https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp Max Nguyen OD Health en-us 2016-06-05 04:28:36 UTC 2023-03-25 19:51:14 UTC hello@padlet.com maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113690818 When drug users take psychoactive drugs, which are mood-altering drugs, they are letting chemicals that affect brain activity into them. According to the textbook, many of these trigger activity along a pathway of cells in the brain called the "reward pathway." This gives the user a pleasurable feeling, and thus, the person wants to keep using the drug.
Brain cells along the activated reward pathway release a chemical called dopamine. When it is associated with drug use, it generally has dangerous effects.

• The extra dopamine released can cause the user to ignore the effects of the drug, so they continue to use it.
• Flooding of dopamine leads to addiction and intense cravings for the drug when it is not available.
• Drug abuse can dull the brain's reactions to normal levels of dopamine. The user does not feel pleasure from normal activities.

]]> 2016-06-05 04:36:07 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113690818 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691773 This is a sedative that slows the activity of the central nervous system (CNS). These used to also be called tranquilizers. They slow nerve activity, relax muscle tension, lower alertness, and cause drowsiness.
Street names: Blue tips, Blue birds, Blue angels, they are associated with color.
How it is taken: It is usually a pill that is swallowed
Short term: (mentioned above)
Long term: Blood and liver disease]]> 2016-06-05 05:39:47 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691773 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691856 They are prescription drugs that are sometimes sold illegally as "speed" or "uppers." It produces feelings of well-being and high energy. The effects wear off quickly and the person is left feeling depressed. This leads to more doses and drug abuse. 
Street names: speed, uppers
How it is taken: Orally usually in a powder
Short term: restlessness, rapid speech, blurred vision, dizziness
Long term: Hyperactivity, irritability, irregular heart rate, liver damage, paranoia]]> 2016-06-05 05:44:56 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691856 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691992 They are sometimes called "shrooms" It is a chemical found in a certain type of mushroom. They are eaten raw or mixed with food. They have similar effects to those of LSD, but they are not as strong. Sometimes, people confuse this mushroom that contain Psilocybin for another one, which is deadly.
How it is taken: stated above, eaten
Short term: stimulate or depress the CNS. People experience hallucinations where they see colorful visions and feel that they have superhuman powers. It decreases their attention span. Tolerance (similar effects to LSD)
Long term: "bad trips" and "flashbacks." They can happen at any time (similar effects to LSD)

]]> 2016-06-05 05:50:48 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113691992 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692432 This is the leaves, stems, and flowering tops of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. It is usually called pot, dope, weed, or grass. It is smoked in a pipe or from a joint or blunt or even mixed with food and consumed. It is one of the most frequently abused psychoactive drugs. Its main ingredient changes the way information reaches and is acted upon by the brain. Side effects include: distorted perceptions which include sights, sounds, time and touch, difficulties with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, and feelings of anxiety or paranoia. Frequent use may permanently affect the brain. users may damage their short term memory and lose the motivation to perform at school or work. It increases the risk of certain cancers. This is a gateway drugs which means that it is often a gateway to using harder drugs such as cocaine through building up tolerance. They may seek out other drugs to experience the high they first got when using marijuana. Studies show that a lot of young people who use other illegal drugs started with marijuana.]]> 2016-06-05 06:18:32 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692432 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692437 Club drugs are very popular at dance clubs and raves. They are more widely available, but their use is still associated with clubs. The strength and quality of them are highly unpredictable, and their effects vary from person to person. This makes them very dangerous. Ecstacy is also called XTC, X, Adam, Clarity, and the love drug. It is a combined stimulant and hallucinogen, and its side effects are increased heart rate and blood pressure, blurred vision, muscle tension, severe sweating and chills, nausea, increased body temperature that can lead to organ failure. They often contain other substances besides MDMA that make them more dangerous. 
Long term: memory impairment, toxic to the brain, dehydration which can lead to liver and kidney failure.]]> 2016-06-05 06:18:41 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692437 maxnguyen https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692741 2016-06-05 06:35:38 UTC https://padlet.com/maxnguyen/xsbnusl3ezmp/wish/113692741