Heroin Lesson goal HEROIN - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Heroin

Lesson goal

HEROIN

To

introduce students to the

health risks

of using heroin and the tie-

in to

opioid misuse, and

the

penalties

for

violating Virginia laws

governing these

.

Students will learn:

HEROIN

Virginia

laws concerning

controlled substances

Virginia

laws restricting heroin

and prescription opioid

possession

and use

Heroin

abuse is a serious

health and

safety threat to young people

A deadly trend

HEROIN

Nationally, in the last decade deaths

from drug overdose in people aged 12-25

has

more than

doubled. In Virginia, deaths from

heroin and opioid use

have outnumbered

highway fatalities since 2014.

What is heroin?

HEROIN

Heroin

is an illegal, highly addictive

drug.

It is made from morphine, which comes from certain poppies.

Pure heroin is white and has a bitter taste.

Street heroin is usually “cut” with other substances and can be brown, rose grey, or black.

What are prescription opioids?

HEROIN

Opioids are medications that relive pain. They include:

hydrocodone

(e.g.,

Vicodin

) and

oxycodone

(e.g., OxyContin

, Percocet) – products used for relieving conditions like dental surgery and injury-related pain.morphine

(e.g.,

Kadian

,

Avinza

) –

often used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain

codeine

–

often prescribed for mild pain or other conditions such as coughs

.

Prescription opioids have

valid medical uses, but they

can also be

extremely

addictive.

What is addiction?

HEROIN

Addiction

is defined

by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as:

A

chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug

seeking and

use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change

the brain – they change its structure and the way it works.

What is addiction?

cont.

HEROIN

Addiction happens when the body requires increased amounts of a drug to keep away painful withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms can start just hours after the last drug use.

Major withdrawal peaks 48 – 72 hours after stopping.

Sudden withdrawal can be fatal to a heavy user.

Addiction is treatable, often with a combination of medication and behavior therapy, but relapse is common.

Cravings and withdrawal symptoms can last a lifetime.

How heroin affects your health

HEROIN

How are

opioids related to heroin?

HEROIN

The

use of painkillers and heroin have similar effects on the body, producing the same “high.”

Users often

start off misusing prescription

drugs,

then switch to heroin when it’s harder to

get the prescription meds they’ve become addicted to.

Overdose

HEROIN

When

someone takes too much of a

substance, they overdose.

A heroin overdose can

cause serious

, harmful symptoms, or even

death by :

Slowing or stopping breathing

Causing a blood pressure drop, fluid around the heart, or heart failureOverdose also happens when a user

takes more heroin than their body is used to –

perhaps their tolerance was just reduced in rehab, or a dose is stronger than they thought. (Since heroin is a street drug it’s not regulated)

Overdose,

cont.

HEROIN

Signs

of a heroin overdose

include:

slow breathing;

blue

lips and

fingernails;

cold damp skin, and

shaking

.

It is critical that someone who is overdosing

get immediate

medical attention, as the

person may

die if left untreated.

Drug crimes in Virginia law

HEROIN

Virginia law defines three major types of drug

crimes:

Possession

Distribution

Manufacturing

Drug crimes in Virginia law,

cont.

HEROIN

Possession

occurs when a person possesses any controlled substance without a valid prescription.

Distribution

or sale occurs when

a person sells, provides, gives away, delivers, or distributes

a controlled substance.

Manufacturing occurs when a person produces a controlled substance without legal authorization, or possesses chemicals used in the manufacture of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture.

Offenses at school

HEROIN

Every Virginia school has signs marking a drug-free school zone. Within that zone, penalties are greater.

If a student brings drugs to school, the school must notify

local law enforcement. The student will then be subject to criminal action, as well as school disciplinary action such as expulsion.

Drug searches at school

HEROIN

Can law

enforcement can search for drugs at

your school?

Yes

.

Officers

may periodically make unannounced visits to any

public school to detect the presence of illegal drugs, and they may use drug dogs.

If a law enforcement officer finds drugs in someone’s possession, the officer will confiscate them and charge the person with possession of a controlled substance in violation of Virginia law.

Good Samaritan Law

HEROIN

A heroin overdose can cause death. But people

may

hesitate to call

for vital medical help because they don’t want to get in trouble themselves.

U

nder

the Good Samaritan Law, if a person:

reports an overdose to a firefighter, EMS personnel or law enforcement (usually by calling 911) identifies themselves as the one reporting the overdose and

cooperates with law enforcement

They are eligible for “affirmative defense” and may be protected from being convicted for certain possession or intoxication crimes. (

Code of Virginia

§ 18.2-251.03)

Help is available

HEROIN

If you or anyone you know needs help, talk to a trusted adult or check the Heroin section of

VirginiaRules.org

for this info:

Local Community

Services

Boards:

http

://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/individuals-andfamilies/community-services-

boards

Substance

Abuse Treatment Facility

Locator:

1

-800-662-HELP or

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Have

a Drug Problem, Need Help

?:

http

://

teens.drugabuse.gov

/have-a-drug-problem-need-

help

R

eview and recap

HEROIN

You have learned:

Heroin

abuse is a growing problem and there are laws that prohibit using this illegal and

controlled substance

;

Heroin

is extremely addictive, and very dangerous;Drug laws in Virginia define categories of drugs and types of offenses, and prescribe penalties for the possession

, distribution, and manufacture of drugs

;

R

eview and recap, cont.

HEROIN

There

are additional laws about bringing drugs to school that have both criminal and

disciplinary consequences

, including expulsion from school; and

The

Good Samaritan Law provides protection to people who report an overdose, if they follow

certain guidelines.

Remember

HEROIN

Remember:

• Using heroin can be life threatening.

• Addiction can occur very easily with heroin.

• Possessing heroin is illegal and a felony offense.

• Virginia laws and heroin do not mix!

ANY

use of heroin is dangerous use.