If you or someone you know is having problems with drugs, help is available at:
Alcohol and Drug 24-Hour Helpline
800-562-1240
Crisis Clinic Resource Hotline
360-586-2800
True North-Student Assistance Services
360-339-8108
Providence St. Peter Chemical Dependency Center
800-332-0465
If you want to learn more about drug abuse or find information on particular drugs, the following links can be useful:
Drug dependence/abuse information by WebMD
Drug information and parenting advice
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s family and parenting guide
The Partnership at DrugFree.org has information for parents in English and in Spanish, along with a drug guide
For information on tobacco education and prevention and for smoking cessation help, see TOGETHER!'s program page.
Tobacco is a plant whose leaves are usually smoked but also can be made into products to chew, snuff or dip. The leaves contain nicotine, a very poisonous chemical often used as an insecticide. Nicotine is a stimulant.
Immediate effects of tobacco use include:
Increased heart rate and rise in blood pressure
Nausea
Dizziness
Relief of tension and tiredness
Bad breath and stained teeth
Tobacco use can lead to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks; strokes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; emphysema; and several types of cancer, most commonly of the lungs, larynx, mouth and pancreas. The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco use caused 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million deaths over the course of the 20th century. Other long-term effecst include stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, lung and heart damage, and a reduced sense of taste and smell.
Online resources:
www.smokefree.gov: A national quit site that offers live chat with experts
www.quitnet.com: Offers a savings calculator and online support forum
www.alaw.org: American Lung Association of Washington
www.cancer.org: American Cancer Society
Information on tobacco from Partership for a Drug-Free America
An extensive list of tobacco facts and fact sheets from Pacific Medical Training.
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Buprenorphine
Cocaine
Codeine
Crack
DXM (cough syrup)
Ecstasy
GHB
Hashish
Heroin
Ketamine
LSD (acid)
Marijuana
Methadone
Methamphetamine (meth)
Mushrooms
Naltrexone
Opium
OxyContin (oxycodone)
PCP (phencyclidine)
Percocet (oxycodone)
Peyote/mescaline
Pseudoephedrine
Quaaludes
Rohypnol (roofies)
Steroids
Stimulants
Tobacco
Tranquilizers
Valium
Vicodin (hydrocodone)