FAQs

How can I tell if someone is using drugs?

Young people often have difficulty hiding for their drug-induced dysfunction. It is not unusual that one of the first signs of drug abuse is the need for more money. Behavioral changes may include increased secrecy, extreme mood swings, loss of interest in activities like sports or academics. Tardiness and absences from school are also a warning sign. A change in friends is a red flag especially if the new friends are having behavioral problems. Adults also will need more money and may exhibit similar behavioral symptoms. However, they are often better at hiding a drug problem for a longer period.

What can I do as a parent to keep my kids off drugs?

Get involved in their lives and know their friends. In today's busy world, it is easy to lose track of our children's day to day life. Children who are supported, given the facts about drugs and alcohol, and have a trusting bond of the their parent are less likely to engage in substance use. For more information on this subject, check out The power of parents in a kid's world: A parent's guide to keeping children free from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Is it safe to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs during pregnancy?

No. Many serious health problems and birth defects can occur if a woman uses alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during pregnancy. The U.S Surgeon General and other healthcare professionals encourage women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as well as those who are breast-feeding, to abstain from all types of alcohol and non prescribed drug use. It's also best for pregnant and breast-feeding women to avoid the use of tobacco products and illicit drugs and to follow the doctor's orders with regard to other prescription and over-the-counter medications. What ever you put into your body, your baby will also share. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects are caused by ingesting alcohol during pregnancy. The effects are life long for the babies born with it. The problems can range from severe learning problems to physical and facial deformity. There is no safe time to drink when you are pregnant.

What should I do if someone I know needs help?

Seek help. A variety of services are available in every county of the state for anyone who needs them. Services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual and/or family. Services are provided by a statewide system of county alcohol and drug abuse authorities, all of which are nationally accredited. To get a listing of the county authorities in South Carolina call the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services at 1-800-942-DIAL (3425).

How can I tell if I have a drinking or drug problem?

Any of the following can be signs of dependence on alcohol or drugs:

loss of control - attempts to control use fail despite promises to self and others;
blackouts - inability to recall all or part of a drinking episode; (alcohol only)
increased tolerance - more of the substance is needed than before to obtain the same effects, as well as the ability to use more than most people;
continued substance use despite academic, legal, health, financial, relationship and/or other problems;
changes in personality;
neglect of responsibilities;
preoccupation - frequent thoughts of using occur when participating in non-using activities like work and church. Non-using activities and acquaintances often are avoided;
"pre-partying" - drinking occurs before a social event where alcohol will be served and drinks are often "gulped" to get drunk as quickly as possible;
denial and minimizing - claims substance use is not a problem and/or tries to justify it;
prone to suffer accidents, injuries and illness;
uses to feel "normal" ; to cope, escape problems, solve problems or feel like everyone else; and uses in the morning - often to control or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Tremors or "shakes" are often the result of alcohol the night before.

Why is tobacco dangerous?

Tobacco contains thousands of chemicals and byproducts that can make it harmful. The three most dangerous byproducts of tobacco are nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.

Nicotine is the pharmacologically active agent in tobacco that acts on the brain primarily as a stimulant, but which also has sedative effects. Nicotine is largely concentrated at the base of the tobacco leaf stem. In this form, it is a deadly poison that has been used for centuries as a lethal pesticide.

The nicotine "kick" that most smokers get causes a rush of adrenaline that stimulates increased blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. It directly causes a release of brain chemical called dopamine in the region of the brain that controls pleasure and motivation. Nicotine's effect on the brain's "pleasure center" is what creates a craving and reaction similar to that seen with other drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and heroin.

Tar is the gummy substance that is left behind when tobacco is smoked or chewed. It is the primary carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agent in tobacco. Over time, tar builds up inside the cells of the lungs and causes severe damage.

Carbon monoxide, a deadly, poisonous gas, is readily released with each puff of smoke. The most toxic agent found in tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide lowers or displaces the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, thereby increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.

While nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide are clearly the three most dangerous byproducts of tobacco, approximately 4,000 other known chemicals are released as byproducts of both cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco. Forty-three of these chemicals increase the risk of cancer, while hundreds more are toxic and lethal. Some of the more common chemicals found in tobacco smoke include: acetone (solvent thinner); ammonia (household cleaner); formaldehyde (embalming fluid and preservative); hydrogen cyanide (poison); methane (flammable gas and fuel); naphthalene (dry-cleaning fluid); nickel and cadmium (metals); and vinyl chloride (plastic). The average pack-a-day smoker inhales about 150,000 doses of these chemicals in one year, with up to 90 percent remaining trapped in the lungs.

What risks are associated with secondhand smoke for nonsmokers?

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), has been declared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a "Class A carcinogen" - meaning that it is a major cause of cancer and other serious public health problems. The health of nonsmokers is adversely affected by secondhand smoke as seen in more than 3,000 cases of lung cancer and 40,000 heart attack deaths of nonsmokers each year who have been exposed regularly to ETS. Babies and young children, however, suffer the greatest risk from exposure to the toxic chemicals in smoke. Between 150,000 and 300,000 children who have been exposed to tobacco smoke in the environment are diagnosed each year with lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. These same children also suffer from a higher number of middle-ear infections, asthma attacks, and chronic coughing and wheezing. More recent studies have linked Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or "crib death" to infants whose mothers smoked during pregnancy or around them after birth.

I've been smoking for 20 years. What good will it do me to quit now?

There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking - improved health, savings in money, a cleaner environment and an improved personal appearance - regardless of your age.
Almost 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit, but they don't want to face the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that occur, such as headaches, dizziness, anxiety, irritability, coughing, dry throat and hunger. Unfortunately, the addicted body craves nicotine and it needs a "fix" for the withdrawal symptoms to go away. The good news is these symptoms are not life threatening and they will go away.

The American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that immediately upon quitting smoking, the body begins a series of changes and improvements that continue for years. All benefits are lost, however, by smoking just one cigarette per day. After smoking that last cigarette, health benefits are gained within:

20 minutes - Blood pressure and heart rate drop to normal. Temperature in hands and feet return to normal.
Two days - The risk of heart attack decreases. The ability to taste and smell improves.
Three to nine months - Lung function improves by up to 30 percent. Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease.
One year - The risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker.
Five years - The death rate from lung cancer is cut in half.

How can I quit smoking?

Help is available if you or someone you know wants to quit. Talk to your physician or other healthcare provider about how quitting would benefit you and whether any of the prescribed medical treatments that are currently available would be appropriate for you. You can also contact national and community organizations that offer smoking cessation programs, support groups, information and advice to help smokers quit for good. For information and assistance to help you quit smoking, call:

The American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345;
The American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1;
and/or the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA.

What effects will smoking marijuana have on me?

Marijuana users may experience many problems: headaches, dizziness; disturbances with short-term memory and learning, reduced ability to problem solve, weight gain and anxiety or panic attacks.

This drug reduces motivation and accomplishment. Often users are aimless with no motivation to retain employment or complete educational opportunities. They remain virtually stagnant, no growth, no change.

Medical problems associated with heavy marijuana use include cancer, respiratory disorders, reproductive problems and immune-system deficiencies. Many of the cancer causing chemicals found in cigarettes are also present in marijuana.