Transcript for 2009 Chat Day

surf101 - Port Chester High School, New York: what has been the worst case of drug use abuse you've seen in your life?

Cheryl Boyce: Drug abuse, and particularly when it leads to addiciton, is awful for anyone who experiences it. Drug abuse can cause individuals to damage their brain and body, as well as their relationships with friends and families. It can also lead to arrest and jail--no fun. Keep your brain healthy!

Zippy do da - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: why do people that smoke think they are so cool?

Redonna Chandler: Thanks for your question. People that smoke think it is cool because of messages they have heard from other people - their friends, the media, tobacco companies - about smoking. The reality is that smoking has a significant negative impact on an individual's health and body that are really uncool. I mean who thinks that wrinkles, bad breath, yellow teeth, weezing, and stinky clothes are cool?

nvargas94 - Port Chester High School, New York: Is it true that when people are addicted to alcohol, they drink perfume,rubbing alcohol,handsanitizer etc...?

Mark Greene: I've never heard about drinking perfume--that would get to be pretty expensive. But it is true that people addicted to alcohol can develop such strong cravings that they will drink practically anything containing alcohol to try to satisfy them. Some of the things a person in this condition might drink are even more toxic than beer or liquor--for example rubbing alcohol is especially dangerous.

ihategomez16 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: can marijuana to more damage then cigarrettes

Joe Frascella: Depends...both can be damaging, and both can be addictive. We still don't know or understand about who becomes addicted and why, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different and might have different vulnerabilities to particular drugs. The longer someone takes drugs, the more likely that he/she will become addicted and suffer long-term, harmful brain changes. So, there is no real straightforward answer regarding which drug would be more damaging.

For general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ or for information on marijuana and tobacco, check out: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/ and http://www.marijuana-info.org/

:) - Einstein High School, Maryland: if a pregnant lady drink alcohol will the baby be affected?

Joni Rutter: Hi Einstein, The short answer is yep, indeed it can. We know from research that alcohol (including both beer and liquor) can seriously harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy, causing a variety of health problems including a disorder called fetal alcohol syndrome. For more details about all the birth defects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, check out this link: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htm

The highest risk of health problems is to babies whose mothers drank heavily while pregnant, but it is not clear yet whether there is ANY safe level of alcohol during pregnancy! For this reason, the U.S. Surgeon General released advisories in 1981 and again in 2005 urging women who are pregnant or may become pregnant not to drink alcohol (http://www.lhvpn.net/hhspress.html). If a mom is drinking while pregnant, the most important thing is that she quit - because it can have serious effects on her baby if she does keep drinking. She should talk to her doctor about her alcohol use, and get help if she is having problems stopping.

squale_sam - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: why you get addicted to drugs?

Cheryl Boyce: Hi there in Pennsylvania! Addiction is a complex process that involves our brain (see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction ).
In fact, you may not know that drug addiction is a brain disease. Different types of drugs have their own unique ways of changing how the brain works and possibly causing addiction. Generally, drugs alter the brain and behavior so that a person wants the drug no matter how bad the consequences are. Luckily, we have treatments for addiction to help our brain and body recover. See http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/ for more info.

monkeyman1215 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: what will you do if ur friend said ill shoot you if don't get high

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi there! If you feel this person is a threat to you and you are in danger, I would suggest getting help from an adult or authority figure immediately. This might even mean calling 911. You might also want to evaluate whether this is really a true friend. It is important that you not put yourself in situations that might be a danger to you or others. For information on how drugs can impair judgment and decision making and other dangers of drug use, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php

Another resource if you or a friend are in crisis is: 1-800-273-TALK.

AD301 - Rockville High School, Maryland: what are the side affects of pcp or acid

David Shurtleff: 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 anesthetic, PCP was never approved for human use because of problems including intensely negative psychological effects. LSD is a hallucinogen that causes 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. The effect can last several hours, and in some cases persistent flashbacks can occur days and months after taking the drug.

For more information about PCP, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/!

danielle walsh - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: what is pcp

Stephanie Older: PCP (also known as 'angel dust, ozone, wack and rocket fuel) is a synthetic drug sold as tablets, capsules, or white or colored powder. It can be snorted, smoked, or eaten. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety). It can also distort perceptions of sight and sound and produce feelings of detachment.

Millennium2009 - Lima Central Catholic High School, Ohio: Can being around gas/smoke fumes of a fire or car be as dangerous a drug?

Joni Rutter: Hi again Lima Central!
Gases from things like fumes from a car can definitely be dangerous. These are considered inhalants--and more information on inhalants can be found here: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/inhalants.html The effects of inhalants are similar to those of alcohol, including slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant abusers may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Chemicals found in different types of inhaled products may produce a variety of additional effects, such as confusion, nausea, or vomiting. By displacing air in the lungs, inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. Hypoxia can damage cells throughout the body, but the cells of the brain are especially sensitive to it-- and people can die from lack of oxygen to the brain. The symptoms of brain hypoxia vary according to which regions of the brain are affected: for example, the hippocampus helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations.

Long-term inhalant abuse can also break down myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds and protects some nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages quickly and efficiently, and when damaged, can lead to muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions such as walking, bending, and talking.

joshmcfather - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: do drugs and alcohol increase confidence

Mark Greene: Yes, drugs and alcohol can sometimes increase confidence, but that is not the same thing as actually helping you to do something. In fact, alcohol and drugs can decrease mental and physical abilities so you may feel more confident, but perform worse.

rattcandy - Dixie High School, Utah: Is it bad to drink wine at a young age?

Harold Perl: Hi. Thanks for asking a great question. Some people think that wine or beer is less harmful than other so-called 'hard' liquor. But the truth is that all alcoholic beverages contain the same chemical called 'ethanol.' The only difference between the different drinks is the percentage of ethanol that each contains. So, the answer to your question is that drinking any kind of alcohol -- including wine -- is harmful at a young age. Teen brains are still developing -- in fact, our brains keep developing until at least the mid-20's. Alcohol can harm the brain even more during this developmental period. And research shows that persons who start drinking early in life are much more likely to develop alcohol use problems later in life, including alcohol addiction, or alcoholism. Please check out the website of our sister agency, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). They focus on the problems caused by drinking alcohol and have a great site for teens at www.thecoolspot.gov. Thanks for asking and keep those great questions coming in!

Someone - Rockville High School, Maryland: Why do people get addicted to cigarettes?

David Shurtleff: When tobacco is smoked, nicotine rapidly reaches peak levels in the bloodstream and enters the brain. There, it targets the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that control 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 such as repeated and compulsive tobacco smoking.

For more facts about cigarettes and nicotine, check out http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/!

jazminsBigdaddy - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: do fat people do drugs to get skinny

Cheryl Boyce: Hi there in Arizona!. It is true that some people missuse stimulants to lose weight, but they do so at a great risk to their health. There are healthy ways to loose weight. You can find resources from the National Institutes of Health on healthy weight loss at: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/index.htm . Doing drugs to get skinny is not a good choice. Check with your school health providers about maintaining a healthy weight without using drugs. Have a great afternoon and keep your brain and body healthy.

The dog - Lima Central Catholic High School, Ohio: what should i do if one of my teammates is using drugs....... what should i tell him to convince him to stop

Joni Rutter: Hi Lima Central,
If one of your teammates is using drugs, you have twice the motivation to help him quit. The first motivation is that he is your friend and he's lucky to have you in his life. The second motivation is that you if are on the same team, you want your teammate to be focused and on his game. If he is doing drugs, he's not only bringing himself down by harming his health, he's also bringing the team down because drugs can cause you to be unfocused, uncoordinated, and slow! I don't know about you, but when I play sports, I want to win--there's no room for drugs in that! Here's a good place to go to find out how you can help your friend: http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Good luck!

Treanna21 - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: Does doing drugs while you have HIV or AIDS speed up the process of dying?

Ruben Baler: it will certainly not slow it down!

bubbler1409 - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: How do I know if a friend is in trouble with drugs and who can I talk to about it?

Redonna Chandler: Terrific question. There are questions you can ask your friend or information you may have from interacting with your friend to assess whether or not a they have 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?

Supporting someone with a drug abuse problem can be difficult and I would encourage you to talk to someone. Find a trusted adult like a parent, other family member, teacher, guidance counselor, parent of another friend and get support. For more information go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP
Hope this helps!

daltho1 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: why is meth so addictive. what is in meth to make it so addictive.

Cheryl Boyce: Addiction is a complex process that involves our brain (see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction ).
Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of drug of abuse has its own individual way of changing how the brain functions and causes addiction. Check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/ for more info. Meth ( Methamphetamine) is a stimulant drug that acts in the central nervous system. Repeatedly abusing meth can lead to addiction, which brings with it chemical and molecular changes in the brain (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/methamphetamine.html). Keep your brain healthy!

LovelessWedding - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What is the side effects of meth?

David Shurtleff: Methamphtamine is a potent and highly addictive psychostimulant - and is a very serious problem in the United States. Methamphetamine abuse can lead to devastating medical, psychological, and social consequences. Adverse health effects include memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart damage, malnutrition, and severe dental problems--meth mouth (yuk). Methamphetamine abuse also contributes to increased transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, and can infuse whole communities with new waves of crime, unemployment, child neglect or abuse, and other social ills.

For free downloads and cool videos about drugs, see http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/index.php#downloads!

cguhs - Casa Grande Union High School, Arizona: can a gurl use steroid?

Ruben Baler: She sure can, but she definitely shouldn't.
In addition to the well known and major effects of steroid abuse (like liver damage; jaundice; fluid retention; high blood pressure; and increases in 'bad' cholesterol) females risk growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, male-pattern baldness, and deepened voice. Teens in general 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.

stanman - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: Is it true that recent studies show that the psychotropic compound in hallucenogenic mushrooms could potentially be used in the future to combat some mental disorders, such as depression?

David Shurtleff: Excellent question- it's not likely that Psilocybin, the active component in the hallucinogenic mushrooms, would be used for this purpose, because it is a pwerful hallucinogen that causes profound distortions in the perception of reality, and in some individuals these distortions are extremely disurbing. However, many medications have been developed from natural/plant sources, and research on the the chemical struture of Psilocybin may provide good leads for new chemical and therapeutic drugs that may help people without the adverse effects associated with Psilocybin itself.

Check out the Sara Bellum Blog at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/!

heyy123 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: how long would it take for your life to end if you smoke tobacco? Why?

Mark Greene: It depends on how much you smoke and to some extent how sensitive you might be to the effects of smoking-not everyone reacts the same way. In 1995, the CDC estimated that smokers' lives were shortened by an average of about 14 years (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5114a2.htm)

But ending of life is just the final stage of what can be many years of dealing with bade effects of smoking. Tobacco abuse harms every organ in the body, it is linked to leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia, and accounts for about one-third of all cancer deaths. The overall rates of death from cancer are twice as high among smokers as nonsmokers, with heavy smokers having rates that are four times greater than those of nonsmokers. And, like you probably know, one of the leading cancers caused by tobacco use is lung cancer. In fact, cigarette smoking has been linked to about 90 percent of all lung cancer cases, the number-one cancer killer of both men and women. Tobacco abuse is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, ureter, and bladder. Smokers also lose some of their sense of smell and taste, don't have the same stamina for exercise and sports they once did, and may smell of smoke. After smoking for a long time, smokers find that their skin ages faster and their teeth discolor or turn brown.

So, even if it may take a while for smoking to end your life, it can make your life pretty miserable before it ends.

Schaquoria - Martinsville High School, Virginia: If you are seriosly addicted smoking and you take that gum that says it help you stop smoking Does i really help?

Redonna Chandler: Thanks for a great question. Yes, the gum can help some people quit smoking. A recent research study looked at lots of medications and over-the-counter products and found that the lozenge with the patch was the most effective way to help people stop smoking. The good news is that there are lots of different treatments for smoking including quitlines for support and resources, behavioral interventions, medications and over-the-counter products. You should see your physician if you are intested in using medication or over-the-counter products to stop smoking. For more information see the National Quitline website at: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Callers to the number are routed to their state's smoking cessation quitline or, in states that have not established quitlines, to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a new Web site (www.smokefree.gov) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make cessation easier.

Hope this helps.

aushaa-mariee(: - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: why cant there just be NO drugs, ?(:

Cheryl Boyce: A world with NO drugs is not likely to happen. But we can make good choices about drug use. Keep your brain healthy and avoid drug abuse!

WEEDISNTGOOD95 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: does weed kill brain cells

Cheryl Boyce: Hi there! There are many bad things that can happen when someone 'does weed.' When someone smokes marijuana, THC (which is in weed), passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. THC acts on specific sites in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of brain reactions that lead to the "high" that people talk about when they smoke marijuana. Smoking weed can affect your memory, thinking and problem solving skills, as well as coordination. These bad affects can last for days. Keep your brain healthy! Weed is not healthy for your brain cells. Click here to find out more: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

johnpreston - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: if you take steroids does your penis shrink

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi there! Steroid use can cause a number of health consequences. One major health consequence is that abusing anabolic steroids can lead to prematurely stunted growth through early skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes. This means that teens risk remaining short for the remainder of their lives if they take anabolic steroids before they stop growing. Other effects include jaundice (yellowish coloring of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), severe acne, and trembling. In response to your question, there are some gender specific effects:

• for guys, steroid use can cause shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, increased risk for prostate cancer.
• for girls, steroid use can cause growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a permanently deepened voice.

For more information about steroid abuse, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php

Tom S. - Rockville High School, Maryland: My dad is an alcoholic, should i drink with him to make him feel better?

Harold Perl: Hello. Thanks for asking a question that I know is very important to you. I'm sure that you want to help your dad in any way that you can. However, drinking with him would not be the answer. You could try talking to him about your concerns and worries about his drinking and ask him to try to get some professional help or to attend a self-help group such as Alcoholics Anonymous. It is important that you be able to talk about your worries with other members of your family or trusted adults such as a teacher, a school counselor, or a minister or rabbi. A group called Alateen helps families and friends of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with a relative or friend who abuses alcohol. Their website is: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/for-alateen. Here is a website for teens that will give you information about alcohol abuse: http://www.thecoolspot.gov/. Whatever you do, try to learn more about drug and alcohol addiction and find someone to help you deal with such a serious problem. Take good care.

nota_smoker - Rockville High School, Maryland: If a pregnate lady smokes marijuana while being pregnate will the baby come out addicted to marijuana

Joni Rutter: Hi Rockville High,
We don't know a lot about the severity of the withdrawal symptoms babies experience if mom is addicted to marijuana during pregnancy, but we do know that pot can hurt the baby. We've got a couple of scientific studies on marijuana and pregnancy - including one that followed kids from the prenatal/pregnancy stage until they were adults. These studies found that prenatal exposure to marijuana caused subtle developmental effects on paying attention, thinking, and other brain functions. Plus, people who use pot often smoke tobacco too, and tobacco use can also affect the baby's health. For example, some studies show that babies born to mothers who used tobacco while pregnant are more likely to use tobacco themselves and become addicted later on. We recommend pregnant women not use alcohol or drugs, including marijuana and tobacco, and ask their doctor for some help if they are having trouble stopping. For more information on the consequences of prenatal drug exposure, visit http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html

smurf - Dixie High School, Utah: can chocolate become as addicting as a caffeinated soda?

Nora Volkow: Chocolate is not really addictive but can be very desirable to consume just like a caffeinated soda. I love it, in fact.

LovelessWedding - Martinsville High School, Virginia: My friend has done tons and tons of pot does that cause vision problems?

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi! Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. and can have many effects. 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. It is important to know that marijuana use has other harmful health effects as well. Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role in problems with the respiratory and immune systems. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.

For more information about marijuana use go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php

rebel - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: whats the worse drug you can take

Nora Volkow: That depends on your genes and other conditions. So, for example, if you have a disease like asthma, marijuana may be particularly harmful, but if you have a heart condition, cocaine or methamphetamine may be particularly dangerous. Inhalants, methamphetamine, and 'ecstasy' are considered especially toxic. Look around our teen website for more interesting info: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/

fishin100 - Shippensburg Senior High School, Pennsylvania: stevo off jackass came out and said he was on nitroxide can you be killed by an overdose on nitros

David Shurtleff: Yes- if taken in high concentrations, it can result in suffocation (displacement of oxygen in the lungs)--not good! For more information about drugs and ways to help your friend, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

HeartGoldHo-oh - Einstein High School, Maryland: how do u stop a drunk driver?

Ruben Baler: I would just hide his/her keys.

JOOLAYY :D<3 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: why does ecstasy make you depressed?

Gaya Dowling: Ecstasy affects the brain by increasing the levels of various brain chemicals. One of these chemicals, serotonin plays an important role in the regulation of mood, sleep, pain, appetite, and other behaviors. The excess release of serotonin by ecstasy likely causes the positive feelings experienced by MDMA users. However, by releasing large amounts of serotonin, ecstasy then causes the brain to become significantly depleted of this important chemical, contributing to the negative feelings like depression that users often experience for several days after taking MDMA.

coolkidsfriend - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: is it true that when you smoke pot they can find it in your hair? how?

Ruben Baler: Yes, it's true. As drugs circulate in the blood stream, they enter and nourish hair follicle cells. As cells grow, they trap the drug molecules within the hair cells and are eventually 'sealed' in the keratinized hair shaft. Thus, the amount and time the drug(s) are in the blood stream is proportional to the amount of drug detected in the hair. THC (the active ingredient in pot) stays in your blood for 2-3 days

mmmmhm - Landmark Academy, Michigan: My twin sister likes to party and she always comes home high, she wont listen to me how do i make her stop?

Joni Rutter: Hey you are a twin! Cool!! I have a niece and nephew who are twins. They are only 3. Is your twin identical to you? Anyway, enough questions of my own. If your twin sister is coming home high all the time, she has a drug problem. For suggestions on how to help her stop, you can go to this site: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
If she is ever in a crisis--a very real danger since she comes home high all the time-- please call 1-800-273-TALK. They can help you get your sister through a tough situation. Good luck. She's lucky to have you as her twin.

havoc - Rockville High School, Maryland: What brain receptores does LSD mess with?

David Shurtleff: LSD causes its effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. The effect can last several hours, and in some cases long-term persistent flashbacks can occur days and months (or longer) after taking LSD.

Connect and Interact. Free downloads and cool videos about drugs: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/index.php#downloads.

taraz7 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: What is the most likely reason for people to start drinking or taking drugs?

Susan Weiss: Many reasons--availability, peers or siblings that drink or use drugs, risk taking--common among adolescents.

fgomes2012 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: what are the long term effects of LSD

David Shurtleff: LSD is a hallucinogen that causes profound distortions in perceptions 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 several hours, and in some cases long-term persistent flashbacks can occur days and months (or longer) after taking LSD.

Did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers!

JMB :) - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: What are the damages of ecstasy?

David Shurtleff: MDMA, often called ecstasy, is not safe. Over 15 years of research conducted on animals has proven that MDMA damages specific neurons in the brain-those containing serotonin. Because of the difficulties of conducting similar research in humans, conclusive evidence of neurotoxicity in humans has not yet been established. However, a variety of studies have shown that some chronic, heavy users of MDMA have cognitive deficits. MDMA also has potent effects on the cardiovascular system and on the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature. Of great concern is MDMA's adverse effect on the pumping efficiency of the heart - in the presence of MDMA, increased physical activity increases heart rate significantly, but the heart does not respond in its normal manner, which is to increase the efficiency with which it pumps blood. Since MDMA use is often associated with sustained, strenuous activity, such as dancing, MDMA's effects on the heart could increase the risk of heart damage or other cardiovascular complications in susceptible individuals -not good!

For more information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

bubbles:( - Dixie High School, Utah: what if my bffl was so into drugs that he\she could not stop what i do

Joe Frascella: Super question. First understand that you are probably dealing with someone who is dependent or addicted to drugs, so accept that this person probably has a 'changed' brain making it difficult to just 'say no'! Try to convince him/her to consider getting some help.

Check out the following for more information:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/

Four-0 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: Whats worst cigarretes every day or pot every day?

Nora Volkow: Pot every day since it affects your memory, thinking, and coordination. If you are a student, this is not desirable sicne it could lead you to fail in school. Here's some more questions I've answered about marijuana: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

dynasty - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: Why do people think it's alright, even cool, a good time, enjoying actually to get in a group with their friends and just smoke and or drink?

Redonna Chandler: Well Dynasty I'm guessing one reason people think it is 'cool' to party with their friends is because their 'friends' or other teens told them it was cool. But once you've started drinking and smoking-there's nothing cool about the physical impact of taking drugs-including: bad breath, poor complexion, rotting teeth, drooling, slurred speech, etc is cool. Drugs affect memory, judgment, and perception. Drugs can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or your friends. If you're high, you are more likely to make mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt you. None of this sounds cool to me and I'm sure if your friends were presented with the facts that wouldn't think it was cool either. To learn the facts about drugs and their impact on you see: http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/

FATAL DISTRICTx - Port Chester High School, New York: Which is more adictive.? Crystal meth or a tye of weed like purple haze or white widow.?

Ruben Baler: Meth is probably one of the most addictive substances. But the effects of different drugs do vary between different people. Marijuana, whatever the variety, can be addictive too, so I would strongly encourage you not to try to find out for yourself.

andrewisthebest - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: is it true that coffie is more addictive then weed

Nora Volkow: No, there is no scientific evidence for that. Both can be 'addictive.' Look around our teen website to learn more--fun things to do there, too: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.php

Gab - South Middle School, West Virginia: My dad drinks beer every once in a while. Can beer help you if you don't drink too much?

Harold Perl: Hi and thanks for a very important question. Many adults only drink occasionally -- or even not at all. Some research has suggested that moderate alcohol use can have some beneficial health effects, although we are not sure how that helps. Even so, it is NOT recommended that a person start to drink just to get some possible health benefits -- there are too many other possible harmful effects that may occur. You can get more information on beer and other types of alcohol at the website of our sister agency, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/. They also have a special site for teens at http://www.thecoolspot.gov/. Thanks again and keep your questions rolling in.

funkyfresh - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: what if you have a perant that dose drugs and they pretend they dont but you have caught them and they just deny it what should you do?

Redonna Chandler: Dealing with parental drug abuse is tough and I know this from first hand experience. The reality is that you can't make your parent stop taking drugs or get into treatment. You can encourage them to seek help and express your concern about thier drug use. You can also take care of yourself trying to make sure their drug use doesn't negatively impact you. For example, when my father would drink I would make sure I didn't ride with him in the car and arranged for friends or their parents to take me places. I also talked with my school guidance counselor and participated in a local Al-Anon program for teens (Alateen) whose parents used drugs. There I found the support I needed to deal with my father's drug use and friends who understood what I was going through. For more information on how to help someone stop using drugs see: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or cal l1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7 and for more informaiton about Alateen:http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/for-alateen

I hope this information is helpful. Hang in there and know there are people who understand.

Rod - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why do people get addicted to Vicodin and other pain relieving drugs? How long does it take to get addicted? What does it do to your body? Do people go to rehab for Vicodin how long does it take to get off the drug?

Susan Weiss: Vicodin is an opiate drug, which means it works in the brain similarly to heroin, morphine and other opiate pain relievers--all highly addictive. There are special proteins in the brain where these drugs bind (called opiate receptors) and they are located in areas associated with addiction--including the reward areas. Everyone is different in terms of how easily or how quickly they can become addicted. This is because of many factors: genes, life circumstances, whether there are other emotional problems (e.g., depression, anxiety), the age at which someone starts using drugs, what other drugs are also being used, how often... and many others. Many people don't realize they are becoming addicted until they are already there--after all, no one wants to grow up to be a drug addict. When people try to stop taking opiate drugs, including vicodin, they often go through withdrawal. The symptoms can vary but typically include muscle pain, nausea, sweating, and others. Treatment for opiates can include medically assisted detoxification--to help the person deal with the withdrawal symptoms, followed by longer term treatment to help them stay off of the drugs. There are a number of resources you can contact for help including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, which doesn't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect a person with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

Setsuna - Martinsville High School, Virginia: which drug is worse, marijana or cocaine?

Nora Volkow: It depends on your genes since some people are more sensitive to the adverse effects of marijuana than of cocaine. However overall cocaine is considered to be more addictive than marijuana.

For more information about specific drugs and their effects, see NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

jake - Presque Isle High School, Maine: my cousant has been taking perkasat 5s and i want to know the effecs?

David Shurtleff: Percocet is a combination of Oxycodone and Acetaminophen which, if taken under a doctor's supervision is an effective pain reliever. Oxycodone is a drug that can also be abused--if misused in this way, this drug can lead to addiction and compulsive drug taking. Opioids can produce drowsiness, constipation and, depending on amount taken, can depress breathing. Central nervous system depressants slow down brain function; if 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.

For more information, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

unicorn - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: has anyone's brain fallen out of their heads by doing drugs

Joni Rutter: Anyone with a brain doesn't use drugs! Seriously, though, no one's brain has 'fallen out of their heads' by doing drugs, but what does happen is that your brain can get hijacked by the drugs themselves--in other words, you can lose your free will to the drugs you use. Do you want to be a slave to a drug? If you do enough drugs, those drugs physically and structurally change the brain in a way that makes it difficult to make good decisions--like not to use drugs anymore. For more information on facts about drugs see: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php

steve h - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what is pharming and what is the worst drug u can get through pharming

Ruben Baler: Pharming is the incredible dumb practice of mixing prescription drugs in a hat or box and then taking a handful out and downing it without knowing what you are taking. This practice is very dangerous and potentially lethal. The real danger of pharming lies in the 'combining' of unknown drugs that are themselves dangerous. Bad, bad idea.

alexad - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: porque les gusta mariguana?

Nora Volkow: a algunas gente les gusta por que los hace sentir mellow.

drugs ey day - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: whats the worst drug you could do

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi. Good question. Well, it depends on what you mean by worse. If you are asking about which drug causes the most deaths, that would be tobacco. Tobacco use is linked to about 440,000 deaths per year. Yes, I know that's a lot of deaths.

For more information on tobacco and other drugs go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/index.php

student - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: if i smoke 1 pack a day and crystal meth at the same time can that effect the baby inside you?

Nora Volkow: Yes most definitively, smoking has very adverse effects on the baby's brain and organs and methamphetamine affects the delivery of blood to the baby. So this is a very bad combination for the unborn baby.

yordi - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what is extaxis?

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. I'm thinking you're asking about ecstasy. "Ecstasy" is a slang term for MDMA, short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, a really long name I know. It has effects similar to those of other stimulants, and it often makes the user feel like everyone is his or her friend, even when that's not the case. Because MDMA is man-made, makers of MDMA can add anything they want to the drug, so its purity is always in question.

Like other drugs, MDMA can be addictive for some people. That is, people continue to take the drug despite experiencing unpleasant physical side effects and other social, behavioral, and health consequences. For more information on MDMA go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_xtc1.php

Here are some facts on ecstasy use in youth. According to a 2008 NIDA-funded study, many smart teens are turning their backs on MDMA. Since 2001, the percentage of 8th-graders who have ever tried MDMA has dropped from 5.2 percent in 2001 to 2.4 percent in 2008, though it is a slight increase from 2007 (2.3 percent). The drop for 10th-graders was from 8.0 percent in 2001 to 4.3 percent in 2008, and 12th-graders have had the greatest decrease, from 11.7 percent in 2001 to 6.2 percent in 2008. According to 12th-graders, MDMA also seemed to be less available in 2008, which is good; but fewer 8th-graders saw 'great risk' in occasionally using MDMA - perhaps the reason for the slight increase in use from 2007. It means that 8th-graders may not understand the health risks of using MDMA as well as they should. So that's something we're going to pay attention to in the future.

babii - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: once i smoked weed around my baby. does that effect him or not... please answer back i need help fast!!!!!!!!

Joni Rutter: Hi Benjamin Franklin,
Smoking weed around your baby is defintely NOT good. Weed smoke has chemicals in it that can cause breathing and lung problems, and the smoke also has the addictive chemicals that get into a fragile, developing brain, such as the one in your son's head! I hope you can stop smoking weed altogether, because weed also affects you negatively, too-- you just may not feel it at the time. For more information, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

edsole - Einstein High School, Maryland: is it hard to stop smoking????/

Joe Frascella: Yes, smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to stop.

For more information on smoking, check out: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/tobacco.html

gruberec - Phoenixville Area High School, Pennsylvania: Back in the day..why would they actually put cocaine in the coke a cola products?>

Joe Frascella: Ah, great question! I believe that cocaine was originally put in Coca-cola products for its stimulant properties and for it flavor-enhancing properties?!

casagrande - Casa Grande Union High School, Arizona: I have a group of friends who come to class higher than a kite most days what should i tell them?

Joe Frascella: Great question! Try to convince them to 'come back down to earth'! That is, drug use can lead to chronic drug abuse, and then to addiction with other related problems. For example, marijuana itself presents significant health risks. We know that Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception. The drug can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or with your friends. If you're high on marijuana, you are more likely to make mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt you. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose interest in how you look and how you're getting along at school or work.

Athletes could find their performance is off; timing, movements, and coordination are all affected by THC. Also, since marijuana can affect judgment and decisionmaking, its use can lead to risky sexual behavior, resulting in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role in some kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory and immune systems.
So, it is pretty clear that there are negative short- and long-term consequences to smoking marijuana. Good luck in trying to convince your friends and for caring about them!

For more information, check out: http://www.marijuana-info.org/ and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/

that1kid - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: If my mother drank alcohol while i was in the whom, whould that make me addicted to alcohol?

Joni Rutter: Good question, Valley Vista High.
Good news, because your Mother used alcohol while you were in utero, that doesn't mean that you will automatically become addicted, although drug abuse and alcoholism have strong heriditary components (meaning it 'runs in families'). Scientists estimate that genetic factors account for about 50 percent of a person's risk of becoming addicted.Many other factors, such as stress levels and family environment also contribute heavily. We even have identified particular gene variants that are linked to higher risk of alcoholism, but even if you have the high risk form of these genes,alcoholism can be entirely avoided if alcohol is not used. Here's NIDA's Website for teens with information on the science behind drug abuse, facts on drugs, questions and answers, real stories and interactive activities. http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov

Here's more good news! Doing things like going to school, hanging out with friends who don't drink, and being active (like playing sports) can help protect you from alcoholism and other drugs--even if you have other risk factors. You have total control over whether or not you become addicted to alcohol. I hope you stay sober!!

gubernube21 - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: my boyfriend is very abussive to me, and he takes drugs, do they have some sort of relation

Redonna Chandler: Dear gubernube21 - Thanks for being willing to ask such a sensitive question. I'm so sorry to hear that you are being abused and that someone you care about has a drug abuse problem. There may be a connection between your boyfriend's abusive behavior and his drug use. Research has demonstrated that drugs impact the brain and behavior. Some people become abusive and violent under the influence of drugs. But regardless of the cause for his abusive behavior toward you it is not ok for him to abuse you. No one has the right to be abusive toward you - either verbally, emotionally, or physically-drugs or no drugs. I encourage you to talk with a trusted adult about this situation - your parents or other family member, a teacher, school guidance counselor, parent of a friend, - and get the support you need to deal with this situation.

You are a young person with tremendous potential and you deserve a boyfriend who treats you with respect.

To help you visit call 1.866.331.9474 or one of the other numbers here: http://www.teensagainstabuse.org/index.php?q=hotlines and visit http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/for-alateen
For some tips on how to help your boyfriend: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/tag/drug-abuse-treatment/.

Take care.

BlackRavenWings - Skaneateles High School, New York: Are drugs more common in college or high school?

Ruben Baler: Some are. Unfortunately the abuse of stimulants (like ritalin) and other prescription drugs are more common in college. In high school we are still dealing with a high prevalence of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use.

WEEDISNTGOOD95 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: ummmmmm does weed really help heal your health problems

Nora Volkow: Weed contains cannabinoids and some of the cannabinoids can be use to relieve pain or nausea that is why some people with cancer or HIV use them. However you can get medications that have the positive effects of cannabinoids without the negative effects of marijuana.

You can read more about marijuana on NIDA's website http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.

catcher#20 - South Middle School, West Virginia: Can you be addicted to two drugs at the same time.

Harold Perl: Hi there. That is a great question. Years ago, people only focused on problems with one drug at a time but we now know that many people have problems with two or more different drugs all at the same time. For example, someone who abuses a drug like heroin or cocaine may also be addicted to nicotine or drinking too much alcohol. This may make it harder for a person to get his or her life together and quit using drugs. Did you know that drugs can contribute to lots of health problems, including lung and cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and mental disorders? Check out http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/ for more information about drug abuse and addiction. Thanks again for signing on to the chat today.

cupcake <3 - Dixie High School, Utah: If i do drugs should i stop or just do them less?

Mark Greene: You should try to stop using drugs if at all possible. While drugs can make you feel good when you start to take them, they are toxic to many parts of your body including your brain. The more you take drugs, the more likely you will find yourself with both physical and mental problems. Drugs can be especially damaging to you during adolescent years because your brain is still developing and drugs can affect this and lead to life long problems.

If you have trouble quitting, think about talking to a trusted adult--maybe you have a coach or teacher, for example, who will be nonjudgmental and helpful. Another resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,1-800-273-TALK (8255): they aren't concerned only about suicide, but can help with a variety of issues. If you decide that substance abuse treatment will help, you can find it at 1-800-662-HELP or go to www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

student - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: what is crystal meth?

Nora Volkow: Crystal meth, is methamphetamine that can be smoked. Meth is a very powerful stimulant drug that is very addictive.

For more information visit NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_meth1.php.

luis - Spring Woods High School, Texas: can you died from steroids when using ones a day??

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi there! 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 (for example, 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 their physical appearance.

Steroid abuse can lead to serious, even irreversible health problems. Some of the most dangerous among these include liver damage; jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids); fluid retention; high blood pressure; increases in LDL ("bad" cholesterol); and decreases in HDL ("good" cholesterol). Other reported effects include renal failure, severe acne, and trembling. For adolescents - stunted growth due to premature skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes; risk of not reaching expected height if AAS is taken before the typical adolescent growth spurt. In addition, people who inject AAS run the added risk of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, which causes serious damage to the liver and in the case of HIV/AIDS can lead to death.

For additional information on AAS, go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_ster1.php

joshua - Spring Woods High School, Texas: my moms smokes ciggarettes for a lot of years, cool's but she takes care of herself and her teeth. i know i still have to help her take certain precautions, but what other risks does she have to worry about long term wise?

David Shurtleff: Unfortunately, your mom is likely addicted to tobacco and runs the risk for lung cancer and other diseases. Cigarette smoking kills an estimated 440,000 U.S. citizens each year - more than alcohol, illegal drug use, homicide, suicide, car accidents, and AIDS combined! Between 1964 and 2004, more than 12 million Americans died prematurely from smoking, and another 25 million U.S. smokers alive today will most likely die of a smoking-related illness.

Cigarette smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. It has been conclusively linked to cataracts and pneumonia, and accounts for about one-third of all cancer deaths. The overall rates of death from cancer are twice as high among smokers as nonsmokers, with heavy smokers having rates that are four times greater than those of nonsmokers. Foremost among the cancers caused by tobacco use is lung cancer - cigarette smoking has been linked to about 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer, the number one cancer killer of both men and women. Smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, cervix, kidney, bladder, and acute myeloid leukemia.

There are behavioral therapies and medications that can help your mom quit which would be the best thing for her health! For more information on how you could help your mom, please visit http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ and http://www.smokefree.gov/. Good luck.

BlackRavenWings - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is it that drugs like roofies make you forget the assault and all the events?

Ruben Baler: Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam) is a type of benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that depresses the central nervous system. You may have heard of Valium and Xanax. These are also benzodiazepines used as sedatives and antianxiety agents. Rohypnol was developed as a sleeping aid. It is also used in therapy settings to relax patients and to get them talking.

Rohypnol can produce amnesia (memory loss) and muscle relaxation and make people lower their inhibitions. So you feel like you can do anything. When inhibitions are lowered, people feel as if an obstacle has been removed. Therefore, they can talk more freely and feel less shy.

smurf - Dixie High School, Utah: what is the best way to deal with addictions?

Nora Volkow: To treat them as you would treat other medical disorders.

You can also look at some treatment resources at the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

student - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: Why is marijuana a gateway drug?

Nora Volkow: Because it facilitates the transition to use of other drugs like cocaine, methamphetmaine and ecstasy.

You can read more about marijuana on NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php.

sheikhomarasha - Otto Middle School, Michigan: how does alcohol mess your braun up?

Joe Frascella: Great question! There is a lot of information regarding the effects of alcohol on the brain. For example, we know that the adolescent brain may be vulnerable to alcohol's effects. Research has shown that adolescent animals are less sensitive to the affects of alcohol intoxification such as sedation, loss of coordination, and hangovers. But at the same time, they are more sensitive to alchohol's impact on social facilitation (in humans this includes social interactions). These studies suggest that adolescents who drink may enjoy positive sensations more than adults. They may also experience fewer of the immediate negative effects, such as sleepiness and hangovers, which often serve as protective factors for older drinkers. Some of these differences are most likely related to the effects that alcohol has on the adolescent brain, particularly limbic areas. Areas of the brain, know as limbic areas that are thought to regulate emotions mature earlier. They are also are associated with a lower sensitivity to risk and an increases in behaviors associated with novelty and sensation seeking. These brain areas mature earlier than other areas of the brain known as the frontal lobes, which are thought to be responsible for self regulation, judgment, reasoning, problem solving, and impulse control. This difference in maturational timing across the brain can result in impulsive decisions or actions, a disregard for consequences, and emotional reactions that can put teenagers at serious risk. This all means that adolescents who drink are are greater risk for problems associated with alcohol abuse.

For more info, check out: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets

cole farley - Presque Isle High School, Maine: what makes nicotine addictive

David Shurtleff: When tobacco is smoked, nicotine rapidly reaches peak levels in the bloodstream and enters the brain. There it targets the brain's reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that control 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 such as tobacco smoking.

For a more complete story about nicotine, check out http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/. You can also see the Sara Bellum Blog at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/-- it has all the latest information on drugs and drug abuse, and you can comment on what's written.

skyler13 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can drugs deprss you

Susan Weiss: Yes. Sometimes the drugs themselves can make you depressed--alcohol sometimes does this; and sometimes its the aftereffects of using drugs that can make you depressed. This can also happen with alcohol, ecstasy, stimulants (like cocaine) and others. If you are depressed, there are treatments that can help, and it's important to take this seriously and talk to an appropriate medical professional or a trusted adult. Depression often begins in adolescence -- whether it is drug induced, drug related, or something else.

coaxie - Dixie High School, Utah: can you lose weight from drugs?

Nora Volkow: Drugs like cocaine, methampethamine, and to a lesser extent nicotine can lead to weight loss since they suppress hunger. Other drugs like marijuana can increase your weight since they can give you the munchies. However use of drugs is not a good way to keep weight off since you become tolerant to these effects and when you stop most people go back to their prior weight (or even higher).

bwayluvr2 - Port Chester High School, New York: What exactly is in alchohol that makes you lose brain cells?

Harold Perl: Hi. That's a very interesting question. When alcohol is metabolized (or broken down) by the body, it turns into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is very harmful to the cells in the body and also has been known to cause cancer. Use of alcocol can also lead to other poor health problems that also can harm the brain. Alcohol can also have long-term consequences for your emotional health. You can check a cool website for teens from NIDA's sister agency the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at http://www.thecoolspot.gov/. Thanks for logging on.

Pimp C - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Why do people use date rape drugs if they cant get sex from their date????

Ruben Baler: Two complementary reasons:
1) they probably CAN'T get it from their date
2) they are pathetic weasels

zgiddings - Ludlow Elementary School, Pennsylvania: Can using drugs lead to body odor?

Joni Rutter: Hello Ludlow,
I have to admit...this is one of the most unusual questions of the day :-)

Using drugs can definitely lead to body odor. The main reason is because when you are addicted to drugs, you don't take care of yourself like you should. For example, if you smoke, you have bad breath because your breath smells like an ashtry! Who would want to be around that?? Drugs like meth can cause dry mouth, lip cracking, and tooth rot; some drugs cause your body temperature to rise, making you sweat more. The more you sweat, the more you stink. Things to think about, hunh?!

$$ice man23$$ - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what drug is more dangerous towards your health?

Nora Volkow: All of them can be dangerous depending on your genes. However overall ice is consdiered to be one of the most addictive and toxic.

For more information about specific drugs and their effects, see NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

smokvica - Shippensburg Senior High School, Pennsylvania: Does marijuana have any long term effects to the body?

David Shurtleff: Yes- it can affect the brain leading to addiction. Smoking marijuana can also lead to cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs. Research has shown that smoking marijuana increases the likelihood of developing cancer of the head or neck, and that the more marijuana is smoked, the greater the risk.

For more information about drugs, please visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

ilikedrugchtday - Rockville High School, Maryland: what is worse drinking alcohol or doing marijuwana

Ruben Baler: In spite of the fact that only one of them is legal (if you are an adult), young people should avoid their use. No benefit can come to you by smoking pot or drinking alcohol. Sure, you may think it's 'cool' now, but using either at your age dramatically increases your chances of becoming later addicted to these or other drugs, of dropping school, and of never reaching your goals.

021996 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: what would you do if your mom was get high

Nora Volkow: I will take her to see a doctor so she could be treated, but I am an adult and if you are a kid it may be harder for you to take your mom to see a doctor. You can speak with an adult who can help you take her to the doctor so they can treat her then.

There are also some treatment resources at the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

jwittenstein - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: what plant does CRACK come from

Joe Frascella: Crack is derived from the coca plant. Cocaine comes from the coca plant and crack is just a crystallized form of cocaine.

shark - Dixie High School, Utah: how do you know so much about drugs and things related?

Joe Frascella: hey shark, thanks for the question. Working at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, we are exposed to lots of very exciting research findings each day...so we get to learn new things about drugs all the time!

jessie - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: How can you help children whose mother was an alchoholic or smoked tobacco while she was pregnant?

Mark Greene: That is a tough question. Effects of alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy can range from severe to minimal, depending on how much alcohol or tobacco was used and also when during the course of the pregnancy they were used. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause, at the worst, fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition whose signs and symptoms include particular facial features and mental retardation. The worst effects of tobacco include lowered ability to process sounds and increased risk of personality disorders and becoming a smoker.

There are things that can be done, but first the children have to be evaluated medically and the steps taken need to match the kinds of problems that are found. The link below has some great information about alcohol and pregnancy
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/DrinkingPregnancy_HTML/pregnancy.htm

Mr.UFC xDD - Spring Woods High School, Texas: I Know People Who Have Been Do Marijuana For Years! Mainly Everyday And They Look normal, So is the effect different for everyone??

David Shurtleff: Although the people you know that use MJ look normal, they may not be, especially if they are using it every day. The chronic marijuana smokers you know are probably addicted, and would have withdrawal symptoms should they ever stop using MJ. Withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbances and irritability, among other adverse effects. Research has also linked marijuana use to reduced capacity for motivation--the ability to maintain confidence and persevere in the pursuit of goals. MJ can also impair memory and the ability to learn new information--they may be having trouble learning in school or not getting the best grades they could.

To learn more about marijuana and its effects, check out http://www.marijuana-info.org/.

rabidsqurrels - Presque Isle High School, Maine: Why is marijuana illegal but they still prescribe it for medicine?

Susan Weiss: This remains a controversial area because marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, which means it has a high potential for abuse and no established medical benefits, yet some states have passed laws allowing its use for certain medical conditions. Some of the ingredients in marijuana (e.g. THC) do have approved medical uses--e.g. to increase appetite in people with wasting disorders, or to decrease nausea from cancer chemotherapies. Those ingredients are currently available in pill form, or are being developed as new medicines. But marijuana, because it is a plant, and is usually smoked, is not a good candidate for a medication. Smoking exposes the lungs to a variety of harmful chemicals, and the marijuana plant contains many ingredients with unknown effects. For a drug to have established medical benefits--it has to go through rigourous testing in clinical trials with patients to show that it is both safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes the final decision on whether a medicine meets the high standards for approval for use. Currently the FDA has not approved marijuana for any clinical use.

student - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: r u hi rite now

Nora Volkow: Not from drugs but I am high from life (and science, its awesome).

philayorkieian2 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: i know drugs are bad but how bad are they if you have them prescribed to you and you take advantage of them?

Joe Frascella: Great question. Many drugs that are abused are actually used as medications - for example, morphine, prescription opioids/pain killers, ketamine, benzodiazepines, etc. When used properly, these drugs/medications are extremely useful for many medical reasons. That said, medications can be used for nonmedical purposes, and when used this way, they can be abused and can lead to addiction.

Check out this site for further discussion of the science of addiction, and thanks for your question: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/addiction.html

philayorkieian2 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: what is in weed that makes it so harmful?

Nora Volkow: It has cannabinoids which are addictive. It also has many chemicals in smoke that have carcinogenic effects, meaning they can cause cancer.

You can read more about the effects of marijuana at NIDA's website http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.

foedingerk - Phoenixville Area High School, Pennsylvania: My cousin adopted a baby whose mother was addicted to drugs. He was born with 6 fingers on each hand...did the drugs have an effect on this?

Joni Rutter: Hi Phoenix Area High!
This is an interesting question! Being born with 6 fingers has a genetic cause. It is a dominant genetic trait--that means that if one of your parents has 6 fingers, the child has a 50/50 chance of being born with 6 fingers--whether the parent uses drugs or not. Having 6 fingers is rare, but not uncommon, and perfectly healthy--it doesn't mean that the child has or will have any other health issues. Most babies born with 6 fingers undergo surgery to remove the extra finger. One of my good friends was born with 6 fingers. He has scars on both hands from the surgery, but they are not very noticeable, so you'd never know.

That said, I'm glad your cousin adopted a baby and will provide him/her with a good home. There may be other consequences from the biological mom being addicted to drugs during pregnancy, such as some learning difficulties. For more information, see: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html. A nurturing environment will be a good way to help the child and give him/her a good life.

babycakes123 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: Do people take drugs because of depressions?

Redonna Chandler: Interesting question. We know that people typically take illegal drugs for two main reasons - because it is new and exciting, or because they feel lousy and want to feel better. People trying to cope with depression may take drugs to feel better. But any relief from the saddness is short-lived and abusing drugs won't help treat depression in the long run. The best way to address depression is through treatment from a medical or mental health professional. Medications and behavioral therapies offer the best way to deal with depression. Using drugs is no solution and because of the way they impact the brain, body, and behavior only complicate treatment for depression.
For more information see: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/teen-depression

IstvanMiss - Otto Middle School, Michigan: What does Alcohol do to your brain?

Joe Frascella: Great question! There is a lot of information regarding the effects of alcohol on the brain. For example, we know that the adolescent brain may be vulnerable to alcohol's effects. Research has shown that adolescent animals are less sensitive to the affects of alcohol intoxification such as sedation, loss of coordination, and hangovers. But at the same time, they are more sensitive to alchohol's impact on social facilitation (in humans this includes social interactions). These studies suggest that adolescents who drink may enjoy positive sensations more than adults. They may also experience fewer of the immediate negative effects, such as sleepiness and hangovers, which often serve as protective factors for older drinkers. Some of these differences are most likely related to the effects that alcohol has on the adolescent brain, particularly limbic areas. Areas of the brain, know as limbic areas that are thought to regulate emotions mature earlier. They are also are associated with a lower sensitivity to risk and an increases in behaviors associated with novelty and sensation seeking. These brain areas mature earlier than other areas of the brain known as the frontal lobes, which are thought to be responsible for self regulation, judgment, reasoning, problem solving, and impulse control. This difference in maturational timing across the brain can result in impulsive decisions or actions, a disregard for consequences, and emotional reactions that can put teenagers at serious risk. This all means that adolescents who drink are are greater risk for problems associated with alcohol abuse.

For more info, check out: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets

BlackRavenWings - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is it that inhalants are able to kill you in small amounts on your first time?

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hi there. Very important question. First, statistics show that inhalant abuse is most common among younger age groups so it's important that younger adolescents understand the effects of inhalants. 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. So, your question - why is it that inhalants are able to kill. Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can cause irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to heart failure. Sniffing inhalants can also lead to asphyxiation which is caused by high concentrations of inhaled fumes displacing the available oxygen in the lungs. Even when using aerosols or volatile products for their legitimate purposes (i.e., painting, cleaning), it is wise to do so in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. For more information about inhalants go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.

5618579 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: what happens when you smoke crack.

Nora Volkow: When someone smokes crack they get high because dopamine goes up in the reward centers of their brain. This effect is very short lasting and results in a strong desire for more drug- that's a very potent drug! With repeated use it will result in addiction whereupon the person no longer has control over when to not use the drug and when to stop. The person wants more and more and can not satiate the need for it.
You can read more about crack and similar types of drugs at NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php.

kalexand - Skaneateles High School, New York: How realistic are the alcohol goggles compared to being drunk in real life?

Harold Perl: Hey there, that's a really cool question. I assume you are talking about the goggles that make the things you see all mixed up and twisted. These goggles can show you how messed up your senses and perceptions get when you are drunk or intoxicated. It may seem funny to watch someone stumble around if they are drunk -- or seem to be drunk -- but just imagine what it would be like to do something complicated like driving a car, riding a bicycle, or even walking down the stairs. That would be very dangerous for the person or for the people around him or her. Of course when you remove the goggles, your senses come back to normal -- and you won't be hung over, sick, or messed up. Please check out the website of our sister agency, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). They focus on the problems caused by drinking alcohol and have a great site for teens at www.thecoolspot.gov. Thanks for asking and keep those great questions coming in!

suryptitious17 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: Why would people do drugs even if they know that they will harm themselfs?

Ruben Baler: Some people (particularly very young kids) use drugs simply because they are not aware of the dangers involved. Many young kids sniffing glue probably fall into this category. Now, there are many reasons why people use drugs in spite of knowing of their harmful consequences. Some try drugs because of peer pressure. Some try to alleviate a medical condition, such as depression or other underlying mental disorder (did you know that close to 90% of schizophrenics smoke cigarettes?). Yet others, seek the pleasurable sensations of euphoria that the initial drug exposure is supposed to bring. Many drink alcohol or abuse other sedative drugs to dull the senses or escape from painful circumstances.

Briana - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What if your friend is doin grugs and dont tell you until you find out what should you do?

Joni Rutter: That's a tough spot to be in...First, you should be commended for showing concern for your friend. If your friend has not told you of their drug use, they may be embarrased or afraid to tell you for fear of judgement. You can help your friend by being supportive and encouraging. Try to show your concern without being judgmental, so that your friend does not get defensive. You may let him know 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 friend 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 cousin.

If your friend wants to stop using drugs, supporting his effort to quit is one very important thing you can do. Planning activities with him so that he is not exposed to situations where he would be tempted to use drugs could help.

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/.

khentze - Junction City High School, Oregon: What is the most abused prescription drug?

Gaya Dowling: The most abused prescription drugs are prescription painkillers. In 2008, 4.8 million people over the age of 12 took prescritpion painkillers for nonmedical reasons in past month. Among teens, nearly 10 percent of high school seniors used the painkiller Vicodin and nearly 5 percent used OxyContin in the past year.

shell - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: well i know people that smoke tobacco and they have trouble to running why

David Shurtleff: Tobacco smoking can result in damage to lungs leading to lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchial disorders. Even if you don't have these diseases, any damage to your lungs can affect your ability to breath and take in the oxygen you need to run fast. The good news is that quitting and staying away from cigarettes will allow your lungs to repair some of the damage.

For more information about smoking, check out http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.

:) hey <3 - South Middle School, West Virginia: my aunt has been on morphine due to surgery, is it easy to unintentionally abuse??

Cindy Miner: Morphine is commonly prescribed to relieve pain after surgery. When taken as directed by a physician, it can effectively help your aunt recover from her surgery by relieving her pain. Once she begins to heal, she will no longer need a medication as strong as morphine. The key to preventing abuse and addiction is for her to carefully follow her physicians directions.

will - Dixie High School, Utah: hey i need to know, what is the safest way to quite heroine

Harold Perl: Hi. Thanks for coming to chat day and asking a great question. There are 2 different medications that help people quit heroin: methadone and buprenorphine (also known as 'bup'). Each is taken once per day to help reduce the cravings for heroin that a person might feel. But getting counseling or therapy is just as important as the medication in beating an addiction to heroin. The combination of meds and therapy will help a person keep clean. For more information about bup, go to archives.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/buprenorphine.html (Archives). Did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers! Thanks again and be sure to send us more of your questions.

super hippie<3 - Presque Isle High School, Maine: what happens when i eat pot

Nora Volkow: Some of the marijuana will be absorbed through the gastrointestial system and will reach the brain that way. Usually the effects are milder than when you smoke it but it still can have undesired effects.

babyAND1 - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: can weed help cancer

Susan Weiss: So far there are no studies that suggest this to be the case. One of the main active ingredients in weed--THC--is prescribed in pill form to treat nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy. Other ingredients in weed are being studied for their potential therapeutic effects, although marijuana itself is unlikely to become an FDA-approved medication.

BUZZZ - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What are the affects of vicatin?

Nora Volkow: Vicodin is a pain medication that activates opioid receptors in your body and that can make a person feel good but it's also what leads to addiction. Vicodin and other opioid drugs can lead to drowsiness, constipation, and, depending upon the amount taken, slow or even stop your breathing leading to overdose and death.

You can read more about Vicodin and other similar types of drugs at NIDA's website http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html.

filmon - Einstein High School, Maryland: for instance if we take an overdose of advil we might die. is there any such thing as overdose for drugs like heroin, cocaine, opium and marjiuanna

Susan Weiss: Absolutely--heroin/opium can stop your breathing--in fact, there are about 35,000 'unintentional poisonings' each year--most are drug overdoses, and many related to the abuse of prescription opioids. Cocaine can cause convulsions that can also stop your breathing or cause cardiovascular events. Marijuana does not generally produce overdose deaths, but it can make you take risks--like driving under the influence of marijuana or alcohol or both-which can have fatal results.

Ilovemi - Einstein High School, Maryland: Are children of smokers more likely to have diseases or problems?

Joni Rutter: Thanks for your question Einstein!

Scientific research has found that if a mom smokes while she is pregnant, her child may be more likely to use tobacco when they become teenagers, and more likely to become addicted. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with several other adverse outcomes for babies developing during pregnancy, including increased risk for stillbirth, infant mortality, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), preterm birth, low birth weight, and respiratory problems. Also be aware that during and following smoking, nicotine concentrates in fetal blood, amniotic fluid, and breast milk, exposing both fetuses and infants to toxic effects.

Smoking during pregnancy can also affect cognition and is associated with behavioral problems in children. Even second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke can cause problems. For example, strong associations have been found between second-hand smoke and low birth weight, premature birth, and a number of other physical health outcomes, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, respiratory illnesses (asthma, respiratory infections, and bronchitis), ear infections and cavities, and increased medical visits and hospitalizations. Need more information on the consequences of prenatal drug exposure? Visit http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences/prenatal/.

joshviar - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: Can you die from steroids?

Ruben Baler: We do have case reports of individuals who may have comitted suicide as a result of chronic steroid abuse induced depression. We can also hypotesize that some fatal car accidents may have been caused by drivers suffering from 'roid rage'. However reasonable these connections may sound, we don't have hard scientific data that would confirm the mostly anecdotal evidence that suggests that steroid abuse can be the cause of some deaths.

rebel - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: ok do you think drug court is right for teens

Redonna Chandler: Good question. I see you are from Kentucky which is where I was born and raised too. Overall drug courts have been successful in helping adults get the treatment they need. However, we currently have no research data to indicate how drug courts work for teens. Drug courts may be able to help adolescents and their families get the support and treatment they need to stop using drugs and end their interaction with the criminal justice system. However, adolescents are different than adults and may require a different approach to drug court and supervision and treatment. So, the 'jury' is still out regaridng the effectiveness of teen drug courts. Stay posted and watch the NIDA website for infortmation in the future. www.drugabuse.gov

dynasty - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: What are effects of drinking while pregnant?

Harold Perl: Hi. Thanks for your question -- this is an issue that many people think and worry about. When a woman is pregnant, her baby grows inside her, so everything she eats and drinks affects her baby. Drinking alcohol can hurt the baby's growth and may cause physical and behavioral problems that can last for the rest of the baby's life. Children born with the most serious problems caused by alcohol have fetal alcohol syndrome. Please check out the website of our sister agency, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). They focus on the problems caused by drinking alcohol and have a great site for teens at http://www.thecoolspot.gov/. And thanks again for your thoughtful question.

Markeith - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: What will happen if u sell weed outside of school and the school finds out about it

Redonna Chandler: It probably depends on your school's policy-but there's a good chance that you will be expelled and you might even face criminal charges. Even in this economy-you can find a legal way to earn some money-my suggestion is that you let trusted adults know you are looking for a job, develop a resume, and find a job that won't land you in jail.

lol21 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: how many times do you have to smoke a cigerette to get addicted to them?

David Shurtleff: That's a great question! For most people, research has shown that it takes smoking several cigarettes to become addicted to the active ingredient, nicotine. As the brain adapts and 'expects' nicotine, it can lead to regular smoking and addiction to tobacco. How rapidly you become addicted also depends on your genes--if for example you have genes that lead to rapid metabolism of nicotine, you may be more susceptible to the addictive effects of drugs.

For more information about nicotine and smoking, check out http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/

jwittenstein - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: what plant does THC come from

Gaya Dowling: THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana. It acts upon specific sites in the brain that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they smoke marijuana. It can also affect memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

cochina - Port Chester High School, New York: what the best way for someone to quit drinking?

Mark Greene: There is no one best way. Different folks have different ways that work for them. But you already have made the most important first step--wanting to quit. I suggest that you try the link below. It has great information about how you can self-evaluate if you have a problem and also suggests several quitting strategies that you might try out

http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/

761603 - Einstein High School, Maryland: could mariguana be addictive because i know somebody and he somkes but he feels like he can stop anytime he wants??

Susan Weiss: Yes, about 9% of those who smoke marijuana may become addicted, and about 25-50% of those who use it daily. Some people think they can stop anytime but they don't recognize when things have gotten out of control until its too late. Its different for everyone--it depends on your genes, whether you have other problems (like anxiety or depression), how old you are when you started (the younger you are, the more likely you are to develop drug problems later on), what other drugs you are using, how frequently you are using, among others. Essentially, its a gamble, and you may want to talk to your friend and encourage him to stop or get help if needs it. There are a number of resources including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, which doesn't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect a person with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

foedingerk - Phoenixville Area High School, Pennsylvania: How can you tell if someone you know is doing drugs?

Kristen Huntley: Different drugs affect people in different ways. Drugs can alter perception, attention, balance, coordination and other abilities. Some drugs can make people appear extraordinarily alert and energetic while others make people seem lethargic. Sometimes people can hide their drug taking. One indication that a person is taking drugs can be that the he or she stops participating in their usual activities. However, it may be hard to know for sure without some kind of biomedical test such as a urinalysis or breathalizer tests.

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/

To find a wealth of research and facts on the science of addiction and treatment, please go to:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
301-443-1124
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.

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/
http://www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov/

brooksy9 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can you really get high off of huffing spraypaint of rubber glue ?

David Shurtleff: Yes- these compounds are inhalants, and they can give a 'high' resembling alcohol intoxication. The problem is that some of these chemical are toxic--they can produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness if taken in high concentrations! With repeated use they can cause hearing loss, limb spasms, brain, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs)--not good!

For more information about inhalants, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.

BlackRavenWings - Skaneateles High School, New York: Is ammonia considered an inhalant?

Jacqueline Lloyd: Very good question. Ammonia and other household products can be considered inhalants. Use of inhalants can be very dangerous. It is important for young people to know the harmful effects of inhalants and not take lightly even one-time experimentation. Just a single session of repeated inhalations has caused permanent organ damage or death. Organs at risk from inhalant abuse include the lungs, brain, liver, heart, and kidneys. Some abusers experience restlessness, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and other symptoms of withdrawal when they stop taking the drug. Like any other drug when abused, inhalants can also lead to accidents and injuries. For more information on inhalant use, please go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.

man_of_sceptics - Skaneateles High School, New York: It has been affirmed that Carrel Sagan, one of the most brilliant men ever to live did on a semi regular basis use marijuana, if even just one word from his books was at least a by product of his drug use do you think it was worth it. Or do you think that he should not have done it and possibly not have done some or any of his works

Ruben Baler: My stance, whenever looking at the work of a great individual like Carl Sagan, is to judge the work itself, and not the author or any 'alleged' human failing that may or may have not influenced his work. That would be total speculation. This much we can all agree on: Sagan's impact on our understanding of and relationship with the universe has been monumental.

wookie73 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: if you're pregnant and you use drugs and you kill the baby, will you be in trouble?

Joni Rutter: Hi there Conestoga,
It is possible to harm the baby if you use drugs when you are pregnant. If you overdose on a drug, not only can you kill the baby, but you can kill yourself. I am not aware of the legal trouble that you could be involved in, but I would imagine that it would be very difficult to deal with emotionally if you think that you or someone that you know has harmed or endangered their baby due to drug use. Help is available, and I hope that anyone who uses drugs gets help. You are important, and your baby is too! If you need treatment help, one place to start is to find treatment where you live. You can visit http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. From there, you might be able to identify a few programs in your neighborhood to share with your friend. Also -please consider talking with an adult you trust about this too, to get some advice and support! Good luck to you!

Madz - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: What percent of recovered addicts relapse?

Redonna Chandler: Great question. Relapse - return to drug use - can be part of the recovery process for some individuals and relapse rates range from 40-60%. This may seem high, and it is much higher than we would like to see-but actually relapse rates for drug addiction are not different that relapse rates of other chronic diseases including asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. Relapse to drug use, just like the return of high blood pressure or breathening problmes, indicates a need for additional treatment not that addiction can't be treated. Recent research has indicated that with ongoing treatment over 85% of those suffering from drug addiction do recover and stop using drugs.

Brad - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: Can you high off of yur basic garage chemicals?

David Shurtleff: Yes- inhalants such as gasoline and paint thinner can give a 'high' resembling alcohol intoxication. The problem is that some of these chemical are toxic--they can produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness if taken in high concentrations! With repeated use they can cause hearing loss, limb spasms, brain, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs)--not good!

For more information about inhalants, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php.

HeatherLou - Bixby High School, Oklahoma: Is beer bad for people over 17

Harold Perl: hello to OK from Maryland! You ask a very important question. many teenagers try drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages and many adults over 21 use alcohol at least sometimes. Teens tend to drink less frequently than adults but teens often 'binge drink' -- which means they drink a lot of alcohol at one time. Binge drinking and frequent drinking can lead to many problems, such as not getting school work done, poor performance in sports and athletics, and not getting along with family and friends. Alcohol can also have long-term consequences for your physical and emotional health. You can check a cool website for teens from NIDA's sister agency the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at http://www.thecoolspot.gov/.

Four-0 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: How can i help my cousin if hes taking drugs and drinking ad hes out of school and lives by himself and i am the only one in my family that cares about him?

Nora Volkow: First keep the lines of communication with him open and convey to him that you are worried about this drug use and that you would like to help him to stop using drugs. Second seek the help of a grown up who cares for him since they may be able to bring him to treatment and help him stop taking drugs. You can also find some treatment resources at the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Good luck!

chiaverinis - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: How can you help an alcoholic?

Kristen Huntley:
That's not easy. You might let the person know that you are concerned about his or her health, and wish they would seek help. They may be willing to speak to a trusted indivicual--for example, a teacher (if the person is a student) or minister. They may find help in locating a treatment facility at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where private and confidential help is available 24/7.

Alcoholism is a very difficult problem for people close to alcoholics as well as for alcoholics themselves. If that's your situation, it would be a good idea for you to talk to an adult who can support you as you try to help your friend or relative.

Wind River High - Wind River High School, Wyoming: do all drugs have negative side effects

Nora Volkow: Yes. For more information about the effects of specific drugs go to NIDA's website http://www.drugabuse.gov/students-young-adults.

Tiarra - Martinsville High School, Virginia: does drugs make you slow at anything?

Nora Volkow: It really depends on the drug- drugs like marijuana, heroin, or alcohol can slow you down but nicotine and other stimulants have the opposite effect on your system.

drugsR4squares - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: can you go insane from taking drugs??

David Shurtleff: Psychosis (schizophrenia and other dementias) can occur in some people who repeatedly use certain drugs of abuse such as PCP, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

Did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers!

lexxie - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: How can i prevent my cousin from doing drugs Dr.Baler?

Jacqueline Lloyd: Hello. Great question. First I think it is great that you care enough to ask this question and want to help your cousin. If your cousin is currently using drugs, I think it is important to let him or her know that you care and that you are concerned about the harmful effects that drugs can have on a person. Please go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/ to find out about different drugs and their harmful effects. It is also important to encourage your cousin to get help. You could encourage him or her to talk to a teacher, guidance counselor or other professional to find out where to get help. Other resources for help include the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Or you or he could call 1-800-273-TALK if there's a crisis and need to talk to someone immediately. Good luck with this.

Grandma Billy - Dixie High School, Utah: I've been told that meth is safer and less addictive than 'hard' drugs like crack and cocaine. Is this true?

Gaya Dowling: Absolutely not! Meth is a very addictive drug. It is a stimulant, similar to cocaine, that increases wakefulness and physical activity but also increases respiration, heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative health consequences, including extreme weight loss, severe dental problems ("meth mouth"), anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can also display psychotic symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects crawling under the skin).

puppet - Martinsville High School, Virginia: is it leagl to smoke marijana in californa?

Susan Weiss: California has medical marijuana laws, which make it legal in california if it is prescribed for you. It is still not legal to use it when not prescribed. In addition, there is a lot of controversy about the medical marijuana laws. States are legalizing a drug that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration. Currently marijuana is a Schedule I drug which means that it has a high potential for abuse and no established medical benefits. For a drug to have established medical benefits--it has to go through rigourous testing in clinical trials with patients to show that it is both safe and effective. Marijuana has not met those standards, even though some of its ingredients (e.g. THC) do have approved medical uses--e.g. to increase appetite in people with wasting disorders, or to decrease nausea from cancer chemotherapies. Those ingredients are currently available in pill form, or are being developed as new medicines. But marijuana, because it is a plant containing many known and unknown ingredients, and is usually smoked, is not a good candidate for a medication States are going around the established FDA process of medication evaluation, which means that the experts are not making the final decisions about medications approval.

Phillies0809 - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: Are single mothers more likely to do drugs than married motheres?

Joni Rutter: Hi Upper Dublin,
Drug abuse can affect everyone. Keep the questions coming and thanks for participating in Chat Day!

ganstersjg - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: if im pregnant and i take drugs will my baby be affected

Joni Rutter: Hi Upper Dublin,
There are some drugs that, when used during pregnancy, can result in an infant being born addicted and going through a period of withdrawal. Opiate (including heroin, methadone, morphine, and prescription pain killers like vicodin or oxycotin) use during pregnancy, for example can result in this. After the period of withdrawal, these babies are often okay, although it's not very comfortable for them when they are withdrawing. One researcher has found that if a mom smokes while she is pregnant, her child may be more likely to use tobacco when they become teenagers, and more likely to become addicted if they use it later on in life. The effects of alcohol use during pregnancy are also very alarming. We know from research that alcohol (including both beer and liquor) can seriously harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy, causing a variety of health problems including a disorder called fetal alcohol syndrome. For more details about all the birth defects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, check out this link: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htm. Because of this we recommend moms not use alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, or other drugs during pregnancy and ask for help from a health care professional if they are having trouble stopping. It's a lot of responsibility to have a baby and it starts when you first find out you are pregnant. Best of luck to you and thanks for participating in chat day!

Hobbs#59 - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: does sex feel good or does it hurt?

Redonna Chandler: Thanks for being willing to ask a sensitive quesiton. Sex should not hurt. Though, it may be uncomfortable. If you are sexually active and experiencing physical pain you should see a physician and discuss this issue. If you are inquiring about mental/emotional pain definitely not - sex should not be an emotionally painful experience. If you are feeling coerced into sex in anyway or experiencing emotional distress, you should reach out to a trusted adult for help. Talk to a teacher, parent of a friend, coach, or school counselor for help if you are being pressured in any way to have sex.

noelleisblack - Einstein High School, Maryland: if you do drugs can u immeadiatley get hooked?

David Shurtleff: Addiction results from chronic use of drugs of abuse--so while it's possible to become addicted after just one use (everyone is a little different), it's unlikely. Drug use releases the brain chemical dopamine, which can feel good, but repeated drug use results in more dopamine release than 'normal' and over time can alter these brain cells, leading to addiction. Connect and Interact.

Check out free downloads and cool videos about drugs at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/index.php#downloads!

mk - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: my dad is an alcoholic, what do i do?

Nora Volkow: You should speak with close relatives or friends who may be in the position your father to go seek treatment for his alcoholism. Many people don't realize that there are good treatments for alcoholism and that they can recover from it. You can also find some treatment resources at the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. Good luck!

amorton - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: can prescription drugs kill you if you take to many of them

Cindy Miner: Yes, prescription pain killers can be deadly if you don't take as directed by your physician. Taking too many, or too often or mixing with alcohol can be dangerous, even deadly.

butterteer - Port Chester High School, New York: how dangerous is E?

Joe Frascella: Hey thanks for the question...it's a good one! Here's the long answer:

As for ecstasy or MDMA, it primarily affects brain cells (also called neurons) that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. Serotonin plays an important part in controlling mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. MDMA also affects the release of of two other chemicals in the brain - dopamine and norepinephrine, which can produce confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur right after taking the drug or, sometimes, even days or weeks after taking it. Research in animals indicates that MDMA can be harmful to the brain - one study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to MDMA for only 4 days caused brain damage that lasted at least 6 to 7 years. Although similar damage to the brain has not been shown definitively in humans, the wealth of animal research indicating MDMA's damaging properties strongly suggests that MDMA is not a safe drug for human consumption. This is currently an area of active research.

MDMA can also be dangerous to overall health and, on rare occasions, lethal. MDMA can have many of the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure - which are particularly dangerous for people with circulatory problems or heart disease - and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. In high doses, MDMA can cause hyperthermia, which can result in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death. MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), therefore potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated MDMA administration within short periods of time.

Hope that helps.

Check out this site for more information on ecstasy: http://www.clubdrugs.gov/.

will - Dixie High School, Utah: Hey i have a question i would like answered if you are getting someone off of heroine what is the easiest and most effective way.

Harold Perl: Hi. Thanks for asking a great question. there are 2 different medications that help people quit heroin: methadone and buprenorphine (also known as 'bup'). each is taken once per day to help reduce the cravings for heroin that a person might feel. but getting counseling or therapy is just as important as the medication in beating an addiction to heroin. that will help a person keep clean. For more information about bup, go to archives.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/buprenorphine.html. thanks again and keep those questions rolling in.

yupimbored - Port Chester High School, New York: alright im a crack addict and i want to know how long till i will get the bad side effects

Joe Frascella: Good question! Hard to know when you will see 'bad side effects'. What we know is that all drugs have effects on the brain. It depends on the particular drug and the particular individual the extent of damage to the brain, but we do know that all drugs of affect the brain's dopamine system. This brain system is involved with reward and pleasure. Repeated use of drugs can start to change this system, causing a person to no longer be able to control their drug use. The person becomes 'driven' to take the drug, even when he/she realizes that he/she isn't able to do well in school, isn't able to enjoy the things that used to make him/her happy, and is hurting his/her relationship with friends and family. Bottom line: drugs affect the brain and brain processes (and other systems such as cardiovascular), which in turn, affects behavior. We still don't know or understand 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 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. So to be honest, there is no real straightforward answer regarding when you might see some negative effects. We also know that the earlier one starts, the greater the likelihood of addiction and problems.

For general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ or http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php

Hope this helps.

D.Jones - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: what is acid

David Shurtleff: Acid is LSD, a hallucinogen that causes 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 several hours, and in some cases, persistent flashbacks can occur days and months (or longer) after taking LSD.

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/.

shleberity - Skaneateles High School, New York: some of these questions are really gay..can you please answer mine which are good....how can i tell a person to stop smoking because i hate! the smell

Nora Volkow: It depends who that person is but I am certain that if this person likes you, you can be honest and tell him or her that the smell stinks and you would appreciate if he stopped smoking.

Now, you should know that nicotine addiction is one of the toughest addictions to get over. It will take a lot of persistence on your part so the first thing I would advise is to never get discouraged and continue pressing. However, you should not be judgmental in your approach; you should realize that this person is suffering from a chronic disease of the brain and that, when it comes to his/her addiction, this person is not really in control. So you can keep bringing info about cessation treatments, new medications, support groups, etc. You can also try to convey not only what the smoking does to him/her but how it affects your health and well being as well. Keep trying and don't give up.

You can find more information about nicotine addiction in our website:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/nicotine/nicotine.html

JDT24 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: im quiting smoking and my friend is trying to stop smoking but he cant quite what can i do to help him

Kristen Huntley: Congratulations on your decision and your friend's decision to quit smoking.

Some people find it very difficult to quit. You can tell your friend that fortunately there are treatments available to help people stop. Nicotine replacement medications, including the patch, spray, gum, and lozenges, enable the person to avoid withdrawal and nicotine craving while also avoiding the adverse effects of smoking. They can be bought over the counter. In addition, two prescription medications have been FDA-approved for tobacco addiction: bupropion and varenicline, which also alleviate withdrawal and craving.

Medications are most likely to lead to success when people also attend behavioral treatments, including group and individual therapies, as well as telephone quitlines. To find a substance abuse treatment facility locator, call 1-800-662-HELP or go to http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ anytime, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Different people respond to different treatments, so if one doesn't work, encourage your friend to keep tyring. Your own example of successful quitting can also encourage your friend.

You've done yourself a great favor by deciding to quit. Have a healthy, long life!

mean lemon - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Is sniffing glue bad?

David Shurtleff: Some glue sticks can make you 'high,' resembling alcohol intoxication depending on the chemicals used to make the glue -- the problem is that some of these chemicals are toxic. They can produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness if taken in high concentrations! With repeated use, they can cause irreversible hearing loss, limb spasms, brain, or bone marrow damage. Sniffing high concentrations of inhalants may result in death from heart failure or suffocation (inhalants displace oxygen in the lungs)!

For more information about inhalants, check out www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov.

407012 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: How long did it take u to become a scientist?

Nora Volkow: 20 years

coolkidsfriend - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: if my brother smokes pot but is still in the top of his class and sucssesful in everything he does, should i tell someone to make him stop because its illegal?

Redonna Chandler: Good question. Unfortunately, lots of people think marijuana isn't a dangerous drug but they are dead wrong. Your brother's academic performance may not be impacted by the use of marijuana now but that doesn't mean he will continue to be so lucky. Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception. The drug can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or with your friends. If you're high on marijuana, you are more likely to make mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt you. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose interest in how you look and how you're getting along at school or work.

You might try talking to your brother about your concerns regarding his marijuana use. Encourage him to seek help to stop smoking pot.
You can find information at: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.
That might be helpful to you as you seek ways to support your brother and be helpful to him.

larkinsalexis - Otto Middle School, Michigan: drugs were poular in the 60s and the hippie style is realy in so are more people doing drugs now then in the 90s

Marsha Lopez: Great question! Every year NIDA supported researchers at the University of Michigan ask 8th, 10th and 12th graders around the country about their use of drugs. They have shown that drug use in 2008 is higher than it was in 1990, but lower than it was when it peaked in the mid-90's. You can look at the results on the NIDA Web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov/Drugpages/MTF.html.

angelstar - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: they say that secondhand smoking is bad. why do they say this is you are not smoking a cigarette

Nora Volkow: Becasue you are breathing the same smoke that someone else is exhaling and this is delivered to your lungs. BTW, this delivers not only nicotine but also many other chemicals that are equally toxic.

The One - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: is it possible that when you go to a party someone can slip a date drug like a roofie and what are the sideaffects of that drug

Joe Frascella: Great question! Yes, there have been reports of people who have been given drugs, such as rohypnol and GHB. Here are some facts about these types of drugs:

Date drugs like rohypnol or GHB are generally considered club drugs. They are named club drugs because they tend to be abused at nightclubs, bars, raves, or trance scenes. Ketamine, ecstasy, and meth are other examples of club drugs.

Raves and trance events are generally night-long dances, often held in warehouses. Many who attend raves and trances do not use club drugs, but those who do may be attracted to their generally low cost and the intoxicating highs that are said to deepen the rave or trance experience.

Rohypnol is usually taken orally, although there are reports that it can be ground up and snorted.

GHB and Rohypnol have both been used to facilitate date rape (also known as "drug rape," "acquaintance rape," or "drug-assisted" assault). They can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with alcohol, Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault.

GHB also has anabolic effects (it stimulates protein synthesis) and has been sought by bodybuilders to aid in fat reduction and muscle building.

GHB acts on at least two sites in the brain: the GABA B receptor and a specific GHB binding site. At high doses, GHB's sedative effects may result in sleep, coma, or death. Rohypnol, like other benzodiazepines, acts at the GABA A receptor. It can produce anterograde amnesia, in which individuals may not remember events they experienced while under the influence of the drug.

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, so called because it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self. Ketamine acts on a type of glutamate receptor (NMDA receptor) to produce its effects, similar to those of the drug PCP. Low-dose intoxication results in impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. At higher doses, ketamine can cause dreamlike states and hallucinations; and at higher doses still, ketamine can cause delirium and amnesia.

Repeated use of GHB may lead to withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating. Severe withdrawal reactions have been reported among patients presenting from an overdose of GHB or related compounds, especially if other drugs or alcohol are involved.

Like other benzodiazepines, chronic use of Rohypnol can produce tolerance and dependence.

There have been reports of people binging on ketamine, a behavior that is similar to that seen in some cocaine- or amphetamine-dependent individuals. Ketamine users can develop signs of tolerance and cravings for the drug. Uncertainties about the sources, chemicals, and possible contaminants used to manufacture many club drugs make it extremely difficult to determine toxicity and associated medical consequences.

Coma and seizures can occur following use of GHB. Combined use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and breathing difficulties. GHB and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and butanediol (BD), have been involved in poisonings, overdoses, date rapes, and deaths.

Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other CNS depressants.

Ketamine, in high doses, can cause impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory problems.

Hope this information is useful. Check out our website at:

jay - Martinsville High School, Virginia: wat r the side affects of crack cocain

Nora Volkow: Crack can cause cardiac problems such as infarct, it can also produce infarct of the brain (stroke) that can result in paralysis. Crack can also induce seizures.

ny7 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: is caffeine a type of drug?

Marsha Lopez: Yes, caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world (although many of my coworkers at NIDA wouldn't want to think of themselves as drug users!). There are large differences in how individuals respond to caffeine, with some people experiencing enhanced alertness and stimulation, and others much less desirable effects like increased anxiety, reduced fine motor coordination, affected sleep patterns, headaches, nervousness, and dizziness.

johnathon-blitz - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: are people more likely to do drugs if they have to much stress in their lives?

Susan Weiss: Yes, but its not a good idea--it won't really lessen the stress, and its likely to lead to more problems in the long run. In fact, stress is one of the factors that makes someone vulnerable to becoming addicted, especially if they are using drugs to cope. Plus some drugs, like alcohol, can initially make you feel better, but then later make you depressed--its how they work in the brain. And stimulants, which can make you feel high temporarily, also lead to a big come down and depression when the effects wear off.

mk - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: when people take drugs do they think or hear the same things?

Nora Volkow: No the drug experience varies for different people.

Madz - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: how long does it take to become addicted to a drug?

Nora Volkow: It depends on the drug, your age, and your genes. The younger you are the faster you'll become addicted; some drugs, like ice (meth) are more addictive than others, and some peple have genes that make more vulnerable to becoming addicted.

Antoniss - Rockville High School, Maryland: What is the differecne between cocaine and crack?

Gaya Dowling: Powder cocaine and crack cocaine are simply two different chemical forms of cocaine. Powder cocaine dissolves in water and, when abused, can be injected or snorted. Crack cocaine is the street name given to a form of cocaine that has been created by dissolving powder cocaine in water, mixing it with baking soda, and heating it to form a hard but smokable mass. The name 'crack' comes from the crackling sound that this form makes when it's smoked.

In spite of these differences, cocaine, in any form, produces the same effects once it reaches the brain. It produces similar physiological and psychological effects, but the onset, intensity and duration of its effects are related directly to the method of use and how rapidly cocaine enters the brain. Smoking crack or injecting cocaine intravenously produce the quickest and highest levels in blood and in the brain, and the effects also wear off the fastest. Repeated cocaine use, no matter how you take it, can produce addiction and other adverse health consequences, especially to the cardiovascular system.

rhsram2011 - Rockville High School, Maryland: If stimulants increase wakefulness and physical activity, how come they have a bad effect on people when they are driving?

David Shurtleff: Stimulants do keep people awake in general, but may not be able to help in people with prolonged sleep deprivation. Also, if someone uses it too often, he/she can become tolerant to the drugs' effects on attention. Stimulant use can lead to long-lasting effects, addiction, and can lead to damage to dopamine containing nerve cells-- not good.

For more information about stimulants, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php!

Liza - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How sick can you get from second hand smoke?

Nora Volkow: It depends on how much environmental tobacco you are exposed to. But second-hand smoke can increase pulmonary diseases as well as the risk of lung cancer

9458892 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: can marijana kill you

Redonna Chandler: Good question. Your ability to drive or operate equipment under the influence of marijuana is comprised and could cause you to have a fatal accident. Unfortunately, people often think marijuana use isn't as risky as other drugs. However the use of any drugs can impact your brain, impact your behavior, and impair your coordination and physical abilities making all of them unsafe. For more information on effects of marijuana go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj2.php#long_term

giggles - Rockville High School, Maryland: are teens more propense to drug addiction

Nora Volkow: yes, and we think this is because the adolescent brain is still actively growing and developing.

RAIDERNATION24 - Rockville High School, Maryland: does weed make you feel bettter

Nora Volkow: In some people who use it, weed can make them feel better, but this effect is short-lived. Soon thereafter, once the active ingredients in weed leaves their bodies, they may feel even worse than before.

frenchy123 - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: Some people say doing drugs make u way cooler and better at sports is that true?

Redonna Chandler: Thanks for the question. The short and sweet answer is NO, taking drugs doesn't make you cool or better at sports. Taking drugs impacts your body and behavior in ways that are definitely not cool. Just look at the teeth of someone who takes methamphetamine, wrinkles on a chronic smoker, or red nose of an alcoholic. Also, who thinks it's cool to drool down your shirt, have slurred speech, or be unable to walk like a normal person? As for making you better at sports - no way. Drugs impact your coordination and behavior and even steroids over the long term are bad for your body and ultimately negatively affect performance in athletics.

The best way to be cool is to be true to yourself and who you are. Find a passion like music, art, science, school, sports, etc, and surround yourself with people that share that interest. They will think you are cool without the drugs. Also, take care of your body because its the only one you get to take you though this life.

Wind River High - Wind River High School, Wyoming: Is smokeless tobacco as addictive as smoking tobacco?

Nora Volkow: Probably not as addictive as smoking.
Smokeless tobacco products belong to a group of products called 'potentially reduced exposure products' (PREPs), which also include snuff and tobacco lozenges. These products have not yet been evaluated sufficiently to determine whether they are indeed associated with reduced risk of disease. Recent studies indicate that the levels of carcinogens in these PREPs range from relatively low to comparable to conventional tobacco products. These studies conclude that medicinal nicotine (found in the nicotine patch and gum) is a safer alternative than these modified tobacco products.

LALynx - Dixie High School, Utah: If you're pregnant and you smoke only once in the 9 months will it still effect the baby?

Nicolette Borek: Hi there Utah - and thanks for your question. In some ways it is hard to know. The research studies on smoking during pregnancy (nicotine or marijuana) try to take into account what we call a 'dose-response' - what is the effect on the baby depending on how much was smoked. Generally with smoking, more exposure is worse. Given the effects of smoking on the developing baby, we recommend not smoking. If a mom smoked one time. we recommend not smoking again and staying away from second hand smoke. If someone is having trouble quitting, they can talk with their doctors to help them to not smoke, which protects both the baby and the mom! Here's some more info on prenatal exposure: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.

Wind river high - Wind River High School, Wyoming: What durg does mager damage to the brain?

Joe Frascella: Good question. All drugs have effects on the brain. It depends on the particular drug and the particular individual the extent of damage to the brain, but we do know that all drugs of affect the brain's dopamine system. This brain system is involved with reward and pleasure. Repeated use of drugs can start to change this system, causing a person to no longer be able to control their drug use. The person becomes 'driven' to take the drug, even when he/she realizes that he/she isn't able to do well in school, isn't able to enjoy the things that used to make him/her happy, and is hurting his/her relationship with friends and family. Bottom line: drugs affect the brain and brain processes (and other systems such as cardiovascular), which in turn, affects behavior. We still don't know or understand 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 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. So to be honest, there is no real straightforward answer regarding which drugs damage the brain.

For general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

babyAND1 - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: susan weiss, if i am addicted to weed wat kind of steps can i take to help me?

Susan Weiss: I'm really glad you are asking--there are treatments that can help, and there are programs especially geared for teens. Most involve behavioral or talk therapies that can help you learn what triggers your use and help you develop strategies to avoid it. Most people don't realize it, but regular marijuana use is associated with a withdrawal syndrome, which can make it hard to stop using. For marijuana the withdrawal just makes you feel crappy--anxious, tired, irritable, and it also makes you crave the drug. But these symptoms can be managed with treatment and they will pass with time--usually a couple of weeks. It would be best if you could talk to a trusted adult or a medical professional to help you get started in this process. But there are also some resources that are anonymous if that's your preference - 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 with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. It takes courage to take the steps to get treatment, and it is not always a smooth course--but please don't give up, because you can recover and you can get support to help you get there. Good luck.

Fishballs22 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: i cut my wrist am i on drugs?

Kristen Huntley: Hi. I do not know if you are on drugs, but if you are injuring yourself, it is very important for you to talk to someone about it.
It would be great if you could talk to a trusted adult or a medical professional. There are resources 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.
Here is a website with information about substance abuse treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

lulu123 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: How long do most drugs last?

David Shurtleff: If you mean how long drugs last in the body- it depends on the drug, the concentration, and how often it's taken. Drugs of abuse are absorbed into the body and metabolized by enzymes and then excreted. This can taken several hours or several days.

For more information about drugs, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/!

Rocket21 - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: How does the gum some people chew when they are trying to quit smoking work?

Gaya Dowling: People smoke because they are addicted to nicotine. Medications like the nicotine gum and the nicotine patch help to relieve withdrawal symptoms when people quit smoking, but they don't produce the pleasurable effects of cigarettes and don't contain the harmful chemicals associated with tobacco smoke.

C Ronoldo Sucks - Rockville High School, Maryland: does steroids really make ur penis smaller?

Nora Volkow: No, but they can make your testicles smaller.

Seth the beast - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can drugs affect your sperm count

Marsha Lopez: Yes, there are some drugs we know for sure will reduce your sperm count, like steroids. Guys can experience shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, or development of breasts from steroid use. There also has been some research linking marijuana use to reduced sperm function.

D.Jones - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: when ur at a party n the say dont leave a drink sitting out. can the put stuff in ur food also

Anna Staton: Hmm, good question. I guess if it's a tasteless powder they could.

whitings class - Skaneateles High School, New York: How common is it for teens to become addicted to alcohol if using at a young age?

Nora Volkow: Ten percent of those that use alcohol early on in their lives will become addicted to it.

manbearpig59 - Rockville High School, Maryland: por que agunos personas gusta drugas?

Nora Volkow: por que los hace sentir temporalmente bien. Otras personas las usan para escapar de sus vidas que pueden ser muy aburridas, o por que estan deprimidos y sientes que nadie los quiere.

grad20012 - Dixie High School, Utah: if one of my friend over doses and i do nothing what could be my consiquences?

Redonna Chandler: I'm not sure if you are referring to legal consequences or the consequences of living with the fact that you were unable to help a friend in need. Either way the best way to be helpful to a friend who has had an over dose is to get them help. Even if you didn't get help when they overdosed, it's not too late to help your friend. They may need your support and encouragement to stop taking drugs. There are places you can send them to get information about how to stop taking drugs including: www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7. So, be a good friend and talk to them about their drug use and your desire for them to quit.

DrugFighter - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: i take crack and i love it people say its bad but i take it everyday and it make me feel awsome why are people saying its bad

Nora Volkow: Because the drug is slowly taking over your brain, even though you may not realize this yet. Right now, the crack you are taking is activating the reward center of the brain, which makes you feel good (that much is true) but eventually, the drug will start making changes in the brain that will eventually cause you enjoy nothing else but the drug. At that point you will start feeling compulsive urges (cravings) to take more drug, which you will have a harder and harder time controlling. At that point you will have 'graduated' to become a full blown victim of addiction. Congratulations!

shelbyyyyy - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is the common age to start drinking?

Anna Staton: According to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health the average age at first alcohol use among recent initiates aged 12 to 49 was 17.0 years old.

cutiebug123456 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: If my cousin smookes weed, what would be a good way to convince him to stop?

Kristen Huntley: Hi--
That's tough, seeing your cousin do things that are not good for him. One thing you can do is let him know that you are very concerned about his behavior and how it is affecting or could affect his life. If he is unaware of the health effects of marijuana, you can share information: for example, there is a booklet about marijuana written especially for teens at http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.

Try to show your concern without being judgmental, so that your cousin does not get defensive. You may let him know 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 friend 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 cousin.

If your cousin wants to stop smoking marijuana, supporting his effort to quit is one very important thing you can do. Planning activities with him so that he is not exposed to situations where he would be tempted to use marijuanan could help.

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/

jazminjames - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: WHAT IS HYDROCHLORIDE

David Shurtleff: Hi Benjamin Tasker Middle!
Thanks for your question! Hydrochloride is a type of salt that is combined with cocaine making a cocaine hydrochloride, the form of cocaine that is snorted. Remember that cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug. Cocaine use usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic, but also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Users also 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. Overall, cocaine use is a bad idea. For more information on cocaine and its effects on the body and brain, visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/, http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/, and http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Cocaine.html. Thanks and keep the great questions coming!

jbrown3 - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: What happens if the mother only drinks one drink while pregnant???

Nicolette Borek: Hi there Georgia - and thanks for joining the chat! We don't know for sure yet whether there is a safe level of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. We do know from research that alcohol (including both beer and liquor) can seriously harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy, causing a variety of health problems including a disorder called fetal alcohol syndrome. The highest risk of health problems is to babies whose mothers drank heavily while pregnant. For this reason, in 2005 the U.S. Surgeon General urged women who are pregnant or may become pregnant not to drink alcohol (http://www.lhvpn.net/hhspress.html. If a mom drank during pregnancy, the most important thing is that she stop and talk to her doctor about her alcohol use, and get help if she is having problems stopping. For more details about all the birth defects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, check out this link: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htm. And thanks again for your question!

Jay - Dixie High School, Utah: deos weed affect your athletic ability

Joe Frascella: Thanks for the question. Yes, if marijuana is smoked, this could certainly reduce your lung capacity and stamina.

For more information on marijuana, check out: http://www.marijuana-info.org/

bubbles:( - Dixie High School, Utah: OK MY PARENTS AND BTOHERS AND SISTERS ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IM GOING THROUGH AND I WANA MOVE IN WIT MY FRIEND AND IDK WHAT TO DO

Redonna Chandler: Its hard when we feel alone and misunderstood by our families. I'm not sure what you are going through but perhaps someone from the outside could help you talk with your family. Maybe there is someone you know like a teacher, family friend, neighbor who understands your thoughts and feelings and could help mediate a discussion with your family. Also, maybe you and your family could benefit from family counseling. Either way, it sounds like you need someone who can support you and help open the flow of communication in your family again before you make any decisions. If you need someone to talk to you can also call 1-800-662-HELP where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

78456 - Presque Isle High School, Maine: what is the worst culb drug

Anna Staton: That's difficult to answer. They all have negative effects. You can read more about them at http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Clubdrugs.html and decide for yourself which one sounds the worst.

WEEDISNTGOOD95 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: can you get high off of sharpies and whiffs of spray paint bottles

Joe Frascella: Yes, there are some volatile substances in the Sharpie pens and spray paint cans that some people sniff to get high. Inhalants can be extremely dangerous and can cause very serious damage to brain cells.

For some excellent information on inhalants, check out: http://www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov/

Thanks for the question.

muffinslice - Port Chester High School, New York: Are weed brownies as bad as smoking weed?

Joe Frascella: Good question. The active component in marijuana is THC. THC gets into the blood differently when MJ is ingested as a brownie or when it is smoked. Brownies are eaten and therefore THC gets into the blood stream (through the stomach and intestinal lining) much more slowly compared to smoking, where the THC is taken up in the lungs and gets into the bloodstream much more quickly. Once the THC gets into the blood, it has its effects in the brain. Both ways gets THC into the brain but at different rates.

For more information, see: http://www.marijuana-info.org/

Ladybuff_00 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: what are some causes of marijuana usage?

Anna Staton: People take drugs for a number of reasons including to feel better, to do better, to feel good, or because they're curious. For more information on addiction check out our Science of Addiction publication at http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html.

browe - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can drugs mess your body up so bad that you lose your private parts?

Marsha Lopez: There are some drugs we know for sure mess up your gear down there, like steroids. Guys can experience shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, development of breasts; girls can experience changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and additional hair growth.

Most drug research focuses on the brain, but to answer your question-physical loss of private parts is not one of the effects of drug abuse (unless you get so messed up that you have an unfortunate accident).

babycakes123 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: If you're mother smokes weed and do drugs what can you do to try and help her to stop?

Kristen Huntley: This must be very hard for you personally and also hard for you to watch her doing things are harmful for her. One thing you can do is let her know you are very concerned about her behavior and how it is affecting her life and yours. You can show concern without being judgmental so that she does not get defensive. Also, you can let her know that there are people she can talk with in confidence and that effective treatments are available. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. It is important for you to have someone you can talk to like a teacher or coach, to help you figure out how best to cope with the situation at home. There are resources that are helpful to family members of people addicted to drugs or alcohol that can provide a lot of support and information.

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.

SClions027 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: Avez vous deja trop utilise l'alcol? P.S Aimez vous les patates?

Nora Volkow: pas du tout, je n'aime pas l'alcohol et je n'aime pas les patates

Chantel - Martinsville High School, Virginia: i know a girl who hd smoked n drink while she was pregant well something bad happen to the baby when it get older?

Nora Volkow: alcohol use during pregnancy can be very dangerous to the fetus. The actual level of damage to the health of the future baby will depend on how much she drank, how frequently, and what other drugs she took.

wierd123 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: how can people get off of drugs if they are mentally addicted to it?

Kristen Huntley: Medications and behavioral therapy, especially when combined, can be very helpful for people who want to stop taking drugs. Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment; preventing relapse is necessary for long-term success. Sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to treatment.

Medications offer help in suppressing withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. However, medically assisted detoxification is not in itself 'treatment' - it is only the first step in the treatment process. Patients who go through medically assisted withdrawal but do not receive behavioral or other therapy show drug abuse patterns similar to those who were never treated. In behavioral therapy, typically, patients learn strategies to control urges to take drugs and avoid situations that make them want to take drugs.

Medications can be used to help re-establish normal brain function and to prevent relapse and diminish cravings. Currently, we have medications for opioids (heroin, morphine), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction and are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. Most people with severe addiction problems, however, are polydrug users (users of more than one drug) and will require treatment for all of the substances that they abuse.

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/

Also, did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers!

Cartman - Presque Isle High School, Maine: is weed stronger today then it was in the past?

Susan Weiss: Based on the marijuana seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it does seem that the marijuana today is stonger than in the past. THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana, and the average amount of THC in marijuana was about 3.5% in the 1980's and is close to 10% in recent years.

BUZZZ - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Can smoking affect athletics such as football?

Nora Volkow: yes smoking affects pulmonary function which you need in order to have physical endurance

:) - Martinsville High School, Virginia: My parents have smoked for a long time, and I've told them time after time that it is not good and i would like for them to stop. What are ways I can get them to stop?

Nora Volkow: I see that you really care for them. Nicotine addiction is one of the toughest addictions to get over. It will take a lot of persistence on your part so the first thing I would advise is to never get discouraged and continue pressing. However, you should not be judgmental in your approach; you should realize that your parents are suffering from a chronic disease of the brain and that, when it comes to their addiction, they are not really in control. So you can keep bringing info about cessation treatments, new medications, support groups, etc. You can also try to convey to them not only what the smoking does to them but how it affects your health and well being as well. Keep trying and don't give up.

You can find more information about nicotine addiction in our website:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/nicotine/nicotine.html

Alvarado16 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What is in marijuana that gets you high?

David Shurtleff: Great question.
Marijuana smoke goes into the lungs, and then the blood, and then the brain. Once marijuana is in the brain, its active ingredient--THC --attaches to proteins called receptors which are located on the surface of brain cells. The normal function of these receptors is to attach to or link with natural chemicals called cannabinoids. In effect, the THC molecules mimic (have similar effects) the actions of cannabinoid molecules, but with one big difference: there are many more THC molecules than cannabinoid molecules, so their effects are much more extreme. They are so extreme that they cause people to get high, but they also disrupt memory--not a good thing for school or life--and can cause addiction. Need more info on marijuana?? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html. Keep the questions coming!

brianna - Martinsville High School, Virginia: how bad is the drug addiction in the united states?

Anna Staton: In 2008, an estimated 22.2 million persons aged 12 or older were classified with substance dependence or abuse (meaning they were addicted to a substance) in the past year. That's about 8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older.

StarlitDreams - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What's being done to stop teen drug use and why isn't it working?

Redonna Chandler: Great questions. There are lots of things being done to provide information about teen drug use and develop effective prevention and treatment programs. National surveys indicate that while drug use continues, teen drug use continues to decline or remain stable. There are exceptions and prescription drug use is one area where teen use has increased. NIDA monitors teen drug use and makes efforts to have an impact including activities like supporting research to develop effective prevention and treatment programs, chat day, and the Sara Bellum Blog. Check it out at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/.

SClions007 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: how do the effects of heroin have less of an effect each time it is taken in

Susan Weiss: Many drugs when taken repeatedly produce what is called 'tolerance'. That means that you need more drug to produce the same effect it had initially. Tolerance happens because the brain and the body adapt to the presence of the drug--trying to reestablish normal functioning. That is also why when you stop taking a drug, you can experience withdrawal symptoms--because the body adapted and now has to rebalance itself without the drug. People often take higher doses to attempt to achieve the original effect, but that could put them at increased risk of overdose. And some drugs produce both tolerance and 'sensitization'--which means that some drug effects diminish over time (usually the 'high') while others become enhanced (often the toxic effects).

lbarnes - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: What is the addicting substance in tabacco

Cindy Miner: Nicotine

lmsballer44 (: - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: Is there any drugs in red bull? or any energy drinks?

Marsha Lopez: Yes most of them have caffeine, which is a stimulant. There are hundreds of different brands of energy drinks out there, with caffeine content ranging from a 50 mg to a crazy 505 mg per can or bottle! In comparison, a can of coke has around 35mg and a small coffee or espresso about 100mg of caffeine.

tennesseelover - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: what does a meth users body look like?

Marsha Lopez: Meth abuse is no good for your looks and it has many negative health consequences- including extreme weight loss and severe dental problems (check out this pic of "meth mouth" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/). Pretty darn gross. And it's not just what the body looks like-a student in Arizona discovered in his high school project that scavenging animals like coyotes, bobcats, and wolves that will usually eat dead bodies found in the desert take a pass on the bodies of methamphetamine users! Read more about it at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/meth-dead-dont-get-eaten/.

SCLions013 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: What should you do if your friend is pregnant and is smoking pot?

Nicolette Borek: Hi - State College area - and thank you for your question. It can be difficult be in this situation, seeing a friend and not being sure what you can do, especially when they are pregnant. We have a couple of studies that look at the long term effects of exposure to marijuana during pregnancy and there can be effects on the brain. Here's a website that summarizes some of this information. http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.

You can let your friend know you are concerned and let them know that there are people they can talk with. They may want to talk with their doctor when they go for prenatal care. Also, there are resources for them that are anonymous - for example the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (they don't just talk about suicide but about a lot of issues and can connect him with a person close by). There is also a website to learn about treatment programs where you live http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. From there, you might be able to identify a few programs in your neighborhood to share with your friend. Also -please consider talking with an adult you trust about this too, to get some advice and support! Good luck to you and to your friend.

yat229 - Randolph Clay Middle/High School, Georgia: Where can students go to get help immediately, if the situation one is in is serious?

Gaya Dowling: There are some resources that are anonymous and can give you advice immediately - 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 people with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. And you can always ask an adult you trust, like a teacher or coach, for help.

The Batman - Rockville High School, Maryland: what type of drugs make you hallucinate to the point where you see only what you fear

David Shurtleff: Good morning Rockville High.
Drugs like LSD and 'Shrooms' (Psilocybin) are hallucinogens that can cause profound delusions and hallucinations. 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 mood swings and can result in sudden and intense fear and anxiety, which can be terrifying to people. Hallucinogens cause their effects by disrupting communication between serotonergic nerve cells in the brain. Furthermore, the effects of halllucinogens use can last several hours and in some cases cause persistent and terrifying flash backs days or even months after taking the drug. Need more information? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/ACIDLSD.html, http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/PCP.html and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. Keep the questions coming!

twilight - Einstein High School, Maryland: im high right now and my teacher doesnt know what do i do

Redonna Chandler: I'm glad you are willing to admit you are high and ask this question. I think you should seek help from someone you trust - whether that is a teacher, friend, parent, other adult. Drug use is not good for you and you should get the support you need to stop getting high. You can also try calling the Treatment Referral Helpline (1-800-662-HELP).

millerjared - Otto Middle School, Michigan: why is alcohol so bad for you that you can't ddrink it?

Joe Frascella: Good question. Alcohol in moderation is not bad for you if you are an adult. What is bad is if you drink to a level that you become drunk/inebriated. You can lose your inhibitions and engage in risky behaviors, become impaired and have difficulty in driving, and become addicted to alcohol after chronic use.

For information on alcohol, go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism Web site at: www.niaaa.nih.gov.

pleasantlocal - Pleasant High School, Ohio: What is methadone used for and how might it be abused?

Dave McCann: For opiate addicts, methadone can be a life-saving drug. It prevents withdrawal and helps addicts to stop buying and injecting illegal drugs. Methadone is also sometimes used for pain. It is 'abused' when it is taken at higher doses than prescribed or when it is given or diverted to someone who is not supposed to be taking it. Just one or two doses can stop breating in someone who is not on methadone because he or she is an opiate addict.

Halo - Dixie High School, Utah: are the use of drugs increasing from all the drug smuggleing in Mexico? and are there more deaths now that theres a drug war

Nora Volkow: Drug use is increasing for certain age groups whereas in teenagers drug use has gone down. Also drugs like pain killers have gone up whereas drugs like ice have gone down.

Your question is more a question about enforcement. We focus on research about drugs of abuse and addiction.

brittany - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: what are crack babies

Nicolette Borek: Hi there Kentucky and thanks for being on the chat! That is a good question. The term crack babies was coined in the 1980's during the crack epidemic when there was lots of concern that kids of women who used crack during pregnancy would be born with all sorts of problems. Fortunately a number of studies were started at that time to look at the outcomes of these kids. These studies have followed the kids and their families before birth and through adolescence. The good news is a lot of kids whose moms used crack during pregnancy are doing better than expected. It is important to note that these studies are still finding some more subtle developmental effects in some of the kids in areas such as attention, language, learning skills and behavior. Also, other research has found that a lot of factors can effect development - like the environment the kids are growing up in, their relationships with their family and friends, what their communities are like. All these factors can impact development - we human beings are pretty complex! and resilient! For more information, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html and http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html. Thanks again for your question.

d12345 - Port Chester High School, New York: my cousin is into cocaine and extacy and all of those bad drugs. what can i do to make him realize its not good ?

Kristen Huntley: Hi--
You're in a tough situation, seeing your cousin do things that are not good for him. One thing you can do is let him know that you are very concerned about his behavior and how it is affecting or could affect his life. If your cousin is unaware of the health effects of drugs, you can share information: for example, there is information about ecsasy at www.clubdrugs.gov and about cocaine at http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html.

Try to show your concern without being judgmental, so that your cousin does not get defensive. You may let him know 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 friend 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 cousin.

If your cousin wants to stop taking drugs, supporting his effort to quit is one very important thing you can do. Planning activities with him so that he is not exposed to situations where he would be tempted to take drugs could help.

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/

kezzcat 24 - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: its not that good for u or your baby

Dave McCann: You've got that right!! That is the best comment that I've seen all morning.

yordi - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what is cocaine can you help me pleace

Anna Staton: Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant that is snorted, injected, or smoked. Crack is cocaine hydrochloride powder that has been processed to form a rock crystal that is then usually smoked.

ScLions002 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: What are the mecial consequences for using steriods, and are steriods addicting?

Marsha Lopez: Steroids can be used for many legitimate medical purposes when prescribed by a doctor, but when used illegally to bulk up or be better at sports they can have pretty awful irreversible effects. Just for starters here are some ways steroids can affect your body:

• for guys - shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, 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.

Steroids can also lead to changes in mood, such as feelings of depression or irritability. Researchers also report that users may suffer from paranoia, jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.

It is possible that some steroid abusers may become addicted to the drugs, as evidenced by their continued use in spite of physical problems and negative effects on social relationships.

Yikes! If that's not enough, read on at NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php.

squale_sam - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: which drug is the most addictive ?

Dave McCann: For many people, nicotine can be as addictive as heroin. We can't say that any one drug is the most addictive. Read more about the science of addiction at http://www.drugabuse.gov/ScienceofAddiction/.

jose#70 - Rockville High School, Maryland: Can you get addictive after the first try?

Redonna Chandler: 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 each play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences.

A person 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. It impairs your ability to think clearly, to feel OK without drugs, and to control your behaviors. These all contribute to the compulsive drug seeking and use that is addiction.

britney spears - Martinsville High School, Virginia: are girls or guys more likly to use drugs or smoke

Anna Staton: According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future Survey in the three older populations (12th graders, college students, and young adults), males are more likely to use most illicit drugs, and the differences tend to be largest at the higher frequency levels. For example, 2008 daily marijuana use rates among 12th graders are 7.6% for males versus 3.0% for females; among all young adults (ages 19 to 28) the rates are 7.3% for males versus 3.6% for females; and among college students the rates are 7.3% for males versus 1.7% for females.

rhsram2011 - Rockville High School, Maryland: statistically, do boys or girls drink/abuse drugs more?

Anna Staton: According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future Survey in the three older populations (12th graders, college students, and young adults), males are more likely to use most illicit drugs, and the differences tend to be largest at the higher frequency levels. For example, 2008 daily marijuana use rates among 12th graders are 7.6% for males versus 3.0% for females; among all young adults (ages 19 to 28) the rates are 7.3% for males versus 3.6% for females; and among college students the rates are 7.3% for males versus 1.7% for females.

Halo - Dixie High School, Utah: how do you get alcohol poisioning?

Dave McCann: Alcohol poisoning comes from drinking much too much alcohol. Avoiding alcohol altogether is best, staying away from high alcohol content (like vodka or whisky) drinks can reduce the risk of alcohol poisoning or alcohol-induced brain alterations. Read more about it: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/binge-drinking-matters%E2%80%94to-your-brain/.

shleberity - Skaneateles High School, New York: How can you tell when you need to stop a drug? how far

Nora Volkow: You should not need to use drugs in order to enjoy life in the first place. In fact, life is much more fun without drugs, which give you an easy escape but an escape that is of short duration and leaves you feeling worse, once you stopped.

lololololololol - Einstein High School, Maryland: How many people a year die from drugs?

Susan Weiss: More that 400,000 people die each year from tobacco related illnesses; and more than 35,000 die from 'unintentional poisoning'--which are usually drug overdoses, and often caused by abuse of prescription painkillers (opioids).

rsalazar - Spring Woods High School, Texas: if you use drugs can you give blood?

Redonna Chandler: Well, its probably not a good idea and in some cases you won't be allowed to give blood. For example, if you are an IV drug user you are at high risk for contracting and spreading HIV so blood donation centers would not want you to donate. Regardless of the type of drug you use we know that risk factors for HIV increase under the influence - people don't make smart decsions about sex and other behaviors associated with HIV - so again they wouldn't want you donating blood. Also, certain drugs impact your body and health and may make it unsafe for you to donate blood. Below is a link on the internet that may be helpful.
http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements

kalie(: - Skaneateles High School, New York: If you smoke weed every day how long does it take to effect you brain, and which effects your brain and or body faster alcohol or weed?

Nora Volkow: Depends on your age and genetics. the younger you are the more likely that the use of drugs will result in damage to your brain that is long lasting. Weed and alcohol have different effects both of them are bad for your brain. Specifically, weed will impair your ability to learn and memorize so that won't help you pass your exams or get into a good school. Alcohol (just as marijuana) impairs your reflexes so that driving while intoxicated can lead to an accident.

Victoria - Presque Isle High School, Maine: why do you tend to be more clumsy when you drink?

Joe Frascella: Hi Victoria! Drinking effects brain systems that are important for our motor or physical function, and this can result in clumsiness and lack of balance and coordination.

For information on alcohol, go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism Web site at: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/.

shawty - Martinsville High School, Virginia: is powdered meth as addictive as crackribu

David Shurtleff: Hi Martinsville,
Both are EXTREMELY and equally addictive and the way in which both are used contributes to its addictive potential. Both are smoked, which is the quickest method of use for drugs to enter the bloodstream and the brain. Use of both types of drugs can lead to addiction and a number of health, emotional, social and family problems. For more information on crack and meth, visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html, http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html, and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

b.c.soccer03aba - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what drug is used the most often for people who are depressed; ?

Redonna Chandler: I'm not sure we know what drug is most used by 'people' who are depressed. We know that people try drugs for two main reasons: to try something new and exciting or because they feel lousy and want to feel better. Depression can make people feel lousy and in their effort to feel better than may try lots of different drugs. Regardless of which drug an individual may use, drugs are no treatment for depression. Medications and behavioral therapies exist to treat depression. The best way to deal with depression is to see a medical or mental health profession and get help. Thanks for your question.

jessica - Martinsville High School, Virginia: how do you know when someone is doing drugs

Susan Weiss: That can be difficult--some people are better at concealing it than others. But certainly if you see major changes in a persons attitudes and behaviors, with respect to their relationships, their performance at school or in outside activities, their moods--these are good indicators that you should be concerned and asking questions. They may also be signs of mental illness, which often begins in adolescence. If you suspect a problem, it is always a good idea to encourage the to person to confide and seek advice from a trusted adult. There is also a lot of information you can share with the person about drug abuse, which can be found on NIDA's website (www.drugabuse.gov). The person may already be aware of the negative consequences drugs are having, and may be prepared to make a change and seek treatment. In that case, you can help him/her find a doctor, therapist, support group or treatment program by visiting the website www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov, or calling 1-800-662-HELP. If your friend is not ready yet to get help, don't give up. Keep reaching out, and hopefully some day soon he/she will be ready.

cg - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: does weed make you stupid

Dave McCann: Some people who use weed were stupid before they started. But...weed does affect brain function and it can definitely affect learning, memory, and coordination. School grades can be affected. Here's some more on the topic: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

mbottom - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can pot give u cancer

Marsha Lopez: It's hard to know for sure since many people who smoke a lot of pot also smoke cigarettes and use other drugs. But it is known that marijuana smoke contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke.

But cancer isn't the only health effect to know about-people who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of breathing problems that cigarette smokers have, such as coughing and wheezing, they tend to have more chest colds than nonusers, and they are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia.

You can read more about pot at NIDA's website http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/teens/.

 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: how many times do u have to smoke to get addicted?

Nora Volkow: Depends on your genetics and age, the younger you are the greater the risk for addiction. But also genes have a lot to do with it and some teens get addicted very rapidly after a few weeks of smoking whereas others can take much longer. BTW, these comments are true for both tobacco (legal) as well as marijuana (illegal) smoking.

VAPAband94 - Einstein High School, Maryland: Why do school related sport teams not have drug testing?

Anna Staton: Some do. It depends on where you live. Some schools have adopted a random student drug testing policy hoping it will: (1) serve as a deterrent and give students a reason to resist peer pressure to take drugs; (2) identify adolescents who have started using drugs so that parents and counselors can intervene early; and (3) identify adolescents who already have drug problems, so they can be referred for treatment. It is not intended to be punitive, but rather to prevent drug use or promote early intervention. The Supreme Court has ruled drug testing as legal for any students participating in extracurricular activities. Currently, there is insufficient research in this area to show whether random drug testing is an effective approach.

Wind River High - Wind River High School, Wyoming: Can morphine be as addicting and harmful as other drugs?

Nora Volkow: yes it can

supperstar - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: can u get high off of a sharpy

Joe Frascella: Yes, there are some volatile substances in the Sharpie pens that some people sniff to get high. Inhalants can be extremely dangerous and can cause very serious damage to brain cells.

For some excellent information on inhalants, check out: http://www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov/

Thanks for the question.

vvhs - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: what are the ingredients of methamphetamine?

Nora Volkow: methamphetamine is made from pseudoephedrine

Lil Ai3 - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What does weed do to you

Nora Volkow: weed activates the cannabinoid system in your brain, which is a system invovled with many functions including mood, learning, and movement. Thus, while it initially can make you feel good with repeated use it can make you feel anxious and bored and can interfere wth your ability to learn things at school.

JDT24 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: y is speed called speed

Dave McCann: I believe that speed is called speed because many people become stimulated by it and they feel that their thoughts are racing through their heads. Of course, there are also dangers. Keep in mind is that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything. 'Speed' may not be speed. Some pills can contain contaminants that are worse than cocaine, meth, or any other drug of abuse. In one case, a contaminant in street pills that was supposed to contain an opiate actually contained a toxic chemical (MPTP), which kills dopamine neurons. People who bought the pills ended up with permanent drug-induced Parkinson's disease. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react. Read more about speed and other stimulants at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

lulu123 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Can people die by using drugs, even if it is your first time?

Anna Staton: Yep, for example with inhalants there's a condition called 'sudden sniffing death' which can happen the first time someone abuses inhalants. This happens when the inhalant vapor takes the place of oxygen in the lungs and brain, causing breathing to stop. Deliberately inhaling from a paper or plastic bag or in a closed area, for example, greatly increases the chances of suffocation. See http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drnida/drnida_inhale1.php for more information.

cupcake <3 - Dixie High School, Utah: What are the effects of Ecstasy????????????????????? Please answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joe Frascella: Thanks for the question...it's a good one!

As for ecstasy or MDMA, it primarily affects brain cells (also called neurons) that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. Serotonin plays an important part in controlling mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. MDMA also affects the release of of two other chemicals in the brain - dopamine and norepinephrine, which can produce confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur right after taking the drug or, sometimes, even days or weeks after taking it. Research in animals indicates that MDMA can be harmful to the brain - one study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to MDMA for only 4 days caused brain damage that lasted at least 6 to 7 years. Although similar damage to the brain has not been shown definitively in humans, the wealth of animal research indicating MDMA's damaging properties strongly suggests that MDMA is not a safe drug for human consumption. This is currently an area of active research.

MDMA can also be dangerous to overall health and, on rare occasions, lethal. MDMA can have many of the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure - which are particularly dangerous for people with circulatory problems or heart disease - and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. In high doses, MDMA can cause hyperthermia, which can result in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death. MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), therefore potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated MDMA administration within short periods of time.

Hope that helps. Check out this site for more information on ecstasy: http://www.clubdrugs.gov/.

$J@y-Mon3y$ - Martinsville High School, Virginia: can you get high off of glue? and if so why?

Nora Volkow: yes, soemone can get high by sniffing glue. its effect can be somehwat similar to those of intoxication with alcohol. However, it does this at the expense of damaging the material that covers (insulates) nerve fibers in your body such that sniffing glue can result in impaired ability to feel sensations (touch) as well cause significant brain damage.

You can learn more about inhalants by visiting:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/tg_inha1.php

grad20012 - Dixie High School, Utah: why doesnt rehab always help people?

Gaya Dowling: It's hard to say why some people keep going back to treatment. There are lots of different kinds of treatments and some work better than others. And we know that people who finish a program that uses treatments that have been proven to be effective 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. Addiction can be a chronic disease -- it involves changes in the brain that can persist even after a person stops using drugs. This can make a person vulnerable to relapse, and if that happens it becomes important to get them back into treatment as soon as possible, so that they can eventually recover fully, and regain productive lives.

lil-steve - Rockville High School, Maryland: If you only smoke during pregnancy, will the baby have a chance of smoking when he or she is older?

Nicolette Borek: Hi Rockville - thanks for chatting. As a matter of fact, one researcher found that prenatal or in utero exposure to cigarette smoke seemed to increase the baby's vulnerability to smoking, and also to becoming addicted to nicotine when the babies became teenagers. Researchers are trying to understand what is it about early exposure that may increase vulnerability - does it have a direct effect -or- does it effect another process - like a kids ability to deal with stress, that might lead to cigarette use? You asked a really good research question ... perhaps you might consider a career as a scientist! You might also this website interesting: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.

asia - Methacton, Pennsylvania: can some people be ok with using drugs and others cant handle it as well?

Dave McCann: Drugs affect different people in different ways, but anyone can get addicted. Some people get addicted to drugs or alcohol more quickly than others, so it is best not to even take the chance at all. All drugs are potentially harmful and may lead to addiction or have other life-threatening consequences--one person may use a drug one or many times and not have bad effects; another person may be particularly vulnerable and develop addiction...others may overdose with first use. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react. Read more about it: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction

Halo - Dixie High School, Utah: Why do famous peolpe do drugs?

Cindy Miner: It isn't just famous people who take drugs. People from all walks of life take drugs. And all ages. It just seems like more famous people take drugs because we hear about it in the media. But drugs are an equal opportunity destroyer!

Michael - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what drugs cause Parkinson's disease

Joe Frascella: Great question. Parkinson's disease is a caused by a degeneration of a certain population of cells in the brain -- dopamine cells. There was a drug, MPTP, that was a bi-product of a rushed synthesis in making MPPP, a synthetic opioid drug with effects similar to those of heroin and morphine, that caused Parkinson's.

Also, we know that all drugs of abuse affect the dopamine system and can actually cause decreases in dopamine function. Also, different people have different levels of dopamine in their brains, so it is possible that if you get the right mix of dopamine system function together with drug-induced reductions in this system, then Parkinson's symptoms might result.

Hope this helps!

 Fireroy900 - Einstein High School, Maryland: can second hand smoke affect you in the long run?

 Nora Volkow: yes, it can for example affect your pulmonary function. it may also make you more vulnerable to become addicted to nicotine. It may also increase your risk for lung cancer.

 ??INFO?? - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: WHAT CAN SPEED DO TO YOU AND FOR YOU

Nora Volkow: speed increases dopamine in your brain which will give you a temporary sense of energy and excitement but with repeated use speed will make you increasingly more anxious and paranoid and can make you hallucinate.

 manman - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can u get high from the can of spray that u use to get rid of dust

 Marsha Lopez: The cans of spray used to clean dust and other household products if used to get high are called inhalants. These products are not intended to be sniffed and there are lots of warnings on those cans, with good reason. Sniffing these toxic chemicals can lead to problems with walking, talking, and thinking.

Regular abuse of inhalants can cause serious harm to vital organs besides the brain, like the heart, kidneys, and liver. 

And if all that isn't enough-inhalants can be addictive.

You can learn more about inhalants including their effects at NIDA's website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale1.php

Keemy - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Do you think that everyone should try a drug before they say anything bad about them??

Nora Volkow: No, I don't think someone should try a drug before they can talk about its negative effects. This is because drugs can have deleterious effects event the first time you take them. Also, each one of us has unique genes that can make us sensitive to the adverse effects of some drugs and since we really dont know our genetic background ahead of time, experimenting with a drug is very much like playing russian roulette.

taraz7 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Can drugs have a much worse effect on someone who is depressed when they start abusing them than on someone who is depressed but started before they became depressed?

Redonna Chandler: Well this is an excellent and complicated question. This is the famous which came first - the chicken or the egg question. This speaks to the essence of why people use drugs and how drugs complicate treatment of mental health conditions like depression. Regarding why people use drugs; we know that people use drugs for lots of reasons - because they want to experience something new and exciting and/or because they feel terrible and use drugs to feel better. Depression is a mental health condition that can make people feel lousy and sometimes they try drugs to feel better. Also, sometimes after repeated drug use the brain is changed in fundamental ways and not taking the drug can make people feel bad and depressed. Regardless, taking drugs is no cure for depression. The best way to address depression is through treatment from a medical or mental health professional. Medications and behavioral therapies offer the best way to deal with depression. So, using drugs is no solution and because of the way they impact the brain, body, and behavior only complicate treatment for depression.

Hope this is helpful.

Diana - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: If your dad is smoking and you smell the ciagarettes. Does that mean that your smoking too??

Dave McCann: Breathing in someone else's smoke can be harmful. It is best to avoid breathing smoke when you can. That is called second-hand smoke, which you've probably heard about. But have you heard of 'third-hand' smoke? Check this out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/what-the-heck-is-third-hand-smoke/

Mayra - Einstein High School, Maryland: Can you get high off glue sticks?

David Shurtleff: What's up, Einstein?
Sniffing glue tends to produce a 'high' because of the chemicals that are used to make the glue. While folks often report feeling 'high' after sniffing glue, the problem is that some of these chemical are toxic-they can produce a loss of sensation, and even unconsciousness in taken in high concentration! How's that happen? By displacing air in the lungs, http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/inhalants.html to learn more about sniffing glue and why it is a terrible idea (I mean, you like your brain, right?).

cochina - Port Chester High School, New York: about how many people die from drinking?

Anna Staton: About 85,000 people a year.

Lether 56 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: Could the econmey in Michigan have any thing to do with how many people do crack or smoke or something?

Anna Staton: Could be. Stress is a known risk factor for drug abuse and a down turn in an economy produces a lot of stress.

12holtrubw - Dixie High School, Utah: dose smokeing marijuana Make your sperm count low?

Nora Volkow: Yes, studies have shown that smoking marihuana decreases seprm count

roy - Dixie High School, Utah: how do you stop a friend for smoking weed

Kristen Huntley: It's hard to be in this situation, seeing someone who is doing things that are not good for them. One thing you can do is let them know you are very concerned about their behavior and how it is affecting or could affect their life. You can show concern without being judgmental so that the person does not get too defensive. Also, you can let them know 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 friend 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 or her 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 friend.

If your friend wants to stop smoking marijuana, supporting you friend's effort to quit is one very important thing you can do. Planning activities with your friend so that he or she is not exposed to situations where they would be tempted to smoke pot could help.

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/

abovetheworld07 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: what happens when u do extasy

Joe Frascella: Thanks for the question...it's a good one!

As for ecstasy or MDMA, it primarily affects brain cells (also called neurons) that use the chemical serotonin to communicate with other neurons. Serotonin plays an important part in controlling mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and sensitivity to pain. MDMA also affects the release of of two other chemicals in the brain - dopamine and norepinephrine, which can produce confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug craving, and severe anxiety. These problems can occur right after taking the drug or, sometimes, even days or weeks after taking it. Research in animals indicates that MDMA can be harmful to the brain - one study in nonhuman primates showed that exposure to MDMA for only 4 days caused brain damage that lasted at least 6 to 7 years. Although similar damage to the brain has not been shown definitively in humans, the wealth of animal research indicating MDMA's damaging properties strongly suggests that MDMA is not a safe drug for human consumption. This is currently an area of active research.

MDMA can also be dangerous to overall health and, on rare occasions, lethal. MDMA can have many of the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure - which are particularly dangerous for people with circulatory problems or heart disease - and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating. In high doses, MDMA can cause hyperthermia, which can result in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death. MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), therefore potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated MDMA administration within short periods of time.

Hope that helps. For more information on ecstasy, check out: http://www.clubdrugs.gov/.

BUZZZ - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What advice do you have for smoking

Dave McCann: As you may know, smoking increases a person's risk of developing cancer. Some people can quit smoking on their own but many need help. Medictions are available to help people quit. Speaking with a doctor may be a good idea. More advice can be found on this website: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/

LovelessWedding - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Why are teens most likely to do drugs besides beiong cool and peer pressures?

Nora Volkow: to escape from boredom, depresssion, insecuritites, problems at home, loneliness, anger, frustration

Tiaa [[: - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: Hhat is the worst drug out there and why is it the worst drug?

Nora Volkow: its hard to specifically say one drug is worse than others since one drug aybe really bad for some people but not for others, this would depend to a large extent on genetic factors. However, overall its recognized that methampehtmine is among the most addictive and most toxic. But heroin is also highly addicitve and accounts from more death from overdoses than any of the other illicit substances.

vvhs - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: what does LSD mean.

Anna Staton: LSD is short for 'd-lysergic acid diethylamide' and 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.

vvhs - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Why are inhalants so harmful?

Nicolette Borek: Hi there Arizona. Good question. It's all about the chemicals - and those chemicals can mess things up for you.

Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can directly induce heart failure and death within minutes of a session of repeated inhalation. This syndrome, known as 'sudden sniffing death,' can result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young person. Sudden sniffing death is particularly associated with the abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols.

High concentrations of inhalants may also cause death from suffocation by displacing oxygen in the lungs, causing the user to lose consciousness and stop breathing. Deliberately inhaling from a paper or plastic bag or in a closed area greatly increases the chances of suffocation. Even when using aerosols or volatile products for their legitimate purposes (i.e., painting, cleaning), it is wise to do so in a well-ventilated room or outdoors.

The effects of inhalants are similar to those of alcohol, including slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant abusers may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions. Chemicals found in different types of inhaled products may produce a variety of additional effects, such as confusion, nausea, or vomiting.

By displacing air in the lungs, inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. Hypoxia can damage cells throughout the body, but the cells of the brain are especially sensitive to it. The symptoms of brain hypoxia vary according to which regions of the brain are affected: for example, the hippocampus helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations.

Long-term inhalant abuse can also break down myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds and protects some nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages quickly and efficiently, and when damaged, can lead to muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions such as walking, bending, and talking.

Here are two great resources that can tell you more about inhalants - the harmful effects, how they work, etc. Visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/inhalants.html and
http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/inhalants.html for more info.

isabel0894 - Einstein High School, Maryland: How come there aren't many rehab or drug helping facilities in the US where the most drug use happens? & if so, how come nobody knows about them?

Nora Volkow: i wish i could give you an answer other than because people don't realize how badly we need these facilitites and that funding them should be a national priority.

sassy-girl - Abington Friends School, Pennsylvania: when you mixed diferent drugs together do it have a bigger affect on you and are the consequences more harmful than any single drug you take by itself?

Dave McCann: There are great risks in using even one drug but, in general, using more than one at a time increases the risks, especially when combined with http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

i luv weenerzzz - Skaneateles High School, New York: what is the worst drug ever?

Susan Weiss: Methamphetamine is among the most addictive; tobacco the most lethal.

paNDA BurR 1338 - Dixie High School, Utah: did you ever smoke?

Anna Staton: I smoked cigarettes for about twelve years and it took me three years to quit completely. Definitely one of the most difficult things I've ever done but with the help of a medication called Zyban I was finally able to quit completely.

joeC - Einstein High School, Maryland: is marijuanna addictive in any way? if so, how addictive is it and how long would it take you to be hooked?

Susan Weiss: Yes, about 9% of those who smoke marijuana may become addicted, and about 25-50% of those who use it daily. The how long it takes is a harder question to answer, because its different for everyone. It depends on your genes, whether you have other problems (like anxiety or depression), how old you are when you started (the younger you are, the more likely you are to develop drug problems later on), what other drugs you are using, how frequently you are using, among others. Essentially, its a gamble, and many people don't realize they've gone over the edge until its too late. After all, no one wants to grow up to be a drug addict.

coolkid - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: What are the affects of lsd?

Nora Volkow: lsd is a drug that increases serotonin inside your brain, this results in hallucinations and other changes in perception. thus you can see realtity with brighter colors or sounds but these perceptual changes can also become very frightning and transform into hallucinations.

To learn more about hallucinogens visit:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/tg_hal1.php

somebody - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: what is a common side affect of drug overdose?

Dave McCann: Death is a common direct effect of overdose but, on the positive side, many people begin to seek treatment for drug addiction after an overdose/near-death experience. Other symptoms of overdose depend on the drug. If the drug is heroin or any other kind of opiate, breathing may stop. Stimulants like http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.php Lots of stuff going on there.

babycakes123 - Benjamin Franklin Academics Plus, Pennsylvania: Did you ever smoke or did some type of drug when you were younger? Everyone tryed it at least one

Cindy Miner: Actually, yes. I had many friends who smoked cigarettes. I thought that they were pretty cool, so I wanted to try them. I tried smoking cigarettes a couple of times, and really hated them....made me sick. turns out I was lucky....I was on the high school tennis team, I couldn't have played sports (and continue to play today) if I had continued smoking! Smoking causes over 400,000 premature deaths per year.

jessie - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: If a child, at the age of around nine, was constantly exposed to marijuana what are some of the effects it could have on the child later in life?

Nicolette Borek: Thanks for your question - In general, research has found that marijuana can affect short-term memory and learning, including someone's ability to focus their attention, and coordination. We've got a bunch of studies looking at how weed/marijuana use can affect the brain as it is developing. Did you know your brain develops until age 25?! So - even if someone is exposed to marijuana, there are lots of factors that go into how people develop (individual factors, personality, family, friends, your community, our society) - being exposed to marijuana is just one of them. To find out more about marijuana, go to our teen website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.

vvhs - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: whats in speed that makes you all crazy?

Nora Volkow: speed liberates dopamine inside your brain and the dopamine is the chemical that makes you feel good but also, in large quantitites, it can make you paranoid, meaning that it can lead you to believe that people out there are trying to get you, it can also cause hallucinations

GEORGE - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Hi guys.. why do teens become involved in smoking

Kristen Huntley: Hi! A lot of the movies and TV shows portray smoking as hip or cool and this may be one thing that significantly effects why teens start smoking. Also, many other reasons could influence why teens might start doing something bad for them even after all of the health information they have been exposed to shows that smoking is bad for health. For example, difficult family situations, depression, anxiety, stress, or problems in school could lead to teens making harmful choices.
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/

somebody - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: what does MDMA stand for? i know it is ecstasy but what do the letters stand for?

Gaya Dowling: MDMA stands for 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine. If you want more information on it, you can go to http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_xtc1.php

YATA - Rockville High School, Maryland: What has taken more lives, marijuana or tobacco?

Anna Staton: Well, we know that tobacco leads to about 440,000 deaths annually. Unfortunately we don't know how many deaths each year are associated with marijuana abuse.

coolkid - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: what do you think drives people to do drugs? is it just the fact of wantnig to be cool and fitting in? i mean who wants to unnatturally lose control all the time? i dont understand what would make you want to do this

Nora Volkow: yes many people take drugs because they want to be cool and have a good time. however many people take drugs to escape feeling bad , this coudl be because they are depressed , anxious bored angry or because no one cares about them and they cannot find anything exciting to live for or look forward to.

 Wind River High - Wind River High School, Wyoming: how many people die from drugs every year?

 Nora Volkow: Most deaths are due to legal drugs, like alcohol and tobacco, because they are so broadly available and much more frequently abused than the illegal ones. Alcohol kills a lot of teenagers and is the number one killer at this age group because of car accidents. Smoking kills about 440,000 persons a year from medical consequences. Heroin and pain killers kill many from overdoses. Cocaine and ice (meth) kill from cardiac complications and seizures.

 frenchy123 - Kingswood Middle School, New Hampshire: how many cells do you wreck with one use of drugs???????

 Joe Frascella: Hey, thanks for the question. We don't really know how many cells are actually destroyed by a single use of drugs.  There are lots of variables at work with drugs, and there are considerable individual differences with respect to drug effects on brain cells.  

We still don't know or understand 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 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 general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

isaiah - Martinsville High School, Virginia: how many people smoke in the US

Anna Staton: In 2008, about 84 million Americans over the age of 12 (that's about 34% of the US population) reported using a tobacco product in the past year.

 Sydney70 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What does drugs do to you and your baby when your pregnant?

 Nicolette Borek: Hi there Arizona and thanks for joining the chat! Drugs, including marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco can affect the baby in all different ways depending on the drug. For example, tobacco has been associated with health problems including increased risk for stillbirth, infant mortality, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, slowed fetal growth, decreased birth weight, preterm birth, and respiratory problems. Researchers have also found links between nicotine exposure during pregnancy and cognitive and behavior problems in childhood and adolescence, can have devastating effects...here's some information on fetal syndrome: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/fetal-alcohol-exposure.
Marijuana and cocaine have also been linked to cognitive and behavior problems. Heroin, an opiate in the same family as vicodin and oxycontin has been associated with low birth weight and infant withdrawal - what we call neonatal abstinence syndrome. There are lots of factors associated with these outcomes including the quality of the relationship the mom has with the child, so it's not the case that kids whose moms used drugs in pregnancy are necessarily going to have long term negative effects, but since they can occur, we recommend that moms not use, tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs during pregnancy and ask for help if they are having trouble stopping. Check out http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html for more information.

sabrinamadia - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: is doing drugs more popular to teen boys or girls?

Nora Volkow: In general, more boys than girls take drugs.

sheshie - Watertown Alternative Learning Center, Wisconsin: I have a question in regards to the response about how to tell if someone is an alcoholic. In my experience, someone with an alcohol problem typically will deny having a problem. Therefore, asking them doesn't seem like the best way to find out. Do you have any other suggestions?

Redonna Chandler: Yes, I have some ideas that might be helpful. First, there are two ways to think about the misuse of http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/QuestionsAnswers/default.asp. For adults, they define low risk drinking as less than 4 'standard' drinks per day and less than 14 per week and adult women less than 3 'standard' drinks per day and 7 per week.

Hope this helps.

mathlete_14 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: If someone is sick and they are using marjiuana, can it increase their risk of dying?

Susan Weiss: We don't really know enough to answer that question. Smoking marijuana can be harmful to the lungs (if the person has a lung condition) and marijuana has mixed effects on the immune system--the body's way of defending itself. So its hard to answer this question with any certainty, but I would strongly encourage the person to discuss this with their doctor.

??info?? - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: If someone had to do drugs, what is the safest one they would want to do?

Joe Frascella: Thanks for this excellent question! We still don't know or understand 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 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. So to be honest, there is no real straightforward answer regarding which drugs are the safest. It's best to not use any illicit drugs.

For general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

 sophiabirks - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: What drug is the main cause of death? What should you do if you know someone using it?

Nora Volkow: By far, the main cause of death associated to drug use is accidents, from intoxication with alcohol and medical complications from cigarrette smoking.

 DropU2 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: what does speed do to you

 David Shurtleff: Great question!
Good morning and thank you for your question! Speed is the street name for methamphetamine and it is one of a class of drugs known as stimulants. Methamphetamine use can result in a lot of problems, including a variety of heart problems (including rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat), irreversible stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Methamphetamine can also dangerously increase a person's body temperature, which can be lethal if not treated rapidly. Meth use over time can lead to addiction and also contributes to increased transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, and can infuse whole communities with new waves of crime, unemployment, child neglect or abuse, and other social ills. Oh, don't forget about 'meth mouth'. Meth use and side effects are serious business! For more information, click on www.abovetheinfluence.com or www.abovetheinfluence.com.

Justnothing - Einstein High School, Maryland: How do you tell your friends no?

Nora Volkow: if the person is really your friend you should be able to say no and he/she will understand and accept you, otherwise he or she may not be a friend worth having, right?

However many times you may be asked to take drugs by kids who you know and you want them to accept you and hence you may feel compelled to say yes just to fit in. Although it may seem hard to say no under this type of pressure you should realize that you can say no and nothing bad will happen and they will either understand that you are an independent person that speaks his/her mind and knows what he/she wants. You have to realize that most kids feel insecure themselves and so seeing that someone has the courage to say no is actually really cool.

Always keep this in mind: others may be intolerant and reject anyone that does not take drugs; but if that's the case why would do you even want to bother with such a group.

Gary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what is acid?

Anna Staton: Acid is a street term for LSD or d-lysergic acid diethylamide. It 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.

blindeey - Dixie High School, Utah: why do some parents let there kids do drugs and drink when they know its doing them harm?

Dave McCann: Unfortunately, that may happen. It would be a form of neglect, for sure.

starburst - Dixie High School, Utah: which drug is the most addictive drug?

Joe Frascella: Good question! The answer is not so straightforward. That is, we still don't know or understand 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 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 general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

 frenchtoooooast - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: what drugs are you most likely to die from

 Susan Weiss: tobacco and alcohol are the drugs most associated with death--from cancer and heart disease (for tobacco), automobile accidents and liver disease (alcohol). 

 coolkidsfriend - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: do you know all of this from experiance?

 Dave McCann: No! Fortunately, we can learn a great deal about drugs by conducting studies in animals and in humans, using all kinds of technologies, like brain scans, to see the effects of drugs on their brains; unfortunately, we also learn a lot by observing the many people who take drugs, who are addicted to drugs, or who are trying to quit.

 nems - Comstock North East Middle School , Michigan: What is Special K?

 Anna Staton: Special K or ketamine is a type of club drug. It's called a dissociative anesthetic and is mostly used in veterinary practices. By dissociative we mean it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self when abused by humans.

 alexad - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: can you get high off of pural hand sanitizer???

 Joe Frascella: I have heard of people drinking hand sanitizer because of the alcohol in it, but clearly, that is not a good idea!  Thanks for the question.

 lil_one22 - Rockville High School, Maryland: how can you prevent your boyfriend from doing drugs?

 Nora Volkow: You cannot prevent him from not using drugs but you can HELP him not to use drugs. This will require that you are able to discuss with him your concerns about his drug use and why he might be using it. Many times kids use drugs because they are feeling blue and they want to escape their reality. So it is improtant to recognize if your boyfriend has an emotional problem or a difficult situation at home that may be driving his behavior. You should also make him aware that you are concerned about his drug use and that you want to help him stop using them. If you think he is in danger you also should speak to a trusted adult regarding your concerns. In an actual crisis you can always call the SAMHSA hotline at 1800 273 TALK.

 alikat - Martinsville High School, Virginia: why do people do weed?

 Nicolette Borek: Hi there Virginia - people do weed/smoke marijuana, use alcohol etc. for all different reasons - it feels good, it's something to do, you often feel more calm, people you know or want to hang out with are doing it, the list goes on - I'm sure you can think of some reasons too. One of those reasons can be that you are addicted to it. Who doesn't want to feel good? The problem is that marijuana can have effects on your brain, on learning and memory, on your heart and lungs, and also on mental health. Heavy users report effects on their social lives and careers as well as cognitive abilities, physical and mental health. The other thing about doing weed - if you are doing weed you may not be doing some of the other things that feel good or make you feel calm like hanging out with friends who aren't smoking or doing a sport or climbing or hiking or doing yoga (my fave). So we recommend other ways to feel good, feel calm that don't involve doing weed or other drugs. Please check out this website to make sure you get all the important information about why people use weed:   
http://www.marijuana-info.org/.

charlie - Einstein High School, Maryland: how many people smoke weed

Anna Staton: In 2008, 26 million Americans 12 or older used marijuana within the past year (that's about 10% of the US population).

Straight_Edge - Rockville High School, Maryland: Can cough medicine get you high?

Susan Weiss: DXM or dextromethorphan is an ingredient in cough medicine, which when taken at very high doses, can produce a 'dissociative state'--a disconnect with yourself and the real world. It can also cause motor impairments, e.g., slurred speech, incoordination, numbness; nausea/vomiting, and sometimes increased heart rate and blood pressure. On rare occasions, brain damage - caused by severe respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen to the brain - can result. This may be due to the combination of DXM with other ingredients (decongestants) also found in cough medicines.

Lil Ai3 - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Do parkinsans dieases have something to do with drugs

Joe Frascella: Great question. Parkinson's disease is a caused by a degeneration of a certain population of cells in the brain -- dopamine cells. We know that all drugs of abuse affect the dopamine system and can actually cause decreases in dopamine function. Also, different people have different levels of dopamine in their brains, so it is possible that if you get the right mix of dopamine system function together with drug-induced reductions in this system, then Parkinson's symptoms might result.

Thanks for such a thoughtful question!

joshua - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what drug could i take that wouldnt affect my performance in sports?

Marsha Lopez: That would be 0, nada, none. Drugs can alter perception, cognition, attention, balance, coordination all of which factor into your ability to play sports. So pretty much any drug will affect your performance one way or the other, whether it is enhancing it or limiting your performance, but any short term benefit is probably outweighed by the negative longer term effects the drugs could have on your body and brain.

jeriwhiting - Skaneateles High School, New York: do you get high even if you have never smoked before

Dave McCann: I assume you're talking about marijuana...People have different experiences. Much would depend on the amount smoked. Here's a good link to learn more: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana.

mary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: why does drugs make your chemiacl balance off

David Shurtleff: Hi Martinsville,
That is an interesting question. Drugs have potent effects on the brain and can alter the manner in which neurons in other brain transmit information and communicate with one another. For example methamphetmine cause the brain chemical dopamine to rapidly pour out of brain cells. This rapid release of dopmaine is associated with the 'rush' or good feeling associated with its use, but over time it can also result in addiction as well as long-lasting emotional and cognitive problems. Need more information? Visit http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse

 TeeZy21 - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: are drugs on the street more dangerous today than they were 20 years ago?

 Susan Weiss: they've always been dangerous, and they vary over time, plus weird mixtures or components show up--most recently cocaine laced with a veterinary drug called levamisole that can produce a deadly type of blood disease. some drugs are more potent now than they used to be, which means that you could get exposed to higher doses and be more likely to overdose.

 ilikedrugchtday - Rockville High School, Maryland: what are some nicknames for pot

 Anna Staton: Pot, ganga, weed, grass, mary jane, 420. Check out http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/
ByType.asp?intTypeID=1 for a listing of more terms.

ScLions026 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: Why do young teens start using drugs even though they know it's bad?

Nora Volkow: they take them because initially it feels good but with repeated use these drugs loose their ability to make you feel good and when you are not on them the person will be feeling much worse than before they started taking. However, when someone (particularly a young person) uses a drug he or she doesn't necessarily think of how they will be feeling (poorly) after the drug leaves their body.

nessie:] - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: how many times do you have to do drugs to get addicted?

Dave McCann: Good question!! Yes! Anyone can get addicted to drugs. Some people get addicted more quickly than others but anyone can get addicted. All drugs are potentially harmful and may lead to addiction or have other life-threatening consequences--one person may use a drug one or many times and not have bad effects; another person may be particularly vulnerable and develop addiction fairly quickly...others may overdose with first use. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react. Read more about it: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction. You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

Stephanie - Einstein High School, Maryland: i have a friend that is 16 and drinks a lot of alcoholic beverages what can i do to help her without getting her in trouble?

Kristen Huntley: It's hard to be in this situation, seeing someone who is doing things that are not good for them. One thing you can do is let her know you are very concerned about her behavior and how it is affecting or could affect their life. You can show concern without being judgmental so that she does not get too defensive. Also, you can let her know that there are people she can talk with in confidence. She may be more open to talk to a trusted adult or a medical professional if she feels that her privacy would not be violated. There are some resources 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. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Because talking about drinking 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 friend.

NIDA is frequently asked where to find information about http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/.

taraz7 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: What are the effects of too much caffeine?

Marsha Lopez: A lotta latte? You may have some of the less desirable effects like increased anxiety, reduced fine motor coordination, affected sleep patterns, headaches, nervousness, and dizziness.

 thang - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what is the worst kind of drugs that a middle school teen can get into, what does the drug do to u

 Nora Volkow: all of the drugs can have serious risks and the extent to which you can have a worse outcome with one or another depends on your genes and other factors. For example, some kids have a great vulnerability to become addicted to alcohol whereas others do not. But even if you dont, you can have a car accident while intoxicated. it is also true that some drugs are more addictive than others. Methampethmine (ice) is considered among the most addicitve but other drugs with very high addictive potential are cocaine and heroin. While in the past many thought that drugs like marijuana were not addictive we now know do know that it is and also that it is a drug that affects your learning and memory capacity even if you are not addicted to it.

shelbyyyy - Skaneateles High School, New York: i am a horrible meth addict and lovvve to drink and still a teen, will this still effect me when im older? if so how do i stop??

Joe Frascella: Thanks for this question. We do know that the earlier one starts, and the longer one takes drugs, the more difficult it becomes to quit. Early use most likely will affect you when you are older, since the drugs are affecting brain development, so it is best if you work on stopping your drug use as soon as possible. That said, stopping can be very difficult, so the best advice would be to seek help. If possible, get yourself to a treatment program so that you can start your recovery.

For more information on treatment, check out: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Good luck.

Karlaa <3 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what do people get out of cutting themselves?

Nicolette Borek: Hi and thanks for writing into the chat. Cutting, also known as self injury or self mutilation, is a very complex and dangerous behavior. Self-injury is an unhealthy response to cope with overwhelming negative emotions. We have found that individuals who engage this behavior may have been exposed to stressful experiences, and due to feeling sad or depressed, they may attempt to self-medicate with drugs, or decide to cut themselves to distract themselves from painful thoughts or memories. It is really important to get treatment from skilled healthcare professionals, which can help immensely, including specific medications prescribed under the care of a physician. Please visit: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp for more information.

nessie:] - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: how many times do you have to smoke to get addicted?

Dave McCann: It depends on the person. The best thing to do is to avoid smoking completely. Read on: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/know-the-scene-four-reasons-not-to-smoke/

proberts - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: What is a date rape drug?

Anna Staton: You might be thinking of GHB or Rohypnol. Both have both been used in certain types of assaults where the victim was given the drug without their knowledge. These drugs can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html

 swimmer17 - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: Is drug mixing dangerous

 Susan Weiss: Absolutely. Some combinations can even kill you--for example mixing prescription pain killers (opiates) and alcohol can cause you to stop breathing; same with central nervous system depressants, like xanax or valium with alcohol. Often you don't know what the effects will be, but because drugs usually affect a variety of body and brain systems, their interactions can be unpredictable and very dangerous.

 tiny dancer - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: who is winnig mvp this year in da nba?

 Cindy Miner: LeBron

 carag - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: A boy named captain crunch at school thinks pot is fine, everytime i tell him he is addicted he says you cannot be addicted but i know he his. how can i get him to listen to me. i know im right.

 Wilson Compton: This can be a very uncomfortable situation-when people won't listen to you and don't believe what you say.  In general, people sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their friends. The key is to explain what you observe in objective, non-judgmental ways. Also, most important is taking care of yourself and not getting involved. Sometimes people have to figure out for themselves about the problems. 

To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, go to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

steve - Dixie High School, Utah: WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM AFFECTS OF EXTASY?

Dave McCann: That is hard to answer because pills sold as 'ectasy' on the street contain many differnt things. Keep in mind is that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than http://teens.drugabuse.gov/stories/story_xtc1.php

ann - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: If someone tried to kill them selfs when they where taking meds. that the Dr. gave them, is there a chance they might do it again?

Wilson Compton: Yes. Unfortunately, depression and suicide can reoccur. In addition, drug abuse contributes to suicide risk--that is, drug abusers are more likely to commit suicide than people who don't abuse drugs. But there is help available and people can turn their lives around before it's too late.

fani^_^ - Spring Woods High School, Texas: One of my friends has been doing weed for a long time and shes trying to quit what can i do to help her???

Kristen Huntley: Supporting you friend's effort to quit is one very important thing you can do. Planning activities with your friend so that he or she is not exposed to situations where they would be tempted to smoke pot could help. Also, you can let your friend know that there are people they can talk with in confidence. Your friend 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 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. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

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/

 tricken7 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: What is the ratio of teens that do drugs?

 Nora Volkow: The numbers vary for the different drugs, alcohol and cigarrettes are the most frequent drugs used by teen and the 12th graders are the ones that consume the most drugs among highschoolers. Just to give you an idea of some prevalences: past-year alcohol use by 10th-graders declined from 56.3 percent in 2007 to 52.5 percent in 2008.  In 2008, more than 20 percent of 12th-graders smoked cigarettes at least once in the 30 days before the survey. Fewer 10th-graders (12.3 percent) and still fewer 8th-graders (6.8 percent) smoked in the last month. Finally, among the illicit substances marihuana is the most frequent. Among 10th graders, for example, lifetime use decreased from 18.2 to 15.9 percent, past-year use declined from 13.1 to 11.3 percent, and past-month use decreased from 6.9 to 5.3 percent.

 Em&Em=D - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: Is this hard emotionally, answering all of these questions about drugs?

 Wilson Compton: Thanks for asking! It's great to see all the interest in these problems. We're working hard to prevent and treat drug abuse and it's really gratifying to see so many people asking about it. We need to work together to eliminate these problems.

 lumpkin - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: why are shrooms addictive

 Susan Weiss: The risks with shrooms are more related to the unpredictability of their effects, and the possibility that you could become anxious, paranoid or generally disturbed.

 diggydawg542 - New Egypt High School, New Jersey: Do ugly people do drugs to make them feel better?

 Wilson Compton: Some people start or continue using drugs as a way of coping with stress. Drugs make people feel good and high sometimes but afterwards they may feel much worse. Also, sometimes when people use a lot of drugs they get really, really depressed and want to die. That's the unpredictable and dangerous part of drug abuse. If you'd like some more info or help check out:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

LovelessWedding - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Does the meth cause schizopherinia?

Wilson Compton: Methamphetamine use has been associated with a number of mental conditions, including psychosis, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts. Currently, the strongest evidence is for the link between methamphetamine and psychosis. Meth intoxication produce a reversible psychosis (paranoia and hallucinations), and it may be a causal agent in development of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals.

R U Stoned - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: whats that bad about meth

David Shurtleff: Good question Lakeview.
Methamphtamine is a potent and highly addictive psychostimulant - and is a very serious problem in the United States. Methamphetamine abuse can lead to devastating medical, psychological, and social consequences. Adverse health effects include memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, heart damage, malnutrition, and severe dental problems, including 'meth mouth'. Methamphetamine abuse also contributes to increased transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, and can infuse whole communities with new waves of crime, unemployment, child neglect or abuse, and other social ills. So, Lakeview, this is just the tip of the iceburg with what's so bad about meth. Need more information? Log onto http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Methamphetamine.html, http://teens.drugabuse.gov/, and http://hiv.drugabuse.gov/.

pillpoper69 - Skaneateles High School, New York: what are the long term effects of Oxycontin?

Dave McCann: long-term use can cause physical dependence and when the drug is stopped, 'opiate withdrawal' (a feeling like the flu only 10 x worse). Here's what one of our NIDA staff wrote about her experience: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/?s=oxycontin

moser - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: is meth the worst drug that u can do ?????????????

Wilson Compton: Good and complicatied question. Methamphetamine is a very dangerous drug that causes all sorts of medical, mental and social problems. Figuring out the worst drug depends on many things. The worst drug is the one that causes problems for the user because the outcomes are unpredictable, it's important to focus on individual responses. Someone who has a car crash when high on marijuana is just as bad off as someone who has a stroke from methamphetamine.

MonsterRules - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can you get high from caffine

Marsha Lopez: Well I'm certainly buzzed from the 2 cups I have had this morning! But 'high'-nah, not in the commonly used sense. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world and its popularity is probably due to effects, such as enhanced alertness and stimulation. Yet there are large differences in how individuals respond to caffeine, with some people experiencing increased stimulation and others much less desirable effects such as anxiety.

mk - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: i know people who do ecstasy, atleast over 20 times. what has that done to their brain?

Joe Frascella: Thanks for the question...it's a good one! We don't know the threshold for effects of drugs, in general, but there are a few things to note. First, the earlier one starts, the greater the risk of addiction. There is a lot that we still don't know about who becomes addicted and why, however, and after how much drug exposure. We do know that each person is different, so it's a little like playing 'Russian Roulette' if one chooses to use drugs. Also, the earlier and longer that one uses drugs, the more likely that he/she will become addicted and suffer harmful brain changes that lead to addiction. Also, we know that the brain is developing still during the teen years, so drugs like ecstasy can affect the normal developmental process in the brain. We do know also that ecstasy/MDMA has been shown to actually affect brain cells in animals.

For more information on ecstasy, check out: http://www.clubdrugs.gov/.

 kalie - Skaneateles High School, New York: What kills your brain faster alcohol or weed?

 Wilson Compton: Thanks for your question. It's difficult to know how alcohol or marijuana; will affect a specific person since different people respond differently to each substance. What we do know is that both drugs have various consequences both directly and indirectly. Both can affect judgement and decision making, which can lead to impaired driving, risky sexual behavior. The bottom line is niether is safe and the effects on the brain vary. The best approach is to avoid them.

Briana - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Is it true that crack makes you skinny and why dont it kill your brain cells?

David Shurtleff: Hi again Martinsville!
Many stimulant drugs such as http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html. Keep the questions coming!

xautmnxmoonx - Port Chester High School, New York: why do some people who smoke marijuana are still smart even though they hav smoked a lot?

Susan Weiss: They could probably be even smarter if they didn't. But there are a lot of reasons--mostly because people are affected differently by drugs--based on their genes and a whole host of other factors. It also depends on how much or often they use drugs. I have trouble believing that someone who is high every day in school is performing any where close to their potential, and in the long run we know that their chances of educational and professional success are diminished.

nems - Comstock North East Middle School , Michigan: What is Special K?

Anna Staton: Special K or ketamine is a type of club drug. It's called a dissociative anesthetic and is mostly used in veterinary practices. By dissociative we mean it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self when abused by humans.

??INFO?? - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: WHAT CAN SPEED DO TO YOU AND FOR YOU

Dave McCann: Speed can give a feeling of being stimulated and 'high' but it can also damage the brain and cause other health problems. Keep in mind that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

jazmine - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: ive been asked to do drugs a lot. how can i make them stop asking me?

Kristen Huntley: Hi. Good for you for not wanting to go along with this peer pressure. That is a real strength you have. You could tell the people who are asking you that it's not your thing and why you don't want to. If this does not work, ultimately you have to ask yourself why you would hang out with people who want you to do things that are not good for you and that could get you into a lot of trouble.

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/

FES7 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: What advice do you have for handling peer pressure to start taking drugs

Marsha Lopez: Hi, what a great question! I would imagine it can be pretty difficult standing up to peer pressure when you are being told that everyone is doing it and it's what you will have to do to be cool. I think arming yourself with real facts about drug use and the effects of drugs on your body is a good place to start-so that when you do have the courage to to say 'no thanks' you know with 100% confidence it's the best decision you can make for yourself. Visit our for website lots of info www.teens.drugabuse.gov.

In the meantime-you are not alone in not using drugs-contrary to popular belief, most teenagers do not use marijuana. Only about 1 in 7 10th graders report they are current marijuana users (which means they used marijuana within the past month). Also, fewer than 1 in 5 high school seniors is a current marijuana user. NIDA research indicates that in 2008, 12 percent of high school seniors admitted to driving under the influence of marijuana in the two weeks prior to the survey. That means that 88% said no!

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/

drake - Martinsville High School, Virginia: why do you think most teen's get on drugs?

Nora Volkow: Teens get into drugs for a variety of reasons, including the sense that if their friends are doing it then they should also do it so they can be cool, others take them to escape their own realities or problems, like be feeling lonely, sad, or that you don't belong or that no one cares about you. Others may try drugs simply because they are bored of feel angry.

RRojas16 - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what happens if you do more then one drug at a time?

Dave McCann: There are great risks in using even one drug but, in general, using more than one at a time increases the risks. Keep in mind that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

SCLions018 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: Do you enjoy eating pizza?

Cindy Miner: Yes, my favorite is Mac and Manco's on the Jersey shore

pen15club - Skaneateles High School, New York: do majjawana afect spellin?

Susan Weiss: well--it certainly negatively affects learning, and i won't comment on your spelling.

Someone - Rockville High School, Maryland: if i smoke and have drugs are my children going to be twins?

Joe Frascella: No relation between drug use and multiple births. However, we do know that drug use can hurt your judgement, inhibition, and/or motor functioning, which can lead to sexual abuse. Also, smoking and drug use certainly can affect the health of the baby.

You might check out some information we have on this topic at: http://www.clubdrugs.gov/, http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/, and http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

TheBronski - Rockville High School, Maryland: Is it common for people to die from meth withdraw syndrome?

Dave McCann: It is more common for people to die from meth overdose soon after taking the drug than to die during withdrawl...but it could happen. Best not to use meth at all!! Here's a quiz you might want to try: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/sarasquest/meth1.php

lbpdd - Shippensburg Senior High School, Pennsylvania: can drugs slow your ageing?

Wilson Compton: Good question. For the most part, drugs can make memory worse and can contribute to more problems as people age.

For example, nicotine increases blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration (breathing) and regular users of Ecstacy (MDMA) can experience memory loss.

Briana - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What is all in crystal meth?

David Shurtleff: Good Morning Martinsville!
Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless drug that is related to the stimulant amphetamine. Unlike the powder form of meth, crystal meth is heated and smoked and typically resembles small fragments of glass or shiny blue-white 'rocks' of various sizes. Like powdered methamphetamine, however, crystal methamphetamine is abused because of the long-lasting euphoric effects it produces. The euphoric feelings associated with meth use result from the rapid release of the brain chemical dopamine in reward areas of the brain. This rapid release of dopamine is termed a 'rush'. Use of meth is also associated with 'meth mouth' - damage to you teeth, which is thought to be due to highly corrosive ingredients in meth. Need more information on crystal methamphetamine? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html for more information.

xvbplayer09x - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: how many calories are in pot, can you become obese if you smoke it regularly?

Susan Weiss: Depends on if you are smoking it or eating it? Marijuana does increase appetite--'the munchies'--which could get you fat, especially if you are smoking it regularly.

mr.hollister - Einstein High School, Maryland: why do you get sexually active when you get high or drunk?

Anna Staton: For some taking drugs can cause changes in how they make decisions by impacting their judgment. There are also specific types of drugs that have been associated with increases in sexual activity (like stimulants) perhaps because of their ability to energize. So the combination of the drug impacting judgment and increasing energy can lead a person to engage in activities while their under the influence that they normally might not.

athompson - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what should i do, if one of my friends are drinking and smoking?

Kristen Huntley: It's hard to be in this situation, seeing someone who is doing things that are not good for them. One thing you can do is let them know you are very concerned about their behavior and how it is affecting or could affect their life. You can show concern without being judgmental so that the person does not get too defensive. Also, you can let them know 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 friend 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 or her 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 friend.

RRojas16 - Spring Woods High School, Texas: why do teens do drugs?

Joe Frascella: Wow, great question with a very complex answer. Some of the usual reasons that teens abuse drugs are: boredom, peer pressure, self medication, fixing something missing in one's life, impulsivity, thrill seeking, etc. Generally people take drugs because they like what they do to their brains...that is, drugs cause a release of the brain chemical dopamine, which results in a rush and a feeling of being high. The reasons that one starts taking drugs are many, but people frequently don't think about the long-term brain changes and other negative side-effects from taking drugs. We also know that the earlier one starts, the more likely one is to become addicted, with more problems resulting. When voluntary behavior is no longer voluntary, involuntary drug use results, which is addiction.

For more information, check out: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

jenn. - Einstein High School, Maryland: why do people choose to do drugs?

Nora Volkow: because intially drugs make you fell good and for many its a way of escaping and having a good time. the problem is hta this is just for a short time period and when they come out of the ffects of the drug they feel much worse than before they took the drug.

crazycatlady666 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: My friend trys to pressur me into doing bad things how can i stop her from pressuring me?

Kristen Huntley: Hi. Good for you for not wanting to go along with this peer pressure. That is a real strength you have. It is very important to stand up for yourself. You could tell her how it makes you feel when she pressures you and what concerns you about what she is pressuring you to do. If this does not work, ultimately you have to ask yourself what kind of real friend would want you to do bad things.

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/

mafiadon51 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: What are the differences, if any, between medical marijuana and street marijuana, and does it have the same addictive properties?

Susan Weiss: Marijuana is a plant and it varies in terms of the ingredients it contains--no matter where you get it from. THC is one of the active components, but there are a whole lot of others, with known and unknown effects, and they are found in differing amounts in different plants or plant parts. Most marijuana is not completely characterized so you don't know exactly what your getting. And all marijuana can be addictive. Among those who use it, about 9% get addicted, and among those who use it every day, around 25-50%.

the man 64 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Por que hace personas tomar drugas en el primero lugar? Por que esta mal administrar cocaina y heroina?

Ruben Baler: porque al tomarlas por primera vez producen un intenso placer, pero si se las sigue usando uno corre el riesgo de volverse adicto

Justnothing - Einstein High School, Maryland: Will drugs affect my physical performance in sports?

Ruben Baler: Some most definitely will:
Steroids may increase your body mass and strength but at a heavy price in the form of some nasty medical consequences like, hair loss, shrunken testicles, and breast development.
Stimulants (coke, meth) could give you a running edge for example, but put you at risk of cardiovascular accidents.

Marijuana will impair your coordination and focus.

JMB :) - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: How much trouble can u get in from getting high at school?

Marsha Lopez: Trouble-like getting kicked out of school or trouble like-lifetime issues because you flunk your classes or put yourself at risk for addiction (which can happen if you get high at school or anywhere else. If it's trouble with your school you're wondering about-I would guess that depends on the rules at your school and how they deal with drug use and other illegal behavior on school grounds. Some schools have adopted a random student drug testing policy hoping it will: (1) serve as a deterrent; (2) identify adolescents who have started using drugs so that parents and counselors can intervene early; and (3) identify adolescents who already have drug problems, so they can be referred for treatment. It is not intended to be punitive, but rather to prevent drug use or promote early intervention. The Supreme Court has ruled drug testing as legal for any students participating in extracurricular activities. Currently, there is insufficient research in this area to show whether random drug testing is an effective approach.

If it's trouble in life you are wondering about-since using drugs can affect your memory, judgement, and perception, being high would also affect your performace in school and extracurricular activities. Either way-definitely not the best move to get high in school.

Lucero - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what can you do to help someone addicted to drugs

Kristen Huntley: It's hard to be in this situation, seeing someone who is hurting themselves by taking drugs. One thing you can do is let them know you are very concerned about their behavior and how it is affecting or could affect their life. You can show concern without being judgmental so that the person does not get too defensive. Also, you can let them know 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 friend 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 or her 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 friend.

SCLions028 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: When do you cross the line between casual drinker and alcoholic? I have a close friend who just entered college and seems to go out drinking all the time. I know it's his own life and I can't control what he does, but he seems to think getting drunk is tons of fun. He's underage, too, so I'm constantly worried he'll get busted.

Dave McCann: Someone who goes out drinking 'all the time' has gone beyond casual drinking but may not have progressed to being an alcoholic. If he reduces (or stops) his drinking now, he will be better off. Getting busted is not the worst that could happen. It can change your brain, too: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/binge-drinking-matters%e2%80%94
to-your-brain/ Please make sure that he does not drink and drive http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/know-the-scene-4-tips
-to-avoid-drinking-drugs-and-driving/.

fani^_^ - Spring Woods High School, Texas: Could somebody commit suicide if they are so addicted to a drug and cant stop????

Wilson Compton: Drug abuse contributes to suicide risk--that is, drug abusers are more likely to commit suicide than people who don't abuse drugs. For example, marijuana use has been associated with a number of mental conditions, including schizophrenia (psychosis), depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts. But there is help available and people can turn their lives around before it is too late.

SCLions001 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: My Dad has a T-shirt with 2 people on it, the one person says 'Mind if I smoke?' and the other person says 'Mind if I fart?' LOL!!! What do you think about this T-shirt and do you own any funny anti smoking t-shirts? If you don't do you have any ideas for some funny ones that would get people to stop smoking? I thought of some different ideas, do you think I should start my own anti smoking clothing line? :D

Kristen Huntley: I think that is hilarious! I don't own any funny anti smoking t-shirts..... It sounds like you are creative and there could be a market for this!

puppy - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: how do you guys know how it feels to get high?

Wilson Compton: Good question! We talk to lots of people who use drugs and have learned alot about it. Of course, people have different responses to drugs and the personal impact (how it feels to get high) varies alot. One thing we've learned is that people keep using even when they don't get high any more.

jayyelle. - Einstein High School, Maryland: is smoking a pack a day really affect me in the long run ?

Kristen Huntley: Research shows that after people stop smoking, their lungs return to normal. Smoking can cause chest colds and respiratory infections. Smoking for a long time can significantly increase your risk for heart disease or the many cancers that smoking promotes--mouth, esophagus, larynx, blood, lungs, stomach, pancrease, bladder, and cervix. Aside from these health problems it can also affect your endurance in sports. Also, other people who do not smoke might think you smell badly!

Did you know that teens are smoking less than they used to? In fact, NIDA's Monitoring the Future Survey has found that cigarette smoking rates among youth are at historically low levels. Smoking by 12th graders in the month prior to the survey fell by 30% between 2001 and 2008.

Iinformation about smoking and prevention can be found at http://www.smokefree.gov/.

yayap4 - Einstein High School, Maryland: If you know someone who is addicted to smoking, how do you help them quit?

Kristen Huntley: That's not easy. You can encourage them, and let them know you are concerned about their health. If they aren't able to quit by themselves, you can encourage them to get treatment. There are a number of treatments to choose from. Nicotine replacement medications, including the patch, spray, gum, and lozenges, enable the person to avoid withdrawal and nicotine craving while also avoiding the adverse effects of smoking. They can be bought over the counter. In addition, two prescription medications have been FDA-approved for tobacco addiction: bupropion and varenicline, which also alleviate withdrawal and craving. Medications are recommended for use in combination with behavioral treatments, including group and individual therapies, as well as telephone quitlines. Different people respond to different treatments, so if one doesn't work, encourage the person to keep trying.

Did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers!

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

b.c.soccer03aba - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what is salvia; ?

Gaya Dowling: Salvia (salvia divinorum) is an herb common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. It is used in traditional spiritual practices of native people in those parts of the world to produce 'mystical' experiences. Traditionally, salvia has been ingested by chewing fresh leaves or by drinking their extracted juices. But the dried leaves of Salvia can also be smoked as a joint, consumed in water pipes or vaporized and inhaled. People who abuse salvia generally experience hallucinations including psychedelic-like changes in visual perception, mood and body sensations, emotional swings, feelings of detachment, and importantly, a highly modified perception of external reality and the self. We don't know yet what the long-term effects of salvia abuse are. Although salvia is not currently a Federally regulated drug, several states and countries have passed legislation to regulate its use. The Drug Enforcement Agency has listed salvia as a drug of concern and is considering classifying it as a Schedule I drug - meaning it has a high potential for abuse, and no established therapeutic benefits.

Baked Potato - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: What are some of the affects of steroids on a teenager

Ruben Baler: Here's everything you need to know about the effects of steroid abuse:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php#common_effects

somebody - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: do you believe in the saying-'once an addict, always an addict'?

Wilson Compton: Good question. When someone has been using drugs for a long time and becomes addicted, they have long term changes and problems. The real issues is that they have memories for their drug use that may last a very long time. They are still at risk for relapse. The good news is that it becomes easier and easier for them to remain clean and sober. Recovery is possible with effective treatments such as 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 individual's specific circumstances. For many people with drug addictions, multiple courses of treatment may be needed to achieve success.

9525847 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: how mant types of drug are there?

Anna Staton: There are many types. For information on the most commonly abused ones please visit the NIDA teen website at www.teens.drugabuse.gov.

 9525847 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: how mant types of drug are there?

 Anna Staton: There are many types. For information on the most commonly abused ones please visit the NIDA teen website at www.teens.drugabuse.gov.

 Em&Em=D - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: How many pills does it take to consider it over dosing?

 Dave McCann: It depends on the pill and what is in it. Keep in mind that when you get drugs on the street (or from "friends"), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than cocaine, meth, or any other drug of abuse. In one case, a contaminant in street pills that was supposed to contain an opiate actually contained a toxic chemical (MPTP), which kills dopamine neurons. People who bought the pills ended up with permanent drug-induced Parkinson's disease. In such a case, just one pill could be considered an overdose (more that should be taken).

 superman - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: what are the effects of steroids on teen boys going through puberty?

 Ruben Baler: Here's everything you need to know about the effects of steroid abuse:

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php#common_effects.

 1DAman - Skaneateles High School, New York: Can you be addicted to anything

 Susan Weiss: Anything--well may be not, at least the way we define it--as something you can't stop despite the harms that are occurring to your brain, body, and life. But, there do seem to be alot of things that people get addicted to beyond drugs--videogames, foods. Unfortunately, scientists know less about some of these addictions than others--but we are always looking to learn more.

 SCLions008 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: I am doing research on steroids in my health class. I was researching them online and found out they are not legal unless prescribed to you by a Doctor. Also in my research, I found numerous websites selling steroids. How are those sites still running, when they are selling illegal drugs? This probably refers to any site selling illegal drugs that is still up and running...

Ruben Baler: I am as puzzled as you are.

 Spring_Woods=D - Spring Woods High School, Texas: Does drinking effect your althletic ability?

 Dave McCann: Drinking can leave you dehydrated and it can damage your liver and brain. http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/binge-drinking-matters%e2%80%94to-your-brain/  The dehydration might affect athletic ability right away. The other effects are more likely to occur over time.

natashamariah - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Why do most people think that drugs aren't bad? If you talk to a lot of people they will say that drugs are fine, pot is fine, but I don't really think so. How do you get them to change their minds. What do you say in response?

Ruben Baler: What an excellent question. It's hard work I tell ya. But it can be done. Look, for example, at the historic trends in cigarette smoking. We've been working on smoking prevention and getting the message out about tobacco related harm for (literally) decades, and we have made a difference. The rates have come down significantly; although there is still a long way to go.

The problem is that people (and particularly young people) tend to focus on the initial, pleasurable effects of drugs (reinforced by movies, TV, and peer pressure) without giving too much thought about the potential long term consequences. For example, you probably know many kids that smoke pot and they may function pretty well now. But it is much harder to
imagine that a sizable fraction of those kids is very likely to engage in deviant behavior, drop out of school, become addicted to ther substances, end up in jail, etc.
The problem is that we focus on the beginning of the movie and don't bother to stay long enough to see the ending... That's what we need to work on, making sure we are aware of the entire storyline....

CAS - Einstein High School, Maryland: Do Infants of smokers tend to experience low birth rate and slow growth rate?

Nicolette Borek: Great question - and you are absolutely right - smoking during pregnancy has been related to low birth weights and slower growth rates. And some other problems as well. Because of that it is recommended that women not smoke during pregnancy and try to stay away from second hand smoke. Here's some more information about tobacco effects from our NIDA website, including this: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.

Smoking during pregnancy is associated with several adverse outcomes for fetuses, including increased risk for stillbirth, infant mortality, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, preterm birth, and respiratory problems. Why? Carbon monoxide and nicotine from tobacco smoke may interfere with fetal oxygen supply - and because nicotine readily crosses the placenta, it can reach concentrations in the fetus that are much higher than maternal levels. Nicotine concentrates in fetal blood, amniotic fluid, and breast milk, exposing both fetuses and infants to toxic effects.The adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy can include slowed fetal growth and decreased birth weights, the latter reflecting a dose-dependent relationship - the more a woman smokes during pregnancy, the more infant birth weight is reduced. Smoking during pregnancy can also affect cognition and is associated with behavioral problems. In addition, smoking more than a pack a day during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk of the child becoming addicted to tobacco if he or she starts smoking. Even second-hand exposure to cigarette smoke can cause problems. For example, strong associations have been found between second-hand smoke and low birth weight and premature birth. Exposure during the postnatal period has been associated with a number of physical health outcomes, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, respiratory illnesses (asthma, respiratory infections, and bronchitis), ear infections and cavities, and increased medical visits and hospitalizations. Please visit: http://archives.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR3-04.html for more information. I hope this information is helpful!

wookiesBiffel10 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Hi there, If you take drugs at a young age what is the percentage that you will still use in your adult years?

Marsha Lopez: Hi, great question! You would think this should be a really easy question to answer, but to find the answer (or estimate the percentage of risk) researchers would have to do a study that followed people from a young age, before they start using drugs, through the time when they start to use and then through adulthood to be able to see who is still using. That's a long and complicated study! What we do know is that the earlier you start, the more likely you are to have drug and other problems, for example, in school or with your family. And we know that different people have different risks for long term use. Better never to start! But if you do-the earlier you stop the more you can avoid addiction.

ming - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: How do I educate my parents...in their 70's about drug use today? They have been manipulated by my son who uses marijuana and they don't believe that he is using anymore.

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. Family members often don't know much about drug abuse and may not be able to face the problems associated with drug abuse. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php Also, you might talk to a school counselor about the situation. This sounds serious.

MD AZ - Einstein High School, Maryland: what is the main drug teens use now

Anna Staton: Well, among those 12 to 17 that would be alcohol. In 2008, 31% of those 12 to 17 reported using alcohol in the past year (compared to 19% reporting past year use of a tobacco product and 19% reporting past year use of an illicit drug). See http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/
Sect2peTabs1to42.htm#Tab2.38B for more info.

Alvarado16 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Are some drugs good for a person?

Wilson Compton: Thanks for your question. Many substances that are addictive also have medical purposes. For instance, stimulants can be useful for people with attention deficit disorder, opiate drugs are helpful for people with pain and sedatives can help people with severe anxiety. The key is that these substances are taken under a doctor's careful supervision.

kitty_16 - Einstein High School, Maryland: Can you get addicted to smoking if you've only done it 1 or 3 times?

David Shurtleff: Hi Einstein, you guys have lots of great question this morning!

Research has shown that, for most people, it takes smoking several cigarettes to become addicted to the active ingredient - tobacco. Whether a person will become addicted to nicotine also depends on your genes (for example, changes in your genes that make you metabolize nicotine more slowly or rapidly), your age (the earlier a person begins smoking, the more likely they are to become a regular smoker), and your environment (do you have friends and family that smoke?). In my opinion, you shouldn't play roulette with your health and future by trying to smoke just enough cigarettes to NOT become addicted. It is really dependent on the individual. Good luck! For more information on tobacco, visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html and http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/.

baby joker - McCreary Academy, Kentucky: most of my family is in prison or juz gettin out of prison from drugs. am i verry likly to follow in there footstepz? and wat is the chances i will be addicted to drugs?

Wilson Compton: Good question. The best approach is not to start using drugs at all. Given a strong family history (having a lot of relatives with addiction and drug problems), the risk of addiction is really great. But we can't predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. The only safe way is to avoid drugs completely.

mayhewcory - Otto Middle School, Michigan: how do drugs afect your brain

Joe Frascella: Great question! It depends on the particular drug and the particular individual, but we do know that all drugs of affect the brain's dopamine system. This brain system is involved with reward and pleasure. Repeated use of drugs can start to change this system, causing a person to no longer be able to control their drug use. The person becomes 'driven' to take the drug, even when he/she realizes that he/she isn't able to do well in school, isn't able to enjoy the things that used to make him/her happy, and is hurting his/her relationship with friends and family. Bottom line: drugs affect the brain and brain processes (and other systems such as cardiovascular), which in turn, affects behavior.

For more information about addiction and drugs, please visit http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

pothead420 - middlebury union high school, Vermont: What the hell u guys arent answering my questions and there good ones two besides the ones that have to do with asthma and cigerate smoke we all know what happens

Joe Frascella: Sorry about that. I have not seen your questions. We've received 3,700 questions already... we are doing our best to get to as many questions as possible.

manbearpig59 - Rockville High School, Maryland: whats the deadliest drug in america?

Anna Staton: In terms of drug-related deaths tobacco is responsible for the highest number of deaths at 440,000 annually.

nestor - Spring Woods High School, Texas: what is body image

Anna Staton: It's how you see or think about yourself.

thenry - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: haver you guys ever done drugs before

Joe Frascella: Can't speak for anyone but myself. I have had a drink or two from time to time. In general, I don't want drugs to interfere with my job, family life, music, and other hobbies.

For more info on drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/!

Brad - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: Does a drug that gets shot into you from a needle do more damage (and,or) have more of an afect on your body than a drug that gos into your body by inhailing or snorting?

Anna Staton: When a drug is injected it is entered directly into the blood stream and therefore has a more immediate effect on the body, compared to when a drug is snorted or taken orally.

fani^_^ - Spring Woods High School, Texas: Would somebody commit suicide if they cant stop taking a drug???

Wilson Compton: Drug abuse contributes to suicide risk--that is, drug abusers are more likely to commit suicide than people who don't abuse drugs. For example, marijuana use has been associated with a number of mental conditions, including schizophrenia (psychosis), depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation or attempts. But there is help available and people can turn their lives around before it is too late.

NHGRI - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Approximately how many questions do you receive during the course of this chat?

Cindy Miner: Last year we had 11,000 questions. So far today we have over 3600, so we might get even more this year

Whack-n-stack - Shippensburg Senior High School, Pennsylvania: is smokeless tobacco healthier then smoking?

Dave McCann: Smokeless tobacco can still cause cancer of the mouth. There is no 'healthy' tobacco. Check it out: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/

cookid145 - Rockville High School, Maryland: i am curious about trying salvia, would anything happen on first time

Cindy Miner: Salvia is an herb common to southern Mexico and Central and South America. It is used in traditional spiritual practices of native people in those parts of the world to produce 'mystical' experiences. People who abuse salvia generally experience hallucinations including psychedelic-like changes in visual perception, mood and body sensations, emotional swings, feelings of detachment, and importantly, a highly modified perception of external reality and the self. The long-term effects of salvia abuse have not been studied. The Drug Enforcement Agency has listed salvia as a drug of concern and is considering classifying it as a Schedule I drug - meaning it has a high potential for abuse, and no established therapeutic benefits.

mexican - Martinsville High School, Virginia: wat is the most dangerous drugs and how does it afect u?

Dave McCann: The unknown drug may be the worst. Keep in mind is that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ You'll see lots of neat things to click on.

Mrs. Y - North Schuylkill, Pennsylvania: How prevalent is drug use amongst 7th graders?

Anna Staton: Actually I don't have any statistics on drug abuse by 7th graders but I can tell you that in 2008 about 14% of 8th graders reported abusing an illicit drug in the past year. You can visit http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol1_2008.pdf for more info on drug abuse by youth.

el8 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: If a girl is pregnant and she is very young shuch as 14 or 15, or any lady pregnant and is using drugs how will it effect the baby?

Nicolette Borek: Hi and thanks for your question. No matter what your age, drugs can have an impact on the growing baby when the mom is pregnant. These drugs include marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and also alcohol and tobacco. Different drugs can have different effects. Here's a link with a summary of effects: http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html

Also - your question about age is a good one. Younger moms can face a bunch of risk factors when bringing up their babies, and adding prenatal exposure just adds to this mix of complications. We recommend that all moms, whatever their ages, not use alhohol or other drugs during pregnancy and talk with someone if they are having trouble stopping.

lmsballer44 (: - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: How can i get my dad too stop smoking?

Joe Frascella: Now that is a tough one. I had the same question when I was a kid...we tried unsuccessfully for many years to get my father to stop smoking, but fortunately, he made the decision to stop on his own (it is hard to know how much we influenced the decision). Understand that he is dealing with one of the most difficult addictions. He cannot just easily stop or easily just say no to smoking. His brain is changed and he is driven to smoke. There are lots of places to seek information and help, and there are actually some very good treatments now for smoking. Try to convince him that you love him and care about him, and that is why you would like him to stop.

Here is some information on smoking: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/. Good luck.

Gary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: How come Keith Richards is still living even though he did tons of drugs?

Wilson Compton: That's a good question. The effects of drugs are unpredictable. No one wants to become addicted or have an accident and end up ruining their life. But some people who use drugs will have terrible things happen to them. That's one of the bad things about drugs--the uncertain outcomes. Go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#addicted for more information.

Gary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Is alchohol a drug?

Wilson Compton: Yes.Alcohol has many similar effects to other drugs. It is intoxicating and addictive. Of course, each substance has its own effects but alcohol is part of the same group of addictive substances.

 joshua - Spring Woods High School, Texas: how strong is the substance codine compared crystal meth?

 Dave McCann: Both can cause serious problems. Keep in mind is that when drugs are bought on the street (or from "friends"), they could contain anything. Some contaminants can be worse than cocaine, meth, or any other drug of abuse. In one case, a contaminant in street pills that was supposed to contain an opiate actually contained a toxic chemical (MPTP), which kills dopamine neurons. People who bought the pills ended up with permanent drug-induced Parkinson's disease. There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react. Read more about cocaine at http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim3.php You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

pen15club - Skaneateles High School, New York: how much weed does it take to get drunk off?

Susan Weiss: Depends--on the person, their weight, gender, genes, and other factors. But before you decide to smoke weed--you should know the facts. Getting high can mess with your memory and your ability to do well in school, lead you to do stupid or embarrasing things that you may regret. Also, your brain is still developing (into your 20s) and marijuana may affect that development, keeping you from reaching your full potential. Finally, you may not know this, but some people get addicted to marijuana--meaning they have a hard time stopping even when they know its doing harm to their relationships and their lives.

9463832 - Brockbank Jr. High, Utah: How would i know if my friends are doing drugs if they look normal?

Joe Frascella: Hard to know if you don't observe any behavioral effects. You can look for changes in behavior as a first sign. For example, grades can slip, interest in pleasurable things fades, he/she is unable to concentrate, and he/she may be frequently irritable or moody. If you suspect that your friend is taking drugs, you may want to consider talking with them in a nonconfrontational or nonjudgmental way. You could learn more about the effects of marijuana on brain and behavior to share with them. Let them know that you care enough about them to try to convince them to stop because we do know that the earlier someone starts and the longer he/she takes them, the more likely he/she is to become addicted.
Good question.

For more information about helping a friend, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

proberts - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Is it true that pregnant women can drink wine?

Nicolette Borek: Hi there Maryland! You know, women hear a lot of different answers to that question. Here's what we know from the science. We know from research that http://www.lhvpn.net/hhspress.html). If a mom is drinking while pregnant, the most important thing is that she quit - because it can have serious effects on her baby if she does keep drinking. She should talk to her doctor about her alcohol use, and get help if she is having problems stopping. For more details about all the birth defects associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, check out this link: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htm.

shawty - Martinsville High School, Virginia: i speed as bad as crack? if not a few of my friends should know

Dave McCann: Both are bad but, keep in mind is that when drugs are bought on the street (or from 'friends'), they could contain anything.There is no way of knowing in advance how someone may react to a drug. Read more about http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

friedchicken747 - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: how much crack do you need to smoke to get high?

David Shurtleff: Hi Upper Dublin,
Let me start by saying that it is NOT safe to smoke ANY amount of crack. 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. When a person smokes crack, it reaches the brain VERY rapidly resulting in a very rapid high, which lasts for ~5 to 10 minutes.

In order to sustain the high, a cocaine abuser has to administer the drug again. For this reason, cocaine is sometimes abused in binges - taken repeatedly within a relatively short period of time, at increasingly higher doses. Abusing cocaine can lead to adverse effects on the heart and can lead to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, which may cause sudden death.

Need more info? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html

melissa1 - Methacton, Pennsylvania: If you have 1 parent who has a drinking problem and they other parent knows it and won't do anything about it, what would you suggest?

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your parent know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php Also, you might talk to a school counselor about the situation. This sounds serious.

Kookiesnia - Einstein High School, Maryland: what if you got a ride home from a teacher and they were drunk?

Wilson Compton: The key is to take care of yourself. Riding with a drunk driver is really, really dangerous! Tell your family or another teacher or the principal about the situation.

Da-Lemma - Spring Woods High School, Texas: What is the likely hood that a die-hard alcoholic will stay sober after less than a year in rehab?

Dave McCann: I can't put a number on that. Continuing to go to treatment sessions (like 'AA') can improve the chances. There are also medications available from a doctor that can help people with http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

 lonelyXdreamer - Port Chester High School, New York: can depression cause death?

 Wilson Compton: Good question. is related to death in many ways--by making medical conditions worse or by making someone suicidal. Drugs and alcohol can make this worse and contribute to suicides.

 suryptitious17 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: 

 Kristen Huntley:  
Cocaine is a powerfully addictive central nervous system stimulant that is snorted, injected, or smoked. Crack is cocaine hydrochloride powder that has been processed to form a rock crystal that is then usually smoked.
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/>

wookie73 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: what if you're bulimic, can drugs affect you?

Nicolette Borek: Hi -and thanks for your question. Bulimia nervosa is a a very challenging eating disorder that impacts mostly girls and women, but also can affect boys and men. Many people suffer in silence with bulimia, which may result in attempting to self-medicate with drugs, due to feelings for depression and anxiety. Our concern is that if drug abuse, bulimia, and other related eating disorders are left untreated, it can lead to serious and even life threating problems, including severe dental problems, depression, anxiety disorders, heart damage, kidney damage, injury to all parts of the digestive system. Treatment can help immensely, including specific medications prescribed under the care of a physician. Please visit: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp for more information.

jblodgett11 - Middlebury Union High School, Vermont: How many teens abuse drugs?

Anna Staton: In 2008, 31% of those 12 to 17 reported using alcohol in the past year, 19% reported past year use of a tobacco product, and 19% reported past year use of an illicit drug. See http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/
Sect2peTabs1to42.htm#Tab2.38B for more info.

Valley Vista - Valley Vista High School, Arizona:

Kristen Huntley: If you've stopped, congratulations, you've done yourself a huge favor. Research shows that after people stop smoking, their lungs return to normal. You may find that you have fewer chest colds and respiratory infections than you did while smoking. Smoking for two years also isn't likely to significantly increase your risk for heart disease or the many cancers that smoking promotes--mouth, esophagus, larynx, blood, lungs, stomach, pancrease, bladder, and cervix. If you have quit, keep your resolve--starting again can lead to addiction, and bring back all those risks.

Did you know that teens are smoking less than they used to? In fact, NIDA's Monitoring the Future Survey has found that cigarette smoking rates among youth are at historically low levels. Smoking by 12th graders in the month prior to the survey fell by 30% between 2001 and 2008.

Information about smoking and prevention can be found at http://www.smokefree.gov/.

whyaskwhyDBT - Clark County Youth House, Washington: will my mom always be a meth addict? will i be one because of her?

Nicolette Borek: Hi there and thanks for writing in. It can be really difficult to see a parent struggling with addiction. There are treatment programs out there that can help your mom manage her addiction. One website that can help is:www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential assistance 24/7. There are also programs for people whose parents abuse drugs that can be really helpful for information and support: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/. Whether a person will be addicted if their parents are addicted is a very complex question - because drug abuse is a complex disease - there's no one factor that predicts whether someone is going to be addicted. With that said, we do know if you don't use drugs you can't get addicted. So not using or stopping drug use if you are and taking really good care of yourself is a great place to start. And talking with other people about your concerns including an adult that you trust is a great way to take care of yourself. A couple more resources for you: if you find yourself in a crisis, you can call 1-800-273-TALK to talk with someone who can help - and for more information, visit: http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/meth_0.pdf.
Good luck to you.

MonsterRules - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what happens if you inject pure caffine through a neddle

Dave McCann: Injecting any drug through a needle could also inject germs of viruses (such as HIV, which causes AIDS). Also, caffeine affects the heart. Too much injected caffeine could change the beating of your heart and could even kill you. 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/

Jackie - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: : I had a one of my relatives die from drug abuse and one of my clost friends is now using drugs what should i do to get them to stop.Before its to late they been using drugs for two months now is there any chance of them getting hurt.

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your friends know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php Also, you might talk to a school counselor about the situation. This sounds serious.

 Barack Obama - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Did George Bush smoke weed

 Anna Staton: I don't know about marijuana but I believe he did say he had abused alcohol in the past.

 bratnever - Einstein High School, Maryland: Can you die if you use too much alcohol

 Wilson Compton: Absolutely. Overdoses and death from alcohol happen pretty often. Especially when people drink large quantities of hard liquor quickly they can overdose and die. I've worked in emergency rooms in the past and we saw a lot of teenagers who were nearly dead from alcohol overdose.

 DragonMan - Rockville High School, Maryland: I've heard that mixing drugs or drugs and alcohol together can increase their effects. What does that mean exactly?

 Joe Frascella: Hey there DragonMan in Rockville. Mixing drugs can cause drug interactions, and yes, it is possible that effects can be amplified or in some way altered. For example, taking a mild sedative alone could make you feel sleepy, but mixed with alcohol, the same dose of sedative could lower your blood pressure and heart rate to extremely dangerous levels. I can say that mixing can be particularly dangerous, as the interactions can be quite harmful.

For more information about drugs and alcohol, check out http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

Wilson - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Paul McCartney did many drugs in the 60s and is perfectly fine today but he said he knew his limit when doing them so if you don't do too many are drugs okay?

Wilson Compton: That's a good question. The effects of drugs are unpredictable. No one wants to become addicted or have an accident and end up ruining their life. But some people who use drugs will have terrible things happen to them. That's one of the bad things about drugs--the uncertain outcomes. Go to: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#addicted for more information.

C101809Z - Spring Woods High School, Texas: can you quit gettin high?

Dave McCann: Some people can quit on their own but many need help. Speaking to a doctor may be a good idea. Behavioral therapy (like 'talk' therapy) can help someone addicted to drugs. It teaches important skills for avoiding drug use. Medications are also available to help people quit using some drugs of abuse. 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.

raphael - Ludlow Elementary School, Pennsylvania: what are the effects of the drug cough syrup

Susan Weiss: DXM, dextromethorphan is the active ingredient in cough medicines, which when taken at high doses can produce a 'dissociative state'--a disconnect with yourself and the real world. It can cause motor impairments, e.g., slurred speech, incoordination, numbness; nausea/vomiting, and sometimes increased heart rate and blood pressure. On rare occasions, brain damage - caused by severe respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen to the brain - can result. This may be due to the combination of DXM with other ingredients (decongestants) also found in cough medicines.

D.Jones - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Is marijuana really bad for you or is just spread so that kids wont try it

Marsha Lopez: That's a great question- ever seen the movie 'Reefer Madness?' I wouldn't go that far, but we do know that marijuana has the potential to cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. For example, marijuana affects brain function so your ability to do complex tasks could be compromised, as well as your pursuit of academic, athletic, or other life goals that require you to be 100 percent focused and alert.

Marijuana also affects memory, judgment, and perception. Under the influence of marijuana, you could fail to remember things you just learned, crash a car, and lead you to behave in ways you might not when you are thinking straight - such as risky sexual behavior, which can result in exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, the virus that causes AIDS; or getting in a car with someone who's been drinking or is high on marijuana. Finally, marijuana use also has been associated with an increased risk for psychiatric conditions such as psychosis and addiction.

For information on marijuana, go to our teen site, http://www.teens.drugabuse.gov/, click on the bar that says Facts on Drugs and click on Marijuana.

Gary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What is Pharming?

Ruben Baler: Pharming is the incredibly dumb practice of getting together at 'pharming' parties and combining all the pills that people bring in one place (a hat or a box) and then taking a handful out of it and downing it without knowing what you are taking. This is incredibly dangerous--as mixing drugs can be lethal.

Da-Lemma - Spring Woods High School, Texas: Do you increase your chances of contracting an STD when you use needles to get a drug inside you?

Anna Staton: Yep, HIV/AIDS is considered a sexually transmitted disease can easily be spread by sharing needles with infected individuals. For more information on how drug abuse and HIV/AIDS are linked (by more than just needles) please visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_hiv1.php.

manman - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: if some is high can u get high from being around them

Dave McCann: No...but you could get into trouble. If you are driving a car and somone in the car with you has drugs, you can get into a lot of trouble, just by being there. It is best to avoid drugs and to avoid people who are using them!!! Go to our website for teens to get more of your questions answered, to read 'real stories' of people's experiences, and to check out our blog. http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ Leave a comment!

ganstersjg - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: (sean and drew moore) how is the brain efftected by marijuana?

David Shurtleff: Good morning!
Great question. Marijuana smoke goes into the lungs, and then the blood, and then the brain. Once marijuana is in the brain, its active ingredient--THC --attaches to proteins called receptors which are located on the surface of brain cells. The normal function of these receptors is to attach to or link with natural chemicals called cannabinoids. In effect, the THC molecules mimic (have similar effects) the actions of cannabinoid molecules, but with one big difference: there are many more THC molecules than cannabinoid molecules, so their effects are much more extreme. They are so extreme that they cause people to get high, but they also disrupt memory--not a good thing for school or life--and can cause addiction. Need more info on marijuana?? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Marijuana.html. Keep the questions coming!

eddie747 - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: Why can the state of california have medical marijuana while it is still concidered a drug?

Susan Weiss: There has been a lot of discussion on this issue lately. But there are at least 2 points you raise. One is that there are a number of drugs that have legal uses as medicines, but are illegal in other circumstances--opiates or painkillers are one example of a drug and a medicine, which is safe to use only when prescribed by a physician. The second has to do with States legalizing a drug that has not been approved by the Food and Drug Adminstration. Currently marijuana is a Schedule I drug which means that it has a high potential for abuse and no established medical benefits. For a drug to have established medical benefits--it has to go through rigourous testing in clinical trials with patients to show that it is both safe and effective. Marijuana has not met those standards, even though some of its ingredients (e.g. THC) do have approved medical uses--e.g. to increase appetite in people with wasting disorders, or to decrease nausea from cancer chemotherapies. Those ingredients are currently available in pill form, or are being developed as new medicines. But marijuana, because it is a plant containing many known and unknown ingredients, and is usually smoked, is not a good candidate for a medication States are going around the established FDA process of medication evaluation, which means that the experts are not making the final decisions about medications approval.

aeiou24 - Shippensburg Senior High School, Pennsylvania: Can doing so many drugs turn you mentally unstanble?

Wilson Compton: Good question. The relationship of drugs and mental illness are complicated. Many mental illnesses are associated with higher rates of drug abuse and using drugs is associated with the development of mental illness, too.
We aren't completely sure why depressed people are more likely to have a drug abuse problem. But here's my take on it. Everyone has had the so-called 'mood swings.' If someone feels really bad, they may want to 'ease their mind' with drugs. Unfortunately, that can lead to a second disease - addiction to drugs - and then they feel even worse than they did before. That's what's really bad about comorbid diseases: they can make each other worse! If someone is depressed, it's harder to be motivated to quit using drugs. And if someone is using drugs, it can interfere with their treatment for depression.

NAchosssssssss - Rockville High School, Maryland: i want to try extasy is it safe??

David Shurtleff: Good morning!
This is a good question. MDMA, often called Ecstasy, is unfortunately NOT safe to use. Scientists have conducted over 15 years of research on MDMA and have shown MDMA damages specific neurons in the brain and can chronic, heavy use can lead to cognitive (hearing, memory, etc) problems. MDMA interferes with the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature (which can lead to sweating, chills, over-heating and on rare occassions can be lethal) and has potent effects on the cardiovascular system. Of great concern is MDMA's adverse effect on the pumping efficiency of the heart - in the presence of MDMA, increased physical activity increases heart rate significantly, but the heart does not respond in its normal manner, which is to increase the efficiency with which it pumps blood. Since MDMA use is often associated with sustained, strenuous activity, such as dancing, MDMA's effects on the heart could increase the risk of heart damage or other cardiovascular complications in susceptible individuals - not good!

Need more information on ecstacy? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/MDMA.html.

DARK SNIPE101 - Port Chester High School, New York: What is the best method to quit smoking?

Dave McCann: Many people need prescription medications to help them quit smoking, combined with behaviorial, or 'talk' therapy. Speaking to a doctor is a good idea, as there are several medications available to help. Check out our smoking site: http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/

 CandiiKiddxo - Rockville High School, Maryland: Does ecstacy intensify sex and what are long term effects of ecstacy usage?

 Ruben Baler: Ecstasy (or MDMA) is a mild hallucinogenic. Its effects on the brain and behavior are complex. On one hand, Ecstasy is associated with many serious medical consequences, but, as you probably know, it is reportedly associated in popular culture with positive sexual effects. However, this latter effect is controversial and hard to prove in the lab, perhaps because the drug affects both the serotonin and dopamine systems, so the complex effects are quite variable depending on the person and the circumstances.

But ecstasy can also be dangerous to overall health and, on rare occasions, lethal. MDMA can have many of the same physical effects as other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. These include increases in heart rate and blood pressure - which present risks of particular concern for people with circulatory problems or heart disease--and other symptoms such as muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, faintness, and chills or sweating.

In high doses, MDMA can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. On rare but unpredictable occasions, this can lead to a sharp increase in body temperature (hyperthermia), which can result in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure, and death. MDMA can interfere with its own metabolism (breakdown within the body), therefore potentially harmful levels can be reached by repeated MDMA administration within short periods of time.

 tyriahgindraw - Ludlow Elementary School, Pennsylvania: I SMOCKED 3 BAGS OF ANGLE DUST WILL I DIE?

 Joe Frascella: Yikes, I hope not! Don't do that again...can be dangerous!!!

If you don't feel well right now, consider calling 911 or talking to a professional counselor: 1-800-273-talk.

 cristiano ronal - Rockville High School, Maryland: wat kind of drug make michael jacson die??????????

 Dave McCann: It was a drug intended to be used as an anesthetic, called Propofol, to put people to sleep before surgery. We posted a blog about the Michael Jackson story at: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/michael-jackson-news-we%E2%80%99d-rather-not-have/

(s)aint - Watertown Alternative Learning Center, Wisconsin: Are drugs some people's form of coping with loss or depression?

Wilson Compton: Good question. Some people start or continue using drugs as a way of coping with depression or loss. Drugs make people feel good and high sometimes but afterwards they may feel much worse. Also, sometimes when people use a lot of drugs they get really, really depressed and want to die. That's the unpredictable and dangerous part of drug abuse. If someone is depressed, it's harder to be motivated to quit using drugs. And if someone is using drugs, it can interfere with their treatment for depression. Instead, talking to a counselor or doctor can help and medications can help to improve depression. If you'd like some more info or help check out:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at >www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

shawty - Martinsville High School, Virginia: a lot of my friends get high. how could i help them??

Joe Frascella: Great question...difficult to answer. You you might consider talking with them in a nonconfrontational or nonjudgmental way. You could learn more about the effects of marijuana on brain and behavior to share with them. Let them know that you care enough about them to try to convince them to stop because we do know that the earlier someone starts and the longer he/she takes them, the more likely he/she is to become addicted.

Here is some information for you, and also check out our website for other information: http://www.marijuana-info.org/.

If you would like a little more information about helping a friend, please visit http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/. Good luck.

lswimmer617 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: WHAT IS THE main drugs used in the usa

Anna Staton: Well if you include alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs and want to look at the general population in the past year 14.2% of those 12 or older in US reported abusing illicit drugs, 34% reported using a tobacco product in the past year and 66% reported using alcohol in the past year. You can check out the National Survey on Drug Use and Health at http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/TOC.htm for more statistics.

rhsram2011 - Rockville High School, Maryland: My uncle used to drink a lot, and once when he was drunk, he almost threw my (then 2-year-old) brother off the balcony of his apartment. Luckily, my aunt was able to stop him before he could. To this day, I still fear that my uncle may go back to his old ways.

Dave McCann: I understand. I went through something similar with my father. The best thing you can do is learn from it. Don't begin drinking a lot yourself and when you are older and have a family, tell your kids the story about your uncle. Take care...

jessie - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Are there people who have tried a drug a few times and they were so repelled that they couldn't get addicted?

Wilson Compton: The initial response to drugs and alcohol varies a lot. Some people really like drugs when they first use them and others do not. While this may relate to why people first use drugs and continue at the start, even people who don't like drugs at first, sometimes keep taking them and become addicted anyway. The only safe approach is to avoid drugs completely.

For more info go to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain2.php#treatments

Karlaa <3 - Einstein High School, Maryland: can you go brain dead because of drugs?

Joe Frascella: All drugs of abuse affect your brain. One can have major problems in brain function because of drugs...like loss of consciousness, memory loss, anxiety, tremors, depression, anger, lack of sleep, etc. For more information about the effects of drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/ and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/.

Also you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but if you're patient, your questions will get answered.

Hope that helps!

valley_8 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Can you get high off life?

Dave McCann: I do!!! And...if you get addicted to life, isn't that OK?

Dreadhead lover - Einstein High School, Maryland: what are the effects of drinking a large amount of cough syrup

Dave McCann: Taking any medication in doses greater than recommended can cause serious health problems. For a cough syrup, the effects would depend on the ingredients. Some cough syrups contain drugs that affect the heart. In the worst case, a person could die from drinking a large amount of cough syrup!!! Check out our NIDA teen website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/

ilikedrugchtday - Rockville High School, Maryland: My dad was a garden in the back yard when my friend was over were looking for rabbits and we found a huge stach of pot. What should i do?

Wilson Compton: This is a very difficult situation. Letting your dad know about it is important. He needs some help to change his behavior. You might talk to another relative about the situation or to a school counselor. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your family know about the situation may& help but it's really important that you take care of yourself.

If you need help, you will also find a link there to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

aracely - C.H. Yoe High School, Texas: how i can know if my dad still doing with marijuana?

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. It depends on the drug but when someone is really intoxicated, it may be pretty obvious they are using. They may smell of marijuana, have blood-shot eyes or have really slurred speech. Other negative consequences can be stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems. There are a lot of other symptoms, but sometimes it is really hard to tell if someone is using drugs. They may have mood changes (such as becoming irritable and angry for no reason). Letting your dad know about your concern can help but it's really important that you also take care of yourself.

To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, go to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

crazycatlady666 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: Is there a difference between smoking from a bong or a blunt?

Dave McCann: Either can cause cancer and harm you!!! Smoking from a bong does not protect you in any way. Here's some good facts on marijuana: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj1.php

chente :) - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: can you please answer more questions from Valley Vista High school in surprise Az

Cindy Miner: patience, you should see some of your questions coming soon!

ny7 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: theres more schoools asking questions other then pennsylvania, maryland, michigan, and virginia right?! why isnt arizona getting questions answered? lets gooooooO!!!!:))))

Cindy Miner: hey Arizona! it must be pretty early out there. I'm assigning your questions to our experts, so look for some answers really soon!

Mrs. Y - North Schuylkill, Pennsylvania: As a school who has drug testing, do you know how many schools in PA or nationally have drug testing and are there any statistics to support positive outcomes?

Anna Staton: Hmm, well i found found one stat from 2007 that says 'Since 2003, the Department of Education has awarded more than $36.1 million dollars in multi-year grants to over 80 school districts to support random student drug-testing programs in more than 400 schools.' Some schools have adopted a random student drug testing policy hoping it will: (1) serve as a deterrent and give students a reason to resist peer pressure to take drugs; (2) identify adolescents who have started using drugs so that parents and counselors can intervene early; and (3) identify adolescents who already have drug problems, so they can be referred for treatment. It is not intended to be punitive, but rather to prevent drug use or promote early intervention. The Supreme Court has ruled drug testing as legal for any students participating in extracurricular activities. Currently, there is insufficient research in this area to show whether random drug testing is an effective approach.

jazminjames - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Can weed affect your appearance?

Ruben Baler: Perhaps not initially, although the 'stoned' look is not particularly attractive. However, the effects of long term or heavy marijuana use can lead to addiction and other medical consequences which can quickly impact how 'cool' you look.

Atowers14 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Is there a difference in the caffeine in drugs and caffeine in everyday iteams?

Dave McCann: No difference...but, it may be easier to overdose on the pills. They should only be taken as directed. Eating or drinking a large amount of caffeine can make you feel jittery, nervous, or energetic. That is because caffeine - like any stimulant - changes the way your brain works. Here's s'more: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim4.php

washingtonrodri - Otto Middle School, Michigan: can steroids kill you?

Ruben Baler: Steroids are safe if used for a medical condition and under a doctor's supervision. However, there have been reports of people that have been driven to commit suicide as a result of depression allegedly caused by chronic abuse of anabolic steroids. This is mostly based on case reports though and there are no studies that can establish a causal relationship between the two. Other types of death, as a result of anabolic steroids, follow a similar story. For example, it would be very hard to pin down a car accident to roid rage, although we can reasonably hypothesize that such cases exist.

athompson - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can you get so high that you cant remember what you did?

Joe Frascella: Yes, you can get so drunk or high that you can lose consciousness or your memory can get totally messed up.

For more information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

Reeses - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Do you know anybody that has died from drugs?

Wilson Compton: Yes. I've been treating people with drug addiction for over 20 years and have had patients and family members who died from drug abuse. These are always painful situations and make it more and more important for us to find solutions.

R U Stoned - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: do drugs affect your testicles?

Ruben Baler: As far as I know it is only chronic anabolic steroid abuse that has been reported to shrink your testicles.

tidalwave14 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: How does using marajuna lead to other drugs for teens?

Wilson Compton: This is a good question. We have been studying the links of early drug use to other drugs for many years. It seems that there are two main pathways: one drug may cause the use of another or people are naturally presdisposed for all drug abuse (that is they may have a high risk of using any drugs). There can be both biological and social causes (and these may be related to each other). One drug may cause brain changes that make other drug use more likely. It is also possible that once someone is involved with people who smoke marijuana, they may be exposed to other drugs, too.

lbuffs_32 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: Can you die from steroids, even if you take in only once every 2 months?

Ruben Baler: Steroids are only safe if used for a medical condition and under a doctor's supervision. No level of drug abuse is safe, and this is also true for steroid abuse. You should know that steroid abuse can lead to steroid addiction as well as addiction to other drugs. As you can see, even once every two months is a slippery slope. Check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/video.php?video=z9Ynf2kPNIc (that's me by the way!)

The Batman - Rockville High School, Maryland: Do antidotes to certain drugs give you complete immunity to that drug in the future so that if you are exposed again, you will not undergo the same symptoms?

Dave McCann: Good question!! The antidotes that we have right now don't give you complete immunity to drugs taken in the future. Vaccines are being developed for nicotine, cocaine and other drugs of abuse. If they work, they may come close to providing the type of immunity that you mentioned. But that's a ways off yet. Here's a news release for a cocaine vaccine that is making progress: http://archives.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/09/NR10-05.html

Mira - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Ozzy Osborn has been doing drugs for years how much is his brain messed up?

Joe Frascella: Hard to know. We do know that he seems to have a number of behavioral effects...now how much of his behavior is due to his drug use, and how much to aging, we just don't know. What we do know is that drugs and aging interact to magnify brain and behavioral effects.

For free downloads and cool videos about drugs, check out: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/index.php#downloads.

BlackRavenWings - Skaneateles High School, New York: How many people actually stay sober each year after going to a rehabilitation center?

Wilson Compton: The rates of relapse from drug abuse are similar to relapse from other long-term/chronic diseases. The outcome depends on many factors--how long someone has been addicted, the type of drug, or whether other mental illnesses are present.

To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, three good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; NIDA InfoFacts, containing results of the annual 'Monitoring the Future' survey on youth trends in drug use; and the Drug Abuse Warning Network, with statistics on drug-related hospital emergency department visits and deaths at http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/.

Amidat - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Is there a such thing as too much exercise?

Ruben Baler: It's hard to imagine. I love to exercise myself. However, if an activity becomes so predominant in your life that it starts impacting your desire or ability to perform other equally important activities (such as school, going out with friends, eating the required amount of food) that should give you pause and raise a red flag that things may be getting a bit out of balance and that it may be time to seek advice or help from a trusted adult or a family physician.

Doc - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: what is the difference between 'use' and 'abuse'?

Susan Weiss: Excellent question--and very hard to answer. Technically, taking any illegal drug, or a legal drug if you are underage can be considered abuse. But I think people often use the term abuse to describe the point at which use gets out of control and starts causing problems for the user. That point is very hard to determine, and is different for everyone. Sadly, for many people the realization that use is out of control can come very late, when big problems arise, and stopping use is very difficult.

But drug abuse can be treated. There are a number of resources including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, which doesn't just talk about suicide; they can help with a lot of issues including drug abuse, and can connect a person with a professional close by. There is also a website with information about treatment programs: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/.

volt25 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what is a carcinogen?

Dave McCann: Good question!! A carcinogen is a chemical that may cause cancer. Avoid smoking to avoid many carcinogens!!!

chipmunk - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what does angel ccc do to you

Dave McCann: Blue angel ccc apprears to be a carpet cleaning compound. I don't know what the ingredients are, but knowing a little about cleaning agents, I would guess that it may damage your liver and brain. Don't inhale! Read more about that here: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drnida/drnida_inhale1.php

drake - Martinsville High School, Virginia: one of my friend are smoking what should i do?

Steve Gust: Hi Martinsville High,
Let me first start my answer by commending you. You are a good friend! People sometimes choose drugs and Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php. Also, encourage your friend to talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, school counselor, or coach about their problem. There is help out there! Good luck!

grinnellaustin - Otto Middle School, Michigan: Do you know that they put alcohol in energy drink?

Ruben Baler: Yep, I heard that some people mix alcohol and caffeine. Not a very smart idea--you know why? Because the alcohol in the mix will still get you drunk (and mentally impaired) but the caffeine in the mix (which is a stimulant) will give you the misperception that you are just fine and are perfectly able of, for example, driving. Again, bad idea!

 Gary - Martinsville High School, Virginia: What happens if you overdose?

Dave McCann: Many people who overdose on drugs die. If the drug is heroin or any other kind of opiate, breathing may stop. Stimulants like cocaine can 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. Read more on our teen website http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.php Lots of stuff going on there.

 marciasmith12 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what is pcp?

Anna Staton: PCP or phencyclidine is also known as angel dust. It's is a 'dissociative' drug that can distort perceptions of sight and sound and produce feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety). It was developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic and was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects.

Papa Marx - Rockville High School, Maryland: Do you think Stalin used drugs? And if so, is there a drug that would make you go crazy?

Wilson Compton: Interesting question. I have no idea whether Stalin used drugs, but people from all sorts of backgrounds use drugs. The dangerous thing is that drugs can cause mental symptoms, especially in high doses. For instance, cocaine and methamphetamine are well known for causing hallucinations in high doses. And even marijuana can cause hallucinations and delusion in some people.

sangrey84 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Can you get addicted to steroids?

Ruben Baler: The short answer is yes. But, the mechanism of androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) addiction is different from the mechanisms that cause people to become addicted to other drugs of abuse. That is, the main effects of AAS do not work through the pleasure neurotransmitter dopamine as with other drugs.

However, Animal studies have shown that AAS are reinforcing - that is, animals will self-administer AAS when given the opportunity, just as they do with other addictive drugs. This is more difficult to demonstrate in humans, but the potential for AAS abusers to become addicted is consistent with their continued abuse despite physical problems and negative effects on social relations. Also, steroid abusers typically spend large amounts of time and money obtaining the drug: this is another indication of addiction. Individuals who abuse steroids can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking AAS - these include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and steroid cravings, all of which may contribute to continued abuse. One of the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms is depression - when persistent, it can sometimes lead to suicide attempts. Importantly, research also indicates that some users might turn to other drugs to alleviate some of the negative effects of AAS.

Kevinmbemba - Einstein High School, Maryland: What are immediate consequences of tobacco?

Steve Gust: Hi there Einstein!

So what happens when someone smokes cigarettes? A lot of teens are asking that question today...and the best way to answer it is with scientific facts. Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). That is one of the things that gives you a 'rush' or 'buzz' when you smoke. However, epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Glucose is released into the blood while nicotine suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers have chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Also, like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction - a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences.

Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-third of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancer cases. In addition to cancer, smoking causes lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and increases the risk of heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm. Smoking has also been linked to leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia.^1,2 On average, adults who smoke die 14 years earlier than nonsmokers

Take a look at our research report on tobacco for even more information about the dangers of tobacco -- it's online at http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Nicotine/Nicotine.html.

Squishy Camel - Skaneateles High School, New York: Do people take drugs because it's hereditary and a goat?

David Shurtleff: There is a hereditary component to drug-taking. Genes inherited form parents determine how people respond to drugs. Because genes affect how drugs are metabolized in the body, some people who take cocaine (for example) like it very much and go on to develop addiction, while others find it unpleasant. Similarly with alcohol and tobacco: genes that affect how they are metabolized make some people more vulnerable than others to heavy drinking and smoking. Genes aren't the whole story, however. No matter what your genes are, you can avoid getting into trouble with drugs by not taking them to begin with.
Scratching my head about the goat, though.

morenzettialyss - Otto Middle School, Michigan: what can you do to get someone to stop taking drugs???

Anna Staton: It's hard to be in this situation, seeing a friend or relative going down a dangerous path or suffering, and not being sure what you can do to help. First, let the person know that someone cares about him or her. You can let them know you are concerned without being judgmental, and that there are people they can talk with in confidence. They may be more open to talking to a trusted adult or a medical professional if they feel that their privacy would not be violated. There are some resources 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 the caller 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 or her 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 friend.

lulu123 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: Is it easier for a person to get addicted to something if they have an addictive personality?

Wilson Compton: 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 each play a role. What we do know is that a person who uses drugs risks becoming addicted, craving the drug despite its potentially devastating consequences. No matter what, the key factor is that drug addiction starts with drug use and so the best approach is to avoid any use of drugs at all.

thenry - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: where should you go to find out more about drugs

Gaya Dowling: We have some great information 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.

SCLions003 - State College Area High School, Pennsylvania: I've never thought cigarette is a drug. But I recently learned about 'Tobacco'. Is cigarette the same thing as Tobacco? Is Cigarette really classified as a drug?

Dave McCann: Nicotine and many other chemicals are contained in tobacco leaves, which are rolled up in cigarettes.  And yes, nicotine is a very addictive drug!!!  Here's some more on tobacco addiction: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php

washingtonrodri - Otto Middle School, Michigan: when was the first drug made.

Joe Frascella: Drugs have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years. People have drunk juices from fermented fruit (alcohol) for many years. Some of the drugs that we think of like cocaine and heroin have been created in the lab over a hundred years ago.

Hope this helps.

Mr.Bigberrys - Einstein High School, Maryland: my friend does crack what should i do to help him?

Eve Reider: You are a great friend! www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where your friend can find private and confidential help 24/7.

CP3 - Rockville High School, Maryland: Which is more addictive? Weed or cocaine?

Eve Reider:
Good question. Here is some information about the addictive nature of marijuana and cocaine.

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2-3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. Cocaine usually makes the user feel euphoric and energetic, but also increases body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. 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.

It isn't easy to determine which drug is more addictive. That is because there are a number of factors that can cause someone to become addicted. These include family history/genetics, the amount of the drug you take, the way you take the drug (smoking, intravenously, pill form), and so on. For more information go to http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/.

ms. martino - Einstein High School, Maryland: Thanks for doing this- I know this is a long, hard day for you. It's a great day for our students to get informed, though! We'll be on this all day with you :)

Cindy Miner: thanks Ms Martino! Yes, its going to be a long day, but its fun to see the variety of questions we get!

Reeses - Martinsville High School, Virginia: Is it easy to get addicted to drugs?

Joe Frascella: Really depends on the drug and the individual. 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.

For more information about drugs and addiction, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/!

tidalwave14 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: If you are addicted to drugs but then get off of them are you still considered a drug addict

Wilson Compton: Good question. When someone has been using drugs for a long time and becomes addicted, they have long term changes and problems. The real issues is that they have memories for their drug use that may last a very long time. They are still are risk for relapse. The good news is that it becomes easier and easier for them to remain clean and sober. Recovery is possible.

Revolver66 - Martinsville High School, Virginia: if life is short why don't people just let smokers die with there cigarettes so they can die happy?

Dave McCann: Interesting question. I don't think that anyone with lung cancer dies happy. They all seem to wish that they never started smoking. Read these teens' stories about tobacco addiction on our website: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/category/real-life-stories

SWEETEST GIRL - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Dr. Joseph, what is alcohol and do you have a drinking problem?

Joe Frascella: Hey there! http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/ and http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/!

soccerman45 - Nantucket High School, Massachusetts: is it possible to take drugs and not get addicted?

Wilson Compton: Not everyone who takes drugs becomes addicted. In addition to addiction, people also can have accidents and other harms from drug use. In fact, the unpredictable and subtle nature of drug abuse and drug addiction makes it very complicated.

People often don't recognize when they are becoming addicted. This is one of the main problems related to use of drugs. A person 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. It impairs your ability to think clearly, to feel OK without drugs, and to control your behaviors. These all contribute to the compulsive drug seeking and use that is addiction.

brijbanerji - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: was michael jackson's doctor giving him drugs

Dave McCann: That is not yet clear. Maybe. It should be kept in mind that drugs can be dangerous even if prescribed by a doctor. Here's a blog we posted on it; check it out and leave a comment: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/michael-jackson-news-we%E2%80%99d-rather-not-have/ Add medications should really need to be taken or adminstered with care.

huhh - Einstein High School, Maryland: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SNUFF AND TABACCO?

Steve Gust: Good Morning Einstein,
Snuff is a form of smokeless tobacco. You should remember that while many people think that using snuff is safer than smoking, that's not true. Just like smokers of tobacco, snuff users can not only become addicted, but are susceptible to cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, and esophagus. Users of chewing tobacco and snuff have an elevated risk for oral cancer. Need more information on tobacco? Visit http://teens.drugabuse.gov/ and http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html. Keep the questions coming!

proberts - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: What is a date rape drug?

Anna Staton: You might be thinking of GHB or Rohypnol. Both have both been used in certain types of assaults where the victim was given the drug without their knowledge. These drugs can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html.

Karlaa <3 - Einstein High School, Maryland: My friend died because of drug addiction, and i see another friend of mine with the same problem How can i help?

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your friends know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php Also, you might talk to a school counselor about the situation. This sounds serious.

heyy123 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what would you do if a family member is going to die from lung cancer because they smoke?

Dave McCann: That would be a sad situation. It is never too late to quit smoking and I would try to encourage quitting. Medications are available to help and dicussing this with a doctor may be a good idea. To find a wealth of research and facts on addiction and treatment, please go to:

http://www.drugabuse.gov/

You will also find facts, trends, statistics, graphics and reports on smoking on NIDA's Web sites: http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/

marciasmith12 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what is crystal meth????

Gaya Dowling: Crystal meth is a form of methampehtamine that can be smoked. Meth is a very addictive stimulant drug that can increase wakefulness and physical activity, but it also produces a rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and increased blood pressure and body temperature. When people use it for a long time, methamphetamine abuse has many negative health consequences, including extreme weight loss, severe dental problems ('meth mouth'), anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior. Chronic methamphetamine abusers can also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects crawling under the skin). it can lead to mood disturbances, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and severe dental problems.

darkchocolate - Rockville High School, Maryland: Is it possible to not become addicted to a drug after only using it once?

Joe Frascella: Hi there in Rockville! Great question. There have been reports of addiction after just one use because the experience was so reinforcing. There is a lot that we still don't know about who becomes addicted and why, however, 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.

Karlaa <3 - Einstein High School, Maryland: Is there a way to recover from addiction without professional help?

Wilson Compton: Sure. Many people quit using substances on their own, or with cummunity support (like recovery support groups such as AA) but treatment can help to make this possible. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

lacey123 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: Can you get high off of markers?

Ruben Baler: The vapor that comes off a Sharpie belongs to a class of abused drugs we call inhalants. Unfortunately, some kids sniff these to try and get a buzz similar to the one you get after drinking alcohol. But abusing any type of inhalant is extremely dangerous because they are toxic substances that dissolve in fatty tissues and can spread through the entire brain very quickly. Inhalants are one of the few types of drugs that can kill instantly and after a single use!

mrs_gaye51 - Einstein High School, Maryland: how much beer does it takes to get drunk?

Anna Staton: That depends on your gender, body weight, and history of use. You can check out the National Institute http://www.thecoolspot.gov/.

imreallytired - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: Which drugs were once used for medical reasons but are now considered illegal?

Susan Weiss: Great question. Actually there are many drugs that have medical uses and are also considered illegal. Opioids (painkillers) are one example--they were legal at one time, became illegal, and are now used medicinally to treat pain. However, they must be prescribed by a doctor and taken as prescribed to be safe. Methamphetamine is also a highly addictive drug that was used at one time for treating obesity and sleep disorders. But when its addictiveness and harms became evident--its legal use diminished hugely. Cocaine is still used for certain eye procedures--because it is also a local anesthetic (stops pain perception in a local area), but is illegal when used outside of these circumstances.

 lexipop14 - Martinsville High School, Virginia: How come steroids can kill you and are any of them safe?

 Ruben Baler: Steroids are safe if used for a medical condition and under a doctor's supervision. However, there have been reports of people that have been driven to commit suicide as a result of depression allegedly caused by chronic abuse of anabolic steroids. This is mostly based on case reports though and there are no studies that can establish a causal relationship between the two. Other types of death, as a result of anabolic steroids, follow a similar story. For example, it would be very hard to pin down a car accident to roid rage, although we can reasonably hypothesize that such cases exist.

tatertot - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: What causes kids to take drugs and cut them selves and all that kind of stuff and then some end up killing them selves or end up in the hospital through treatment and are living but dont really have enough strength to live, and what could happen to them?

Wilson Compton: That's an interesting question. Drugs make people feel good and high sometimes but afterwards they may feel much worse. Aso, sometimes when people use a lot of drugs they get really, really depressed and want to die. That's the unpredictable and dangerous part of drug abuse. If someone is depressed, it's harder to be motivated to quit using drugs. And if someone is using drugs, it can interfere with their treatment for depression. Instead, talking to a counselor or doctor can help and medications can help to improve depression. If you'd like some more info about how to help your friend check out:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

janalewis - Ludlow Elementary School, Pennsylvania: I had a one of my relatives die from drug abuse and one of my clost friends is now using drugs what should i do to get them to stop.Before its to late they been using drugs for two months now is there any chance of them getting hurt.

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your friends know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

Jasmine - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: hey Dr.joe! what are date drugs and what do they do to you?

Joe Frascella: Hi Jasmine! Thanks for your question. Date drugs like rohypnol or GHB are generally considered club drugs. They are named club drugs because they tend to be abused at nightclubs, bars, raves, or trance scenes. Ketamine, ecstasy, and meth are other examples of club drugs. Here is some detailed information that I pulled up for you on these drugs. Hope this helps!

How are Club Drugs Abused?

Raves and trance events are generally night-long dances, often held in warehouses. Many who attend raves and trances do not use club drugs, but those who do may be attracted to their generally low cost and the intoxicating highs that are said to deepen the rave or trance experience.

• Rohypnol is usually taken orally, although there are reports that it can be ground up and snorted.
• GHB and Rohypnol have both been used to facilitate date rape (also known as "drug rape," "acquaintance rape," or "drug-assisted" assault). They can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with alcohol, Rohypnol can incapacitate victims and prevent them from resisting sexual assault.
• GHB also has anabolic effects (it stimulates protein synthesis) and has been sought by bodybuilders to aid in fat reduction and muscle building.
• Ketamine is usually snorted or injected intramuscularly.

How do Club Drugs Affect the Brain?

• GHB acts on at least two sites in the brain: the GABAB receptor and a specific GHB binding site. At high doses, GHB's sedative effects may result in sleep, coma, or death. Rohypnol, like other benzodiazepines, acts at the GABAA receptor. It can produce anterograde amnesia, in which individuals may not remember events they experienced while under the influence of the drug.
• Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic, so called because it distorts perceptions of sight and sound and produces feelings of detachment from the environment and self. Ketamine acts on a type of glutamate receptor (NMDA receptor) to produce its effects, similar to those of the drug PCP.¹ Low-dose intoxication results in impaired attention, learning ability, and memory. At higher doses, ketamine can cause dreamlike states and hallucinations; and at higher doses still, ketamine can cause delirium and amnesia.

Addictive Potential

• Repeated use of GHB may lead to withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating. Severe withdrawal reactions have been reported among patients presenting from an overdose of GHB or related compounds, especially if other drugs or alcohol are involved.²
• Like other benzodiazepines, chronic use of Rohypnol can produce tolerance and dependence.
• There have been reports of people binging on ketamine, a behavior that is similar to that seen in some ³

What Other Adverse Effects do Club Drugs Have on Health?

Uncertainties about the sources, chemicals, and possible contaminants used to manufacture many club drugs make it extremely difficult to determine toxicity and associated medical consequences.

• Coma and seizures can occur following use of GHB. Combined use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and breathing difficulties. GHB and two of its precursors, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and^1,4 butanediol (BD), have been involved in poisonings, overdoses, date rapes, and deaths.
• Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other CNS depressants.
• Ketamine, in high doses, can cause impaired motor function, high blood pressure, and potentially fatal respiratory problems.

debbie - Crestwood High School, Pennsylvania: How do you know if you have a drug addiction?

 Wilson Compton: Great question. The key feature of drug addiction is the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs. It all starts with use of these substances. Once someone uses, they may find they use more and more often. They may start organizing their lives around their use of substances. They may find that they use even though it causes them problems. They spend more time on substances and have trouble quitting or cutting down on.

crazykelly. - Einstein High School, Maryland: What is snuff?

Steve Gust: Hi Einstein! Kensington rocks!

What is snuff? Snuff is a form of smokeless chewing tobacco. Regular use of smokeless tobacco products may cause such problems as receding gums, tooth decay, mouth sores, precancerous lesions, and cancers of the mouth and throat. Smokeless tobacco users also may be at increased risk of heart disease and smoking cigarettes. Undesirable social consequences include bad breath, tobacco-stained teeth, and the need to spit tobacco juice. Want more info? Visit http://www.drugabuse.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html, http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2K8NSDUH/tabs/Sect7peTabs24to27.pdf and http://teens.drugabuse.gov/

kasandra - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: how does chewing tabacco differ from smoking it.?

Dave McCann: Chewing tobacco would not expose the people around you to dangerous smoke but, it still might cause cancer of the mouth. Cigarettes and chew tobacco are illegal substances in most U.S. states for those under 18 for good reason. Best to avoid tobacco in all forms.

Brianna - Martinsville High School, Virginia: do people die doing drugs? if so how many people do die doing drugs?

Anna Staton: Yes they do. In 2006, about 35,000 people died from what were called 'unintentional drug poisonings' and many of these deaths involved prescription pain relievers (e.g., Vicodin and OxyContin). But if you add deaths related to alcohol and tobacco that brings the total to about 560,000. Tobacco is definitely the drug that causes the most deaths (440,000 a year).

weedhead - Rockville High School, Maryland: can the smoke of marijuana affect a baby?

Nicolette Borek: Hi - and thanks for your question. yes, weed/marijuana smoke can affect the baby. We've got a couple of studies on this - including one that has followed the kids from the prenatal/in utero/pregnancy stage until they were adults. And guess what - these studies have found subtle developmental effects on the baby's ability to think, pay attention, and other brain functions. Plus, people who use pot often smoke tobacco too, and tobacco use can also negatively affect the baby's health. For example, some studies show that babies born to mothers who used tobacco are more likely to use tobacco themselves and become addicted later on. You might be interested in learning more about long-term effects of marijuana: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_mj2.php#long_term. Of course, we recommend pregnant women not use http://www.drugabuse.gov/tib/prenatal.html.

heyy123 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: What is the experience to a middle school student with drugs?

Joe Frascella: Hey great question, but hard to answer directly. If you are asking about the effects of drugs on the developing brain, we are very interested in this question here at NIDA and are studying it. We know that the brains of middle schoolers are still going through lots of development--connections are being formed and pathways are being strengthened (like what happens in learning). Drugs can affect this process of brain development in many ways, and we also know that the earlier one starts to dabble in drugs, the more likely one is to become addicted. So, in the middle school years, one can be particularly vulnerable to drugs.

Here are some websites to check out and learn more about drugs:

Connect and Interact. Free downloads and cool videos about drugs: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/new_media/index.php#downloads.

Did you know you can send us questions about drugs anytime of the day on our Teen Web site? http://teens.drugabuse.gov/. It might take a few days, because our scientists are pretty busy - but real questions will get real answers!

lswimmer617 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: can u get high off sharpiess

Dave McCann: Some markers may give off chemicals that can damage the brain and liver if inhaled. There's a question about sharpies that a teen asked last year, and we posted it on the sara bellum blog--take a look: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/?s=sharpie

lololololololol - Einstein High School, Maryland: how many different types of drugs and tobacco are there?

Steve Gust: Good morning Einstein High!
That's a good question. There are ~599 ingredients and additives in cigarettes, that when burned, create over 4000 toxic, harmful chemical compounds -- many of which are known carcinogens (cause cancer). Want to know more about tobacco? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/nicotine/addictive.html#other and http://drugabuse.gov/. Keep the questions coming!

suryptitious17 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: What is DXM?

Anna Staton: DXM is the active ingredient found in OTC cough and cold medications. When taken in recommended doses, these medications are safe and effective. In very large quantities, DXM can cause effects similar to those of ketamine and PCP because these drugs affect similar sites in the brain. These effects can include impaired motor function, numbness, nausea/vomiting, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. On rare occasions, hypoxic brain damage - caused by severe respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen to the brain - has occurred due to the combination of DXM with decongestants often found in the medication.

09tacome - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: Whats the most additive drug?

David Shurtleff: Tough question. In general, drugs that are smoked, inhaled, or injected tend to be more addictive than those that are swallowed. Smoked or inhaled drugs get into brain much more rapidly and in more potent amounts that if done repeatedly can lead to compulsive drug taking. That's why cigarettes are so addictive: nicotine is taken into lung then the blood stream to the brain where it activates reward centers leading to tobacco addiction. However, this doesn't mean that it's safe to take drugs orally: less addictive can still be very addictive, as the many people currently addicted to Oxycontin can attest.

THEGODFATHER37 - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what is pharming?

Wilson Compton: Pharming is a slang term for abuse of prescription medications. These are medications that are taken under a doctor's supervision but can be addictive when abused. They can be very dangerous and deadly at times. To find more information, check out the NIDA website: http://www.drugabuse.gov/

jazzyfizzle - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: is it true that people get high off handsanitizer.

Cindy Miner: one of the ingrediants is alcohol, and unfortunately there have been some reports of people drinking it to try to get high. Mostly they seem to get very sick doing that.

 dbutler - Ludlow Elementary School, Pennsylvania: when people in your family do drugs why does it effect you too

 David Shurtleff: This can happen in many ways. Parents may negelect their children in favor of getting high if they are addicted, or they may become unable to provide for their family. If one parent uses drugs and the other doesn't, they may create an atmosphere of tension and conflict that affects everyone. Children who take drugs may make brothers or sisters feel called upon to help but uncertain how to help, or they may develop problems that require so much parental attention that brothers and sisters feel left out. Second-hand smoke from substances such as tobacco, marijuana or crack can have adverse health effects on others who breathe them.

cmedina0082 - Valley Vista High School, Arizona: if you have done drugs for a long period of time, lets say since i was 10 and im 17 now how long do i have till i die?

Wilson Compton: The good news is that drug abuse and addiction can be treated and even people who have used for a long time, can turn their lives around. Some drugs are out of your system really quickly but after someone has been using drugs, they may have cravings or urges to use for a long time. These memories for drugs can be really difficult to control. Right now, we know that treatment is helpful but it's impossible to predict ahead of time who will respond to which treatment. The important point is that even when someone struggles, they should not give up hope. Rather they need to go back to treatment or modify their current treatment. In fact, setbacks are likely. Even people with diabetes may go off their diet or miss an insulin injection, and their symptoms will recur - that's a cue to get back on track, not to view treatment as a failure. So the key is to try different approaches until we figure out which approach works.

skyler13 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: what is the most common drug that is used

Anna Staton: Well, among those 12 to 17 that would be alcohol. In 2008, 31% of those 12 to 17 reported using alcohol in the past year (compared to 19% reporting past year use of a tobacco product and 19% reporting past year use of an illicit drug). See http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k8NSDUH/tabs/
Sect2peTabs1to42.htm#Tab2.38B for more info.

sammygrace - Rockville High School, Maryland: What is the best and most effective way to help a friend who is an addict?

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your friends know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, two good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

babyAND1 - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: if i am on drugs what can i do to help my addiction?

Wilson Compton: How about talking to a school counselor, your parents or a trusted teacher? Here's a hotline number to call: 1-800-273-TALK
To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, three good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

Drugs - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: What are some rehabs that you recomend

Wilson Compton: To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, three good places to begin include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php

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

TRIGON - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: Does weed cause cancer?

Susan Weiss: We don't know the answer to that. Smoking weed does expose the lungs to many of the same poisons as tobacco--tar, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens. And you don't need to smoke as many joints as you do cigarettes to get the equivalent exposure. But studies in patients have not yet made a direct link to cancer. Also, many long time weed users also smoke cigarettes, and in some countries marijuana joints are laced with tobacco, making it even more difficult to figure this out. Nevertheless, marijuana does cause other respiratory problems--coughing, phlegm production, bronchitis, etc.

tatertot - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: If people have depression and are still taking drugs, how come some people also end up cutting their selves and trying to acually kill their selves?

Wilson Compton: Drugs make people feel good and high sometimes but afterwards they may feel much worse. also, sometimes when people use a lot of drugs they get really, really depressed and want to die. That's the unpredictable and dangerous part of drug abuse. If someone is depressed, it's harder to be motivated to quit using drugs. And if someone is using drugs, it can interfere with their treatment for depression. Instead, talking to a counselor or doctor can help and medications can help to improve depression. If you'd like some more info about how to help your friend check out:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where you can find private and confidential help 24/7.

Mr.Bigberrys - Einstein High School, Maryland: do you guys love to do your job? and teach kids.

Cindy Miner: I can speak for myself....yes I do love my job, and one of the best things about it is teaching!

SynapticFire - middlebury union high school, Vermont: What is the maximum amount of caffeine that you could have in a day without being harmed?

Ruben Baler: The LD50 of caffeine (meaning a dose that would kill about 50% of those taking it) would be about 90 cups of regular coffee taken in a short period of time. In other words: it is about 150 to 200 milligrams per kilogram of body mass. That's a lot of coffee!

jasmine - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: How do you know when someone is high

Wilson Compton: Good question. It depends on the drug but when someone is really intoxicated, it may be pretty obvious they are using. They may smell of alcohol or marijuana, have blood-shot eyes or have really slurred speech. Other negative consequences can be stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse. There are a lot of other symptoms, but sometimes it is really hard to tell if someone is using drugs or alcohol. They may have mood changes (such as becoming irritable and angry for no reason). One way to find out is to ask them.

DLO(: - Presque Isle High School, Maine: Is the addiction to marijuana psychological or physical?

Ruben Baler: Hola,

What a good question. Addiction, to marijuana or to any other drug, is actually both, psychological AND physical. The behavioral part is definitely driven by changes in the brain (you could call this the psychological part) but then there is the phenomenon of physical dependence (which involves the brain and the rest of the body) that is responsible for the withdrawal symptoms (nausea, headaches, sleeplesness, etc.) that an addicted person may feel when trying to quit cold turkey.

paris hilton - Martinsville High School, Virginia: my friend does drugs how can he stop

Eve Reider: You are a very caring friend! Your friend may need help in order to stop. Perhaps your friend should talk to the school counselor. Another alternative is this link to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov or 1-800-662-HELP, where your friend can find private and confidential help 24/7.

egiap - Boiling Springs High School, Pennsylvania: what is the most addicting drug?

Joe Frascella: Good question! We still don't know or understand 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 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 general information about drugs, check out http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/.

StudenTTt - Rockville High School, Maryland: What happens if you smoke for the first time what does it do?

Steve Gust: Good morning Rockville High!!
So what happens when someone smokes? Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Glucose is released into the blood while nicotine suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers have chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Also, like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. Will you become addicted the first time you smoke cigarettes?? Not likely, but the more often and longer a person smokes, the greater the chances of addiction. In fact, for many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction - a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences.

Want more info on cigarettes? Visit http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Nicotine.html and http://smoking.drugabuse.gov/

TheChunkyGuy - Rockville High School, Maryland: How do i know if someone i know is using drugs and is a drug abuser?

Wilson Compton: Good question. It depends on the drug but when someone is really intoxicated, it may be pretty obvious they are using. They may smell of alcohol or marijuana, have blood-shot eyes or have really slurred speech. Other negative consequences can be stealing, losing friends, family problems, or other physical or mental problems brought on by drug abuse. There are a lot of other symptoms, but sometimes it is really hard to tell if someone is using drugs or alcohol. They may have mood changes (such as becoming irritable and angry for no reason). One way to find out is to ask them.

wookie73 - Conestoga Valley High School, Pennsylvania: how can you get someone to quit smoking cigarettes

Dave McCann: First, they need to want to quit. Explaining the risk of developing cancer may help. Once they want to quit, medications are available to help. Seeing a doctor is a good idea. Here are some good reasons on our blog to not smoke: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/know-the-scene-four-reasons-not-to-smoke/ Check it out and leave a comment.

monkeys17 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: If you get addicted to drugs what will be some of the effects for teens?

Eve Reider: A person 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. It impairs your ability to think clearly, to feel OK without drugs, and to control your behaviors. These all contribute to the compulsive drug seeking and use that is addiction. Effects of getting addicted to drugs for teens may be that they can't perform in their daily activities. They may not be able to perform to their potential in academics, participate in other activities, such as sports or a job, and it interferes with their ability to get along with important people in their lives,, such as parents, friends, teachers.

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.

bubbly123 - Einstein High School, Maryland: what is hookah?????

Dave McCann: A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke tobacco. Cancer is a risk, of course, and there could be additional risks if something other than tobacco is smoked. Although many hookah smokers think it is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, water pipe smoking still delivers the addictive drug http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_nicotine1.php for more info.

Ms.furballs - Einstein High School, Maryland: soooo is this all you do your life??? answering questions

Cindy Miner: Well, today it seems like it. But we do so much more. I do a lot of writing about the science addiction, I also speak to a lot of groups about what we've learned from our research. I have one of the best jobs!

lbuffs_32 - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: Is there a type of drug that people can pour in your drink or stick in your food without you tasting, smelling or seeing it?

Anna Staton: You might be thinking of GHB or Rohypnol. Both have both been used in certain types of assaults where the victim was given the drug without their knowledge. These drugs can be colorless, tasteless, and odorless, and can be added to beverages and ingested unbeknownst to the victim. When mixed with http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/Clubdrugs.html.

lollipop15 - Einstein High School, Maryland: Will N.I.H. ever ban smoking from everywhere? like, make it illegal?

Dave McCann: NIH conducts scientific research. We are working to understand drug addiction (including smoking) and to develop treatments that will make it easier for people to quit. We don't pass laws though. Smoking bans may be a good idea but they don't come from NIH. But speaking of smoking, did you know that teens are smoking less than they used to? In fact, NIDA's Monitoring the Future Survey has found that cigarette smoking rates among youth are at historically low levels. Smoking by 12th graders in the month prior to the survey fell by 30% between 2001 and 2008. Read more on our blog: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/know-the-scene-four-reasons-not-to-smoke/ Leave a comment!

ck - Martinsville High School, Virginia: what is in weed

Steve Gust: Marijuana, the most commonly abused illicit drug in the United States, is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THC for short.

Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit.

Want more information on 'weed' and it's effects on your health, family and future?? Log onto http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

Phillies0809 - Upper Dublin High School, Pennsylvania: Is it worse for young teens( 13-15) to take drugs then an older teen(16-19)?

Eve Reider: The earlier age at which people start using drugs, the more likely they will be at risk for having a drug problem later in life. Did you know that the part of the brain that helps you make good decisions is the last to develop? The prefrontal cortex - the front of the brain - doesn't fully mature until you are in your 20's. Drugs affect parts of the brain that are still developing - so the best thing is just not to take drugs.

jwhiting - Skaneateles High School, New York: Why is marijuana a Schedule I drug?

Susan Weiss: Schedule I means that a drug has a high potential for abuse and no established medical benefits. Marijuana fits that description even though some of its ingredients (e.g. THC) do have approved medical uses--e.g. to increase appetite in people with wasting disorders, or to decrease nausea from cancer chemotherapies. Those ingredients are currently available in pill form, or are being developed as new medicines. But marijuana, because it is a plant, and is usually smoked, is not a good candidate for a medication. Smoking exposes the lungs to a variety of harmful chemicals, and the marijuana plant contains many ingredients with unknown effects. For a drug to have established medical benefits--it has to go through rigourous testing in clinical trials with patients to show that it is both safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes the final decision on whether a medicine meets the high standards for approval for use. Currently the FDA has not approved marijuana for any clinical use. States are making their own decisions about this, but that is a dangerous precedent to set, since the experts that usually approve medications are not making the decisions.

tatertot - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: How come people that end up in the hospital from taking drugs and they are put up for treatment, but when they live and get back home they still end up tkeing drugs or cutting them selves?

Wilson Compton: Great question! It depends on the drug. Some drugs are out of your system really quickly but after someone has been using drugs, they may have cravings or urges to use for a long time. These memories for drugs can be really difficult to control. Withdrawal symptoms may only last a few days or weeks but memories for drugs can last a long time. We're working hard to come up with better treatment for people with addiction. Right now, we know that treatment is helpful but it's impossible to predict ahead of time who will respond to which treatment. The important point is that even when someone relapses, they should not give up hope. Rather they need to go back to treatment or modify their current treatment. In fact, setbacks are likely. Even people with diabetes may go off their diet or miss an insulin injection, and their symptoms will recur - that's a cue to get back on track, not to view treatment as a failure. So the key is to try different approaches until we figure out which approach works.

lexxie - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: Dr.Joseph, have you ever done drugs before. You help all these people out with their questions but have you had your own addiction to drugs anytime in your life?

Joe Frascella: Hi Lexxie,

Thanks for your question! Fortunately, I have not had any struggles with addiction anytime in my life, but that said, I do believe that we are all capable of becoming addicted to drugs or to other things...such as food, internet, gambling, shopping, even work! We all have the brain biology that can allow us to fall victim to addiction.

I am currently addicted to playing the guitar!

Thanks much for your question.

Dr. J

kp - Floyd Elementary School, Virginia: could drugs make a persons mood change

Wilson Compton: Absolutely! One of the main effects of drugs is to cause mood changes. People can be unusually giddy, silly, talkative at one time and depressed, slow, irritable at another. These are some of the common effects of drugs.

davon n kayla - Martinsville High School, Virginia: why is crack bad

Dave McCann: 'Crack' is a smokeable form of http://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/mom_stim3.php You'll see other interesting things to click on while you're there.

johnathon-blitz - Benjamin Tasker Middle School, Maryland: which is more deadly... drugs or alcohol

Anna Staton: Actually, tobacco, which is also a drug, is responsible for the most deaths (440,000 per year.)

itstooearly8 - middlebury union high school, Vermont: does smoking pot prevent getting the H1N1 virus?

Joe Frascella: Hey up there in Vermont! There is no evidence to suggest that smoking pot will prevent the H1N1 virus--but we do know that drugs of abuse can actually reduce our body's immune function.

For more information about marijuana, check out http://www.marijuana-info.org/!

heyy123 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: How can i help a loved one survive from smoking?

Wilson Compton: This can be a very painful situation. People sometimes choose tobacco, drugs and alcohol instead of their families or friends. Letting your friends know about your concern can help but it's really important that you take care of yourself-don't stay in the room when they smoke and don't let them expose you to smoke because it is a poison. To find general information on substance abuse prevention and treatment, ypu can go to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/; or to http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_brain1.php
Also, a national toll-free number, 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669), can help people get the information they need to quit smoking. Callers to the number are routed to their state's smoking cessation quitline or, in states that have not established quitlines, to one maintained by the National Cancer Institute. In addition, a new Web site (www.smokefree.gov) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers online advice and downloadable information to make cessation easier.

pimp daddy 101 - Lakeview Middle School, Michigan: why does tobacco abuse pepoles body system

Steve Gust: Good morning Lakeview!
So what happens when someone smokes? Upon entering the bloodstream, nicotine immediately stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Glucose is released into the blood while nicotine suppresses insulin output from the pancreas, which means that smokers have chronically elevated blood sugar levels. Also, like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana,nicotine increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure. For many tobacco users, long-term brain changes induced by continued nicotine exposure result in addiction - a condition of compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative consequences.

Cigarette smoking accounts for about one-third of all cancers, including 90 percent of lung cancer cases. In addition to cancer, smoking causes lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and increases the risk of heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm. Smoking has also been linked to leukemia, cataracts, and pneumonia.^1,2 On average, adults who smoke die 14 years earlier than nonsmokers

Take a look at our research report on tobacco for even more information about the dangers of tobacco -- it's online at http://drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Nicotine/Nicotine.html.