Alcohol affects all parts of the body and their cells, particularly the BRAIN, HEART and LIVER. Short Term effects Alcohol can have the following short term effects: • feeling relaxed and less inhibited • reduced concentration • slurred speech and blurred vision • affected coordination and judgment • aggressive behaviour • the risk of accidents when operating cars or other machinery is increased • Increased recovery time from injuries Long Term effects In the longer term, alcohol may have the following effects:
• physical problems such as liver damage, heart and blood disorders, brain damage, stomach inflammation, damage to reproductive organs • emotional problems such as depression or relationship and family problems • social problems such as poor work performance, financial troubles, and legal problems • heavy drinking causes hangovers with symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, irritability, shakiness, and nausea.
• alcohol during pregnancy can harm the baby – it has been linked with increased risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth, premature birth • increased risk of common cancers such as breast, colon and rectum cancers, and some of the rarer cancers such as oral, oesophagus, larynx, and stomach cancers • binge drinking can dramatically increase blood pressure and the risk of having a stroke [pic].
Cannabis – (also known as pot, grass, dope, blow, wacky backy, hash, ganja, weed, puff, spliff, draw, marijuana) Cannabis is a Hallucinogen and a Depressant. Cannabis is a commonly used illegal drug in Britain. It is sometimes eaten, but more usually, it is mixed with tobacco and smoked. The most common effects from smoking cannabis are a feeling of relaxation, a sense of well-being and heightened perception of music and colour. Cooking the drug then eating it makes its effects more intense and harder to control. The drug may actually bring on a craving for food often referred to as having the ‘munchies’. Not addictive, the effect of a hallucinogen depends on the mood of the user at the time.
Experiences vary from visions of joy and beauty to waking nightmares. Perceptions of the world are distorted and there is often a feeling of being outside the body.
Short Term Effects – accidents whilst under the influence; anxiety; bloodshot eyes; feeling hungry and causing people to binge; impairs ability to learn and concentrate and unpredictable behaviour Long Term dangers – paranoia and psychological disturbance including ‘flashbacks’; bronchitis; lung cancer [pic] Nicotine and Tobacco Nicotine is a Stimulant – it speeds up your nervous system Nicotine is normally found in tobacco which contains over 4000 dangerous chemicals which include toilet cleaner and rat poison.
Over 80 of these chemicals can cause diseases such as cancer and lung and heart disease. Almost everyone knows that smoking causes cancer, emphysema, and heart disease; that it can shorten your life by 10 years or more; and that the habit can cost a smoker thousands of dollars a year. So how come people are still lighting up?
The answer, in a word, is addiction. Short Term effects • Bad skin • Bad breath • Bad smelling clothes and hair • Reduced athletic performance • Greater risk of injury and slower healing time • Increased risk of illness Long Term effects • Heart disease • Lung disease • Stroke • Emphysema (break down of alveoli) • Many types of cancer • Increased risk of Bronchitis and Pneumonia [pic].