Cocaine.

Other names for cocaine,Booger sugar,nose candy,snow,charlie, and coke.

What is cocaine,Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug which is made from the leaves of the south American coca plants.

Cocaine is a small white powder similar to baking soda or powder.

How is cocaine used,Cocaine is used via snorting,inhaling,smoking,or swallowing.The most common of these methods is snorting because it causes a quick high usually a few minutes due to it being absorbed into the soft tissue and blood vessels of the nose being the most efficient way to get high on cocaine.

 

What influences teenagers and adolescents to do drugs in the first place,I think that family life will have a major impact on how a child starts doing drugs,because if a child is raised in a home where it is normal for that type of behavior a child may just begin to mimic this habit,This is interpersonal.Another influence may be peer pressure,a child may be trying to fit in with their friends and they believe that doing drugs is the only way to do this,but this doesn’t form any real connections,This is also interpersonal.

 

It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use cocaine with them.

Options.

1.You go to the field meet with your friends and do the cocaine.

2.you don’t go to the field and don’t to the cocaine.

3.You tell a teacher about your friends doing cocaine behind the school field and they are caught.

 

 

Consequences.

1.You may become addicted to the cocaine and become unable to function normally without it,This will impact your Wa Hauora negatively as you will lose friends and become sad.

2.You will be completely fine but your friends may not like the fact that you didn’t want to do it with them and shun you out,This will impact your Wa Hauora both ways as you will lose friends impacting your Taha Whanau but you will stay true to yourself helping all your other parts of Wa Hauora.

3.You tell the teacher about it anonymously and your friends get busted and kicked out of school,This wont really effect you apart from Taha Whanau as many friends will need to move to a different school after being caught.

 

 

Feelings.

1.You will feel sad because you will become addicted and this will ruin your life for the most part.

2.You wont really feel any bad emotions you may feel proud for not doing what your friends did and being better than them.

3.You may feel guilty for snitching on your friends and not telling them.

 

 

Best option.I believe that the best option would be to not go with them and do cocaine,because if you don’t do cocaine you wont become addicted,any friends that stop hanging out with you after it probably aren’t good friends and you will have a clear conscience for not snitching on them.

Magic Mushrooms

Also known as shrooms, mushies, boomers, magics, etc.

magic Mushrooms are wild or grown fungi that contain natural mind-altering chemicals which cause hallucinations. They contain psilocybin and psilocin which are drugs that changes how your brain perceives reality.

Magic Mushrooms look like ordinary, small brown or tan mushrooms, but their exact appearance varies by species. Dried magic mushrooms typically look rusty brown, tan or of-white with darker patches. They are consumed by eating them fresh or dried, brewing them into tea, or mixing them with other foods and drinks. Certain cultures in Mexico and central america have documented the use of magic mushrooms in traditional practised and spiritual rituals.

Teenagers are influenced by a mix of different things to use drugs, most commonly peer pressure or a bad family environment. Underlying mental health issues can also have a big effect on the influence of using drugs. Teens feel a strong pressure to fit in and match their friends behavior to gain acceptance. Poor parenting can raise the risk of subtance abuse, as well as academic pressure or social anxiety can raise this risk aswell.

Positive short term effects of magic mushrooms include: elevated mood, spiritual experiences (deeper connection to people or nature), laughter and playfulness, mental clarity, and ego dissolution.

Negative short term effects include: Nausea and vomiting, coordination issues, sweating, chills or shivering, poisoning risk,  extreme anxiety or panic, confusion and disorientation,  and temporary drug induced psychotic reactions.

Positive long term effects include: reduced deppression and lower anxiety, cognitive flexibility, greater openness and deep spirituality.

Negative long term effects include: HPPD, persistent psychosis or mental health changes, trauma distress, risk of dangerous behavior (which could result in severe physical injury) and lingering fatigue.

Magic mushrooms are a class A drug, making recreation use, possession, and supply strictly illegal. Possession or use carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in prison and/or a $1000 fine. Supply, manufacture, cultivating, importing, or exporting carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. New Zealand police have operational guidelines that encourage a health-based discretionary approach (such as referrals to health services or warnings) rather than automatic prosecution for minor personal possession.

To a teenager I would suggest firstly understanding the risks that come particularly towards teenagers, avoid poisoning and contamination and follow basic harm reduction rules (eg never mix substances, tell a trusted person to stay with you and stay sober, control the setting they are in, and knowing when to seek emergency help.

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use magic mushrooms with them. 

option 1: Say no  and get the teacher to confiscate the drugs. – you don’t do drugs (pos), your friend doesn’t talk to you and makes everyone else stop being your friend (neg) – might feel lonely

option 2: Say yes and do the drugs with your friend. – you are considered “cool” (pos), you experience negative effects of the mushroom and injure yourself (neg) – might feel well liked, but worried about the safety of these drugs.

option 3: Say no and hang out with someone else. – you friend doesn’t mind (pos), you hang out with someone else doing something safe (pos) – might feel proud of saying no, and happy to hang out with someone else.

The best option is option 3 because it keeps you safe from doing something unsafe and that you don’t want to do, as well as still keeping your friends (whanau, Hinengaro). It also keeps you safe from physical negatives of the drugs (Tinana) and avoids peer pressure in the future.

 

Methamphetamine.

What are some street names of methamphetamine? Some examples are Meth, Chalk, Speed, Crank.

What is meth? Meth is a highly addictive drug stimulant that speeds up the nervous system. It can make you restless, cause rapid speech, increase heart rate and more.  

What does meth look like?  Meth comes in multiple different ways. But, Meth is commonly found as a white powder or a pill. There is another form of meth called crystal meth. Crystal meth looks like white glass shards with a blueish tint.

How is meth used? Meth can be consumed and used in different ways. For example, it can be smoked using a glass pipe. However, you can also consume it by swallowing, snorting it or injecting it.

What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? Teenagers can get influenced easily by different situations. Breaking it down using P.I.S helps. For personal, teenagers can be influenced by their own curiosity, to find a new high and more. Interpersonal affects a small group of people. A good one to look at for interpersonal is peer pressure.

 Peer pressure is when someone tries to push you outside of your comfort zone to do something that can harm you, harm others or do something that isn’t the best decision.  Some people who can pressure you can be your friends, distant family members or your significant other.

Societal can be how actors show the high of the drug. Other things can be from music/music videos, ads, influences talking about it and more.

 What are the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? Taking methamphetamine has a lot more negative impacts than positive impacts. Some of the positive effects of methamphetamine is the high feeling, using it to cope, feeling happy and hyper and more. With all of the positive effects of meth, they are all short term. Meaning that after a while, these symptoms and impacts will slowly fade away.

Looking at the negative impacts of meth, there are a lot more impacts than the positive ones. One of them – and the biggest one being the risk of addiction. Meth is a highly addictive substance,  If you do develop an addiction of meth, it can lead to serious health problems. Things like permanent damage to blood vessel, lung damage or maybe even a stroke.

What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties? In New Zealand, meth is classified as a “Class A drug” – which is the dangerous class of drugs you can take. Meaning it is highly illegal to make, supply, use or have meth. Possession of this drug can lead to a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment OR a $1,000 fine. But, with things like selling or manufacturing meth can lead to a maximum penalty of life in prison.

What strategies would you suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug? For starters, I would advise them to not take meth. Due to the fact it’s highly addicting, bad for your mental and physical health and more. But, if they were to try meth, I would say to make sure you are in a safe environment. Meaning that at least one person should be sober, an adult is near in case something bad does occur and it is in a place where you know you’re guaranteed to be safe – like your house, your friends house ect.

 Decision Making

Using this scenario, answer a- d. You can do this in paragraph format or create your own boxes.

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use meth with them. 

1. State what 3 options are that you have in this scenario.
2. Explain what the consequences are of each of these options. (Positive and negative consequences of each option are higher-level thinking.)
3. c. Explain what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Positive and negative consequences of each option are higher-level thinking.)
4. d. What is the best option for you to take? State why taking this option is the best option for the 4 areas of wellbeing.

Tell a staff member a student has drugs at school.	Your friendship with this friend can stop because you told a staff member. (NEG) Everyone stays safe and sober during school. (POS)	You feel sad about impacting your friendship with your friend. You also might feel worried about getting called “the class snitch”.
Politely decline the offer and find someone else to  hangout with.	You stay sober at school and find a better group of friends to hangout with (POS) You couldn’t find anyone else to hangout with, so you have to sit by yourself. (NEG)	You feel proud of yourself because you didn’t cave in and take the drugs. The morals you hold are still not impacted, meaning you don’t feel as much guilt as you would if you were to say yes to the drug.
Cave in and take the drugs.	You found a new way to relief stress and the new “high” (POS) You get caught being high at school, leading you to get stood down. (NEG)	You feel a sense of guilt about taking meth during school. Even though the high lasts, when it crashes down you might feel sorry, sad or even disappointed in yourself.

 

The best option would be option number two. Option number two is the best because it keeps you safe mentally and physically since you didn’t take meth during school hours.  This reduces the negitive outcomes and effects that meth could have over your overall health. This option also maintains your taha whanau because you are not allowing the situation becoming worse and affecting your friendship with this friend. It also supports your taha wariua because your staying true to your personal beliefs, values and morals.

Overall, choosing option two helps your hauora by making responsible decisions that does not negatively impact your wellbeing, health, relationships and values.

Panadol (or paracetamol) is a common medication used to treat things such as pains and fevers. Panadol can be used for many things, including headaches/migraines, various pains including toothaches, period pains and fevers as mentioned before. Panadol works by blocking the body from making prostaglandins, which are chemicals that your body releases when tissue is damaged. When these chemicals are released, they trigger pain signals in your nerves. As a result, if the prostaglandins are blocked from being released, so do the pain signals from getting fired. Unlike what you may expect, instead of acting in tissues near the point where the pain started, the Panadol mainly works in your brain and spinal cord since those parts are like the central control room of your body. Panadol also prevents fevers by targeting the hypothalamus which is the part of your brain responsible for managing temperature, among other things. When it reaches that part of your brain, it blocks the chemical messengers that normally raise temperature for infections.

Panadol can be used in many different forms including, as you may have seen, Panadol tablets which you swallow while using water. There are also Panadol solubles, which are tablets you drop into water and dissolve into a drink. This allows people who struggle to swallow normal capsules with water a way to use Panadol without having to use capsules. There are also Panadol syrups specifically designed to be consumed orally without anything else by infants or young kids. Because of how safely it is perceived, how easy it is to get and the narrow safety window (taking even a small amount over the daily limit can be toxic) people, especially younger people like adolescents who lack general life experience can frequently overdose without realizing it. Though this can be avoided relatively easily by just telling them to pay attention and limit their use as people are usually worried about their own health. When overdosing, your body breaks the Panadol down into a toxic byproduct known as N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (or NAPQI). Normally, the NAPQI you get from consuming normal amounts of Panadol gets dealt with by the liver. When you overdose however, the liver gets overwhelmed as the NAPQI attacks the cells and causes liver failure. Alongside this, it is possible for the NAPQI to spread to other areas of your body, potentially causing multiple organs to fail and in critical cases, death. Overdosing on Panadol could not only cause damages to your physical Hauora, it could also damage every other area. The social aspect may be affected by the fact that over people may feel pity or a condescending feeling towards you if you overdose on the commonly perceived “safe” Panadol. This as a result, would also harm your spiritual well-being by potentially harming your connections with your community etc. Other people however, may try hard to take care of you, strengthening bonds. Because of all of this and the fear for your own health, your mental well-being would likely also be threatened. To protect you from potentially overdosing on Panadol (paracetamol), different countries around the world could have varying laws pertaining to it. Generally though, the laws could be clumped into limiting pack sizes and controlling where it can be purchased.

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them.

For options in this scenario, there really aren’t many serious ones since this is Panadol. Though options will still be provided.

1. Since this is Panadol, you can just say you don’t feel like using your prescription medicine with them at the back of the field for no reason. If they want to use it themselves they can just do it in the bathroom or out in the open. The consequences of this action could be your friend confesses that they want to do something else at the back of the field which could lead to numerous developments. Either that or they say “yeah fair, what was I thinking?”
2. If you are in need of pain relief, you still say no because there’s no reason to go out to the back of the field specifically to use your prescription medicine. The consequences of this action could be your friend says “yeah fair, don’t wanna tire you out. Why did I even suggest that??”
3. You say yes because it gives an opportunity for laughs since it looks like you’re using illegal drugs secretly and you have no reason not to go. The consequences of this could be a stronger bond with your friend but at the same time if you get caught you could be accused of things you didn’t do.

The best option in this scenario depends on how you’re feeling. For example if you are feeling enough pain that it warrants the use of Panadol but you can stomach it for a joke, the third option may be appealing for some people.

 

This is my drug assessments in this link.

Magic mushrooms

 

 

• Molly/Mandy

• E

• X

• XTC

• Rapture

• Bliss

• Euphoria

• Elation

What is Ecstasy?-

• Ecstasy is an illegal synthetic drug that stimulant and a mild hallucinogen.

• Ecstasy works by flooding the brain with chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine, and nor-epinephrine Which gives the person a feeling of intense energy , emotional warmth, empathy, and euphoria.

• Ecstasy pills come in a huge variety of bright, pastel and dark colours because manufacturers add different dyes.

• Ecstasy is most commonly swallowed as a pill, tablet or capsule

Influence to use Ecstasy-

• Teenagers are driven to use ecstasy because of multiple reasons. Some of the main reasons are because of peer pressure (can be interpersonal or societal depends who/where they are), Could also be because people around them are doing it and their saying how great it is (can be interpersonal or societal depends on who/where they are)

Positives-

• Intense euphoria: Users experience a powerful sense of happiness, general well-being, and emotional warmth due to a massive release of serotonin.

• Increased energy: As a stimulant, it provides a surge of physical energy and alertness, allowing users to stay active or dance for extended periods.

• Reduced social anxiety: It significantly lowers inhibitions and fear responses, making individuals feel more confident, open, and secure in social settings.

Negatives-

• Bruxism: Users frequently experience involuntary jaw-clenching and teeth-grinding.

• Memory impairment: Frequent or high-dose use can damage serotonin axons, leading to long-term issues with concentration, memory, and cognitive focus.

• Toxic cutting agents: Street ecstasy pills are rarely pure and are frequently mixed with highly dangerous substances like fentanyl, PMA, or synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”).

Possession and personal use-

• Having any amount of ecstasy on you or in your property with you knowing is a criminal offence, The maximum punishment for this is 3 months in prison and/or a $500 fine. First time offenders usually only get a fine and skip jail time. possessing 5 grams or more (or 100 flakes, tablets, or capsules) legally creates a presumption that you possess the drug for supply, which shifts the legal burden to you to prove otherwise.

Supplying, dealing and manufacturing-

• If a person is caught dealing, supplying or manufacturing ecstasy pills, powder or flakes it is classified as Class B which can lead to 14 years in prison, With more strict rules enforced in prison. Supplying ecstasy includes selling, giving or even sharing a single pill with another person.

permitting premises or vehicles to be used-

• people can also face severe penalties if they allow their home, building, or car to be used by someone else to make, use, or transport ecstasy. If they are aware that this activity is happening on their property or in your vehicle, you can be charged. The maximum penalty for this offence is 7 years in prison, and the courts have the power to seize and confiscate any vehicles involved.

Safety-

• The safest choice is to avoid ecstasy entirely, but teenagers can reduce immediate risks by staying with sober friends and setting up a coded text plan with parents for a safe ride home. To prevent severe health complications, they should never mix substances, must sip water moderately (1–2 cups per hour depending on activity) to avoid dangerous overheating or water intoxication

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use Ecstasy with them. 

a. State what 3 options are that you have in this scenario.

1. Say yes and go to the back of the field with your friend.

2. Say No and stay with your other friends.

3. Say No and tell the teacher on your friend.

b. Explain what the consequences are of each of these options. (Positive and negative consequences of each option are higher-level thinking.)

1. You say yes and you do it with your friend (neg) and you gain more friendship status with your friend (Pos).

2. Your friend might get mad (neg) but you’ll stay out of trouble (Pos).

3. You’ll let a trusted adult know and can help stop your friend from harming themselves (Pos) You will probably lose a friendship (neg)

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what ketamine is and why people use it? Ketamine is a drug that can be used by doctors as an anaesthetic, but it can also be misused as a recreational drug.

In this blog, I will explain what ketamine is, what it looks like, its effects, the laws around it in New Zealand, and ways teenagers can make safe decisions around drugs.

 

1. what is the drug called?

The drug I have chosen is ketamine.

Ketamine is a dissociative drug. This means it can make a person feel separated from their body or surroundings.

3.Names it has

Ketamine has a few different names, including:

• K
• Ket
• Special K
• Kit Kat

4.What is ketamine

Ketamine is a drug that affects the brain and nervous system.Doctors can use it as an anaesthetic, which means it can make people less aware of pain and what is happening around them.

However, when ketamine is used without medical supervision,it can be dangerous. It can affect a person’s thoughts, feelings, movement and awareness.

5.what does ketamine look like

Ketamine can come in different forms.

It can be found as:

• A white or off-white powder
• A liquid
• Pills or tablets

It just  remember that you cannot always tell what an illegal drug contains just by looking at it.

 

6.How is ketamine used?

Ketamine can be given by medical professionals when it is being used as a medicine. When it is misused, people may take it in different ways, including swallowing, snorting or injecting it. Using ketamine without medical supervision can be dangerous because people may not know exactly what they are taking or how strong it is.

7.Why might teenagers use it?

There are lots of reasons why teenagers might try drugs. Three possible reasons are:

Peer pressure

A teenager might try a drug because their friends are doing it and they don’t want to feel left out.

Curiosity

Someone might be curious about what taking a drug feels like after hearing about it from friends or social media.

Stress or problems

Some people might use drugs because they are trying to escape from stress, difficult feelings or problems in their lives.

8.What are the positives and negatives?

positive effects

Ketamine is what  Doctors can use as an anaesthetic and for pain relief.

They  use it   in controlled medical situations where doctors  can monitor the person.

it is different from using ketamine for fun.

Short-term negative effects

Ketamine can cause:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Poor coordination
• Hallucinations
• Feeling disconnected from reality
• Nausea
• Increased heart rate
• Anxiety or panic
• Problems with movement

someone who has taken ketamine may not be able to think or move normally. This could increase their chance of getting hurt.

Long-term negative effects

Regular or heavy ketamine use can cause problems such as:

• Memory problems
• Problems concentrating
• Mood changes
• Dependence
• Problems with the bladder
• Pain when urinating
• Liver and kidney problems

One serious problem linked to heavy ketamine use is damage to the bladder.

 

9.

Ketamine is a Class C controlled drug in New Zealand.

There are several laws that apply to ketamine.

Law 1 – Possession

It is illegal to unlawfully possess a controlled drug such as ketamine.

Law 2 – Supplying or selling

It is illegal to supply, sell or deal in controlled drugs.

Law 3 – Drug driving

Driving after taking drugs can be dangerous and illegal. Ketamine is included in New Zealand’s drug-driving testing system.

The exact punishment depends on the offence and the circumstances or it could be a big fine

 

10.How can teenagers stay safe around ketamine?

There are several things teenagers can do to protect themselves.

Say no

You don’t have to take a drug just because someone else is doing it.

You could simply say:

“No thanks, I don’t want to.”

Stay with people you trust

Spend time with friends who respect your choices and won’t pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.

Have an exit plan

If you are somewhere where drugs are being used, have a way to leave or contact a trusted adult.

Talk to someone

If you are worried about drugs or someone is pressuring you, talk to a parent, teacher, counsellor or another trusted adult.

Don’t drive after taking drugs

Drugs can affect your reaction time, coordination and judgement.

We can think about hauora using Te Whare Tapa Whā.

Taha tinana – Physical wellbeing

Ketamine can affect your body by causing dizziness, poor coordination and other physical problems.

Taha hinengaro – Mental and emotional wellbeing

Ketamine can affect your thoughts and feelings and can cause confusion, anxiety or hallucinations.

Taha whānau – Relationships

Drug use can cause problems with friends, family and other relationships.

Taha wairua – Values and beliefs

Making safe decisions can help you feel confident about yourself and stay true to your values.

Conclusion

Ketamine is a drug that has important medical uses, but using it recreationally can be dangerous.

It can cause short-term effects such as confusion, dizziness and hallucinations. Regular or heavy use can also cause serious health problems.

In New Zealand, ketamine is a Class C controlled drug, and there are laws about possessing, supplying and driving while affected by drugs.

The most important thing I learned is that it is okay to say no. Looking after your hauora and making your own decisions is more important than giving in to peer pressure.

Sources

• Health New Zealand – Ketamine
• New Zealand Police – Illicit Drugs, Offences and Penalties
• New Zealand Legislation – Misuse of Drugs Act
• Alcohol and Drug Foundation – Ketamine

 

 

 

11.Decision-Making Scenario

The situation

It is the start of interval. Your friend texts you and asks you to meet them at the back of the field to use ketamine with them.

Option	Consequences	Feelings	Why?
1. Go and use ketamine.	I could become confused, sick or lose control of my movements. I could also get into trouble at school.	I might feel excited at first but could later feel worried, sick or regretful.	This could harm my physical and mental wellbeing.
2. Go but say no to the ketamine.	I wouldn’t take the drug, but my friend might pressure me to change my mind.	I might feel awkward but also proud that I said no.	It is safer than taking the drug, but I could still be around an unsafe situation.
3. Say no and stay at school.	I avoid taking ketamine and stay away from the situation.	I might feel nervous at first but relieved afterwards.	This is the safest option for my hauora because I am protecting myself from the risks of the drug.

My Decision

I would choose option 3.

I would tell my friend that I don’t want to take ketamine and stay at school. I could also tell a trusted adult if I was worried about my friend. I think this is best for my hauora because it protects my physical health, mental health, relationships and future.

 

 

Magic mushrooms assessment

This is my finished assessment on the drug magic mushrooms.

LSD is a trippy(hallucinogenic) drug. It’s a synthetic-made drug. It’s street names are acid, Lucy, blotter, dots, and tabs. Liquid LSD is dropped onto small squares of absorbent paper decorated with designs.Liquid: It can be sold as a clear liquid or dropped onto sugar cubes. Microdots: It is sometimes pressed into tiny pills, tablets, or gelatin squares. [1, 2, 3, 4]

LSD belongs to a class of drugs known as classic hallucinogens or psychedelics. It interacts primarily with serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, which plays a major role in regulating perception, cognition, and mood. Even in minute quantities, it can induce significant alterations in sensory perception, leading to visual or auditory distortions

things that influence teens to take drugs are

• personal: to get away from stress
• interpersonal: They see their family uses drugs, and there’s drugs in the house, so they get tempted to do it too.
• societal: Media like movies, social media, and especially music glorify or make drugs seem cool.

 

DECISION MAKING
scenario: It’s the start of interval and your friend tells you to come to the back of the field with them, to go do LSD.

options                                                                       consequences                                   feelings

Tell them ‘no thanks’                                              you wont hurt yourself

Tell a teacher that your friend has drugs            Your friend will hate you forever

CPS might get their parents

They’ll end up with a fine or be in jail/prison

Do LSD with them                                                  you can do crazy or risky stuff when you’re taking psychedelics and hallucinating

 

option	consequences	feelings
say no thanks	you won’t hurt yourself your friend might think you’re uptight you can continue with your life as usual you might have thoughts of what couldve been	you might feel happy that you didn’t do anything risky or bad you might feel uncontent your friend might be annoyed with you
tell a teacher that they have drugs	you won’t harm yourself your friend will get involved with police they might get fined or go to jail they’ll hate you forever you might save them from an accident 0r from a lifelong drug problem	you feel guilty friend feels angry, infuriated
do acid with them	LSD can affect xyz you can get caught which can lead to some legal problems you’ll have a fun memory to share with your friend getting high together is very vulnerable, which means you two might get closer.	you’ll be excited if you get caught then you’ll be really scared and upset

 

 

best option:

1. Drug name

Scientifically, it is known as Psilocybin Mushrooms―gained from what they contain, though it is commonly known as Magic Mushrooms.

 

2. Street Names (Other names for the drug)

– Psilocybin Mushrooms

– Magic Mushrooms

– Shrooms

– Mushies

– Zoomers

– Golden Teachers

– Liberty Caps

– Blue Meanies

 

3. Explain in detail what the drug is.

Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, is a naturally occuring psychedelic drug found in certain species of mushrooms. The main active substance―which is very obvious―is psilocybin, which is then converted by our body if entered into psilocin, resulting in the chemical responsible for the drug’s psychoactive effects. Psilocin acts on serotonin receptors, which is locared in the brain, and can change an individual’s perception, thoughts, emotions, and sense of time. This has a high chance of causing hallucinations, meaning an individual may see, hear, or experience things differently than normal. Magic mushrooms can be consumed in numerous of ways―eaten fresh or dried, cooked, or perhaps made into tea. Their strength that will lead into effetcs can vary depending on the tyoe of mushroom, so what could happen can be difficult to predict. In New Zealand, magic mushrooms you could find inclue Psilocybe subaeruginosa and Psilocybe weraroa.

The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and can be influence by the amount taken, the strength of the mushrooms, the person’s mood and expectatiomns, and the environment they are used in―there is no single answer for the effect it causes. The effects generally begin within aroun 30 minutes when eaten, and may approximately last four to six hours. A person may experience euphoria, excitement, increased energy, but they can also experience confusion, anxiety, paranoia or panic. The drug can distort colours, sounds, objects, the sense of time, and may make the individual taking it experience hallucinations. Physical effects can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, increaed heart rate, seating, and changes in body temperature. A particularly difficult experience is known as a bad trip, which can involve intense hallucinations, fear, anxiety, paranoia, and a feeling of losing control.

Although psilocybin mushrooms generally have low toxicity, they don’t not have risk. One of the most serious dangers is accidentally eating a poisonous mushroom that looks similar to a magic mushroom; this can cause severe illness and, in extreme cases, death. Taking a large amount can also result in severe psychological or physical effects, including panic, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, or loss of conciousness. Some people who use magic musrooms repeatedly may experience flashbacks, other lasting perceptual effects, and heavy or frequent use may be associated with anxiety or depression. Magic mushrooms do not typically cause physical dependence, although tolerance of the drug can develop fairly quick, meaning that repeated use can reduce their effetcs. Overall, psilocybin is a psychedelic substance that changes the way the brain processes perception, emotion, and sensory information.

 

4. Explain what the drug looks like (provide pictures)

Magic mushrooms has no singular appearance because there are many different species. The most common types include golden tops, blue meanies, and liberty caps. However, in New Zealand Psilocybe subaeruginosa and Psilocybe weraroa are the two main species. These mushrooms can vary in size, colour, shape, and cap, and some may be found fresh or dried. When dried, they appear smaller, darker, and shrivelled.

Liberty caps are typically described as small, tan-coloured mushrooms, while fly agaric has a distinctive red and white spotted appearance. Magic mushrooms may be sold or found either fresh or dried.

Please keep in mind the images below are only a few examples of what magic mushrooms may look like.

 

 

5. How is it used?

Magic mushrooms are usually used by consuming it oraly in various ways. They can be eaten fresh or dried, cooked, or brewed into tea. It can also be swallowed immediately or in some cases, taken as liquid psilocybin. However, people do not always use the drug in the same way or in the form it is commonly expected to be used. For example, some people may eat the mushrooms raw, while others may dry them, cook them, or prepare it as a drink. The form in which they are taken in can influence how quickly the drugs’ effects begin.

It is also important to understand that there is no single way that every individual uses or experiences magic mushrooms. Their effects can vary depending on the amount taken, the strength and type of mushrooms, the individual’s health and previous experience, whether other drugs are involved, and the environment it is taken in. This means that depending on the amount taken, the person’s surroundings, who they are with and their moods, all the effects it has will shift. Two people can use the same drug at the same time, but may experience differing results. Person A may feel excited, estatic, euphoric, giggly, whilst Person B may become anxious, confused, paranoid, or overwhelemd. An individual’s mindset can strongly influence their experience, and that psychedelic experiences can sometimes be emotionally intense amd cause a person to think deeply about themselves, or other people, and the world surrounding them.

Depending on what way magic mushrooms are used can therefore differ from what someone might expect, and using them does not gurantee a particular experience or effect. Some people may use them for their psychedelic effects, while others may take them without having a full understanding of the strength of the mushrooms or may accidentally consume a poisnous mushroom that looks similar. Overall, magic mushrooms are typically consumed by eating or drinking them, but individual use and experiences with it varies considerably.

 

6. What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? (cover P.I.S influences)

Adolescence is a period of time when the brain is still developing, and the part that is responsible for impulse control and making good judgements, develops later than the areas involved in emotions, motivation, and reward. This means that teenagers going through adolescence can be more driven by curiousity, emotions, and risk-taking, while finding it more difficult to consider the possible consequences of risky behaviour.

Personal factors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene may be curiousity, low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, loneliness, trauma, and academic pressure are examples of influental reasons of drug use. For example, a teenager with low self-esteem may use substances to feel more confident or to change how they feel about themselves. Similarly, a teenager experiencing sress or anxiety may use drugs because they believe it will help them cope with difficult emotions or temporarily escape from their problems. Academic struggles can also contribute, as some teenagers may use drugs in an attempt to maintain their grades.

Interpersonal factors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene is most commonly peer pressure. A teenager may try drugs because they are worried about being judged, excluded, or seen as an outsider if they refuse. However, pressure doesn’t always have to be direct; if drug use is commone within the friend group, it can become normalized and seem less unusual. Family relationships can also influence behaviour. If a teenager regularly sees family members using substances, this can make drug use appear to be a normal part of everday life, especially if substances are easily available at home. On the other hand, family conflict, lack of support, neglect, or abuse, can contribute to drug use because some teenagers may use substances as a way of escaping stressful circumstances or coping with pain.

Societal actors that can drive teenagers going through adolescene may be the public media that is presented to them. Media, such as social media, television, movies, music, and sports, can influence teenagers by repeatedly presenting substance use as common, entertaining, or socially acceptable. When teenagers that are going through adolescene, they may develop more positive attitudes towards experimentation and underestimate the risks involved. For example, teenagers involved in a sport may use steroids because of performance goals, while a teenager with a sport injury may begin using prescription painkillers and become dependent on them.

 

7. Explain the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? To answer this question, you need to include information on:

(i)  Explain the short-term and long-term effects on wellbeing (cover P.I.S effects)                

(ii) A short paragraph explanation of how the stated impacts on wellbeing interrelate (are connected) e.g., if xxxx effects occur, what does this mean for a person’s physical and therefore, their mental and emotional wellbeing?

–

 

8. What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties?

Magic mushrooms are heavily restricted in New Zealand. This drug contains psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin in the body and produces psychedelic effects such as changes in perception, thinking, and emotions. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, New Zealand Police classify magic mushrooms as a Class A controlled drug, meanting they are considered to have a very high risk of harm. It is illegal to use, possess, cultivate, or traffic illegal drugs. Possesion means having control or custody of the drug, while trafficking includes activities such as manifacturing, selling, exchanging, offering ir for sale, or processing it for sale. This means that even though magic mushrooms can grow naturally, finding or growing them does not make them legal to possess or supply in New Zealand.

The penalties depend on what a person does with the drug. For possesion of a Class A drug, the maximum penalty listed by New Zealand Police is six months of imprisonments and/or a $1,00 fine. The consequences become much more serious if someine supplies or manufactures magic mushrooms. Supplyin or manufacturing a Class A drug has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, which shows that New Zealand law treats distrubution and production seriously. The Police also state taht allowing a premises or vehicle to be used to make, use, or carry a Class A drug can result in a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. These penalties show that the law does not only target people who sell magic mushrooms; it also restricts possesion, use, manufacture, and situations where other people are allowed to use or deal drugs on someone’s property.

 

9. Explain what strategies you would suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug?

For a person aged 13-18, the first strategy I would suggest is to avoid taking magic mushrooms and avoid picking or eating wild mushrooms unless they have been positively identifed by an expert. Magic mushrooms contains psilocybin, which can alter in perception, thinking, and emotions, and in some cases, cause hallucinations. A particularly serious risk is accidentally eating a poisonous mushroom because some poisoinous varieties can look very similar to magic mushrooms. Accidental poisoning is one of the main harms associated with mushrooms and that severe poisoning is one of the main harms associated with mushrooms and that severe poisoning can cause symptoms such as extreme weakness, breathing difficulties, seizure, or a loss of consciousness. Thereforem a young person should not rely on appearance or another person’s confidence that a mushroom is safe. If they or a friend may have eaten a poisnous mushroom or become seriously unwell, they should tell a trusted adult and seek emergency medical help immediately by calling 111.

The second strategy is to protect themselves from peer pressure and situations where they could be encouraged to take mushrooms. A teenager couul plan what they will say beforehand, such as clearly saying “no” and leaving if friends are pressuring them. This is important because magic mushrooms can affect people differently depending on factors including the amount taken, the strength of mushrooms, the person’s mood, and the environment. They can cause confusion, anxiety, paranoia, panic, and overwhelming experiences, while larger amounts can lead to unpredictable behaviour. A young person should therefore stay around people the trust, avoid situations where drugs are being offered and speak to a trusted adult, parent, teacher, or another support person if they feel pressured. Having someone trustworthy to talk to can make it easier to leave an unsafe situation rather than feeling that they have to go along with their friends.

The third strategy is to know how to respond if a friend has taken magic mushrooms and starts having a bad reaction. The safest approach is not to leave the persin alone or encourage them to take more drugs. It is reccomended to help someone who is having a bad trip by encouraging slow, deep breathing, moving somewhere quiet, and relaxing, talking to someone they trust and avoiding any additional substances. Magic mushrooms can cause intense hallucinations, panic, paranoia, vomiting, and changes in behaviour, and in more serious cases, seizures or loss of conciousness. They should get a trusted adult involved if things get out of hand rather than trying to manage a serious situation alone. If the person is unresponsive, having a seizure, having difficulty breathing, or otherwise seriously unwell, contact emergency medical help.

Overall, these three strategies gives young people ways to reduce risks associated with magic mushrooms.

1o. Decision Making  Using this scenario OR using your own drug related scenario, answer a- d. You can do this in paragraph format or create your own boxes.   Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them.  a. Describe what 3 options are that you have in this scenario. b. Explain in detail what the consequences are of each of these options. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option) c. Explain in detail what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option.) d. Describe what the best option is to take and how it impacts on all 4 areas of Hauora?

~ Answers below

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them. 

a. Describe what 3 options are that you have in this scenario.

b. Explain in detail what the consequences are of each of these options. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option)

c. Explain in detail what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option.)

d. Describe what the best option is to take and how it impacts on all 4 areas of Hauora? 

This term in health we have been learning about different types of drugs, what classes they are and how they affect us mentally and physically, the drug I will be doing my assessment on will be cannabis.

1. Drug name: Cannabis

2. Street Names (Other names for the drug): Meth, Marijuana, Weed, Pot, Grass, Mary Jane, 420.

3. Explain in detail what the drug is: Cannabis is a common drug in most states, this is because it is a plant based drug meaning it can be grown anywhere. It affects the mind and body making everything more slower and can make you sleepy (type Depressant/sleepy)

4. Explain what the drug looks like (provide pictures)
Before it is made into dried cannabis (weed) it starts off as a plant that has around 4 to 7 leaves, they are rough around the edges and on the top with a pattern going inwards. When it is dried up it is crumbled up into a yucky brown and green mixed with little tiny hair like a feeling that waves around the bud.

5. How is it used?
Cannabis is used in so many ways, the first is smoking or vaping. This can be done by hand rolling cigarettes (joints), traditional pipes, or a water pong (a bong). Another way is to either eat it whether that is mixing it into your food or by drinking it. These can actually be used in good ways like rubbing it on your skin can help with pain and you can do it to specific spots.

6. What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? (cover P.I.S influences)
There are lots of reasons why young people use cannabis.
Stressed: They find that Cannabis is a good way to slow down time and for them to take a moment to breathe without everything crashing down on them. (P)
Curious: As young people start to get older we start to get more and more curious about the world around us, people want to try new things and will do it even if it is risky like trying cannabis. (P)
Friends pressure you: lots of people will try Cannabis. This can include your friend and before you know it they are asking or telling you to do it, saying it will be fun or you just have to loosen up. (I)

 

7. Explain the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? To answer this question, you need to include information on:
(i)  Explain the Short term and Long term effects on wellbeing (cover P.I.S effects)                
(ii) A short paragraph explanation of how the stated impacts on wellbeing interrelate (are connected) e.g. if xxxx effects occur, what does this mean for a person’s physical and therefore, their mental and emotional wellbeing?

Short terms: 
When you first start taking cannabis it gives you this positive effect that can help you sleep, feel much happier and can help keep your stress levels down. This can help you with your mental and emotional health by giving you something different to think of and can help your physical life around your sleeping habits.
Unfortunately the negative effects can be opposite where instead of helping with your stress it can cause you to be more paranoid and have higher anxiety. And your heart rate can increase. This brings down your mental health in a really negative way finding it hard to talk or think of anything else while your physical health also goes down which could lead to things going wrong in your body.

Long terms: 
In a positive way cannabis is used for medication because of the drowsiness it can cause when you take it numbing the part that is hurting causing you a relief, this connects us to our physical well being because it helps keep our pain in order so we can do more things we love.
But it is still a bad drug if used the wrong way. Taha Hinengaro can be deeply affected, the more you use cannabis the more your mind starts to get damaged, you start wanting it more and more, when you try to stop the withdrawal comes on hard and strong which make everything harder. The people around you start to leave after trying their best to help you. And as your addiction gets worse you start to believe that this is who you are.

8. What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties? 
Cannabis is in two different classes depending on which one they are. Cannabis seeds and plants are classified as class C while cannabis oil is class B.
There are three things that give us different reasons or different consequences for cannabis.
Possession: if you are caught with cannabis on you or found inside somewhere like your house, your car or anywhere that you have control over. If you are found with class C or B cannabis (Cannabis seeds, plants or oil) you can find yourself imprisoned for 3 months or have to pay a $500 fine.
Supply or manufacture: growing, planting or tending to cannabis plants are a no go even if it is for someone else this goes with dealing or selling cannabis to people as well.
If you are caught selling or manufacturing a class C cannabis then you can face up to 8 years in imprisonment. Summarily – 1 year in prison or a $1000 fine.
If it is a class B cannabis then you automatically get 14 years imprisonment.

9. Explain what strategies you would suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug?
To understand what cannabis actually is, rules and laws don’t stop people from doing it and it doesn’t stop the fact that cannabis can cause some major harm to kids around that age even if they aren’t doing it.
Creating a safe place for them to go and talk about it is a good idea whether that is school, home or even a person that makes you feel safe that is better than nothing because it allows that person to talk freely and safely about cannabis or something that feels wrong or you know you should talk about.
If cannabis is being used anywhere, walk away. Don’t go anywhere near it even if it’s your friends. If someone or your friends tries to pressure you into trying cannabis, be assertive, speak clearly, tell them you don’t want to and then walk away.

1o. Decision Making 

Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use cannabis with them. 

Option 1) “you go wanting to be high and make your friend happy, as you guys are smoking you start to get the rush of energy which makes you feel so good inside you promise your friends if something happen you won’t rat him out which makes you and your friend closer, but as you go back to class you start to feel the crash your eyes are all red from smoking the cannabis and it’s hard to focus. You feel very tired and the teacher notices something is off with you but as she looks closer she sees your red eyes and knows immediately that you must have done some sort of drug. She sends you to your principal where he suspends you. But you keep your friendship with your friends.”

Option 2) “you yell at your friends saying how stupid they are and how they will never amount to anything. Your friends get mad and leave claiming you aren’t friends anymore. You tell your teacher who then catches your friend in the act. You did the right thing by telling the teacher but your friend knows it was you who told on them and now has blocked you on everything you guys are connected to even has asked to switch classes. You get back to class feeling guilty that you yell at your friends, angry about how they reacted saying you aren’t friends anymore, and happy with yourself for not giving in to smoking cannabis.”

 

Option 3) “you gently tell your friend no, saying that you know it is wrong and that they could get in a lot of trouble if someone were to find out about it, how about we do something instead like play a game or just hangout. Your friends think that you are being a baby and tell you to leave him alone if you aren’t going to try and be cool with him, you leave not listening to another word they say and go to hang out with someone else you know trust you and has your back. After a while you see your friend getting dragged away by a teacher after he got caught, you feel safe and relieved that it wasn’t you and that you had said no to the cannabis and left when you did, but you feel guilty that your friends got caught and wished you could do something about it.

What is the best option: The best option to pick is option 3. This is because you are using assertive language making it clear that you don’t want to do it, you have given them a different choice to choose from, and when he starts talking badly about you, you just leave without giving him another second of your time.

Taha Tinana: You are respecting your body, this means that you aren’t putting anything into it that may cause it harm or may disturb anything that may affect how your body functions. You turning down your friend’s cannabis meant you were saying no to putting something that could mess with your body.

Taha Whanau: You have found someone else to hang out with, making sure that you are surrounding yourself with people who won’t pressure you and that you have support people whenever you need it. You finding that other person and hanging out with them instead meant you weren’t near someone who only wanted to put you down.

Taha Wairua: You are respecting the boundaries you have made, making sure that you are sticking to whatever you have chosen, telling yourself you don’t need it, and making sure you know that whatever choices you make it is your choice no one else’s just yours.

Taha Hinengaro: Even though you may feel sad or guilty about what your friend has chosen, you just need to remember about how good it felt to stand up for yourself, how clear your mind felt when you let go of that bad energy that was holding you down. Positive things like sticking up for yourself helps improve your mental health.

 

Kia ora welcome back or welcome to my blog. Today I will be sharing my health Assessment around drugs.

1. Drug name. The medication I will be covering is Ritalin, or otherwise known as methylphenidate. 
2. Street Names (Other names for the drug) Common names for Ritalin include; poor mans cocaine, r-ball, Skittles, rides, kids cocaine, diet coke, vitamin R and more. 
3. Explain in detail what the drug is. The drug focuses on two main brain chemicals, dopamine and norepinephrine, and helps them work. These chemicals help improve overall focus and hyperactivity for those with ADHD. when used not as a perscription someone may feel energised, excited or an overall “Buzz” like feeling.
4. Explain what the drug looks like (provide pictures
   
5. How is it used? This medication is taken orally as a pill. As a prescription drugs those who take it use it to help improve focus, anxiety and overall hyperactivity. The people who are prescribed this medication have a condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD can present as struggling to focus, hyper fixating on certain things, or overall hyperactivity. Those who may take it for a non-medical reason could be for overall thrill of the medication since it is a form of stimulant.  
6. What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? (cover P.I.S influences)  There are many form of influences that could affect somebody to start taking drugs. A common influence is peer pressure. This usually happens because you are hanging alone with close friends, and possibly new ones and they all start partaking in the use of a drug and may start offering it to you, or handing it to you with the presumption you want to partake, this is an interpersonal influence. A personal influence is your own curiosity, sometimes you have access to medications and are curious of the true affects if you take more than usual or aloud.  A societal impact would be a movie promoting drugs, normalising it and causing somebody to try it out because of the glorification of the drug.
7.  Explain the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? To answer this question, you need to include information on:

(i)  Explain the Short term and Long term effects on wellbeing (cover P.I.S effects)
A mental and emotional impact of this drug is the help that Ritalin has for those who have ADHD, it’s a short term effect but ultimately helps them throughout the day, this is a personal impact, and is a positive impact. A physical impact is increased heart rate, this is a long term impact because of how long the use of this medication and its side effect last, this is a personal issue and a negative impact. A social impact of Ritalin is being able to focus and remember to do things like contact friends and family, this a long term impact because these small things help a friendships thrive, this is an interpersonal impact, and this is a positive imppact. A spiritual impact of Ritalin would be going against your personal morals and using drugs, this a short term affect because it last short while, it is a personal experience, this is a negative impact. 

(ii) A short paragraph explanation of how the stated impacts on wellbeing interrelate (are connected) e.g. if xxxx effects occur, what does this mean for a person’s physical and therefore, their mental and emotional wellbeing?

8. 8. What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties? Ritalin is a Class B medication because it contains something called methylphenidate. Those who are persrcibed this medication must be diagnosed with ADHD and see a doctor before being prescribed this medication. Those who may start this medication may start on low doses to see the effect before considering raising the dose. Since Ritalin is a class B drug if you are caught distributing, selling or misusing the drug you can be charged with up to a $500 fine and 3 month imprisonment. 
9. Explain what strategies you would suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug? There are many different methods or techniques somebody could use to help with drug use or to keep yourself safe around drugs. With Ritalin it’s best to understand the six rights about giving and taking medication so that you can take it correctly. The six rights are; right time, right dose, right person, right medication and right expiration. Keeping within these guidelines makes sure you are taking the medication safely without harming yourself or others. Another method is being assertive if somebody offers you their Ritalin. Being assertive makes sure you are clear about your boundaries without hurting others. The last method is thinking about and understanding your boundaries and morals around drugs and medication. The best way to do this is through journaling, you are able to string your thoughts into clear ideas and words on paper. This method is the best for fully understanding what your what and how. 

 

Task 2

 

 

Sources: https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/ritalin.html.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/adhd-medicines.html?WT.ac=p-ra
https://kiwiherb.co.nz/blogs/blog-kiwiherb-new-zealand/ritalin-use-and-regulations-in-new-zealand
https://www.criminallawyersnz.co.nz/blog/navigating-drug-offenses-in-new-zealand-a-guide-to-the-law-penalties-and-legal-options

1. Drug name

The drug that I picked is called methamphetamine

2. Street Names (Other names for the drug)

Methamphetamine has a lot of street names. Some of them are meth, speed, ice, glass, crank, Tina, and chalk.

3. What is it? (Description of the drug)

Methamphetamine is an illegal and highly addictive drug. It is a stimulant, which means it speeds up the brain and body. It can make someone feel very energetic, confident, and happy for a short time. However, these feelings do not last, and the drug can cause serious harm.

4. What does the drug look like? Use words and pictures.

Methamphetamine can look like a white powder. It can also appear as clear crystals similar to ice or glass. The powder can sometimes be brown, yellow, orange, or pink.

5. How is it used?

Methamphetamine can be snorted through the nose, smoked, swallowed, or injected with a needle. These methods are all dangerous and can lead to addiction and health problems.

6. Why do some teenagers use drugs?

There are many reasons why some teenagers might try drugs.

1. Because they want to fit in with their friends.

2. They may be curious and want to experiment.

3. They may want to escape from stress, boredom, or problems in their life.

7. What are the positives and negatives?

Some people might think methamphetamine has positive effects because it can make them feel happy, confident, and full of energy. These effects are only temporary and are followed by many negative effects.

The short term effects

• Loss of appetite
• A faster heartbeat
• Higher blood pressure and body temperature
• Trouble sleeping
• Feeling sick
• Irritability and panic
• Strange or violent behaviour
• Hallucination and psychosis

The effects can last for about six to eight hours, but sometimes they can last up to 24 hours.

Long terms

Long term use can cause memory loss, mood changes, aggression, and damage to the heart and brain. It can also damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs. Another serious effect is severe tooth decay, sometimes called meth mouth. A person can also become dependent on the drug and find it very hard to stop using it.

Methamphetamine can harm a person’s hauora. It can affect their physical health, mental health, relationships, schoolwork, and future goals.

8. What are the laws in New Zealand?

Methamphetamine is illegal in New Zealand and is a Class A controlled drug.

Three laws about methamphetamine are

1. It is illegal to possess or use methamphetamine.
2. It is illegal to sell, supply, or give it to another person.
3. It is illegal to make, import, or export methamphetamine.

People can get in trouble for having equipment or materials used to make the drug. The penalties are serious because methamphetamine is a Class A drug.

9. How could a teenager stay safe?

The safest choice is not to use methamphetamine. Some ways teenagers could stay safe are

• Say no and leave the situation.
• Avoid people who pressure them to use drugs.
• Stay with trusted friends.
• Talk to a parent, teacher, counsellor, or another trusted adult.
• Do not get into a car with someone who has taken drugs.
• Call 111 if someone becomes very sick, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or becomes unconscious.

Scenario	Options *What are 3 options you could take?	Consequences *What are the consequences of each option?	Feelings *Try to cover a positive and a negative feeling
It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (insert your drug) with them.	Go and use drugs	I could feel happy and energetic for a short time, but I could also become sick, addicted, or unsafe. I could get in trouble at school and break the law. The good consequences are that even though I use drugs it makes me get out of my problem for a short time.	I might feel excited at first, but later I could feel scared, guilty, or worried.
	2. Meet my friends but say no	My friends might get annoyed or try to pressure me. I would still be near an unsafe situation, but I would not be using drugs. The bad thing about it, is that I might lose my friends.	I might feel nervous, but I could also feel proud that I stood up for myself.
	3. Say no, stay at school, and tell a trusted adult	I would avoid the drug and stay safe. An adult could also help my friends if they were in danger. But the people that use drug, if they found out that I snitch on them they might beat me up.	I might feel embarrassed at first, but I would feel relieved and proud afterwards.

Best option and why it would be best for your hauora

I would say no, stay at school, and tell a trusted adult. This would be best for my hauora because it protects my physical health, mental health, relationships, and future.

 

 

Heroin

(diacetylmorphine)

Definition: Heroin is a highly addictive, semi synthetic opioid drug made from processed morphine, which is  a natural substance extracted from the seed pods of a certain opium poppy plant.

Appearance: It would look like either white, brown, or black powder depending on where it originated.

Usage:

• Injection: The substance is dissolved into a liquid form and is injected directly into the blood stream, a muscle, or beneath the skin.
• Inhalation: The substance is heated causing a vapour or smoke which  can be inhaled into the lungs.
• Insufflation: The powder is inhaled through the nose, where it is absorbed across the mucus membrane.

“What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why?”

Personal: They might be experiencing mental health struggles like anxiety or depression, self satisfaction, o r is curious about what the drug does.

Interpersonal: They might’ve been peer pressured, trying to fit in with friends, or they are mimicking behaviors that they picked up from their family or romantic partners.

Societal: They might’ve been influenced by the social media glorifying the use of drugs, cultural norm, or because of the easy accessibility of these drugs.

 

The POSITIVES and  The NEGATIVES

Positives:

• Physical: Medical derivatives of diamorphine (heroine) is primarily used for its highly effective therapeutic properties like rapid and  round pain relief for acute trauma, post surgical recovery, or terminal illnesses. It can also suppress severe coughing and reduce breathlessness in palliative care patients.
• Emotional: By lessening excruciating physical pain, it induces a short term state of relaxation, calmness, and relief from the distress or panic caused by the severe illness.
• Social: When severe pain is managed, patients often have a much better intellectual capacity to focus on tasks or comfortably engage with family or peers which is impossible during a pain crisis.

Negatives:

• Physical:

Short Term Effects: Causes drowsiness, slurred speech, nausea, constipation, slowed breathing, and severe constipation. An overdose can cause respiratory failure, coma, and death.

Long Term Effects: Leads to severe physical tolerance which means requiring a higher dose for the same effect and intense physical dependence on the drug. Inhaling the drug can cause damage to the organ systems, hormonal imbalance, and can lead to infectious diseases if  handled unsafely outside a medieval setting.

• Emotional:

Short Term Effects: The initial euphoria will be followed up by an emotional numbness, apathy, or sudden mood changes as the drugs effects wear off.

Long Term Effects: It can result in a profound emotional instability. When not under the influence, individuals are often experiencing severe anxiety, depression, and paranoia. The fear of withdrawal symptoms creates a cycle of physcollogic distress.

• Social:

Short Term Effects: Causes the individual to avoid social interaction due to extreme sedation.

Long Term Effects: Destroys relationship with families and friends due to secrecy, behavioural changes or a neglect of responsibilities. It frequently

 

1. 1. The name of the drug I am focusing on is a class A drug called Cocaine.
2. Street Names (Other names for the drug) Some other names for the drug is Coke, Blow, Snow, Nose Candy, Charlie,Yayo, C dust,Toot, Line, and bump
3. 3. Explain in detail what the drug is.Cocaine is a very high stimulant drug that makes you very high 
4. 4. Explain what the drug looks like (provide pictures) The drug looks like a fine white powder .But sometimes it can be in it’s original rock form.
5. How is it used? The way that cocaine is used is by first grabbing the powder and snorting it through your nose that then enters your bloodstream, and makes you high.
6. What influences adolescents/teenagers to use drugs and why? (cover P.I.S influences) Some reasons why teenagers would be convinced to do cocaine for personal use is because they might help you relieve stress if you are in a stressful household, another reason why teenagers may try it for interpersonal is because all their friends or family are so they get influenced to do it because of them. Then finally for societal they might see it online via the internet, or they may just know a famous person that does it.    
7. 7. Explain the positives and negatives associated with the use of this drug? Some positives about using cocaine is that you have a burst of joy, and pleasure when you take the drug, and then you also have heightened senses which makes you more alert on what’s going on around you.Some negatives about cocaine is a word that they call “The Crash” were you stop feeling joyful, and happy, but you become even more sad than you were before so you try the drug again to get the same feeling as you once did but the more you take the drug the more addicted you will get to it so it’ll be harder for you to just quit coke. You can also have naval, and tissue rot that is where the blood vessels in your nose start bleeding, and start rotting away your nasal canal.

 

To answer this question, you need to include information on:

(i)  Explain the Short term and Long term effects on well being (cover P.I.S effects)   A short term effect of your wellbeing for personal use is that you have a sudden burst of energy so you start feeling good for a bit but then you crash down 10x because of the drug. Then for I. Your family might get worried about you, because of the drug. Then finally for S you may be hyperactive, or aggressive towards people when talking to them even if you are not trying to at all. 

(ii) A short paragraph explanation of how the stated impacts on well being interrelate (are connected) e.g. if xxxx effects occur, what does this mean for a person’s physical and therefore, their mental and emotional well being? This affects a person’s physical well being because their body gets used to the drug, and makes you crave it more, and more, so this comes back on there mental health because now they have a addiction, and they could’ve prevented this by not taking the drug.

8. 8. What are the laws or restrictions of your chosen drug and what are the penalties? The laws, and penalties of cocaine is that you cannot supply it to anyone under the age of 18, and you can’t sell it or deal it to anyone even if you don’t make a profit from it you still get in trouble with a max sentence for life. But if you have cocaine just for personal use you only get a 6 month imprisonment, and get a $1000 dollar fine.  
9. Explain what strategies you would suggest to a person between the ages of 13-18 about things that they could do to keep themselves safe around your chosen drug? A way you could keep yourself safe when using cocaine is just to try avoid the drug as a whole, but if you can’t for some personal,interpersonal, or societal reason you could contact the NZ Alcohol Drug helpline 0800 787 797 they will be able to help you

1o. Decision Making  Using this scenario OR using your own drug related scenario, answer a- d. You can do this in paragraph format or create your own boxes.   Scenario: It is the start of interval; you receive a text. The text is from your friend. Your friend tells you to meet them at the back of the field to use (Cocaine) with them.  a. Describe what 3 options are that you have in this scenario. Scenario A. I go with them to the field to do the drugs even though I don’t want to. Scenario B. Tell them to piss off, so you don’t have to do cocaine. Scenario C. Just tell him why I wouldn’t want to do this because I have a negative view on drugs b. Explain in detail what the consequences are of each of these options. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option)A positive, and Negative for scenario A is you fit in with your friends, but you do something that you personally don’t want to do. Then for Scenario B a positive is that You don’t have to take the drugs, and you don’t get peer pressured, but you would lose a close friend to you. Then finally for scenario C A positive is that you don’t have to use the cocaine, but a negative is that you might seem uncool to your friend but it’s better than you losing him as a whole.     c. Explain in detail what the feelings are that a person would have based on each consequence. (Include both positive and negative consequences of each option.) The feelings someone should have in these scenarios are, for scenario A. Interested, and Anxious because you would be interested in how it works to use cocaine, but you would also feel anxious because of using cocaine from peer pressure. Then for scenario B. You would feel Courageous, and Disappointed because you feel you have courage saying no but you’re disappointed in yourself  for being so harsh about it. Finally for scenario C you would feel proud, and guilty because you would feel proud for saying no but they still are your friend, and you still would want to do stuff with them but nothing like taking cocaine.  d. Describe what the best option is to take and how it impacts all 4 areas of Hauora? The best option is C. Because for Taha Tinana you don’t have to take the drugs, and maybe you might get a little violent , and try to attack your friend, then for Taha Whanau your family would be proud that you managed to deescalate the situation, and making sure that you didn’t get peer pressured. Next for Taha Hinengaro you would know that you did the right thing for yourself, and made sure you weren’t in a situation that you didn’t want to be in. Finally Taha Wairua because if your “friend” is truly your friend they would respect your beliefs, and why you don’t want to do it.

 

• Define current AND voltag

Electric current is the rate of flow resulting from the directional movement of electric charges within a conductor, while voltage is the electric potential difference that drives the flow of charges through a circuit.

• Explain the difference between them

Voltage is the cause of electric current, while current is the result produced by voltage.

• Screenshots of the two circuits

1. 
2. 

• Explain why the bulbs in your parallel circuit are brighter/dimmer than bulbs placed in series.

Light bulbs in a parallel circuit are brighter than those in a series circuit because, in a parallel arrangement, each bulb is subjected directly to the full supply voltage, thereby drawing a higher current and consuming more electric power.

 

 

 

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Current vs Voltage

Current is the speed of the electrons moving in the electricity and the voltage is the push of the electrons inside the electricity.

Why is the Bulb in the Series Circuit Dimmer

The brightness of a bulb depends on the voltage, the higher the voltage the brighter the light from the bulb. In a series circuit the voltage splits which results in a dimmer light splitting the brightness into each bulb in its path. In parallel circuits each bulb get’s its equal amount which means that each bulb in a parallel circuit will have equal brightness. The voltage has multiple pathways in a parallel compared to the single pathway in a series which requires the voltage be split equally. As for current, current stays the same throughout the whole series circuit but in a parallel circuit the current is split into the pathways and joins back together afterwards.

Hello,

Here is my Health Assessment Blog about Benzodiazepines (Titan Level).

I have made it on Canva slideshows so here is the link.

Thank you,

From Lucy Clements

Today, we are going to complete a health assessment.

Drug name?:

Cocaine

other names include

• Coke
• Blow
• Snow
• Powder
• and white

What is it?:

Cocaine is a drug that is classified as Class A.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug. it make people feel better by exposing the brain to a lot of chemical dopamine.

Cocaine is a serious drug and it is taken seriously when people are caught with it or using it.

Its consequences are the following:

• 6 months in jail
• $1,000 fine.

some cases include BOTH the jail time and fine.

What does it look like?:

is looks like a white powder (that’s also why its also known as ‘powder’) or in a crystal form.

Cocaine is usually combined with corn starch or sugar.

Cocaine was constructed as a painkiller to ease the pain of wounds and make them more bearable.

(the picture above is what cocaine usually looks like)

How is it used?:

Cocaine is used by simply snorting it up the nose.

this makes the drug take an effect more faster because the nose is very close to the brain.

Snorting makes the high last more longer.

Snorting is also because they have normalised because they have normalised using cocaine in public.

This drug can also be used by injecting it straight into the arm or the vain.

this makes the high less effective.

injecting it is also bad because they would need to have needles on deck and that can take up more space than a plastic bag.

injecting it would also  hurt because they could put a small needle in your arm with no anaesthesia.

it would also create a needle littering problem in the city and/or other places

some people use cocaine by smoking it because they feel more comfortable smoking rather than snorting or being injected.

they might use cocaine by smoking it because they feel its a habit because they smoke.

they might use it like this because they want to transport it more freely.

Why might they use this drug?:

Personal:

some people might experience depression or other mental health issues.they might use it to make them feel better because they don’t want to feel those types of feelings anymore.

they could use it as a way of coping with a loss of a person, they might do drugs because they lost a dearly loved one and they cant cope so they resort to the use of cocaine.

they might use cocaine because they were curious about the side effects or the way it works.

Inter-personal:

a person might use a drug because they want to fit in with their friends because they might feel like their friendship is being strained, so they resort to using a drug so they can bond of another thing.

a person might also use it to connect with others to make more friends, this could be because they want to make friends they think are cool so they use it to fit in with a certain community.

a person might use it to seem cool to other because they might want to

Societal:

some people might use it because they want to