Drugs: Uses and Abuses

Produced

• 1999

A veritable encyclopedia of pharmacological facts, this outstanding eight-part series thoroughly examines the therapeutic uses and dangerous abuses of drugs. Moving beyond the "Just Say No" mentality, each program gives a general overview of a particular class of drugs, then moves on to closely examine specific drugs in that group.

These programs promote discussion, explore myths, and provide information delivered in accessible language by a wide range of concerned professionals and recovering users. Review questions are provided with each program to test viewers’ knowledge, along with provocative discussion questions that address some of the sensitive issues concerning the use and abuse of drugs.

Reviews and Awards

"Attention-grabbing, informative programs."
—School Library Journal
"Well-paced to keep teens’ interest. Good overview."
—The Book Report
Recommended by Today’s Librarian.

The Series Includes:
Sedatives
This program offers a summary of sedatives as a class of drugs, and then focuses on barbiturates, tranquilizers, and alcohol, while touching lightly on narcotics. A doctor of pharmacology, police officers, an addiction specialist, a historian, a pastor, recovering addicts, and others describe the history and biological effects of sedatives, employing case studies and personal experience to analyze the use, abuse, and hazards of this seductive group of drugs. One 32-minute video.

Narcotics
This program presents a profile of narcotics as a class of drugs and then spotlights opium, codeine, morphine, and heroin. Expert commentary is provided by a pharmacist, a nurse, police officers, addiction counselors, a historian, recovering addicts, and others. Together, they discuss the history and biological effects of narcotics, scrutinizing their use, abuse, and hazards through case studies and personal experience. One 29-minute video.

Stimulants
Beginning with an overview of stimulants as a class of drugs, this program examines caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine—in both powder and crack form. A doctor of pharmacology, police officers, an addiction specialist, a historian, recovering addicts, and others profile the history and biological effects of stimulants, employing case studies and personal experience to analyze their use, abuse, and hazards—including their instantly addictive nature. One 39-minute video.

Psychedelics and Hallucinogens
In this program, a pharmacist, an addiction counselor, a police officer, a historian, a pastor, and recovering users provide background on psychedelics and hallucinogens as a class of drugs, and study the history and biological effects of mescaline, psilocybin, LSD, and the designer drug MDMA. Utilizing case studies and personal experience, they explore the uses, abuses, and hazards of these drugs, which can include vivid flashbacks and critical serotonin depletion. One 29-minute video.

Inhalants
This program presents a summary of this class of drugs and then details its constituent parts: solvents and aerosols, nitrites, and nitrous oxide. A doctor of pharmacology, an addiction specialist, police officers, a historian, recovering addicts, and others delve into the history and biological effects of these drugs. Together, they share case studies and personal experiences to address the use, abuse, and hazards of inhalants, including brain, liver, and kidney damage, as well as sudden sniffing death syndrome. One 20-minute video.

THC
This program examines THC and the cannabinoids marijuana, hashish, and hash oil. Expert commentary is presented by former NFL player Charles Hunt, a pharmacist, a police officer, addiction counselors, a historian, a pastor, recovering addicts, and others. Together, they explain the history and biological effects of THC, investigating its use, abuse, and hazards, and its reputation as a gateway drug. One 30-minute video.

PCP and Ketamine
This program describes PCP and the veterinary anesthetic ketamine. A police officer, an addiction specialist, an addiction counselor, a veterinarian, and recovering users review the history and biological effects of PCP and ketamine, employing case studies and personal experience to assess their use, abuse, and hazards—including false feelings of invincibility, flashbacks, and even psychosis. One 17-minute video.

Steroids
This program examines the use and abuse of anabolic steroids and GHB, a synthetic steroid-like substance and date-rape drug. Former NFL player Charles Hunt and a pharmacist, a police officer, an addiction counselor, a trainer, a swim coach, a recovering abuser, and others explore the history and biological effects of steroids, using case studies and personal experience to probe anabolic steroid abuse and the drug’s many side effects. Some of these side effects include impotence, liver tumors, renal failure, and "roid rage," which can lead to violence and even suicide. One 24-minute video