PowerPoint Presentation made for adolescents of the effects of substance misuse on the body. As a harm reduction approach, the aim is to educate youths on the adverse effects of substance misuse so they can make educated and informed decisions about their lifestyle. This presentation is inspired by the youth in the city of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

2. BRAIN
• Using drugs or alcohol can greatly impact the body’s interoception. Interoception means the
body receives information, makes sense of the information, and decides how the body will
respond.
• Some choices the body may decide include, putting on a sweater when feeling cold
or drinking water when thirsty.
• When a person uses drugs or alcohol, it changes the body’s physiology for a period of time.
The user may experience a “feel good” release, and the link to addiction depends on how
intense this release is.
• Injecting or smoking produces a large ”feel good” response, therefore, more often leads to
addictions and misuse.
• Using drugs or alcohol can damage or kill brain cells, potentially permanently.

3. FILL IN THE BLANK!
WHEN SOMEONE DECIDE TO PUT ON A SWEATER BECAUSE
THEY ARE FEELING COLD; THIS IS CALLED
_______________________. WHEN SOMEONE USES
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, THIS PART IN THE BRAIN MAY
BREAK DOWN.
WHY IS THIS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER
TIME IN SASKATCHEWAN?

4. MOUTH• Oral health issues are very common:
• Cavities
• Missing teeth
• Rotten or infected teeth and gums
• Sores in the mouth
• People who misuse drugs or alcohol often don’t take care of themselves and forget to brush their
teeth!
• They also eat more sweets and drink sugary beverages like pop. They often don’t understand what
healthy eating is because they aren’t taught these things in school, or they cannot afford healthier
options.

5. TRIVIA!
WHEN USING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, WHAT ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THEIR MOUTH OR AROUND THEIR TEETH?
A. CAVITIES
B. MISSING TEETH
C. ROTTEN OR INFECTED TEETH AND GUMS
D. SORE IN MOUTH
E. ALL THE ABOVE

6. HEART
•CONSUMING ONE OR TWO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS CAN AFFECT HEART RATE, BLOOD
PRESSURE, CIRCULATION AND CONTRACTIONS OF THE HEART MUSCLE, INCLUDING THE
HEART’S ABILITY TO PUMP BLOOD THROUGH THE BODY. WHILE THESE ARE NOT
SEVERELY HARMFUL, THEY MAY BE SERIOUS IF AN INDIVIDUAL HAS OTHER HEART
ISSUES.
•SOME HEAVY DRINKERS MAY DEVELOP A RED COMPLEXION BECAUSE OF DILATED BLOOD
VESSELS. THE DILATION OF BLOOD VESSELS ALSO CAUSES HEAT LOSS, AND A DROP IN
BODY TEMPERATURE. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER.

7. HEART
•SOME MEDICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE MISUSE: HEART ATTACK,
IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT, ATHEROSCLEROSIS (PLAQUE BUILT UP IN ARTERIES)
CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, CARDIOMYOPATHY (ENLARGED HEART), HYPERTENSION
(HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE), AND BLOOD CLOTTING ISSUES.

8. SKIN
• SKIN CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG MISUSE CAN BE THE EARLIEST VISUAL SIGN.
• ALCOHOL ABUSE CAN PRESENT WITH ECZEMA, JAUNDICE (YELLOW SKIN AND EYES), ITCHY SKIN AND SKIN RASH.
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED VASCULAR CHANGES INCLUDE SPIDER VEINS, ANGIOMAS (RED GROWTH), AND
FLUSHING.
• ALCOHOL ABUSE MAY CAUSE A PERSON TO DEVELOP CANCERS OF THE SKIN, LIVER, THROAT, PANCREAS, AND
BREAST.
• DISEASES RELATED TO SUBSTANCE MISUSE INCLUDE PSORIASIS (SKIN CONDITION: THAT IS ITCHY, RED, &
SOMETIMES PAINFUL) AND NUTRITIONAL ISSUES.
• SKIN RELATED SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE INCLUDE SKIN INFLAMMATION, SORES THAT ARE SLOW TO HEAL, AND
RECURRENT INFECTIONS.

9. LIVER
• MOST ALCOHOL AND DRUGS (ABOUT 90%) ARE ELIMINATED BY THE BODY’S METABOLISM. THE USE OF
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CAN AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING OF THE LIVER.
• IN MOST CASES, MODERATE USE OF ALCOHOL WILL NOT LEAD TO LIVER DISEASE, WHILE BINGE
DRINKING OR USING DRUGS OVER TIME CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS LIVER DAMAGE BECAUSE THE LIVER
HAS TO WORK OVERTIME.

10. LIVER
• THE MAIN TYPES OF SUBSTANCE RELATED LIVER DISEASES INCLUDE:
• 1) FATTY LIVER: THE EARLY STAGE OF ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DISEASE AND THE MOST COMMON RELATED TO ALCOHOL ABUSE.
RESULTING IN THE LIVER HAVING DIFFICULTY PERFORMING ITS NORMAL FUNCTIONS.
• 2) ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS: IS INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER THAT IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY CELLULAR DEATH IN THE LIVER.
MILD ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS MAY RESOLVE UPON ABSTINENCE, BUT CHRONIC AND SEVERE FORMS OF ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
MAY NOT FULLY RESOLVE
• 3) LIVER CIRRHOSIS: IS THE MOST SERIOUS TYPE OF ALCOHOL RELATED LIVER DISEASE. CIRRHOSIS RESULTS WHEN THE
FUNCTIONAL CELLS OF THE LIVER DIE AND ARE REPLACED WITH SCAR TISSUE. OFTEN SYMPTOMS ARE LIFE THREATENING.
• 4)DRUG-INDUCED LIVER INJURY (DILI): OCCURS WHEN INGESTING SUBSTANCES, SUCH AS DRUGS, NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS, HERBS, PLANTS, WHICH CAUSES DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE LIVER.

11. LIVER
THE DAMAGE TO THE LIVER CAN BE WORSE WHEN DRUGS
AND ALCOHOL ARE COMBINED!

12. TRIVIA
WHAT IS THE EARLIEST SIGN OF
SUBSTANCE MISUSE?
A) WEIGHT GAIN
B) SKIN ISSUES
C) INFECTION

13. LUNGS
• When someone uses drugs that have to be inhaled or breathed in, it often
damages their lungs.
• These drugs can cause severe coughing, trouble breathing, clogged throats, and
wheezing. There might be so much damage in the lungs that blood comes out
when coughing.
• More serious complications can also happen when using drugs or alcohol.
Lungs may get infected, broken down, or might even collapse (flatten out).

14. Using drugs or
alcohol can cause
your breathing to
drop down very,
very low…it might
even cause death.

15. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• THE PANCREAS IS AN ORGAN THAT IS INVOLVED IN DIGESTION AND BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL AND
ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE IT TO BECOME INFLAMED, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER DIGESTION.
• ALCOHOL CAUSES THE INTESTINES TO RELEASE ACID WHICH CAUSES IRRITATION LEADING TO
DIARRHEA.
• DRINKING EXCESSIVELY CAN CAUSE BLEEDING IN YOUR INTESTINES, NAUSEA/VOMITING, AND
ABDOMINAL PAIN LEADING TO CHANGES IN APPETITE AND WEIGHT.
• THE USE OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES OVER TIME MAY LEAD TO DEATH OF INTESTINAL TISSUE, CAUSING
BREAKAGE OF THE INTESTINE, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN INFECTION THAT IS POTENTIALLY FATAL.

16. KIDNEYS
• AS ALCOHOL LEVELS INCREASE, THE BODY BECOMES UNABLE TO STAY HYDRATED AND THIS CAN BE VERY
DANGEROUS. MORE WATER IS ELIMINATED THAN NORMAL AND THIS CAUSES DEHYDRATION WITH
SYMPTOMS INCLUDING TIREDNESS, BACK AND NECK PAIN, AND HEADACHES.
• SUBSTANCE USE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER KIDNEY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION AND CAN LEAD TO
KIDNEY INJURY AND OVER TIME, FAILURE.

17. TRIVIA
•DOES THE BODY BECOME
HYDRATED OR DEHYDRATED
WHEN DRINKING ALCOHOL?

18. KIDNEYS
• WHEN THE KIDNEYS ARE UNABLE TO WORK PROPERLY, FLUID IMBALANCES, AND VERY LOW SODIUM,
POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND CALCIUM LEVELS MAY RESULT.
• ALL OF THESE MINERALS PLAY A ROLE IN THE OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING OF THE BODY AND WHEN THEY ARE
IMBALANCED SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN OCCUR, AND EVEN DEATH.

19. YOU CAN
SAY
“NO”

20. THE FETUS
• SUBSTANCE USE DURING PREGNANCY CAN HARM A FETUS IN MANY WAYS AND CAN LEAD TO LIFELONG HEALTH PROBLEMS
IN THOSE BABIES.
• FETAL SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE MAY LEAD TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND IMPROPER FETAL GROWTH.
• FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) CAN RESULT IN A BABY WHOSE MOTHER DRANK ALCOHOL DURING HER
PREGNANCY. THIS CAN LEAD TO DEVELOPMENTAL, LEARNING, MEMORY, AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES.
• THESE BABIES COMMONLY EXPERIENCE WITHDRAWAL WHEN THEY ARE BORN. THEY MAY EXPERIENCE IRRITABILITY,
FEEDING PROBLEMS, TREMORS, DIARRHEA, AND SEIZURES.
• THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP A DRUG OR ALCOHOL ADDICTION LATER IN LIFE.
• IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO AVOID ALL SUBSTANCES WHEN PREGNANT

21. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• Drinking large amounts of alcohol or binge drinking over a long period of
time can lead to infertility for both men and women.
• Men can experience erectile dysfunction.
• Certain drugs can cause infertility, problems with sexual function, and
create problems with sperm function. Long-term use of this can cause
changes to the fallopian tube and menstrual irregularity.

22. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
• TOO MUCH MARIJUANA USE COULD CAUSE HORMONAL PROBLEMS IN YOUNG PEOPLE, POTENTIALLY
DELAYING THE ONSET OF PUBERTY. LOWER TESTOSTERONE = LOWER SPERM COUNT. CHRONIC ABUSE OF
MARIJUANA CAN ALSO AFFECT SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE TESTES WHILE ALSO CHANGING THE SHAPE OF THE
SPERM AND SPERM MOVEMENT (THIS CAN LEAD TO PROBLEMS WITH FERTILITY).

23. MUSCLES
• ALCOHOL CAN DISRUPT ABSORPTION IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AND THE LONG-TERM USE OF THIS CAN LEAD
TO OSTEOPOROSIS. THIS INCREASES RISK OF FRACTURES
• ALCOHOL ALSO CAN CAUSE CHANGES TO THE MUSCLE/KIDNEY FUNCTION AND LEAD TO RHABDOMYOLYSIS
(MUSCLE BEGINS TO BREAK DOWN AND RELEASES TOXINS INTO THE BLOODSTREAM DISRUPTING THE KIDNEY’S
NORMAL FUNCTIONS)
• SUBSTANCES THAT CAUSE RELAXATION INHIBITS MUSCULOSKELETAL MOVEMENTS. THIS INCREASES RISK FOR
FALLS, FRACTURES, ETC.
• SOME SUBSTANCES ALSO AFFECT NATURAL SKELETAL GROWTH AND CAUSED ABNORMAL BREAKDOWN OF
MUSCLE.

24. INFECTION
Immune system:
• Your body has a natural defence when it comes to infectionand illness, this is called your
immune system.
• CHRONIC USE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL TIRES THE BODY AND WEAKENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. THIS DECREASES
YOUR BODY’S ABILITY TO FIGHT OFF INFECTION.
• SHARING NEEDLES INCREASES THE RISK OF HIV/HEP C TRANSMISSION. SOME SUBSTANCES MAY INCREASE THE
POTENTIAL FOR RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, WHICH MAY CAUSE STIS, HIV/HEP C, AND OTHER INFECTIOUS
DISEASES. IV INJECTION SITES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFECTION/ABSCESS DUE TO FAILURE TO CLEAN THE SITE.
• SUBSTANCE MISUSE IS ALSO RELATED TO BINGING BEHAVIOUR AND INFECTION MAY OCCUR BECAUSE OF LACK OF
HYGIENE AND INABILITY TO LOOK AFTER ONESELF.

25. TRIVIA
TRUE OR FALSE
•LONG-TERM ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE CAN LEAD TO INFERTILITY IN
MALES AND FEMALES.

26. MENTAL HEALTH
• REGULAR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL USE CAN INCREASE RISKS MENTAL ILLNESS AND
RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
• PSYCHOLOGICAL ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE:
• PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE CAN DEVELOP OVERTIME AFTER REPEATED ALCOHOL
USE
• A PERSON MAY EXPERIENCE UNCOMFORTABLE FEELINGS SUCH AS ANXIETY OR FEEL
PANICKY WHEN ALCOHOL IS NOT AVAILABLE

27. ALCOHOL USE AND SUICIDE
• ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE IS ONE OF THE MENTAL ILLNESSES
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDE RISK
• EXCESSIVE DRINKING MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHICH COULD
RESULT IN CONFLICTS AND LONELINESS THAT CAN INCREASE
THE RISK FOR SUICIDE.
• DRINKING ALCOHOL ALSO INCREASES RISK FOR SUICIDE AS
DRINKING INCREASES IMPULSIVITY AND THE DECISION TO DIE
IS OFTEN MADE ON IMPULSE

28. HOW SUBSTANCE ABUSE IMPACTS TEENAGERS
• ALTHOUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG CANADIAN ADOLESCENTS IS CONCERNING,
AMOUNT USING ALCOHOL IS MUCH HIGHER
• EARLY BINGE DRINKING INCREASES THE CHANCES THAT YOUTH WILL BECOME
DEPENDANT ON ALCOHOL, BE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND INJURY OR CAUSE INJURY TO
OTHERS
• STUDIES SHOW THAT EXCESSIVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE MAY AFFECT MEMORY AND
DECISION-MAKING IN TEENAGERS MORE THAN IN ADULTS.
• DRINKING OR DOING DRUGS DURING THIS TIME IS LIKELY TO DISTURB THE HORMONAL
BALANCE NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANS, MUSCLES, BONES AND THE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.

29. HOW SUBSTANCE ABUSE IMPACTS TEENAGERS
• TEENAGERS AND PRE-TEENS MAY BE ATTRACTED TO RISKY
BEHAVIOUR, LIKE DRINKING ALCOHOL, AT A TIME WHEN THE
BRAIN IS STILL MATURING AND THEIR ABILITY TO CONSIDER
CONSEQUENCES IS STILL UNDERDEVELOPED. DRINKING AS A
TEENAGER CAN PREVENT THE BRAIN FROM FULLY DEVELOPING.
• STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT THOSE WHO DRINK TO EXCESS AS
ADOLESCENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER LATER IN LIFE.

31. REFERENCES
Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). Alcohol and the Human Body: Short Term Effects. Retrieved from
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/Search.aspx?q=Alcohol and the human body: short termeffects&site=ahs-external&client=ahs
external&getfields=description&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&filter=0&sort=date:D:L:d1
Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). Alcohol and Health: Alcohol and Adolescents. Retrieved from https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/Search.aspx?q=alcohol and
adolescents&site=ahs-external&client=ahs-external&getfields=description&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&filter=0&sort=date:D:L:d1&wb-srch-sub=
Alcohol.org. (2018). Liver Disease & Alcohol Use Disorder: Treatment for Problem Drinkers. Retrieved from https://www.alcohol.org/comorbid/liver-disease-and-alcoholism/
American Addiction Centers. (2018, September 19). How Drugs & Alcohol Abuse Affect the Heart & Cardiovascular System. Retrieved from
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/substance-abuse-heart-disease/
American Addiction Centre. (2016, August 20). The Effect of Drugs on the Kidneys. Retrieved from https://drugabuse.com/library/effect-of-
drugs-on-the-kidneys/
American Addiction Centre. (2018, June 18). The Effects of Meth on Your Body. Retrieved from
https://drugabuse.com/?s=gastrointestinal system
Behnke, M., & Smith, V. (2013). Prenatal substance abuse: Short- and long-term effects on the exposed fetus. Pediatrics, 131(3), E1009-24
Brain Damage from Drugs and Alcohol. (2018). Retrieved from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/brain-damage/
Crane, M. (2016, August 13). Drugs and liver disease. Retrieved from https://drugabuse.com/library/drugs-liver-disease/
How addiction hijacks the brain. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain
Liu, S. W., Lien, M. H., & Fenske, N. A. (2010, July 28). The effects of alcohol and drug abuse on the skin. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20620755
DOI:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.024

32. REFERENCES CONT’D
Migliorini, R. (2017). The Structure and Function of Interoceptive Brain Regions in Adolescent Substance Users. UC San Diego. Retrieved from
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07d7t31t.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). Alcohol's Effects on the Body. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body
Rayner, C., & Prigmore, S. (2008). Illicit drug use and its effect on the lungs. Retrieved from https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/respiratory/illicit-drug-use-and-its-effect-on-the-
lungs/850992.article
Shekarchizadeh, H., Khami, M. R., Mohebbi, S. Z., Ekhtiari, H., & Virtanen, J. I. (2013). Oral Health of Drug Abusers: A Review of Health Effects and Care. Iranian journal of public health, 42(9), 929-40.
Sunrise House, 2018. What Drug Abuse Can Do to the Reproductive System. American Addiction Centre. Retrieved from https://sunrisehouse.com/addiction-demographics/reproductive-system/
Sunrise House, 2018. How Substance Abuse Affects the Musculoskeletal System. American Addiction Centre. Retrieved from https://sunrisehouse.com/addiction-
demographics/musculoskeletal-system/
Sunrise House, 2018. How Substance Abuse Increases the Risks of Infectious Diseases. American Addiction Centre. Retrieved from https://sunrisehouse.com/addiction-
demographics/infectious-diseases/
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