are irritability, trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, and a strong desire to start using again--that's what makes it hard to quit.  The physical symptoms tend to peak at a few days to a week after you stop using and they fade in a few weeks. 
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     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: is adderol bad fopr you?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Adderall is a drug called dextromphetamine and is commonly prescribed for people with decreased alertness or attention, such as for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy. When it is taken as prescribed, it can help people with ADHD, for example, to compensate for a deficit in normal concentration and cognitive behavior and/or hyperactivity.  However, taking more than is prescribed for you can result in an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, and/or the potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures.
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     Emily T. - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: Are people who use marijuana more likely to start using other drugs as well?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Most people who smoke marijuana already smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol.  So, they are already using other drugs.  Some people go on from marijuana to other drugs, too.  Once someone starts with one drug it's much more likely that they'll continue.  It's safest not to start at all. 
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     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: is windex used as a drug?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi Creed

    I wouldn't be surprised if some bum tried to get high on windex; emergency department doctors could tell you that they've seen much worse, like drunbks downing whole bottles of listerine or hidrogen peroxide!! But I have not seen any rigurous reports on windex specifically, just anecdotal stories. BTW, Even though Windex is a greener product now that does not have ammonia it will get your stomach churning and make you throw up. Chemically speaking, a windex high would be most unlikely. 

    Cheers
    Moderator Icon  Have you seen the Sara Bellum Blog? It has all the latest information on drugs and drug abuse, and you can comment on what’s written. Check it out at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
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     larlhamc - Archbishop Hobn High School, Ohio: How and why did you decide to do this program?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hello Ohio! We started Drug Facts Chat Day 5 years ago because we heard from so many kids with their questions about drugs. NIDA is a scientific Institute---we belive in proven facts. We knew there were a lot of myths out there about drugs and we wanted to set the record straight. Right now as I am writing this there are 40 other scientists and science writers in the room answering questions fron other kids. Most of them give up their whole day to be on this chat---that's how important we think it is that you get accurate information. But CHAT DAY is only once a year. Any other time you can check out our teen Web site---teens.drugabuse.gov.
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     jbbolton14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many years can you smoke weed before it starts to have a negative affect on your body?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hard question to answer specifically, as there are lots of individual variabilities with drugs of abuse, including marijuana. Marijuana can cause addiction --in about 9% of users, 25-50% of daily users.  This means that someone can't quit even though marijuana is having a detrimental effect on their lives.  There is also a withdrawal syndrome--similar to what happens in tobacco smokers.  Symptoms include irritability, sleep and appetite problems, and craving--which often prompts relapse.  Also, in a young person especially, its memory impairing effects can interfere with your ability to function optimally--or to be at the top of your game, even if you are not using the drug while you are in school.  Marijuana's effects on learning can persist for days or even weeks after last use. Thus, you may not reach your full potential if you use it, and this is something that long term marijuana users self report looking back on their lives.

    So the negative effects are potentially many, and it is difficult to put a specific on when the negative effects might occur. For more information on marijuana check out this link: http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/marijuana.php
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     chenoahsmall - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what are some of the long term affects of ecstasy?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Ecstasy, also known by its chemical name methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA, for short), is a type of amphetamine, but it also produces effects similar to some hallucinogens. MDMA affects the brain by increasing the activity of at least three neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of brain cells): serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. MDMA causes these neurotransmitters to be released from their storage sites in neurons, resulting in increased neurotransmitter activity. We know from studies in animals that MDMA can produce long-lasting damage to serotonin neurons. Serotonin is important in regulating mood, sleep, body temperature, pain and other critical functions. In fact, some of the medications used to treat depression directly target this system. From imaging the brains of people, we find that there are changes in this system too, but we do not know how long those changes last. People who abuse MDMA tend to get depressed or anxious and to have trouble remembering recent events. These effects can be short-lived or longer-lasting depending on how much drug is used, how often, and whether or not other drugs are also being abused (marijuana is fairly common in MDMA users). Some people who use MDMA also have other difficulties with their abilities to make decisions and with their sleeping patterns. Of course, you will likely suffer more severe problems if you use MDMA often or in large amounts.  Check out our MDMA Research Report online at http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/MDMA/default.html


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     Tiny Toot - north carroll middle, Maryland: My friend got asked to smoke some marajuana then he came to me to ask if he should smoke some? What should i say to him?

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Tell him to say no.  Marijuana can cause a number of problems and puts his brain at risk. Also, he doesn't know what chemicals he might get, and people who start smoking marijuana sometimes get addicted.  We can't predict who will get addicted and the danger is that he may like it and keep doing it until it becomes a regular habit. 
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Denise Pintello is online now. Known as “Denny,” she enjoys working at NIDA and one of her many fascinating jobs involves overseeing the Blending Initiative, which “translates research findings” to help make treatment more effective for people struggling with drug addiction. For fun, Dr. Pintello spends time jogging with her German shepherd puppy, tearing down walls in her home (renovating!), and recently experienced sky-diving.
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     mcglovin - north carroll middle, Maryland: what part of alcohol makes it addicting

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It has a lot to do with how alcohol affects a part of the brain called 'the reward system'. All drugs, alcohol included, turn this part of the brain on and make people feel good for a little while. Some people keep going back to alcohol to get that feeling. Over time, their brains lose the ability to feel good without alcohol and they become addicted to it, meaning they just can't stop thinking about it, craving it or using it.  According to the National Library of Medicine, people who are addicted to alcohol tend to have the following issues:
    • Craving - a strong need to drink
    • Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've begun
    • Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating or shakiness after stopping drinking
    • Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to get 'high'
    These problems and behaviors can cause tremendous difficulties for individuals and families.

    You can read more about this at: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/
    Also, the earlier in life you try alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to alcohol. This is why it is soooo important to find healthy things that turn the reward system on and make you feel good. For some people, this might be sports, laughing with friends or even playing an instrument.
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     Hyper4Hetalia - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why do doctors sometimes give marijuana to patients for medicinal purposes?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Marijuana is still not a legal medicine, since all medicines have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  This means that they must be shown to be safe and effective in carefully controlled clinical studies--which has not yet been done for marijuana.  Nevertheless 16 states and Washington DC have passed laws that legalize marijuana for medical use.  Unfortunately this may be putting patients at risk--since they will be getting a treatment with unknown ingredients, exposing their lungs to harmful chemicals, and risk addiction and other problems thinking and remembering.  Also, they may not be getting the proper treatment for their illness.  There are ingredients/chemicals within the marijuana plant, or that scientists make in the laboratory, that may have medical uses and these are being studied right now as we speak.  The hope is that these compounds will be more specific--treat the illness, but not cause addiction or impair thinking. And they will be made carefully, so that the doses can be precisely controlled and you know what your getting when your are prescribed the medicine--something that is not possible with a plant. 
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     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: can you get a natural safe high without drugs?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning Adison,
    This is a great question!  You can absolutely get a 'natural high' by doing things that you enjoy, such hanging with friends and eating great foods (but not too much).  You may also want to consider exercising (believe it or not!). Studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins in the brain, which produce a sense of euphoria (well being). So, participating in a sport is an excellent way to boost your mood.
    One of the great things about natural highs--besides the fact that they don't put you at risk for addiction and other bad consequences--is that they don't have 'aversive' side effects or withdrawal effects. For example, stimulants make people high, but they also make people nervous, edgy, and sometimes paranoid. Opiates cause physical discomofort and blah feelings as they leave the body. With natural highs, you just get the high--well, maybe some sore muscles the next day.
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     kkelliher - Kingswood Regional Middle School, New Hampshire: where do people mostly die of meth??????

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Methamphetamine overdose and death is seen all across the country but is more common in the west part of the country (Hawaii, California and the Rocky Mountain areas).  Unfortunately, it has spread to all other states in the midwest, south and east in recent years.
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     chelseaj - Harrisburg High School, Arkansas: What can I as a high school student do to curb the use of drugs and alcohol among my peers?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: First of all, tell your friends that drug taking is NOT normal. It might seem like a lot of kids take drugs but in fact most don't. Also let your friend know that drugs and alcohol cause a lot of car accidents, and kids who use illegal drugs generally do worse in school. It is important to note that kids are bombarded with references about drugs---in movies, music, the Intenet and more. But mistakes involving drugs can last a lifetime. Set a good example, be strong, don't give into peer pressure and stay true to your values.  
    Check out teens.drugabuse.gove for more information.

    This week is National Drug Facts Week---check it out at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/. Kids in communities all over the country are holding events to educate other kids about drugs. Maybe next year you can help organize an event in your scool--the Web site will tell you how.
    Addiction is a disease of :
    The correct answer is: B. The Brain. Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease because drugs alter the brain in a way that can lead to compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. Learn more: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/
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     marisawitwer - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Approximately how many neurons are lost when using drugs?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good question, Boiling Springs.
    Some drugs like methamphetamine are toxic and can not only cause them to not work properly, but can actually 'kill' neurons.  How many are lost is not that clear, but there's some new research that shows that some individuals that use methamphetamine chronically may be at increased risk for Parkinson's Disease later in life.  What's Parkinson's?  It's a neurodegenerative disease resulting when dopamine neurons in the brain die.  This causes a person to progressively lose the ability to control their muscles, which will eventually make it difficult to walk, talk and more.  This disease, when it occurs, is usuallly seen in much older adults....like 60-80 years old. 

    You've got several billion neurons helping you do think, remember, act like you, and keep you alive...why chance killing any of them by using drugs??
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     Deniiiii - Cape Elizabeth High School, Maine: How harmful is black tar heroin?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Heroin is heroin is heroin.  It is not great for you. First there is the problem with the route of administration.  Then there is the issue with dose--you have no idea how much you are taking.  Oh, and did I mention the contaminants you will be introducing into your body?  Heroin is an opiate, and opiates can make your digestive processes slower and, if taken in a large amount, kill you by stopping your ability to breathe. A 2010 study showed that 0.8% of 8th graders, 0.8% of 10th graders, and 0.9% of 12th graders had abused heroin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. You can get more information on heroin at http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Heroin.html
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     Tinkerbrat - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Using drugs prescribed to someone else is type of drug abuse, right? Even if they are used for the same reason that they were prescribed for...say a sore throat

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Good question.  Using a drug that has been prescribed by a doctor for someone else is dangerous, even if it's for the same problem.  Prescription drugs are powerful, and often interact with other drugs/medications, so using them without a physician's permission is quite risky and potentially life threatening.  There are many over-the-counter medications for a sore throat, which are much safer to use or when in doubt seek your own doctor's advice.
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     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: can smoking marijuana be good for you?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: The FDA, which approves all therpeutic drugs in the US, has not approved marijuana for the treatment of any disease or condition.   I know that some think marijuana isn't addictive, but in fact someone who uses a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their schoolwork or their family relationships.  What are your chances of becoming addicted?--about 1 in 6 if you start as a teen, and 1 in 4 if you use every day or nearly every day.  see
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more info!
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     gh0stman - Skaneateles High School, New York: why is saliva legal and marijuana illegal?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi Ghostman
     
    I think that saliva will stay legal for a long time. After all we do need it for chewing properly. no laws against 'driving while droolling' anytime soon...  
    Salvia is another matter, its legal status may change in the future. that depends on both scientific and policy considerations.

    myself, i'd stay away from anystuff, legal or illegal, that if I know is bad for me. wouldn't you ?

    be cool
    User Icon
     dragon - Skaneateles High School, New York: What are Whippets?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Whippets are gases commonly found in household or commercial products and or as medical anesthetics. These can come from whipped cream aerosols or dispensers.  Whippets would fall under the drug category of inhalants.
    Moderator Icon  A 2010 study showed that 0.8% of 8th graders, 0.8% of 10th graders, and 0.9% of 12th graders had abused heroin at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.
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     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: how many people smoke weed before the age of 15?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: What's up Creed 101! Wow, this is a very specific question. Based upon a recent (2010) national survey of high-school students, 17% of eighth graders have used marijuana in their lifetime.  Among 10th graders this number jumps to 33%.  So, by the time kids turn age 15, about 1/3 will have used marijuana. And, by the time kids graduate from high school, about half will have tried marijuana. 
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     chicky - north carroll middle, Maryland: if your around family members or someone you see every day, and they are smokeing, is it possible that you would want to use even worse drugs when your older? or just cigarettes?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Chicky, great question.  Research does indicate that you are more likely to try drugs if you have family and friends who use.  That is because you have more access to drugs when those around you use.  Also, when family members use drugs they make it seem ok to use drugs.  You do have control over whether you decide to smoke or take any drugs.  With regard to cigarettes remember that smoking is a nasty habit.  Smoking wrinkles your skin, gives you bad breath, causes gum disease, contributes to the heart disease, leads to lung cancer - breast cancer - oral cancer - lots of types of cancer, causes your clothes to stink, yellows your nails.  Not enough information about the negative impact of tobacco? Or do you want to learn more about quitting?  Check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
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     ljason - Hardin Community School, Ohio: What wouod happen to your brain after 6 weeks of pcp?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hard to answer this specifically because it would depend on lots of specifics, like on the individual (are there specific vulnerabilities that someone has to the drug or drug effects), how often the drug is taken, how it is taken, concentration of drug, etc., etc.  PCP is a 'dissociative' drug, distorting perceptions of sight and sound and producing feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety).

    PCP is part of a drug that causes hallucinations.  PCP acts mainly through a type of glutamate receptor in the brain that is important for the perception of pain, responses to the environment, and learning and memory.  There have been no properly controlled research studies on the specific effects of these drugs on the human brain, but smaller studies and several case reports have been published documenting some of the effects associated with the use of hallucinogens. PCP is a “dissociative drug,” meaning that it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment (dissociation) from the environment and self.  PCP's effects in the brain can cause mood disturbances: Approximately 50 percent of individuals brought to emergency rooms because of PCP-induced problems report significant elevations in anxiety symptoms.

    People who have abused PCP for long periods of time have reported memory loss, difficulties with speech and thinking, depression, and weight loss. These symptoms can persist up to one year after stopping PCP abuse. For more information on hallucinogens check out this link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/hallucinogens/hallucinogens.html
    Hope this helps.
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do teens think its cool to smoke?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Wow, good question.  I don't know.  I mean it smells and is so unhealthy--and if you start smoking when you are young, you are more likely to become addicted.  I mean, I just don't see any positives.  I guess they have bought into the idea that it makes them look cool, but who do you think is feeding them that idea...tobacco companies...maybe. Check out:  http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf.  I think that when they see that you and other people don't think it's cool, it will at least make them think twice about their decision to smoke.
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     brianna_m - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: how come all the rappers drink and smoke and sing about getting high when its illegal for kids and kids are the only ones who listen to them?!

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  Wouldn't it be great if they sang about things that are healthy?  They do it to get attention. 
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     3[ARC]WABBLE - north carroll middle, Maryland: my friend smoked a cinnamon stick what would happen if you did that?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Someone might mistake you for a fruit pie.  Or maybe pumpkin?
    Moderator Icon  Wow! We are impressed by these great questions---we are answering them as fast as we can!
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     DustyB - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why is the drinking age 21 not 18

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The legal drinking age was raised to 21 because too many young people were being hurt by alcohol. Raising it to 21 resulted in a big reduction in the number of young people being killed in alcohol-related car crashes. The decision to raise the drinking age to 21 was made before researchers started studying the teenage brain and how alcohol effects it. Now we know that the brain keeps growing until after the age of 21 and that alcohol can damage the teenage brain. So, it turns out that a drinking age of 21 makes sense from a brain standpoint, too! For more info on how alcohol affects kids, check out: http://thecoolspot.gov/index.asp
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     fi - williamsville east high school, New York: is driving while high (with marijane) as bad as driving while intoxicated (with alcohol?)

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Pretty much, yes.
    and having used both is far worst, of course.
    more info on drugged driving, here:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/driving.html

    be smart and drive safely.
    cheers

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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: How many times more potent is drinking alcohol as opposed to putting it into a mucous membrane such as in the eye.

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The alcohol itself has the same strength and effect regardless of you get it into your body. The effect of alcohol depends on how quickly your body absorbs it. Your body will likely absorb alcohol that you put into your eye more quickly than if you just drink it. This could, theoretically, lead the blood alcohol level to go up faster and therefore cause bigger impairments in things like motor coordination, thinking, etc.

    This is only theoretical, however, because no one should ever put alcohol into their eye!! Alcohol is powerful solvent (it dissolves things) and irritant. Putting it in the eye would burn terribly in the short-term and could potentially do serious damage to the eye in the long-term.  
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     alexis - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: what are the signs of someone overdosing?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: It depends on the drug. Different drugs have different effects on the body. For example, a stimulant drug such as cocaine or methamphetamine can result in seizures if taken in high doses and/or in a short amount of time. Or, other drugs, like prescription pain killers or opioids are depressants and if not taken as prescribed and in too high a concentration or too frequently (or mixed with alcohol) can result in breathing depression, coma, and even death.  
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     avincent - Butler County High School, Kentucky: Is snorting Smarties bad for a person?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: If this is the candy, it is better when you eat them.  Sugar is sugar and the last time we checked, it doesn't make you high, just fat.
    Moderator Icon  Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused.
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     karkar123cute - north carroll middle, Maryland: why do people do drugs is there stress why dont they just go see a councslor

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Good question.  People generally use drugs for two major reasons--to get high or to feel better.  When people are having trouble, they may use drugs to cope with depression, anxiety or stress.  Drugs help them escape temporarily, but then cause more trouble in the long run.  That's the trap--drugs cause people to get high and feel intoxicated for a short time but then cause all sorts of worse trouble.  Seeing a counselor can help to solve underlying problems.
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     catch22 - north carroll middle, Maryland: are drugs illegal?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hi catch22---Some are and some aren't. Drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana are generally illegal. Prescription drugs are legal if prescribed by a doctor, but it is illegal to abuse them---taking them without a proper prescription. Some states allow marijuana to be taken for symptom relief when recommended by a doctor, but the federal government has not approved it as a safe medication. Confused? It is important to know that when there are drugs, there are often legal consequences. Anywhere from 50-70% of people in our country' prisons and jails can benefit from some sort of drug treatment. They are often in prison for selling drugs, stealing things to get money to pay for drugs, or being violent and commiting crimes while high on drugs.
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     briannaf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: On the governments drug schedule, in wht category do inhalants fall?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that users intentionally inhale because of the chemicals' mind-altering effects. The substances inhaled are often common household products that contain volatile solvents, aerosols, or gases. Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication. For more info, please check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/inhalants.html
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     KimC - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: If Oxycontin is just a pain killer why does it become so addictive for a person

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Kim,

    the short answer is that opiates are powerful boosters of dopamine in the reward circuit of the brain. Dopamine is the signal for pleasure, but it also plays a role in learning and habit formation. This is why the reinforcing (addictive) power of a drug like heroin or oxycontin when it is abused is very closely linked to its ability to boost dopamine AND the speed with which it does so.

    hope this help, but if you want more info feel free to visit Sara bellum's site:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/tag/dopamine/

    good luck and all the best.
    Moderator Icon  Shuly Babitz is now joining the chat as an expert in alcohol---so get your questions about alcohol ready! She works for our sister Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA.) Ms. Babitz can sum up her life with 2 words: sunshine and writing. She attended Miami Beach Senior High School in Miami Beach, FL where she divided her time between the beach (clearly, sunshine) and the school paper (writing). She then attended Swarthmore College where she met her husband (yes, that counts as sunshine), and wrote many, many essays and papers (more writing). Today, she divides her time between raising her three daughters (they are all sunshine!), and writing for the NIAAA (lots more writing).
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     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is marijuana illegal, but cigarettes are legal?

    Expert Icon Susan Weiss: Don't you wish cigarettes were illegal--look at the problems we have from that--440,000 premature deaths each year in this Country alone.  Marijuana also poses risks--especially to teens.  What are they? 1) Addiction--9% of users, 1 in 6 if you start young, and 25-50% of daily users.  Addiction means that you can't stop using even though you want to because it's messing up your life.  2) It effects learning and memory--makes it hard to learn new things.  For someone still in school or working a challenging job, it may take away your competitive edge, especially if you are using it a lot. 3) For some people it can affect their mental health--while your high, you can become anxious, paranoid, even psychotic--seeing or hearing things that aren't there.  This usually wears off when the drug is out of your system.  But some people, because of their genes or their circumstances, are vulnerable to more serious and lasting mental problems, including psychosis. 4) It also affects coordination, reaction time, and attention, and thus driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol. Someone who is high on marijuana is at greater risk of being responsible for an accident.  5) Its bad for your lungs to smoke anything--coughing, phlegm, bronchitis.  So, given all that--does it really make sense to add to the list of things that can harm your brain and your body by making marijuana legal?
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     xFeelTheBeatx - north carroll middle, Maryland: My grandparents smoke and have been for over 40 years. Their only 60, but they have tons of health problems. Is it the cigarette's fault?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: It is good to see you are concerned about your grandparents' smoking habits.  Many people have more health problems as they age, and the problems become especially apparent if their diet is poor (junk food, no fruits and vegetables and proteins) or if they do not exercise regularly, which can contribute to heart disease and diabetes.  Sometimes health problems arise without an obvious trigger, like an autoimmune disease like lupus.  While every person who smokes does not develop lung cancer, cigarettes can contribute to other pulmonary diseases like COPD and emphysema.  People with these conditions usually do not feel good.  So, depending on what kind of health issues your grandparents have, smoking is not likely helping them and may in fact contribute to the problems.  Did you know that people can quit smoking and reverse some of the problems that are associated with cigarettes?  And there are medications that can help them quit.Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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     nmbucki - williamsville east high school, New York: I heard marijuana can sometimes 'cure' cancer due to the concentrated amount of THC, do you think it is beneficial for cancer patients ?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: The FDA, which approves all therapeutic drugs in the US has not approved marijuana for the treatment of any disease or condition.  That's because it hasn't been proven safe and effective in carefully controlled studies with patients.  Marijuana is not likely to become a medicine for several reasons--its a plant that contains many chemicals (over 400), some with unknown health effects; the ingredients vary from plant to plant--medicines need to be able to have precisely controlled ingredients--so doctors know how much to prescribe to prevent side effects; marijuana's effects on your ability to think and remember make it not ideal; and finally, anything that's smoked is bad for the lungs.  Scientists are however interested in some of marijuana's ingredients that may have possibilities as medicines but with fewer risks than marijuana itself. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
    Moderator Icon  Data from national and state surveys suggest that inhalant abuse is most common among 7th through 9th graders. Learn more about inhalants here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php
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     tn712 - williamsville east high school, New York: what are the long term and short term effects in smoking weed

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi, thanks for a great question!!
    marijuana has so many places to act on the brain that the list of effects is really long. Some effects can be seen right away (acute effects) like impaired motor coordination or memory/learning impairments, and some can take longer to develop, the one that concerns me the most among these is addiciton. Indeed, marijuana use can lead to addiction and derail the plans that you have made for your life.
    you can find much, much more about marijuana by visiting this ,link:http://www.marijuana-info.org/

    stay smart, stay healthy.
    the best of luck
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     Mr.flopicuse - Skaneateles High School, New York: could you say childern useing useing illegal drugs is just from bad parenting?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Unfortunately, there's no simple answer to your question.  Kids use drugs for lots of reasons.  Parenting has a big impact on the risk of drug use in kids but it's not the only reason.  For example, parents can model (or not) drug use behavior and they can carefully (or not) supervise their kids' activities. Another major risk factor for drug use in kids is having friends who use drugs.  So, it is likely that both parenting and peer influence play significant roles in drug use among kids. 

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     Benny20 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is the most dangerous or powerful drug?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, Benny20. 
    A leading candidate would be nicotine, since cigarettes cause more sickness and death than any other. Smoking contributes to over 400,000 deaths annually in the US.
    After nicotine, the next most dangerous or powerful drug would be the one that you are most susceptible to. Some people have a higher vulnerability to becoming addicted to opiates such as heroin and oxycontin, for example, others to stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Also, some people have preexisting conditions that put them at risk for other health problems, such as heart attacks if they take stimulants. For more information see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/
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     grbuechler14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What long lasting effects do drugs have on your brain?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: The long-lasting effects that a drug can have depends on the drug of abuse and how long and/or frequently a person may have taken that drug. Drugs can affect brain signaling and change the way the brain receives messages.  A person that is dependent on cocaine for example can have abnormal brain function for several months before the brain can slowly recover (http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/sciofaddiction.pdf) and there is evidence that long-term cocaine use can result in impaired heart function (http://www.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N5/RIB.html). 
    PollI know someone who started smoking and wishes he could quit.
    57% - Yes
    31% - No
    12% - Maybe
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     aprilovespie - north carroll middle, Maryland: how do drugs affect pregnancy

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi april...

    We know that drugs of abuse can cross the placenta and reach the fetus. The important thing for you to think about is that many drugs of abuse hijack processes that are critical for normal development and it is very easy to disrupt these processes that are so carefully orchestrated and so fragile. So, drugs, any drugs, used by the mother definitely can affect the baby’s present and future health and can even cause long-term harm many years later. That is why doctors recommend that pregnant mothers not smoke or use alcohol or other illicit drug.

    different drugs can affect the fetus in different ways. to learn more about how, I invite you to visit our website You can start here:
    http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/?s=pregnancy

    stay smart, stay healthy.

    User Icon
     sushifish101 - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What are short and long term effects of alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Both the short and long term effects depend on how much a person drinks, how old they are, whether they have a family history of alcohol problems, etc.

    In general, the short-term effects include disruptions in how the brain functions that can increase the chances of being injured in accidents, experiencing consequences from bad decision-making and even dying from an alcohol overdose.

    In the long-term, alcohol can damage the brain, particular if the person drinking is under the age of 21. The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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     pocahontis1233 - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: why do people drink? what will happen to their liver?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: There are lots of reasons people drink.  Some people drink in ceremonies such as wedding receptions or church events. Others drink because they enjoy the taste. Some people may get messages from movies, TV, and our general culture that drinking can make you feel 'cool.'  Others may feel they can escape other problems in their life by drinking.  But they cannot - drinking only makes any problems you already have much worse.  And there's nothing cool about throwing up in a garbage can or wrecking a car. 

    And of course, some people drink because they have become addicted to alcohol and can't seem to stop.

    Drinking is really hard on the liver. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

    For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

    Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

    If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.

    A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function.
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     fi - williamsville east high school, New York: can you get addicted to methamphetamine after only one time of use?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Good question, but it really is hard to specifically answer this. Addiction really depends on lot of factors...such as the drug that you are taking, how much you are taking, and it depends on your own individual vulnerability to the specific drug. We also know that some people can be more sensitive to a drug's effects and therefore can be more vulnerable to becoming addicted than others. What we do know is that we can become addicted to all drugs of abuse and methamphetamine is a particularly addictive drug as it has very powerful reinforcing effects.  So the risk of addiction with meth is pretty great.

    To learn more about understanding drug abuse and addiction, please see: http://drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/understand.html.
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     briannamay123 - north carroll middle, Maryland: how do cigarettes make you teeth yellow and your lungs black?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hi Brianna May, that is an interesting question.  Smoking means you are drawing smoked products through your mouth, over your teeth and gums, and into your lungs.  Dried tobacco, in the cigarettes, is brown, and that is a natural plant color (dye) that gets deposited on your teeth, discoloring them.  The rest of the junk in cigarettes lands in your lungs, covering up the vital surfaces that let you breathe.  This junk is usually in the form of very small particles that your lungs have trouble removing.  Not only are these tiny particles themselves likely to be brown or black, but eventually some that nice pink lung tissue dies, and darkens.  Sort of makes you want to light up, doesn't it?Fact: Most people who start smoking in their teens become regular smokers before they’re 18.  Check out our teen site on tobacco addiction: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php
    Moderator Icon  Fact: Most people who start smoking in their teens become regular smokers before they’re 18.
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     briana28 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: whta should you do if you know your friend is smoking something but you promised them you wouldnt tell???

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: This is a hard situation.  Talking to your friend about how this puts you in a bad situation is one way to start.  Let them know that you're worried about what they're doing and also about lying.  If they keep putting themselves in danger, you need to talk to your parents or a school counselor about it.
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     magicdragon842 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How long do you have to use marijuana before you experience long term effects?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Everyone is different in terms of how a drug will affect them.  One long-term effect of marijuana use could be addiction.  In that case, your chances of becoming addicted are about 1 in 6 if you start as a teen, and 1 in 4 if you use every day or nearly every day. Again, effects differ for each person.  See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/ for more information.
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     jamie22 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how do you know when some one is doing drugs?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Thanks for joining the Chat, North Ridgeville!

    Well the biggest sign is a change in someone's behavior -- drugs of abuse can lead to a lot of changes including a change in someone's personality (are they moody, aggressive, irritable or not interested in things they used to like to do).  There can also be changes in their grades, do they have new friends that are a bit 'suspect'??  If you are concerned that a friend (or parent) is doing drugs, talk to someone that you trust (like a teacher, coach, parent).  They may have good advice for you.  Good luck! 
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     MrT - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: How would you describe the 'cycle of addiction'?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Mr. T - interesting question.  Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by complusive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.  It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain - they change its structure and how it works.  Here is one graphic example of the cycle of addiction:



    These brain changes can be long lasting and lead to harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.  Sometimes people think about addiction in terms of a drug use 'cycle' where people addicted to drugs begin craving drugs, take action toward seeking and obtaining drugs, use drugs, experience the high, come down off the drugs, re-experience craving and the entire cycle begins again.  More informaiton about drugs and the impact they have on your brain and behavior can be found at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#person  .
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     KylieM - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: what is a long term effect on the brain when you do shrooms?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Hallucinogens have powerful mind-altering effects. They can change how we perceive time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect certain brain structures  that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people who use them to hear voices, see images, and feel sensations that do not exist. Researchers are not certain that brain chemistry permanently changes from hallucinogen use, but some people who use them appear to develop chronic mental disorders and persisting flashbacks. Good question!  'Shrooms' are in the class of drugs called hallucinogens.  Hallucinogens are drugs that cause altered states of perception and feeling.  They can produce flashbacks.

    They include natural substances, such as mescaline and psilocybin that come from plants (cactus and mushrooms), and chemically manufactured ones, such as LSD and MDMA (ecstasy). LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. MDMA is a synthetic mind-altering drug with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Although not a true hallucinogen in the pharmacological sense, PCP causes many of the same effects as hallucinogens and so is often included with this group of drugs. Hallucinogens have powerful mind-altering effects. They can change how the brain perceives time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect regions and structures in the brain that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people who use them to hear voices, see images, and feel sensations that do not exist. Researchers are not certain that brain chemistry permanently changes from hallucinogen use, but some people who use them appear to develop chronic mental disorders. PCP and MDMA can be addictive; whereas LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline are not.

    Research has provided many clues about how hallucinogens act in the brain to cause their powerful effects. However, because there are different types of hallucinogens and their effects are so widespread, there is still much that is unknown. For more information on mushrooms check out this site: 
    http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php
    Moderator Icon  This year we have experts on the chat from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. So if you have any questions about the effects of alcohol, binge drinking, drinking and driving or more, ask now!
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     willz - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: do gay people do more drugs than straight people?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: The research shows that drug addiction does not discriminate.  Both gay and straight people are affected by drug addiction.
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     aprilovespie - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is worse beer or wine?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: They both contain the same drug -- alcohol. Because liquor is so much more concentrated than wine and beer, it is absorbed into the body more quickly and can produce effects much more quickly. However, a single serving of each (for liquor, this is a 1.5 ounce serving of 40% alcohol; for beer, this is a 12 ounce serving of 5% alcohol) has the same amount of alcohol and therefore has the potential to produce the same amount of harm.  There is some research to suggest that wine might contain specific chemicals not contained in beer that could make wine healthier. However, for the most part, a single serving of wine and a single serving of beer are equal in terms of risks.

    For more information on standard drink amounts for different types of alcohol, check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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     chocolatemilk47 - north carroll middle, Maryland: If your doing drugs for a while, and then you go clean, can you still be at risk for death and other diseases?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Depending on your environment, genetic makeup, and of course as you grow older, you are always at risk for disease and death. But, for example, if you have been a smoker and manage to quit, the long term consequences and risk for diseases such as heart disease or lung cancer, can be rapidly and drastically improved.  
    Moderator Icon  Get your questions ready for Dr. David White --- a behavioral pharmacologist by training. He is currently working as part of NIDA’s medications development program, which focuses on developing and evaluating new medications to treat drug addiction. Dr. White is of Cuban American decent and originally hails from the hills of Fairmont, West Virginia. He earned his doctorate from West Virginia University and conducted research on opiate (drugs like morphine and heroin) dependence at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before joining NIDA. At home, when he’s not too busy chasing his son Jack around the house or playing videogames with his daughter Darby, he’s watching WVU football or working on his comic book collection (X-men, Hulk).
    User Icon
     KimC - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: If Oxycontin is so bad why isn't it under a more careful watch when filling out a prescription?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a really great question.  When used as prescribed and only when it is really needed to manage pain, it isn't bad for those patients who need it.  Doctors who prescribe Oxycontin or similar pain reliever should be mindful of the potential for misuse and I'm sure they are--but it is also important for the patient to be mindful of the risks AND to make sure that no one else is using their prescribed meds.  See our teen blog about some of the risks: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/know-scene-prescription-drugs-tv/.
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     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: Is second-hand smoke worse than smoking yourself?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, B-Dizzle. Secondhand smoke can be just as bad as smoking yourself.  Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco: sidestream smoke (smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar) and mainstream smoke (smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). Even though we think of these as the same, they aren't. The sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body's cells more easily. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more secondhand smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body--and they can still do damage to your brain.

    Secondhand smoke can cause harm in many ways. In the United States alone, each year it is responsible for:
    • An increase risk of becoming addicted
    • An estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are currently non-smokers
    • About 3,400 lung cancer deaths as a result of breathing secondhand smoke
    • Other breathing problems in non-smokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function
    • 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually
    • Increases in the number and severity of asthma attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million children who have asthma
    • More than 750,000 middle ear infections in children
    • Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are also at increased risk of having low birth-weight babies.
    For more information, go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php.
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     lexy2 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: How can you tell when someone is becoming addicted

    Expert Icon Wilson Compton: Excellent question. Someone may start with occasional use, but as they take drugs more often they may end up becoming addicted.  The key feature of addiction is when drug use becomes fully integrated into someone's life--they use even though it's causing them problems with family, friends, school or health.  They may spend more and more time using.  They begin to organize their life around drug use, spending more and more time on it.  At first, the problems are subtle and hard to see but they keep getting worse. 
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     DjChop - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Alcohol kills more people than any other drug...why is it legal?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
    Which of the following is safe to do
    The correct answer is: C. Tweet about texting on Twitter. All of the actions above (except tweeting) can have dangerous health consequences, including addiction. Cocaine can cause heart attacks, seizures; marijuana can impair driving ability, especially when combined with alcohol; ecstasy pills can contain any number of toxic ingredients; and sniffing permanent markers can keep oxygen from getting to your brain. Learn more about these drugs on the NIDA for Teens Web site at http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/
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     carebear - Skaneateles High School, New York: What are the long term effects on constant drug abusers?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Good question!  As with most drugs of abuse, repeated abuse can cause addiction. That means that someone repeatedly seeks out and uses the drug despite its harmful effects. Repeated drug use changes the brain in ways that contribute to the drug craving and continued drug seeking and use that characterizes addiction. Other effects of long-term stimulant abuse can include paranoia, aggressiveness, extreme anorexia, thinking problems, visual and auditory hallucinations, delusions, and severe dental problems.

    For example, repeated use of cocaine can lead to tolerance of its euphoric effects, causing the person to take greater amounts or to use the drug more frequently (e.g., binge use) to get the same effects. Such use can lead to bizarre, erratic behavior. Some people who abuse cocaine experience panic attacks or episodes of full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and hears sounds that aren’t there (auditory hallucinations). Different ways of using cocaine can produce different adverse effects. For example, regularly snorting cocaine can lead to hoarseness, loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, and a chronically runny nose. Cocaine taken orally can cause reduced blood flow, leading to bowel problems.

    Repeated use of methamphetamine can cause violent behavior, mood disturbances, and psychosis, which can include paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and delusions (e.g., the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, called “formication”). The paranoia can result in homicidal and suicidal thoughts. Methamphetamine can increase a person’s sex drive and is linked to risky sexual behaviors and the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV. However, research also indicates that long-term methamphetamine use may be associated with decreased sexual function, at least in men. For more information on the science of addiction please see  http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/

    Hope this helps.
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     jam - South Central High School, Ohio: What do you see as the most dangerous side effects of bath salts?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hello jam

    That you may use them to take a bath and discover that they don't clean at all.

    Seriously now, it is too early to tell what the exact short- and long-term effects from abusing bath salts is, but what little we do know so far is alarming enough.  Effects can include extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts, as well as chest pains, soaring blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat. A number of deaths were reported in people who took the drug, including at least one possible suicide. 

    Hope this helps.
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     Batman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: what percent blood alcohol level do you die?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal.  Here's an example: In the last month, several teenagers, mostly college students, died from alcohol poisoning with blood alcohol levels around 0.35%. For a healthy, 140 pound female, reaching this level would require around 10 drinks in a 2 hour period, or around 13 drinks in 2 hours for a 160 pound male. It is important to point out than having any alcohol at all can increase the chances of dying from injuries, such as falls, drownings or car crashes. 

    Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
    1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
    2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
    3. How much they weigh
    4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
    Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.

    For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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     RDT21074 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the approximate amount of brain cells you lose when you get high?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: It is not that you lose brain cells, it is that it makes your brain work differently, and over time, the changes in function can be permanent. Did you know the types of cells in the brain are called neurons? Your brain has about 10 billion neurons.  Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
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     jbbolton14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What drug is the hardest to rehab from?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: JB - Terrific question! And the short answer is that the hardest drug to quit is any drug you are addicted to.  Really, ask any hard core cigarette smoker and they will tell you how hard it is to quit smoking.  Problem is that all addictive drugs - nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc, have a profound impact on the brain and this is why they are addictive.  Best to stay away from all addictive substances.  To learn more about how drugs affect your brain see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#person.   .
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     Joeber17 - williamsville east high school, New York: I know someone who 'shoots' heroin everytime before they workout, what can I do to help him stop?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good morning - and thanks for your question. This is a tough one - and a tough spot to be in.  First, it is really important to be supportive and listen to him talk about his drug use and why he uses heroin. This website has some good information: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/heroin/heroin.html.  You can encourage him to stop using drugs, especially since he is not aware of the negative consequences drug use has on his brain and body. On one hand, he works out - which is healthy, yet on the other hand, his drug use cancels out any benefits and even put his body at high risk for negative effects. Symptoms of heroin withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes, etc.  For more information, you can refer them to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php .  If they are unable to stop using drugs, talk to them about treatment.  More information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov . Take care of yourself and remember you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only support them.
    Moderator Icon  Looking for a drug treatment program? Different types of treatments are available to meet your specific needs. You can get referrals to treatment programs by calling 1-800-662-HELP (a confidential hotline), or by visiting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
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     chicky - north carroll middle, Maryland: What would the world be like withut drugs?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Hi---what an intriguing question! I can see you are a person with vision about a better world. Drugs can be both good and bad. Drugs that are medicine can help a lot of people so it would be sad if the good drugs were taken away. But wouldn't it be great if drugs of abuse were taken away? Think of all of the people who would not struggle with addiction, which ruins lives and destroys families. And there would be far fewer people in prison, since selling drug and committing crimes to get money for drugs lands a lot of people behind bars. There would also be more people alive in this world, since accidental drug overdoses kill a lot of people.  Maybe you can help the world come up with ways to rid the world of drugs of abuse.
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     hlgesel - williamsville east high school, New York: what is the most profound effect on the body when someone abuses drugs?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Gooood morning, Williamsville east!
    The most profound effect of drugs of abuse are what they do to the brain.  Drugs are chemicals. They work in the brain by tapping into the brain's communication system and interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. As an example, drugs, like amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters and disrupt the process whereby they are broken down in the brain. This disruption produces a greatly amplified message that can be described as like the difference between someone whispering into your ear and someone shouting into a microphone- too much stimulation!  And in the long run drugs actually can 're-wire' the brain leading to addiction.  Oh...one other profound effect is death...a drug overdose can kill you in a lot of different ways, like causing parts of your brain that control breathing and your heart beat shut down...there's more, but I don't want to depress you...
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     DustyB - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Why is moonshine illegal?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Moonshine refers to alcohol made by people at home and sold without a license. This is why it is illegal.
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     desanto14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How does underage drinking harm someone's brain?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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     carebear - Skaneateles High School, New York: How does alcohol effect the undeveloped brain in teenagers?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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     ryanzorn - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: does alcohol impair motor skills?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It definitely does. Alcohol can affect the part of the brain that controls movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus. This is why people often have trouble walking or driving cars after drinking alcohol.
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     lisasbu - Williamsville North High School, New York: Is it true that chewing tobacco is the fastest way to get cancer?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Thanks for your question, Lisa.  Getting any kind of cancer is rarely a rapid process.  Cancers generally show up after a using something like cigarettes for a long time, sometimes years.  But chewing tobacco puts a lot of cancer-causing compounds in direct contact with the delicate surfaces of your mouth, from your gums to your cheeks to your tongue. And continued exposure like this can have bad consequences, including promoting oral cancers and changing your ability to taste.  This shouldn't be a race you want to win!
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     Logan20 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why do people die if they dont get their drug use ? why are they that addicted

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Rarely would someone die if they don't get their drug (of abuse). Rather they may - in an extreme circumstance - die because of the very unpleasant consequences associated with withdrawal symptoms. 

    Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain - they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.  And to go back to your first question - people who have extreme addictions to drugs may experience extreme withdrawal symptoms when they do not get their drug fix.  Withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, chills, sweats, hallucinations, muscle pain, and even death from complications.
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     Ashton - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What can you see off of hallucinogens?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Good question.  I've never done them, but research shows that, for example, 'shrooms have a substance called psilocybin in them, which is an hallucinogen.  These hallucinogens have been linked to negative physical and psychological consequences.  The physical effects appear about 20 minutes after ingestion and last about 6 hours.  These effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination.  People say that the hallucinations they experience are indistinguishable from reality.  They usually have panic attacks and psychosis...doesn't sound good to me!
    User Icon
     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: Do some drugs have positive side-effects? I mean stuff like Marijuana.

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi bi-dizzle

    When drugs are abused the net effects of the side effects are always bad effects. 
     
    But all kidding aside, sure, many drugs have active ingredients that serve important medicinal purposes: examples are opiates in pain analgesics, marijuana's THC for nausea and wasting syndrome, amphetamines for ADHD, and on and on. But the important thing is that any positive effect can only be taken advantage of with the help and under the supervision of a doctor. PLease remember that.

     
    User Icon
     27california - north carroll middle, Maryland: How do underaged kids get a hold of drugs?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Underaged kids obtain drugs from various sources -- mostly from friends, family members, and 'the street'.  The source can vary by specific drug.  For marijuana, kids tend to get it from friends, who buy it from somebody else including a 'friend' or someone off 'the street'.  For cigarettes (and alcohol too), kids often take them from friends or family, or have an older sibling or friend puchase them from a store. For prescription drugs, kids get them from family members and from medicine cabinets within the home, where there is often an excess supply of unused medications that were initially prescribed by a physician. 
    User Icon
     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: is there a certain spot or area teens like to drink at? what's the most popular or known place and time?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Research shows that teens are more likely to report drinking at home or at someone else's home than anywhere else.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Nancy Pilotte is now joining the chat. She is a psychologist whose expertise is in the neuroendocrine aspects of drug abuse (how hormones influence the activity of the brain) and how to identify long-term changes that occur in the brain as a result of exposure to repeated cocaine and its withdrawal. When she is not at work, she enjoys making homemade ice cream, sailing, and making colorful quilts.
    User Icon
     mkmelbardis14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How much does a person have to drink to get drunk (or until their blood alcohol content is above the legal limit)?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For someone under the age of 21, the legal limit is 0 (meaning any alcohol in the body is illegal). For someone above 21, it is still legal to drive a car if the blood alcohol content (BAC) is under 0.08%. For adults, this generally takes about, a level reached after 2-4 servings of alcohol in an hour for most people depending on how much they weigh, whether they have food in their stomach, and so on.

    Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
    1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
    2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
    3. How much they weigh
    4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
    Problem is, most kids binge drink when they drink. That means they drink enough over about 2 hours for their BAC to reach the legal limit of 0.08. Kids can reach this level with less alcohol than adults. It takes about 4 drinks for the average woman to reach the legal limit and about 5 drinks for a man to reach it by binge drinking. For kids, the numbers look like this:
    For boys:
    Ages 9-13: About 3 drinks
    Ages 14-15: About 4 drinks
    Ages 16-17: About 5 drinks

    For girls:
    Ages 9-17: About 3 drinks

    Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain - the ones that keep your heart beating and your lungs taking in air - will shut off.

    For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
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     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: can marijuana have medical use?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: The FDA, which approves all therapeutic drugs in the US has not approved marijuana for the treatment of any disease or condition.  That's because it hasn't been proven safe and effective in carefully controlled studies with patients.  Marijuana is not likely to become a medicine for several reasons--its a plant that contains many chemicals (over 400), some with unknown health effects; the ingredients vary from plant to plant--medicines need to be able to have precisely controlled ingredients--so doctors know how much to prescribe and side effects can be prevented; marijuana's effects on your ability to think and remember make it not ideal; and finally, anything thats smoked is bad for the lungs.  Scientists are however interested in some of marijuana's ingredients that may have possibilities as medicines but with less risks than marijuana itself. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.
    Moderator Icon  Drinking and driving can add up to tragic endings. In the U.S., about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40% in car crashes.
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     yo_mama66 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is oxycotin????

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Good question. Oxycontin is a prescription painkiller that can bring relief to people in pain when taken as directed by a doctor.'Oxy' is taken in a pill form ---and is part of a class of pain-relieving medications called opioids. Because it can produce a 'high' a lot of people abuse it, thinking it must be safe because it it a medicine. It is very dangerous to abuse. Did you know that more people die from opioid overdose in the country that from heroin and cocaine combined? Just because something is prescribed by a doctor does not mean it is safe when abused.
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     briannaf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: i realize that inhalants are inhaled but is there any other way that they can be taken?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: They can be taken transdermally, or through your skin.  Notice that most inhalants (gasoline, ethyl acetate, acetone) have warnings on their containers.  These warnings say to avoid touching them and to wash them off immediately if you have contact with them.
    User Icon
     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: can you over dose on pain killers??

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. Absolutely! High doses can cause severe respiratory depression. This risk increases when central nervous system (CNS) depressants are combined with other medications or alcohol. Abuse of opioids (prescription pain-killers), alone or in combination with alcohol or other drugs, can dangerously slow down respiration and lead to death. Overdose is a major concern: the number of fatal poisonings involving prescription pain relievers has more than tripled since 1999.
    Moderator Icon  Drug abuse by any method (not just injection) can put a person at risk for contracting HIV. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect the way a person makes decisions and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which puts them at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else.
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     shampoo-lady - north carroll middle, Maryland: why do people use steriods to cheat in sports

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi shampoo-lady (i like your name)

    Most steroid users are probably trying to get better results, faster. After all, they are in a competitive environment where physyical appearance is all important. I think that some users feel that since others use steroids they have no choice but use as well, just to level the playing field. It is very important then to learn about the hidden negative health effects of steroid abuse, that accumulate over the years and can lead some vulnerable people to really bad outcomes, which you can ready more about here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Steroids.html

    good luck

    User Icon
     KylieM - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: What are major effects of shrooms?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Good question!  'Shrooms' are in the class of drugs called hallucinogens.  Hallucinogens are drugs that cause altered states of perception and feeling.  They can produce flashbacks.

    They include natural substances, such as mescaline and psilocybin that come from plants (cactus and mushrooms), and chemically manufactured ones, such as LSD and MDMA (ecstasy). LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. MDMA is a synthetic mind-altering drug with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. Although not a true hallucinogen in the pharmacological sense, PCP causes many of the same effects as hallucinogens and so is often included with this group of drugs. Hallucinogens have powerful mind-altering effects. They can change how the brain perceives time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect regions and structures in the brain that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people who use them to hear voices, see images, and feel sensations that do not exist. Researchers are not certain that brain chemistry permanently changes from hallucinogen use, but some people who use them appear to develop chronic mental disorders. PCP and MDMA can be addictive; whereas LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline are not.

    Research has provided many clues about how hallucinogens act in the brain to cause their powerful effects. However, because there are different types of hallucinogens and their effects are so widespread, there is still much that is unknown. For more information on mushrooms check out this site: 
    http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/mushrooms.php
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     DustyB - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: do drugs affect driving

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Hi DustyB, thanks for your question! Yes, absolutely.  Drugs can seriously impair driving.  Driving is a fairly difficult task to begin with, and it requires a lot of concentration.  Distractions and lapses in judgment can be deadly behind the wheel.  When you add drugs to the equation, the risk of accidents increases markedly, especially the risk of fatal accidents. 
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     Benny20 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do steriods shrink your peepee?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: chronic steroid abuse can shrink your 'tenders', not your peepee. this is because anabolic steroids affect the balance of sex hormones in your body that keeps most sexual features in check and functioning properly.

    check this site for more info   http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Steroids.html
    cheers
    User Icon
     mkmelbardis14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: I have heard about secondhand smoke and how that can be harmful to you, but I think that I have also heard of something called thirdhand smoke. What is that? Is this something harmful, too?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: I'm glad you've heard how harmful primary and second-hand smoke is--you are ahead of the game!  Third hand-smoke is when someone has smoked in a hotel room, for example, and you are the next guest to stay the night. You can tell that someone has smoked in the room before you got there.  Or, if you get into a car, you can automatically tell if the driver is a smoker even if they are not actively smoking.  Third-hand smoke comes from particulates (small particles) in the smoke that stay on clothes, linens, carpets, etc.  Those particulates can be just as dangerous as the real thing--especially to toddlers who crawl on the carpets.  Smoking is harmful, no matter the form.  Thanks for your intelligent question!
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Joseph Frascella is joining the Chat. He heads up the division of NIDA that deals with clinical neuroscience, human development, and behavioral treatment for drug abuse and addiction. He is also very active in issues related to minorities and other special populations. When Dr. Frascella is not at work, he enjoys playing and studying the guitar as well as repairing guitars and other musical instruments, as well as drawing, painting, sculpting, and making a difference in the lives of his two young children.
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     willz - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: how does rohypnol 'kick in'? like how does it for in your brain and body? i know what it does to you but how does it do it?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Rohypnol is part of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.  It binds to receptors of the GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) neurotransmitter system, the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter system in your brain.  Inhibiting an inhibitory system like this would result in you doing things that you would not normally do, but the main action of this class of drugs is to act as a sedative or sleeping pill....and that is what happens when you take it.
    User Icon
     HankH - Skaneateles High School, New York: Have you personally ever tried drugs? Has that helped you in the career you have chosen to understand where some of these kids are coming from?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Skaneateles High (how do you pronouce that??),
    To be honest, I tried smoking tobacco.  It didn't do anything for me...just made me cough like crazy!  Also, once I understood that it caused cancer, it seemed less and less attractive to me.  Also, my Father smoked and actually died of lung cancer so that has left a lasting effect on me and also is a big part of why I am a scientist.  I wanted to learn and share what I learned with others about addiction and its effects on people's lives. And what I (and other's scientists) learn about drugs and addiction can provide new insight and breakthroughs in treating and preventing drug abuse and addiction.
    User Icon
     Blondie45 - Skaneateles High School, New York: What drug are students most likely to use?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Thanks for your question!  The most commonly used drugs by youth are alcohol (yes, it's a drug!) and tobacco followed by marijuana, and prescription drugs.  By the time adolescents graduate from high school, almost half will have used some kind of drug.  The type of drug used by students also varies by age, with the rates of drug use generally increasing as kids get older.  One exception to this is inhalants -- this is the only drug that is used more often among 8th graders than 12th graders.
    User Icon
     adison_s - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: i have a friend that went to a football drunk and ended up arrested in the hospital. how can i help her with her problem?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hi there - and thanks for your concern about your friend. This is a tough spot to be in...  First, be supportive and listen to them talk about their alcohol use. For information about substance abuse, this website might be helpful: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#person. You can encourage them to stop drinking and if they are not aware of the negative consequences alcohol use has on their brain and body you can refer them to: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/ . If they are unable to stop using alcohol talk to them about treatment.  More information about alcohol and drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov . Finally, please take care of yourself.  Supporting a friend with an alcohol or drug problem can be difficult. Remember you can't make your friend stop using alcohol - you can only support them.
    User Icon
     Batman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Is cocaine or heroine worse?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Hi Batman!
    Neither cocaine or heroine are 'worse'. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement, in the brain’s reward circuit. Heroin works a little differently - it enters the brain, is converted to morphine, and binds to receptors known as opioid receptors. These receptors are located in many areas of the brain (and in the body), especially those areas that are involved in the perception of pain and in reward. Opioid receptors are also located in the brain stem—important for automatic processes critical for life, such as breathing (respiration), blood pressure, and arousal. Heroin overdoses frequently involve a suppression of respiration.  Both drugs can be highly addictive with serious adverse consequences.
    Moderator Icon  Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
    User Icon
     jbbolton14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What does promethazine-codeine caugh syrup do to you?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: This medication can have a long list of side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, blurred vission, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, and increased sweating, even if it is used as instructed or under a doctor's supervision. But this medication contains an opiate drug, so, if somebody uses it not as intended there is a very high liklelihood of that person becoming addicted to opiates.

    Hope this helps
     
    User Icon
     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: my friend had 10 tabs of acid in his pocket.. and he was walking in the rain.. it burned through his skin.. into his blood stream. will the effects be more intense?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: If this actually happened, it does not matter if it were one tab or 100--if it reached his brain through what we call a transdermal route, there would be only a finite number of proteins called 'receptors' that the LSD can interact with.  More does not produce a greater effect, because the number of appropriate receptors is very small.
    PollI have had someone offer me a prescription painkiller when I had no pain.
    21% - Yes
    73% - No
    7% - Maybe
    User Icon
     brooke - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How many brain cells are killed after consuming LSD?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Good question...but I don't think we really know that LSD specifically kills brain cells. LSD is part of the group of drugs called hallucinogens, and these can cause altered states of perception and feeling and also can produce flashbacks. Natural substances, such as mescaline and psilocybin, come from plants (cactus and mushrooms), and chemically manufactured ones, such as LSD and MDMA (ecstasy). LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. They can change how the brain perceives time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect regions and structures in the brain that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people who use them to hear voices, see images, and feel sensations that do not exist. Researchers are not certain that brain chemistry permanently changes from hallucinogen use, but some people who use them appear to develop chronic mental disorders. Research has provided many clues about how hallucinogens act in the brain to cause their powerful effects. However, because there are different types of hallucinogens and their effects are so widespread, there is still much that is unknown. For more information on LSD please see http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/chat/chatfaqs_topics/lsd.php
    User Icon
     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: is it true that if you keep your arms wide open while using it, you will not be addicted to crack?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: With your arms wide open, it's difficult to use your hands to do anything!  The short answer is NO.  If you try crack even once, your chances of becoming addicted increase dramatically.  A better use for your wide open arms is to give your parents/friends a hug.
    User Icon
     DjChop - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: How many chemicals are in cigarettes?

    Expert Icon Gaya Dowling: There are more than 4000 chemicals in cigarettes. Look at all the disgusting stuff. 
    Moderator Icon  Different drugs do different things. But they all affect the brain—that’s why drugs make you feel high, low, speeded up, slowed down, or see things that aren’t there.
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     DjChop - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: Approximately how much alcohol would it take for an individual of average BMI to fataly overdose?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That can be hard to predict exactly. In general, a blood alcohol level above 0.30% is considered potentially fatal. For a 140 lb female, that would be about 10 drinks in 2 hours, and much less alcohol for someone lighter.

    Here are some of the factors that influence how fast people get drunk: 
    1. How much alcohol they drink and how fast they drink it
    2. Whether there is food in the stomach to slow how quickly alcohol gets into the body
    3. How much they weigh
    4. Whether they are male or female -- females tend to be affected more by alcohol than males
    Getting drunk faster also makes drinking more dangerous. Drinking quickly can turn off the brain's memory centers and cause 'blackouts', or an inability to remember what you did while drinking. Getting drunk faster can make it more likely that the vital centers in the brain will be shut off.

    For more information on safe drinking limits for adults, and how much alcohol is contained in single drink, please check out: http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/


    User Icon
     grandmas boy - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: is it bad to melt down pills and then snort them?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: That question can have many answers.  If you melt down (dissolve) aspirin or acetominophen, the effects might be minimal.  But why would you?  They are much more effective if you swallow them with water?  Some drugs really don't melt down.  If you are crushing and inhaling opiate drugs like OxyContin, you may take too much too quickly, resulting in an overdose.  That would not be a good idea. 
    User Icon
     HankH - Skaneateles High School, New York: What are commonly abused prescriptions?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: This is a great question---people should only take prescription drugs as ordered by a doctor.  Abuse of prescription drugs can produce serious health effects, including addiction. Commonly abused classes of prescription medications include opioids (for pain), central nervous system depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®). Central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®). Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®), and amphetamines (Adderall®).
    Moderator Icon  Please welcome Dr. Kevin Conway. Dr. Conway is the deputy director of NIDA’s Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, and studies the epidemiology and genetics of drug abuse. His scientific interests include the causes of drug addiction, as well as psychopathology and violence. When he is not chasing his two little kids, he likes to play basketball, tennis, and ultimate Frisbee.
    User Icon
     DjChop - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What is the governments current position on the legalization of marijuana?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: The government's position is that its a non-starter.  It's a drug with risks--addiction (9% of users, 1 in 6 who start as teens, 25-50% of regular (daily) users), problems with learning and memory, impaired driving, and more. 
    User Icon
     briannaf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Are there any physical or mental effects that inhalants have on your body? And if so, what are they?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: There sure are! Some people die after a single use of inhalants, because the effects are so rapid and there is no antidote other than oxygen.  The lungs rapidly absorb inhaled chemicals into the bloodstream, quickly spreading them throughout the body, including the brain. Within minutes of inhalation, users can feel a 'buzz' or 'high.' The effects are similar to those produced by alcohol and may include slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant users may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions. The high usually lasts only a few minutes. But with repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. The most important effects occur in your brain. Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. Some chemicals leave the body quickly, but others can remain for a long time, because they stick to fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of these fatty tissues is myelin, a protective cover that surrounds many of the body's nerve fibers (axons). Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their electric messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers. Long-term inhalant use can break down myelin. When this happens, nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can result in muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis--a disease that also affects myelin.  Check out our teen site at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php for  more information.
    User Icon
     dark knight - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how bad is meth

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning.
    The short answer is that Meth is bad....very, very, very bad.  Let's see how bad....it can cause your heart to race and beat irregularly, cause your blood pressure and body temperature to spike up way too high, make you act erratically and have problems learning and remembering things because of all of the changes it can do to your brain. On top of that, it can make your mouth look really lovely!  Oh..I forgot to add that it can be addictive.  So...in a nutshell, it's bad...
    User Icon
     anthony18 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is the scientific term for a drug

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: We like to use the term: 'drug.'  Here are some specific examples, though.  Marijuana = cannabis (THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana = delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Alcohol = ethyl alcohol or ethanol. LSD (acid) = d-lysergic acid diethylamide. Shrooms = psilocybin. PCP = phencyclidine. Ecstasy = MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Some names are easier. Cocaine = cocaine. Smoking/nicotine = nicotine. Methamphetamine (Meth) = methamphetamine.
    User Icon
     tn712 - williamsville east high school, New York: my friend uses chewing tobacco and recently he made a jokingly facebook status about finding white spots on his lip. Could this turn out to be something serious?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Chewing tobacco can have bad effects on your lips and gums, and over time can cause oral cancer. These 'white spots' may also be totally unrelated to your friend's chewing and just be something like a canker sore. Either way, just in case, you may want to ask your friend to talk to his doctor and have it checked out.  
    User Icon
     plevans14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how does drug rehab help cure addicts?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Indiana - great question.  Basically, drug treatment helps people learn to live without drugs.  There are different types of treatment.  Medication can help some people with their drug problem.  Behavioral treatments help people learn new skills to cope with stress and problems, deal with urges and cravings to use drugs, develop a support system of people who don't use drugs, and increase their motivation to stop using drugs. For assistance locating treatment programs in your area see: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.
    User Icon
     Batman - Boiling Springs HS, Pennsylvania: What does GHB stand for?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: GHB stands for Gamma hydroxybutyrate. It is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for use in the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder). This approval came with severe restrictions, including its use only for the treatment of narcolepsy, and the requirement for a patient registry monitored by the FDA. GHB is also a metabolite of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It exists naturally in the brain, but at much lower concentrations than those found when GHB is abused. GHB is available in odorless, colorless, and tasteless form that is frequently combined with alcohol and other beverages. Both drugs have been used to commit sexual assaults (also known as “date rape,” “drug rape,” “acquaintance rape,” or “drug-assisted” assault' due to their ability to sedate unsuspecting victims, preventing them from resisting sexual assault. It is crime to use GHB in this way. You can find more information on teens.drugabuse.gov.

    Moderator Icon  Listen to the radio? A study of the most popular songs in 2005 showed that 1 in 3 songs said something about drug, alcohol or tobacco use and 3 in 4 rap songs said something about drug, alcohol or tobacco use.
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     harleetiff14 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What are the conciquences of using drugs in public?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Well, drugs are anything that you put into your body to make yourself feel better, from aspirin to heart medications.  When properly prescribed as medications, many drugs can be helpful in improving your health and would make you more likely to be out in public instead of being home sick! Illegal drugs don't work any differently in your body if you are alone or out in public.  Of course, the behaviors you exhibit when in public are on display and may bring unwanted attention to you.   If you are caught using illegal drugs in public, you might end up in jail, or if you are fortunate, released into your parents' custody, or a treatment program.  Under certain circumstances you could also be endangering yourself or others -- for example, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
    User Icon
     seangerity21 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do athletes take steriods?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Sean,

    Most steroid users are probably trying to get better results, faster. After all, they are in a competitive environment where physyical appearance is all important. I think that some users feel that since others use steroids they have no choice but use as well, just to level the playing field. It is very important then to learn about the hidden negative health effects of steroid abuse, that accumulate over the years and can lead some vulnerable people to really bad outcomes, which you can ready more about here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Steroids.html

    good luck


    User Icon
     dark knight - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how bad is tobacco

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Tobacco is a pretty bad drug.  Unless you are of not of age to smoke, it's a legal drug--which makes it somewhat easy to come by and socially accepted.  Therefore, it's the second most abused drug, second to alcohol.  Tobacco contains cancer causing-chemicals that can cause cancer of the mouth, esophagus, lung, etc.  It can also cause yellow teeth, breathing problems and heart disease.  Not to mention the fact that smoking delivers nicotine to the brain and increases one's chances of becoming addicted.  And...once addicted, it is very difficult to quit, even if you want to.  For more information, go to:http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html.
    User Icon
     lexy2 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why is weed illegal ? i mean i can see like making it illegal to drive while high but otherwise . . .?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Ah, a constitutional lawyer in the making, I see.  You may not think there are risks of using marijuana but here are a few for you to think about: it can be addictive--someone who uses it a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their lives.  About 1 in 6 teen marijuana users become addicted, and 1 in 4 if you use it every day or nearly every day. And because it affects how you think and remember things, and your coordination, you may lose your competitive edge--in sports and in school.  And of course smoking anything is not good for the lungs.  All of these risks go into the mix when you think about weed being legal.  We already have enough problems caused by the legal drugs (for adults) --tobacco and alcohol--do we really need more?
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     jamie22 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can you die from roofies ?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, jamie22!  You can definitely die from 'roofies'.  Peole use the word 'roofies' to refer to a number of different drugs, including ketamine, rohypnol (the drug for which 'roofies' are named), and gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). These drugs ssslow the brain dddown, including the parts that keep you awake and breathing. You can fall asleep and not wake up. To learn more about the side effects and consequences of using these drugs you should visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/clubdrugs.html
    Moderator Icon  There are thousands of teens asking questions---and only 30 of us scientists back here in Bethesda, Maryland sitting at computers. So we are answering your questions as fast as we can! Check out the drug facts while you wait! You will be able to search the transcript for your school’s name (or your user name) to see if your questions got answered!
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     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: Do brain cells truly die forever and can be 'fried'?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Ahh, interesting question!  Yes, brain cells do die, and yes, drugs of abuse can cause brain cells to die. For more information check out this website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
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     27california - north carroll middle, Maryland: What percent of people do drugs underage?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Thanks for your question! According to the latest results from a national survey of high-school students, approximately 38% of seniors report using drugs in the past year, with marijuana being the most commonly used (reported by 35% of seniors). By the time teens graduate high school, almost half will have used some kind of drug during their lifetime.  That's a really high rate, given how dangerous drugs can be for youth. 
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     mathbasketball4 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what is in alcohol that makes it so bad?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Good question! There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

    Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

    Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
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     Blondie45 - Skaneateles High School, New York: If my friend is do badly addicted to weed, to the point where it effects everything they do and people around them, should I take the big step into organizing an intervention or should I have someone else do it?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Hey Blondie 45, Tough spot to be in with a friend. Deciding how to help a friend with a drug addiction is difficult.  A lot of addicts say they don't want help because they are afraid to live without drugs. Treatment can show them how.  Here are some things you might consider when trying to help your friend.  First, you can listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). Another NIDA website that might be helpful is http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#person.  If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.

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     mathbasketball4 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what is in alcohol that makes it so bad?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Great question! There are several types of alcohol. The one that people drink is called ethyl-alcohol, or ethanol. This type of alcohol is a very simple molecule that is so small that it can travel throughout the body as easily as water - that means it can go pretty much everywhere! The chemical formula for ethyl-alcohol is CH3-CH2-OH.

    Alcohol is made when yeast, a single celled organism, eats sugar. Alcohol is produced by the yeast when it digests the sugar. The different types of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor) are different because of the source of sugar fed to the yeast. For instance, wine is made from the sugar in fruit. Liquors are often made from the sugar in vegetables.

    Alcohol is a small molecule and gets into the brain very easily. Neurons, or brain cells, talk to each other using chemicals called 'neurotransmitters.' Alcohol interferes with the ability of neurons to talk to each other using neurotransmitters. Alcohol affects every part of the brain. When it affects neurons in brain areas involved in thinking and making good choices, the person has trouble thinking clearly and making good choices. When it affects memory areas in the brain, the person has trouble making memories.  It can also affect the part of the brain that controls our movement, making it more difficult to walk and focus.
    The reward structures are part of a larger brain system known as the
    The correct answer is: C. Limbic system. The limbic system is a set of brain structures that generates our feelings, emotions, and motivations. It is also important in learning and memory. By controlling our ability to feel pleasure, the limbic system motivates us to repeat behaviors that are necessary for our survival, like eating. But drugs of abuse take over this system, causing people to want drugs more than they want anything else, and teaching them to continually repeat the behavior. You can find more information at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/word-day-limbic-system/
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     aprilovespie - north carroll middle, Maryland: What can i do to help my friends cousin since she drinks beer. She is only in 9th grade

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Such a good question. The best thing to do is find an adult that you trust and talk with them about it. Drinking at such a young age is dangerous for lots of reasons. One is that people are more likely to get hurt if they drink alcohol. Another is that the brain is still growing and changing at that age, and alcohol could affect this person's brain in a negative way.
     
    To learn more about how alcohol can affect kids, how to learn to say NO to kids who offer it to you, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
    To find ways to help your friend, check out: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp

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     awesomedude99 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the maximum sentence for possession of illegal drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Thanks for your question. If you get caught with enough of certain drugs it could be the rest of your natural born life.  The legal consequences for posession of drugs differs by type of drug, amount, and where you are when you get caught.  My advice - don't possess or use drugs and then you don't need to worry about legalities. 
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     B-Dizzle - Skaneateles High School, New York: What does THC do to the brain's receptors? And in marijuana use, does it affect certain parts of the body that create a euphoric feeling?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: THC binds to proteins called receptors for a natural cannabinoid that the brain itself produces. When those receptors are occupied by the natural, or endocannabinoid that you produce yourself, helps to maintain normal brain function.  But when you flood those receptors with a lot of THC, as you might when you smoke marijuana, you magnify the psychoactive effects of the THC. The brain mediates everything you feel, from pain to pleasure, so that is the most important target of the THC.  Although there are other THC receptors in other parts of your body, those in your brain are the ones that interpret what you feel. Check out our web site for more marijuana information at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php
    Moderator Icon  Did you know that mental illnesses are brain disorders? There are differences in the structure and the way the brain functions in people with a mental illness.
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     brianna_m - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: can drinking and driving always kill you?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Well, it doesn't always kill you, but it does always increase the chances that you could die or get injured yourself, or you can hurt or kill other people.
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     KimC - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: If Oxycontin is so deadly when the casing is off the pill, why do people use it?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: What's up,  Conestoga Valley High School?!
    OxyContin is an opioid that is very effective in helping millions of people manage pain.  However, when someone takes them in ways that are not recommended by a doctor (for example, crushing them, taking the casing off the pill and either snorting or injecting the powder), OxyContin is much more potent and can be VERY dangerous.  Instead of the drug slowly getting into a person's system, they are exposed to VERY high levels, VERY quickly and this can increase the likelihood a person can overdose and maybe even die. This is much more unlikely to happen if a person takes them as directed by their physician. 
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     michaels - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: why do people do drugs?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: hi there Michael:

    People do drugs for several reasons, some are just curious or fall under the pressure from 'friends' who do drugs. And. believe it or not, some use drugs in an attempt to cope with stress, depression, anxiety or an underlying mental illness. Whatever the reason, it would be smart to talk to a trusted adult if you find yourself in any of those situations instead. Be smart and stay healthy.

    be smart and stay healthy.
     
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     Allison - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Does alcohol damage your liver?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes, it does. Heavy drinking - even for just a few days at a time - can cause fat to build up in the liver. This condition, called steatosis, or fatty liver, is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease and the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. The fat build-up makes it harder for the liver to operate and leaves it open to developing dangerous inflammations, like alcoholic hepatitis.

    For some, alcoholic hepatitis does not present obvious symptoms. For others, though, alcoholic hepatitis can cause fever, nausea, appetite loss, abdominal pain, and even mental confusion. As it gets worse, alcoholic hepatitis makes the liver get dangerously big, and causes other problems like jaundice, bleeding, and difficulties getting bleeding to stop (clotting).

    Another liver condition associated with heavy drinking is fibrosis, which causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. Alcohol changes the chemicals in the liver needed to break down and remove this scar tissue. As a result, your liver doesn't work very well.

    If you continue to drink, this excessive scar tissue builds up and creates a condition called cirrhosis, basically causes the liver to slowly shut down and stop working.

    A variety of complications, including jaundice and diabetes, and even liver cancer, can result as cirrhosis weakens liver function.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Kris Bough is one of the first scientists to join the chat today. He is a neuroscientist -- which means he studies the brain. He currently works with scientists and small businesses around the country to develop new and safe medications for people addicted to drugs like tobacco or cocaine. One of the things he enjoys most about his job is that he can help put the pieces of the neurological ‘puzzle’ together to help people quit drugs who want to quit. Dr. Bough grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia where he attended W.T. Woodson High School. His favorite subject was… biology! Now that he is grown up, he has a 27-month old son named Nicklas, and a dog named Brice who is 7 years old. This past spring he took his family to the Arizona desert where they did a lot of hiking and some fishing. He is an active Toastmaster and a Master Mason. He enjoys growing hot peppers in his garden every summer, and recently cooked up a big batch of very hot sauce! Eeow! He also enjoys volunteer teaching and is a rabid fan of the Washington Capitals ice hockey team. Let’s go Caps!
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     fi - williamsville east high school, New York: how quickly does one get addicted to pain killers? should teenagers worry about being perscriped pain killers and getting addicted?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question!  Pain killers are very effective medications in reducing pain, and they also can be very addictive when not using them medically...that is, when they are abused.  There is no straight answer as to how quickly one can become addicted to pain killers or other drugs.  Many variables that would need to be considered: genetic factors, environmental factors (e.g., how available a drug is) and developmental (e.g., age one starts with a drug), all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.

    Teenagers should not be worried about being prescribed pain killers, as long as they are taken under medical supervision and used as prescribed. For more information on prescription drugs check out this link http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Prescription/Prescription.html
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     pinkmustache923 - north carroll middle, Maryland: my older cousin is 17 an does pot,what are some ways to get him to quit? he always tries to get me to smoke with him but i never do. IM BEGGING FOR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Maryland - it sounds like you really care about your cousin and this makes it a tough spot for you to be in...  First thing you can do is  be supportive and listen to them talk about their drug use.  You can encourage them to stop using drugs and if they are not aware of the negative consequences drug use has on their brain and body, you can refer them to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php.  For information specifically about marijuana see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/.  If your cousin is unable to stop using drugs, please talk to them about treatment.  More information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov .  Take care of yourself and remember you can't make your cousin stop using drugs - you can only support them.  Seek out support for yourself too - and check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/. You can also talk to a trusted teacher, coach, friend, etc. 
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     taylorelizabeth - Skaneateles High School, New York: is alcohol the most commonly used depressant?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Actually, yes, it is! Good question!
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     chocolatemilk47 - north carroll middle, Maryland: How fast can drugs affect your bdy?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Hi Chocolatemilk47.

    If you mean how many times, a single exposure to a drug can permanently alter a person's brain or body. For example, some inhalants or too much of an opiate such as heroin or oxycontin can stop a person's breathing the first time they are taken. Stimulants can cause heart problems for someone who is susceptible.
    If you mean how fast after taking the drug, it depends on whether someone inhales, injects, or swallows the drug. Inhaling gets the drug to the brain the fastest, followed by injection, and then swallowing.
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     doug r - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can you put heroin in peaches

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hmm.  Well, you can probably put many things in peaches, including cinnamon and sugar, or even chicken soup...but why would you want to?  As far as heroin is concerned, it would be ineffective if you eat it. 
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     fi - williamsville east high school, New York: is it a lot worse to drink as a young adult than as an older adult?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Once your brain finishes developing and you are legally allowed to drink, both of which happen around the age of 21, alcohol's effect on both younger and older adults is about the same. That remains true as long as your level of drinking is light to moderate (no more than 1 drink per day for a woman or 2 for a man). This assumes that you don't have any health conditions and are not taking any medications that might interact badly with alcohol.
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     creed 101 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is pcp

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Great question! PCP is a synthetic drug sold as tablets, capsules, or white or colored powder. It can be snorted, smoked, or eaten. Developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic, PCP was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects. PCP is a 'dissociative' drug, distorting perceptions of sight and sound and producing feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety). You hear lots of stories of people doing really stupid things while on PCP and they often end up in a lot of trouble or hurt. For more information you can explore teens.drugabuse.gov.
    Moderator Icon  Abuse is when someone takes a prescription drug without a doctor’s prescription or in a way or amount that is different from what was prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs can have serious and harmful health effects, including poisoning and even death.
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     briannaf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: is some drugs more addictive then others? And if so, which is the most addictive?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: This is a tough one...Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness. The drug that is used by a person is the most addictive one--so it's a case-by-case basis.  The reason for this vague answer is because people are different, and addiction has many sides to it that make a person vulnerable, such as genetics (e.g., genes that metabolize drugs can be different across people), environmental (e.g., drug availability; parents using drugs/tobacco/alcohol) and developmental (e.g., age--the younger you are when you try a drug, the more likely you are to abuse it), all of which play important and changing roles in determining how a person becomes addicted.


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     harleetiff14 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what do you do if your friend says that they want to start doing drugs?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: It's not always easy to know what to do if you have a friend who is abusing drugs, and how you get help depends on the person.  You can encourage them to talk to their parents or another adult they trust, like a school guidance counselor. Or, if they would rather talk to someone anonymously, they can call SAMHSA's crisis helpline (1-800-273-TALK) or the Treatment Referral Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).  Or you can use these resources yourself to get other tips on how to help.  Mostly, though, your friend will appreciate it if you just continue to be a good friend to them -- be a good and trustworthy listener. 
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     jeffreyk - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: What are some long and short term effects of ecstasy?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Great question, Jeff!  Ecstasy, also known by its chemical name methylenedioxymethamphetamine (or MDMA, for short), is a type of amphetamine, but it also produces effects similar to some hallucinogens. MDMA affects the brain by increasing the activity of at least three neurotransmitters (the chemical messengers of brain cells): serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. MDMA causes these neurotransmitters to be released from their storage sites in neurons, resulting in increased neurotransmitter activity. We know from studies in animals that MDMA can produce long-lasting damage to serotonin neurons. Serotonin is important in regulating mood, sleep, body temperature, pain and other critical functions. In fact, some of the medications used to treat depression directly target this system. From imaging the brains of people, we find that there are changes in this system too, but we do not know how long those changes last. People who abuse MDMA tend to get depressed or anxious and to have trouble remembering recent events. These effects can be short-lived or longer-lasting depending on how much drug is used, how often, and whether or not other drugs are also being abused (marijuana is fairly common in MDMA users). Some people who use MDMA also have other difficulties with their abilities to make decisions and with their sleeping patterns. Of course, you will likely suffer more severe problems if you use MDMA often or in large amounts.


    Moderator Icon  Dr. Aaron White is now here to answer your questions about alcohol. Aaron is a psychologist with our sister Institute, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. His expertise is in how alcohol affects the brain. He knows a lot about how the brain changes during the teenage years and how alcohol and other drugs affect the teen brain. He is very interested in something called ‘alcohol blackouts,’ where people, including teenagers, who drink too much can’t remember what they did while they were drinking. His favorite things about his job are that he gets to be on the cutting edge of science, help teenagers make healthy choices about alcohol and, hopefully, keep their brains safe.
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     yo_mama66 - north carroll middle, Maryland: Is there any alcohol illegal?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: For the most part, no, with the exception that alcohol is illegal for everyone under the age of 21 in most cases.
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     marcelioo - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: why is meth so addictive?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: the short answer is that it is oner of the most powerful boosgters of dopamine in the reward circuit of the brain. Dopamine is the signal for pleasure, but it also plays a role in learning and habit formation. This is why the reinforcing (addictive) power of a drug is very closely linked to its ability to boost dopamine AND the speed with which it does so.

    hope this help, but if you want more info feel free to visit Sara bellum's site:  http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/tag/dopamine/

    good luck and all the best.
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     laxer1 - north carroll middle, Maryland: How many teens smoke?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Hi Laxer1, thanks for your question! The good news is that the rates of smoking among youth (and even adults) is lower now that it has been in many, many years.  The latest data from a large national survey of high school students shows that 19% of 12th graders reported smoking cigarettes during the past month.  The bad news is that this rate is still too high, especially because early smoking is a big risk factor for becoming addicted to nicotine (the drug in tobacco).  Preventing teenagers from starting smoking is a major goal of ours at NIDA. 
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     gracem - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: define mushrooms

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hi Grace,

    Mushrooms are fungi that grow on the ground or on tree bark.  But you probably already knew that!  Some mushrooms are good to eat, some are poisonous and can kill you, and some have a psychoactive compound called psylocibin in them.  When people talk abut using 'shrooms, those are the ones they are using.
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     Nate5 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can Alcohal be more dangerous than some of the bigger drugs?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Hmmm...more dangerous? It can be, since it's may be easy to get, it can harm the developing brain (which yours is), and like other drugs, alcohol affects the way you think, which means you might do some pretty stupid things when you are under the influence that you wouldn't do otherwise--like driving drunk or getting into a car with someone else who is drunk--about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year from injuries caused by underage drinking, nearly 40 percent (1,900) in car crashes
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     awesomedude99 - north carroll middle, Maryland: Are crack and cocaine the same thing?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: 
    Hello awesome dude. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water and then injected. Crack is the street name given to the form of cocaine that has been processed to make a rock crystal, which, when heated, produces vapors that are smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound produced by the rock as it is heated. Basically it can be considered the same thing. If you stay away from it you will remain an awesome dude. Check out teens.drugabuse.gov.
    PollI have friends who try to talk me into smoking marijuana.
    33% - Yes
    51% - No
    16% - Maybe
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     willz - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: How does rohypnol (roofies) affect the brain and body?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Thanks for your question, Will.  Rohypnol is a tasteless, odorless drug that comes from the benzodiazepine class, a group that produces sedation.  Essentially, it puts you to sleep and when you wake, you have no memory of anything that has happened to you.  People encounter this most frequently in social settings, at bars.  It can be slipped into a drink without the knowledge of the drinker, and they may do things they would not normally do, like go home with a stranger, and not remember it later.  Rohypnol is sometimes called a club drug because it is used at night clubs.  We have a fact sheet about club drugs at http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/clubdrugs.html
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     Cortlynn32 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: I wanna know why drugs are so bad? Is it becasue people abuse them?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Hi Northridege!
    Drugs of abuse are bad because using them can lead to a lot of problems, not only for the user, but the people around them.  At first, many people feel that their drug use is making them happier and feel good, but soon they discover that drugs, including thinking about them and taking them kind of begins to take over their lives.  So, school work, grades, relationships, and more begin to suffer.  What's more is that since people feel like drugs make them feel good, they take them more often and and in bigger doses, which could lead to an overdose (ever heard of Amy Winehouse or Brittany Murphy??) or long-term health problems. 

    thanks for your questions and keep them coming!!!  Want more information on addiction?  Just go to our site!  There's lots of information!  http://www.nida.nih.gov/students.html
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     Cortlynn32 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why dont they make alcohal illegal too? if it can cause as much harm or maybe more harm then other drugs?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a complicated question. In the early 20th century, alcohol was banned all together. While that strategy (called 'Prohibition') did save some lives, it wasn't considered a success in general and alcohol was made legal again. In addition, many people use alcohol responsibly and enjoy it for a wide range of purposes, including celebrations and religious ceremonies. The government can regulate - but not prevent - people from using alcohol in those ways. The exception is the legal drinking age of 21. Making it illegal for people under 21 to drink alcohol has proven to be important for reducing alcohol-related deaths, including from traffic crashes, in young people.
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     briana28 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: say you have a family member that kinda drink a lot, almost every night but doesnt act different at all?? are they truely addicted?? how can you get them to stopp??

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's hard to know from your description. It's possible they do have a problem with alcohol but if the person is an adult, it's generally okay to have 1 (for women) or 2 (for men) servings of alcohol a day. If you have an adult you feel comfortable talking to, it might be a good idea to explore this question with them.

    If you're looking for ways to help an adult you care about, including either of your parents, check out this link: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/real_life2.asp.
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     new guy - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What are the legal punishments for getting caught with drugs?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Trust me, Indiana - you don't want to know and hopefully you aren't planning to do anything illegal. The possession and use of some drugs is illegal and the punishment dependes on the amount and type of drug.  My advice - don't posess or use any of them. Not only could this lead to being in jail or in prison, drugs profoundly impact the brain, especially for teens and can lead to problems with family and friends, poor academic performance, poor decision making, not to mention the negative impact on your body. Find other legal ways to have fun like join a soccer team (or other sports) learn how to play a musical instrument (join a band), go hiking in nearby parks, zip-lining, shopping (or window-shopping, depending on what's in your wallet). You know best what activities can be fun for you. For more information about treatment - visit: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.
    Moderator Icon  A 2010 study showed that 13.7% of 8th graders, 27.5% of 10th graders, and 34.8% of 12th graders had abused marijuana at least once. People who smoke marijuana may have the same kinds of breathing problems as smokers, such as coughing and wheezing.
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     michaels - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: what is some of the major effects of using oxycontin?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Oxycontin is a prescription pain-killer (opioid) that is commonly prescribed for pain. Opioids can cause drowsiness, constipation, and, depending upon the amount taken, can depress breathing. Taking a large, single dose could cause severe respiratory depression or even death. Some compounds that fall within this class are hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin—an oral, controlled-release form of the drug), morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and related medications. Please check out our prescription medication website for more info:  http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/prescription.html.
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     briannaf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Is there any 'street names' for inhalants?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hello Brianna

    There are several classes of inhalants, the only ones i've heard street names for are the nitrates, which can be called whippets, poppers or snappers.

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     miavictoria - Skaneateles High School, New York: How do we access the 'drug factoids' and quizzes that you mentioned?

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: You can take the National Drug IQ Challenge at http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/iqchallenge.php. Also watch the chat for awhile---you will see lots of factoids and quizzes.
    User Icon
     lexy2 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how does weed make you feel ?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Hey, North Ridge Dude.  Research has shown that weed affects the parts of the brain the allow us to make plans, solve problems, and make decisions.  The active ingredient is called THC, which is a psychoactive drug that affects mood and behavior and can be addictive.  Using weed can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes--and chronic weed smoking can harm the lungs.  In addition, weed has been linked to a number of mental conditions, including depression and anxiety.  For more information, see: www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html.
    Moderator Icon  This is Dr. Christine Colvis's first NIDA chat, so ask some great questions! Dr. Colvis received her PhD from Oregon Health Sciences University in Biochemistry. She got her Bachelor of Science Degree from Illinois Benedictine College, now called Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois not far from where she grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Christine has been interested in science and math since she was a kid and it is no surprise to her friends and family that she is now at the National Institutes of Health. Christine and her husband share their house with their 130 pound Newfoundland dog, their 1 year old Vizsla puppy and two cats.
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     sierra_r - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: how is marijuana addictive?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Sierra
    Thanks so much for your question.

    The basic mechanism is the same as with every other addictive drug. although with some differences of course. Briefly, marijuana has a chemical called THC that binds to specific sites in the reward circuit of the brain and causes an abnormal release of dopamine. It this release that causes the experience that chronic users try to repeat over and over. In some individuals, this repeated b ehavior actually changes the brain so that use becomes compulsive and the craving become overwhelming. At this point, a person addicted to marijuana is likely to experience withdrawal effects if he or she tries to quit using.
    You can learn much more about marijuana an d its effects on the brain and body by visiting here:
     http://www.marijuana-info.org/

    stay smart, stay healthy.
    User Icon
     arms wide open - Skaneateles High School, New York: What is considered an overdose?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning 'Arms Wide Open'.  An overdose is when someone has taken too much of something, and their body can't handle it properly.  For example, taking too much of  a drug like heroin or prescription pain killers (eg. oxycontin) can cause certain parts of your brain to slow down or even stop! An overdose of one of these drugs can send someone to the emergency room or even cause them to die by shutting down the part of the brain that powers breathing.
    Moderator Icon  Do you know someone who wanted a buzz and ended up in the ER? Alcoholic energy drinks are causing many underage drinkers to overdose on alcohol.
    User Icon
     jeramie - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why does meth change your teeth?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Methamphetamine is quite harmful to your teeth.  With continued use, a condition called 'meth mouth' occur, and it is probably caused by a combination of changes resulting in dry mouth, extended periods of poor oral hygiene, increased consumption of sugared soft drinks, and teeth grinding and clenching.  If you want to see some pictures of this, Google 'meth mouth.' For more information on methamphetamine check out this website http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html

    Thanks for the question.
    User Icon
     jamie22 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: can marihuana kill you ?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Marijuana overdose is really unlikely--you're more likely to fall asleep before you can ingest enough marijuana.  However, marijuana contributes to lethality in other ways--including car crashes--approximately 14% of people in fatal crashes test positive for marijuana (sometimes in combination with other drugs).  In particular, marijuana and alcohol together are worse than either one alone with respect to auto accidents! 

    And  MJ can be addicting--about 9% of users, 1 in 6 of those who start young, and 25-50% of daily users become addicted.  Smoking marjuana can also increase a person's risk of developing respiratory infections, chronic coughing and more.  Want more information about marijuana?  Click on: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
     
    User Icon
     jeramie - Cathedral High School, Indiana: why is some marijuana more effective than others?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Good morning Cathedral High!  We've been getting a lot of questions from you guys!  Thanks for your participation!!!

    Anywho...I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'more effective'. If you mean more potent, then here we go!  MJ is made of a lot of chemicals -- hundreds in fact -- and we don't yet know what a lot of them do!  One of the chemicals we do know a lot about is THC, MJ's most active ingredient.  The percentage of THC in MJ has gone up dramatically over the last 30 years -- and the more THC in MJ, the more potent it is.  The problem is too we really don't know what the effect of these higher and higher levels of THC may have on the brain and body - this is research reas NIDA needs to explore.

    Moderator Icon  Did you know the types of cells in the brain are called neurons? Your brain has about 10 billion neurons.
    PollI have tried to help a friend stop using drugs.
    35% - Yes
    55% - No
    10% - Maybe
    User Icon
     Brianna12 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why do people do drugs

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: People do drugs generally because they have become addicted to them--likely because they started using them at a young age.  Addiction is a disease characterize by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences, like dropping out of school, losing your job, getting arrested, or getting sick.  People who use drugs, especially at an early age, are more likely to become addicted.  Science has shown that drugs cause biological changes in your brain that make your ability to make decisions very weak. Luckily, these biological changes can be reversed, and addiction can be treated.  You can check out NIDA’s Web site at:
    http://www.drugabuse.gov/. By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults.
    User Icon
     laxer1 - north carroll middle, Maryland: how many people get pulled over for drinking and driving

    Expert Icon Aaron White: It's hard to believe, but more than 1.4 million people are arrested for drinking and driving each year.
    User Icon
     Cortlynn32 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Can some drugs be perscribed to people as a medicine?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: Yes. For example, there are prescription pain-killers (opioids) that are very commonly prescribed for chronic, long-lasting pain.
    User Icon
     Blue Sox24 - north carroll middle, Maryland: what is the population of death after drinking alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The World Health Organization estimates that in total, more than 2.5 million people worldwide die every year from alcohol-related causes. That includes about 5,000 people under the age of 21 in the United States. Causes generally include overdoses, car crashes, injuries and other events.
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what is the best way to help a family member who is addicted?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Thanks for your question. Dealing with family drug abuse is tough and I know this from first hand experience.  When I was living with a father who had a drinking problem I needed friends I could talk to that would maintain my confidence.  You can provide support to your family member by listening to them and encouraging them to get help. NIDA has a great website that offers useful information - including http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#person, which might be helpful. Also, you might provide your family member with access to more information including: information on how to stop using drugs see: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP.
    User Icon
     alyssa29 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how can you tell if one of your friends are doing drugs?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: You are a really good friend if you are asking this question. The signs can depend on what drugs your friend is taking--but if their grades are falling, or they are not doing the things they used to really enjoy, then your friend may really be in trouble. You probably know your friend really well and if you suspect they are using drugs, you may very well be right.  The sooner you can talk to your friend the better.  I think if you ask them in a supportive way and not attack them for it, they might admit to it.  And when they know that you don't think it is cool and that you are really worried about them, they might think twice about continuing to use drugs.  They are really lucky to have a friend like you.  You can make a big difference in their life at this point.  Thank you for asking the question. 
    User Icon
     taylorelizabeth - Skaneateles High School, New York: How harmful is alochol to the brain to an underage drinker?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The teenage years are a very important time for development of the brain. The thinking parts, memory parts, and feeling parts are all changing when we are teenagers. Alcohol can interfere with these important changes and actually shrink the thinking and memory parts.

    Research tells us that drinking lots of alcohol during the teenage years can make an area of the brain called the frontal lobes smaller. The frontal lobes help us make decisions, think about things, and pay attention. Teenagers who drink a lot have problems with these things. Alcohol also can shrink the hippocampus, the area of the brain area that helps us learn and remember. Teenagers who drink a lot also have trouble with learning. We do not know yet whether these problems go away if the teenager stops drinking.

    For weeks and months after a teenager stops drinking heavily, these parts of the brain still struggle to work correctly. It's not clear whether the brain ever fully heals itself. In addition, drinking at a young age makes it more likely to become an alcoholic later in life. So, drinking when we are young could have lots of negative effects on the brain!
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: when teens start drinking, it is more dangerous then when adults drink?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Yes - and that's for several reasons. One is that during your teen years, your brain is still changing and growing. Alcohol interferes with that brain development. Also, for reasons we do not yet understand, drinking during the teen years increases the chances that a person will be an alcoholic at some point in their lives. Teens are also more likely to get injured in accidents of various types than adults. 
    User Icon
     lexy2 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: hmm . How does 'snow' make you feel ?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hi Lexy.  School starts early in Ohio!  'Snow' is another name for cocaine.  It acts very quickly and the speed contributes to the initial 'rush' or flush of excitement that users report.  This experience is relatively short, though, and the psychological effects of the cocaine are gone in about 20 minutes, and some people take more to re-capture that feeling.  Alas, the first experience is often the best, and subsequent use does not produce as much of a 'high.'  There is more information on our teen site.  Go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php 
    User Icon
     dpicot - Rochester Adams High School, Michigan: Are certain drugs used more in certain areas of the country? for example - midwest finds more teens using and abusing BLANK drug?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Great question! Yes, some drugs are more commonly used in certain areas of the country.  Methamphetamine, for example, is common in the west and midwest areas of the country, perhaps because methamphetamine labs are more common in the west and midwest (thereby increasing the production of meth in those areas).  Prescription drugs are abused everwhere, but this problem is especially severe in Florida, where the supply of prescription drugs is high.  Some drugs, however, are really common everwhere -- like marijuana
    Moderator Icon  Time to ask questions to a real genetics expert! Dr. Joni Rutter received her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Dartmouth Medical School in 1999 and joined the NIH that same year as a post-doctoral fellow in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute. She moved to NIDA in 2003 as a program director in the Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology Research Branch where she managed a portfolio in human and population genetics, pharmacogenetics, epigenetics, bioinformatics, and molecular epidemiology, as they relate to vulnerabilities to drug abuse and addiction. Dr. Rutter is also involved in oversight and the continued development of genomics research at NIDA, which includes the NIDA Center for Genetic Studies repository of clinical data and biologic samples for drug abuse research in genetics. Dr. Rutter currently serves as the Acting Director, Division of Basic Neurosciences and Behavioral Research. She is responsible for providing leadership in planning, developing, directing, and evaluating NIDA’s basic science programs.
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     seangerity21 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: What are the effects of Marajuana?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hi Sean,
    thanks for a great question!!
    marijuana has so many places to act on the brain that the list of effects is really long. Some effects can be seen right away (acute effects) like impaired motor coordination or memory/learning impairments, and some can take longer to develop, the one that concerns me the most among these is addiciton. Indeed, marijuana use can lead to addiction and derail the plans that you have made for your life.
    you can find much, much more about marijuana by visiting this ,link:http://www.marijuana-info.org/

    stay smart, stay healthy.
    the best of luck
    User Icon
     Ashton - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What is the most addictive drug?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: There is no one most addictive drug. Check out a list of commonly abused drugs and the effects they have on the body http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/DrugsofAbuse.html
    User Icon
     smmassa - williamsville east high school, New York: What is the biggest influence on teenagers when referring to alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: That's a difficult question. Most people assume that  'peer pressure' makes a big difference and that's partially true. Teens whose friends drink are more likely to drink, too. But other factors include:

    How a teen's parents feel about alcohol use
    How much alcohol a teen's parents drink
    Genetics - your genes play a big role in whether and how much you drink
    Advertisements promoting alcohol
    Moderator Icon  In 2009, only 2.7 % of eighth graders said they smoked cigarettes daily in the past month---- down from 10.4% in 1996. Teens are getting smarter about their health!
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     Mcquackers - williamsville east high school, New York: Is Marijuana addictive?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a very good question.  Yes, it is.  I know that some think that is isn't, but in fact someone who uses a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their schoolwork or their family relationships.  What are your chances of becoming addicted--about 1 in 6 if you start as a teen, and 1 in 4 if you use every day or nearly every day. 
    User Icon
     at0917111683 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: how does air duster make you high?

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning, Indiana!  Inhalants such as 'air duster' produce effects very similar to alcohol and can lead to slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphria and dizziness.  Inhalants are solvents and are very, very dangerous.  They can cause serious long-term damage to your organs.  In the short-term inhaling too much air duster can push the oxygen out of your lungs and cause serious brain damage and even result in death!  You should avoid using them.
    User Icon
     greggy3 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: do girls have a diffrent effect when they drink or smoke

    Expert Icon Aaron White: In general, girls are affected more by alcohol than guys. Girls can feel the immediate effects of alcohol more quickly and for a longer time than guys.  Thanks to natural differences in body chemistry and metabolism, girls retain more alcohol in their blood than men do, and also break down and get rid of alcohol more slowly than guys do. Girls may also be more likely to get cancer from drinking alcohol than males.
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is there a drug you can take that isnt harmful?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: This is a very good question.  Maybe caffeine--if taken in moderation.  But all drugs are chemicals, and the ones that people abuse act on the brain and change out it works.  The brain continues to develop into your 20's--so may not be a great idea to mess with it--you never know when you'll need it. 
    User Icon
     peterf - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: How much caffeine is too much to consume?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Caffeine is a normal constituent of coffee and tea and is often added to sodas and waters.  Most people who start their day with a cup of coffee say it helps them become more alert.  How do you know when you are drinking too much caffeine?  You might become anxious or nervous or a little shaky.  If you drink a lot of coffee or cola, and then you stop, about 24 laters you may get a headache.  If these happen to you often, you might want to cut back.
    User Icon
     urstupid123 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What are the street names for cocaine and meth

    Expert Icon Carol Krause: Sometimes meth is called speed, meth, chalk, ice, or crystal, glass. Cocaine is sometimes called coke, snow, flake, or blow But it doesn't matter what you call them, the effect on your body, brain and behavior will be just as bad. For more information check out drugabuse.gov.
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     tabby1 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why are drugs so bad?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Drugs are dangerous because of the effect that they have on the brain.  Repeated drug use can cause short- and long-term changes to the brain that impact memory, mood, decision making, and other important functions.  Drug use during adolescence is particularly dangerous because the brain of the adolescent is still undergoing major changes, and drug use interfereres with this critical process in ways that can have very serious consequences. 
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     drug free :) - williamsville east high school, New York: why are drugs so addicting.

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Great question! Generally, people take drugs because they like the way drugs make them feel. Drugs have direct effects on the brain systems called the 'reward systems'. Drugs cause a release of a brain chemical called dopamine, and it is this release or surge of dopamine in the brain that is associated with the rush and feeling of high.

    We also know that drugs are used to make people feel better (in a sense, to self medicate themselves). Many people take drugs because it is seen as 'cool' to do, and they submit to peer pressure.

    Whatever the reason people decide to take drugs, we know that drugs can lead to continued use and addiction. People like the feelings that drugs give...especially in the beginning. We also know that some people are more vulnerable to the effects of drugs and thus run the risk of addiction and the negative affects of drugs on the body and brain. For more information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, and questions and answers, please visit www.teens.drugabuse.gov.

    Thanks for the question!
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     Rebecca - Cathedral High School, Indiana: What prescription drug combination is the most lethal?

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: There are a lot of things that influence whether a person can overdose from drugs. Some of the most important things to consider is dose. In fact, almost anything taken in high enough concentration (including water!) can be lethal. And, when drugs are mixed, they can have unintended toxic interactions. Prescription painkillers can cause drowsiness, constipation and, depending on amount taken, can slow breathing. Central nervous system depressants slow down brain function; if depressants are combined with other medications that cause drowsiness or with alcohol, heart rate and respiration can slow down dangerously. Taken repeatedly or in high doses, stimulants can cause anxiety, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, or seizures.
    User Icon
     kayla23 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what are the different types of weed?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: That's an interesting question.  As far as I know, only marijuana is 'weed' and its characteristic ingredient responsible for its psychoactive properties is delta-9 tetrahydocannabinol, or THC. Different marijuana plants produce different amounts of THC (and a lot of other chemical compounds) and sometimes go by different names (purple kush and others), but they are all marijuana. Go to www.teens.drugabuse.gov for more information on Marijuana and other drugs.
    Moderator Icon  Hey---this year we are asking teens to tell the truth about drug issues. Throughout the chat today, you will see our Truth Poll questions. Tell us the truth and we will post the combined percentages from all poll takers. In other words, it will be anonymous and you will see how many people answered the way you did!
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     kayla23 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Is it possible to over dose on weed ?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Marijuana overdose is really unlikely--you're more likely to fall asleep before you can ingest enough marijuana to overdose.  However, marijuana contributes to lethality in other ways--including car crashes--approximately 14% of people in fatal crashes test positive for marijuana (sometimes in combination with other drugs).  In particular, marijuana and alcohol together are worse than either one alone with respect to auto accidents! And don't forget MJ can lead to problems with learning and memory -- not good if you're trying to learn and pay attention in class. What's more is that some people become addicted to MJ, further complicating their lives.

    Keep the questions coming!!!
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     briana28 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: is it bad if you always get headaches when then weather changes so you take a motrin or tylonal quite a few time??

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Hello Briana,
    Over the counter medications, like tylenol, come with very specific instructions of when a nd how much you can use. So if you have any questions or doubts about proper use you should talk to your doctor, specially to make sure that your frequent headaches are not related to a more serious medical condition.

    thanks for your question.
    best of luck.
    User Icon
     ajgarg - williamsville east high school, New York: what do methamhetamines contain

    Expert Icon Dave White: Good morning! Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant (makes you feel more awake and excited) that is closely related to amphetamine. It acts on dopamine neurotransmission in the brain, which is a way neurons to talk to each other believe it or not!  Methamphetamine's effects are very long-lasting and damaging to dopamine-containing cells.  It also produces a number of other bad effects including rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature. Some people develop something called 'meth mouth,' which is teeth that look so ghastly you might like them for Halloween, but not to live with. You should definitely steer clear of methamphtamine!  You can check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php for more information! 
    User Icon
     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: why are drugs so addictive?

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hi Bridget.  I just got a similar question from a student in Indiana.  Drugs can cause changes in the brain. Because drugs release a lot of dopamine, your brain begins to expect more with every good experience, and then 'normal' good experiences, like winning at sports or eating a delicious meal, don't release as much dopamine as they used to.  There is a lot we still don’t know about who becomes addicted and why, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different, so it’s a little like playing “Russian Roulette” if you choose to use drugs. But, if you do, the earlier you stop, the more likely you will be to avoid addiction and the harmful brain changes that lead to it.  We have lots of information about addiction on our teen site.  Go to www.teens.drugabuse.gov for more info.
    User Icon
     hlgesel - williamsville east high school, New York: can you tell if someone is addicted to drugs?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Hi Hlgesel! Thanks for your question. Drug addiction has a lot of symptoms -- or signs that someone has a problem with drugs.  Some common symptoms include losing control over drug use, getting into trouble because of drug use, doing poorly at school or work, using more and more of a drug to get 'high', and giving up activities (like sports, hanging out with family) because of drug use.  Essentially, drug use becomes more and more important to a drug addict -- more important than other things in life. For more information on how drugs affect your brain go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php .
    User Icon
     Blue Sox24 - north carroll middle, Maryland: What is the population of death after drinking alcohol?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: The World Health Organization estimates that in total, more than 2.5 million people worldwide die every year from alcohol-related causes. That includes about 5,000 people under the age of 21 in the United States. Causes generally include overdoses, car crashes, injuries and other events.
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: what if you become addicted and you dont want anyone to know?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: I'm really glad you are asked this question. A lot of people have difficulty reaching out for help.  Sometimes they don't want people to know because they are afraid they will get in trouble, be judged, or have to live without drugs. Treatment and the support of family and friends can help you deal with all of these concerns. Here are some things you might consider when trying to reach out for help with addiction. First, find someone you trust to talk with about your drug use - a friend, teacher, coach, parent, etc. Second, learn more about how drug use negatively affects your body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). A specific NIDA website that you might want to check out is: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#behavior. If you are ready to stop using drugs, talk with a professional like a doctor or therapist to find treatment.  You can also go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP to find treatment programs in you arear.  Because talking drugs has a profound impact on your brain, body, and behavior you won't be able to keep it a secrete for long.  Use this as an opportunity to reach out and get help. 
    User Icon
     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how do you know who to go to to get drugs?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: Dude, drugs are bad for you.  Here are some facts to convince you not to get drugs: Drug Abuse Warning Network, with statistics on drug-related hospital emergency department visits and deaths at www.dawninfo.samhsa.gov.  Work on getting As and Bs in school instead.
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     username15 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Is marijuana disease causing?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: Well...addiction is a disease and  MJ can be addicting--about 9% of users, 1 in 6 of those who start young, and 25-50% of daily users become addicted.  Smoking marjuana can also increase a person's risk of developing respiratory infections, chronic coughing and more.  Want more information about marijuana?  Click on: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html
    Moderator Icon  Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
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     James4 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: If you smoke weed for the first time will it hurt or damage you?

    Expert Icon Ruben Baler: Most unlikely, although you could get hurt if you decide to drive while stoned, for example.
    However, you should also think that every single addict out there began his addiction with that very first hit like the one you are now asking about...
    think about it...

    choose wisely and good luck 
    User Icon
     scarlott21 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why do many teens think that smoking is good for them?

    Expert Icon Joni Rutter: That's a good questions so early in the morning!  As it turns out, 90.6% of teens actually think smoking is bad for them.  That means that about 10.4% of teens have abused cigarettes.  The point is, though, that smoking is NOT good for anyone.  We know from scientific research that the earlier you smoke or use other drugs, the more likely you are to become addicted and suffer serious social and medical consequences, like having yellow teeth, lack of physical activity, asthma and other lung problems, as well as increasing your risk for cancers.  Since smoking causes so many health consequences--it can certainly shorten your lifespan.  So....tell your friends that smoking is not good for them!  Thanks for your question.  Information about smoking and prevention can be found at www.smokefree.gov.
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     jeramie - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why is some meth yellow and some white/clear?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Probably due to the impurities in the methamphetamine product as it is made and also the chemicals used in the process.  These could affect the ultimate color. Check out this website www.teens.drugabuse.gov
    Hope this helps.
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     Ashton - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Do you experience withdrawl from marijuana?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a great question. Yes, in fact you can experience withdrawal which makes it very hard to quit.  The signs of withdrawal are irritability, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, and importantly--strong cravings for the drug, which is what can make it hard to stop. The symptoms are worst the first week after you stop. 
    Which of the following drugs are addictive?
    The correct answer is: All of the above. All of these drugs, even legal ones like nicotine and alcohol, affect dopamine levels in the brain and can disrupt normal brain function, which can lead to addiction. Learn more: http://drugabuse.gov/nidahome.html
    User Icon
     Cortlynn32 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: Why are drugs bad

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: Drugs aren't bad or good, but if you abuse them they have the potential to cause harm to your brain and body...then they are 'bad'.  Addiction also can occur, which can be very harmful. Go to www.drugabuse.gov for more information. Hope this helps.
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     Svelkova - Bulgaria: Do you realize how much in common drug prohibition has with the ongoing process of world globalization?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: The production and distribution and illicit drugs is a global problem.  Heroin production in Afganistan, production of synthetic drugs from China and India, and production of marijuana from all corners of the globe -- just to name a few -- puts tremendous pressure on the international community and requires us all to all work together to control the distribution of these illegal substances and talk about the hazards of drugs of abuse to prevent/curb their use. I hope your school will start a discussion about the problems that drugs of abuse can bring to an individual and community.  For more information about drug abuse and addiction, take a tour of our site:  National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) http://www.drugabuse.gov/

    By clicking on the link 'Students and Young Adults' from NIDA's home page you will be able to access resources tailored for students and young adults, whether you are in middle school and doing research on the effects of marijuana use, or high school student looking to find out about drug use and HIV.

    If you need help with an addiction, you will also find a link there to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

    You will also find facts, trends, statistics, graphics and reports on specific drugs on NIDA's Web sites:

    http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/
    http://www.marijuana-info.org/
    http://www.clubdrugs.gov/
    http://www.steroidabuse.gov/
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     fermi01 - williamsville east high school, New York: I have a friend named Alex who is addicted to cocaine, how can i help him?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: : I'm really glad you are asked this question. A lot of addicts say they don't want help because they are afraid to live without drugs. Treatment can show them how.  Here are some things you might consider when trying to help a friend who is addicted to drugs.  First, you can listen to what your friend has to say about why they are using drugs.  You can also encourage them to learn more about how drug use negatively affects their body, brain, and life by visiting NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov) and - for information speficially on cacaine - check out:http://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov/publications/ID/re110. If they are ready to stop using drugs, encourage them to talk with a doctor, therapist, or teacher to find help.  To find treatment programs (confidentially) go to: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ or call 1-800-662-HELP.  Because talking with someone about their drug use can be difficult, you may want to seek the support of a trusted adult - teacher, coach, parent, etc.  Remember, you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only provide them with support and let them know you care.
    Moderator Icon  Dr. Redonna Chandler is online and ready to answer your questions She is a psychologist who specializes in drug abuse treatment and services, with a particular interest in incorporating drug treatment into the criminal justice system. She has 3 children, one cat, and 5 fish. Her most interesting travel experience was spending a semester living in a remote rural village in El Salvador where there was no running water or electricity -- and she slept on the ground and bathed in the river.
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     pokemonman123 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: is marijuana addictive

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: That is a very good question.  Yes, it is.  I know that some think that is isn't, but in fact someone who uses a lot can find themselves not able to give it up even when they want to and realize its messing up their schoolwork or their family relationships.  What are your chances of becoming addicted--about 1 in 6 if you start as a teen, and 1 in 4 if you use every day or nearly every day. 
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     Jon - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why do people smoke weed.

    Expert Icon Kris Bough: There are chemical compounds in marijuana that are addictive (specifically THC) -- which means that people have difficulty controlling their drug use and often cannot stop even though they want to, and even though it undermines many aspects of their lives. Of course, not everyone who smokes marijuana will become addicted—that depends on a whole bunch of factors—including your family history (genes), the age you start using, whether you also use other drugs, family and peer relationships, success in school, etc.
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     WhoIsThis - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Do teens start smoking weed because they think its cool?

    Expert Icon Kevin Conway: Teenagers start using marijuana for many reasons, including trying to 'fit in' or 'be cool'.  In fact, one of the biggest risk factors for using marijuana is having friends who use marijuana.  Peer pressure to use drugs can be strong among youth, but standing up against peers who use drugs can help prevent the onset of drug use.  Also, hanging out with a different group of friends who do NOT use drugs can be a really smart alternative.  Thanks for your question!
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     bridget813 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: how do you know when a family member is addicted?

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Good morning - and thank you for your question. Drugs affect the body and brain in many ways.  Because drugs profoundly impact the brain, you often see changes in behavior.  These behavioral changes include withdrawal from non-drug using family and friends, poor academic or job performance, poor decision making, and fighting with parents or friends about drug use.  To learn more about specific drugs and read real stories from real teens, see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/category/real-life-stories, http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/.
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     spwhite14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is so addicting in drugs

    Expert Icon Nancy Pilotte: Hello Indiana!  Addiction is a disease marked by uncontrollable drug craving, drug seeking, and drug use that goes on even when bad things happen because of it.  Addiction develops because of changes to the brain caused by drug use.  At first, all drugs make you feel good, primarily because all drugs increase the release of the neurotransmitter, dopamine.  But as you continue to use, the delicate balance is disrupted and your brain begins to work a little differently. What happens?  Because drugs release a lot of dopamine, your brain begins to expect more with every good experience, and then 'normal' good experiences, like winning at sports or eating a delicious meal, don't release as much dopamine as they used to.  Eventually only the drug is effective, and this affects your ability to make good decisions. Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
    Moderator Icon  Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids – more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. People ages 12 to 20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.
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     briana28 - North Ridgeville Middle School, Ohio: whta should you do if you know your friend is smoking something but you promised them you wouldnt tell???

    Expert Icon Redonna Chandler: Thanks for your question ... this is a tough spot to be in...  First, be supportive and listen to them talk about their drug use.  You can encourage them to stop using drugs and if they are not aware of the negative consequences drug use has on their brain and body you can refer them to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php .  If they are unable to stop using drugs talk to them about treatment.  More information about drug treatment can be found at: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov .  Take care of yourself and remember you can't make your friend stop using drugs - you can only support them.
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     scarlott21 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: How many teens start drinking before the age of 18?

    Expert Icon Aaron White: Around 3 out of 4 teens have had at least a sip of alcohol before the age of 18, but the number of teens who actually drink regularly is far lower.
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     username15 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: Why do so many teens do drugs?

    Expert Icon Christine Colvis: Well, I think there are probably lots of reasons that teens use drugs.  I think some think that it will make them seem cool.  I think some do it because they are told not to and that makes them want to use them.  But it is a very risky thing to do and I think that when you see someone who is high, it won't seem so cool after all.  I'm glad you are thinking about it.  Stay safe.  Be cool...without drugs :-)
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     spwhite14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is the most harmule drug?

    Expert Icon Joe Frascella: This question is complicated, and the answer is not so simple. Scientists are reluctant to rank drugs in terms of their addictiveness and which drugs are most dangerous. There are just too many variables that would need to be considered: genetic (e.g., drug metabolism), environmental (e.g., drug availability) and developmental (e.g., age), all of which play important and changing roles in determining to what extent (in fact, even whether) abuse of a particular drug will lead to addiction.

    The fact that it is almost impossible to rank drugs, does not mean that we cannot identify factors that contribute to or influence the addictiveness of a particular drug. We can offer a nice example from the world of stimulants, where different routes of administration (i.e., how you take it) can have a profound impact on the ultimate risk of harm and addiction. Smoking cocaine (crack) delivers large quantities of the drug to the lungs, producing effects comparable to intravenous injection. These effects are felt almost immediately, are very intense, but do not last long. The high from smoking cocaine may last from 5 to 10 minutes. The high from snorting cocaine on the other hand comes on slower and can last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is evidence that suggests that users who smoke or inject cocaine may be at greater risk of causing harm to themselves-including becoming addicted-than those who snort the substance, because the drug reaches its brain targets so much faster. And route of administration is but one of many factors to consider just in relation to the drug itself--the dosage, combination with other drugs, setting in which a drug is taken, and pattern of drug taking are other variables to consider along with those noted above related to the individual and his/her environment.

    Hope this answer helps.
    Moderator Icon  Get your questions ready for Dr. David Shurtleff ---who serves as NIDA’s Acting Deputy Director and provides leadership in the development, implementation, and management of NIDA’s research portfolio. Dr. Shurtleff works closely with NIDA’s Director, Dr. Nora Volkow, to support and conduct research to improve prevention and treatment of drug use, abuse and addiction. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Shurtleff directed the NIDA division that supports basic biomedical and behavioral science that supports research exploring mechanisms of addiction, drug craving, effects of drugs on behavior and cognition, long-term chronic effects of drugs. In his spare time, he loves playing with his two German Shepherd-mix dogs, outdoor gardening, taking vacations to exotic places, hiking, snorkeling, swimming and playing golf.
    PollI think teachers do a good job of explaining the dangers of drugs.
    52% - Yes
    27% - No
    21% - Maybe
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     spwhite14 - Cathedral High School, Indiana: what is the least harmful drug?

    Expert Icon David Shurtleff: This is a hard question because by definition all drugs abuse can create some problems you name it: marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, prescription drugs, alcohol all can lead to addiction, can impair you ability to think and learn, and some addictive drugs like nicotine/tobacco can cause cancer see www.nida.nih.gov for more....
    Moderator Icon Welcome to Chat Day 2011!  Chat is now open!  We will be answering your questions as quickly as possible.  Please be patient!