What is a 'substance'?

A substance is a drug that changes the way you think, act or feel.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are medications that only your doctor can order (e.g., antibiotics, inhalers, insulin, epi-pens, etc.).  They are only prescribed by a doctor for a specific person and for a specific reason.  These drugs are stronger than non-prescription drugs and are for more serious issues (e.g., an infection, asthma, diabetes, etc.). We should never share prescription drugs with others, and we should always follow the doctor's instructions.  Taking too much can have harmful effects, and we can become dependent on them.  

Non-Prescription Drugs

Non-prescription drugs are drugs that are available without a prescription (e.g., cough syrup, pain relievers like Tylenol and Advil, etc.).  They are available at supermarkets and drug stores.  They are also known as 'over-the-counter" drugs.  These drugs are not as strong as prescription drugs, but they should still make you feel better (e.g., bring down a fever, help you stop coughing, make pain go away, etc.). You should only take medication from an adult that you trust, and you should never share any drugs with others.  You should also read the instructions carefully and only take what is instructed. The label will also warn you of potential side effects from taking the drug (e.g., you might feel sick to your stomach, you might feel dizzy, you might get tired, you might get a headache, you might get a rash, etc.). If you feel unwell, you should stop taking the drug immediately and tell your parents. Taking too much of a non-prescription drug can also make you ill and/or make you dependent on them.  

Illegal Drugs

These are drugs that are not approved.  They do not come from your doctor, and you can't buy them in stores.  You should never take anything unless it is given to you by a trusted adult (e.g., parents, guardians, doctors, etc.).

Checking In (Think, Pair, Share)

What are some of the benefits of prescription and non-prescription drugs?

How could these drugs be harmful?  Can you think of some other ways that are not already listed?

Energy drinks are supposed to give you more energy (e.g., pop and coffee), but they don't necessarily do that.

All energy drinks have caffeine and sugar.

Caffeine: Caffeine is the main ingredient in energy drinks, along with sugar. The amount of caffeine in energy drinks is more than is recommended for children. Too much caffeine can cause irritability and make you feel jittery. It can also affect your sleep. It is not recommended for children and young teenagers. 

Sugar: Sugar has lots of calories.  It does give you a brief energy boost, but you usually get tired quickly afterwards.  Having so many calories isn't good for you either!  Lots of sugar can also cause tooth decay.

Checking In (Think, Pair, Share)

Can you think of other drinks you can have that are healthier for you?

Screen time (e.g., watching TV, using the computer, playing video games, etc.) can be a wonderful form of entertainment. It can be used for new learning, like our class website and Mathletics. It can be used for receiving news too.  But despite some of the good things, it can be bad for us too.

Disadvantages

Too much screen time can interfere with reading, doing homework, playing and socializing with friends and family, and it keeps us inactive.  Did you know that research shows that more than half of Canadian children and youth are not active enough?  It's OK to watch a movie or play a game sometimes, but it shouldn't be most of the time. Don't forget to go out and exercise and to talk/play with your friends and family too!

Nicotine is the main drug that is used in tobacco and it is a stimulant (e.g., it increases the speed of body functions).  Nicotine is highly addictive.  The body quickly develops a craving for nicotine, and people who want to stop using tobacco have a really hard time doing so.

Some of the short-term effects can include bad breath and bad clothing odours, and hair odours. Smoking can possibly cause some problems with family and friends, like arguments. Young people who smoke are more likely to try other drugs too. 

Longer term effects can include addiction, yellow teeth, getting out of breath easily, reduced energy and activity levels, respiratory diseases, and lung or oral cancer. Second-hand smoke makes the air unpleasant to breathe and makes clothing smell. Over the long term, exposure to second-hand smoke increases a person’s risk of getting lung cancer or other respiratory diseases. Nicotine also makes people feel jittery and nervous.  Over a long time, nicotine will start to shrink the arteries in a smoker's body.  As a result, the heart will have to work harder to get blood to all the parts of the body.

Nicotine itself causes heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure to rise.  It can also cause many cancers, and it can cause heart attacks.

Other Effects: Smoking can also cause asthma attacks, yellow teeth, skin wrinkles, and coughing.

Alcohol slows the body functions. It is a liquid that is absorbed into the stomach and into the bloodstream.

Although alcohol affects most of the body's organs, it affects the kidneys and liver the most.  It also decreases the flow of oxygen to the brain.

Excessive alcohol affects a person's judgement , mood, thinking, and memory. Some people become depressed or angry when they drink an excessive amount of alcohol. Having too much alchohol can also affect a person's coordination and balance. This affects a person's ability to walk, talk, or drive a car.

People can become addicted to alchohol which can have an impact on families and relationships. Drinking excessive alchohol also affects someone's health - it can slow the heart rate, weaken the heart muscle, and cause cancer.

It is very important for adults to drink responsibly and moderation (e.g., a little bit at a time, like a glass of wine at dinner).