After taking Other Drugs, the individual will be able to:

• Identify personal strategies for avoiding prescription drug misuse
• Debunk myths regarding effects of stimulants and better learning
• Recognize that peer use is less common than typically perceived
• Understand the dangers of sharing prescription medication
• Understand the mental, physical, and emotional effects associated with the four main categories of psychoactive drugs
• Recognize symptoms of addiction, tolerance, and dependence for each drug category
• Recognize signs and stages of withdrawal for each drug category
• Analyze both classic and dissociative hallucinogens and their differing effects on brain and body
• Understand the dangers of mixing psychoactive drugs
• Identify possible gateway drugs and the correlation between early use and higher addiction rates
• Identify personal reasons for drug use
• Recognize the importance of making a change to lessen or end personal drug use
• Identify personal triggers for use and develop a plan to deal with triggers and cravings
• Develop a personalized strategy for making a change in drug use
• Understand the effects depressants have and what that means for tolerance build up and addiction
• Recognize signs of overdose and appropriate intervention actions for each drug category, including the use of Naloxone for opioids
• Explain how prescription drug misuse can lead to tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, and an increased risk of using stronger or illicit substances
• Describe how early substance use, peer use, and access to substances can increase the risk for later misuse or dependence
• Identify current fentanyl-related trends and risks, including signs of overdose, fentanyl contamination, and counterfeit pills
• Recognize the connection between substance use and mental health concerns
• Understand warning signs and next steps for individuals in a mental health crisis or at risk of suicide