Professional Development

The act of refraining from alcohol or other drug use, whether for health, personal, social, religious, moral, legal or other reasons.

The propensity of a particular psychoactive substance to be susceptible to abuse, defined in terms of the relative probability that use of the substance will result in social, psychological, or physical problems for an individual or for society.

A chronic, relapsing disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite serious adverse consequences, and by long-lasting changes in the brain.

The way in which a substance is introduced into the body, such as oral ingestion, intravenous (IV), subcutaneous, or intramuscular injection, inhalation, smoking, or absorption through skin or mucosal surface, such as the gums, rectum, or genitalia. The manner of administration has a critical effect on the speed and intensity of drug effects and, hence, on the degree of intoxication, nature of risk exposure and dependence liability. It can also have a major influence on the nature and severity of undesirable effects and consequences, including body organ damage (e.g. lungs, veins) and infection transmission (e.g. hepatitis, HIV).

In substance abuse prevention, the age of first use.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Is the final stage of HIV infection, when your body can no longer fight life-threatening infections. See HIV

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches.

A general term for a range of disorders due to the effects of alcohol on the brain-acute intoxication, pathological intoxication, withdrawal syndrome, delirium tremens, hallucinosis, amnesic syndrome, dementia, psychotic disorder. More specific terms are preferred.

An individual who suffers from alcoholism. Note that this noun has a different meaning from the adjective in alcoholic beverage.

Usually refers to... Programmes designed to provide positive use of leisure time activities and to facilitate a sense of self worth without using drugs. Founded on the belief that some people, particularly young people, engage in illicit drug use because they cannot find worthwhile, self-fulfilling, activities in which to engage or because they do not make positive and healthy use of leisure time. Programmes range from providing leisure activities to forming activity or interest groups.

One of a large group of synthetic drugs with powerful stimulant action on the central nervous system, which includes many substances exclusively encountered on the illicit market and a large number of drugs with medicinal use.

Amphetamines are most frequently ingested orally, sniffed/snorted, smoked, or injected. Intravenous injection is gaining in popularity worldwide.

They increase breathing and heart rate, lessen appetite and make the pupils widen. Users tend to feel more alert, energetic, confident and cheerful and less bored or tired. With high doses people often experience a rapid flow of ideas and feel they have increased physical and mental powers.

Common street names: “speed”; “ice” and “cat”.