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Discovery- Life on Drugs

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Robin Williams hosts this gripping documentary illustrating the impact of using cocaine, heroin,marijuana and methampethamine and users abilities to perform specific tasks

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is another new and exclusive to Discovery now Robin Williams reveals your body on drugs in curiosity the following program features real cases of substance or behavioral addictions some of them a harmful dangerous and disturbing you shouldn't have sent  you up for this lady let's get a drink break just getting anxious rhm 145 or starting to see Hots can a thermal monitor feel busy at all why do drugs have such power cuz it culture with fascinated by them and when people getting high we consume 100,000 pounds of 4000 lb of meth been over 700 tons of marijuana  that's a lot of drugs what do they really do to my body so lives. Selves created a unique experiment in which drug users perform physical and mental tests each one designed to scientifically measure the highest rate 150 Angelo's some degree of cirrhosis is 70%  America's most notorious drugs I would have liked to I think you'll be surprised by what you see this is your body on drugs right now some 26 million Americans are consuming illegal drugs more heavy users have volunteered to test how they function after taking the most abused drugs in America  cocaine I first did my first line of coke I just like having a little fun marijuana and heroin for yourself and try to cuss and get started play the door laboratory under carefully controlled conditions pool measure the effects of drugs on four key areas of human function coordination Focus I've been bad but psychological stress physical strength go to spell some of the major myths about drugs and show you their true impact in our first experiment for testing overall coordination by having subjects before deceptively simple test driving a car  on a closed course in the California desert our users are going to drive under the influence with a medical get monitor the vital signs and a Stunt Driver riding shotgun to keep them safe we're going to analyze their performance oh this is so fun just thinks are high on the road people need to know how drugs affect them first you must drive the course sober turn left the team will observe their coordination stay in between ocean X and that's how we Parks before he's high they take their drugs off site then in their own time then they return to the course alarmingly most drive on drugs regularly but I can drive a car hundred miles an hour on coke no problem 20% of driver deaths involve some kind of drug exactly do drugs affect First Step James on marijuana user he smoked it almost everyday for 40 years I am a believer that marijuana can help lot of people it's a natural herb given by God from the moment James and who's his body is transformed cannabis smoke fills his lungs psychoactive chemical THC infiltrates his blood and it takes just 60 seconds to get to his brain here it's the memory Center the hippocampus for electrical signals control memory THC blocks the signals morphing short-term recall and even a sense of time and space within 5 minutes James Fields the drugs affect where are back  at the driving course James is wired with a heart rate monitor so the medical team can ensure his Vital Signs stay within a safe range are you up for this yeah I'm up for it I don't know about that parallel parking but you know I do want to let you know I am armed with a kill switch so if I feel you getting out of control I'm going to instantly kill the engine and I also have a foot brake that's going to instantly stop the car that's good news what's the smoking James is already forgotten all the course begins staying inside the yellow just as we get to it till May short term memory loss I won't can I just have fun not going to work 4 Hour I did not go over any I didn't hit anything James has completed the course next comes parallel parking before smoking just took him just over a minute you got to do this one on your house but the marijuana made me think okay let me just try maybe if I go back and forth enough times I'll be getting into a parking spot alright that'll be all I wanted to know how do you say I would be getting a ticket in Venice Beach right now that's what I my grandma drives faster and she's alive so how does the drug destroy James his coordination marijuana confuses electrical just coming from the brain as a result messages to his body become irregular and distorted muscle movement slow down so breaking steering and judging distance are all impaired I wish marijuana slow James down the next drug is reputed to have the opposite effect methamphetamine is behind the wheel so fast it accelerates many of the body systems  I'm going to Jeff Gordon this man but remember I do have the kill switch if you know if I feel was going too fast I'm going to kill  call I definitely wanted to sell this for sure I want to go faster just top speed is 25 faster than his speed off drugs  I nearly four times as fast as James on marijuana is parallel parking is erratic first he trips the wiper blades  then she gets a comb my over parallel bar dips are going on definitely felt like he was in a big rush to get things done mint stimulates the central nervous system making users wide awake and intensely focused  but its effect is so strong it leads to attention overload and almost obsessive books I definitely there Vicki arrives when is the last time you used heroin about 10 minutes the brain where it is converted into morphine dulling pain and inducing a feeling of warmth and pleasure but it's highly dangerous Central soundly addictive  I never got any accidents or referred anybody would think God Vicki drives accurately and understudy Pace right until the end Crystal reflex trades that your brain is actually on autopilot under the influence of heroin sedating effect this time the stop sign snapped her out of it hello parking is a different matter autopilot work struggling to concentrate she's taking twice long as when sober the parallel parking definitely hard like Miss Coke is a strong stimulant it makes his heart beat harder and his movements faster and evening creases the desire to move fast at a top speed of 29 miles an hour Rob is faster than any of the other users looks like a perfect run what then did Rob spring cocaine makes all systems go but it also makes it difficult to stop on cocaine up to 30% faster than he did without it but what happens when he has to slow down to judge distance for me to do it on Colton Sober by putting users behind the wheel we were able to get a good measure of how drugs affect coordination marijuana and heroin slow down reactions and cause confusion and inattention cocaine and meth over excite both body and brain causing Jeff and up to drive fast and carelessly little arrows that can create big problems on real streets and highways those could be fatal next up how old are subjects perform and they move inside the home and I faced as one of life's most frustrating but familiar tasks shoot away making ordinary life much more complicated they literally alter your brain and affect both and movement  how does that complicate even basic tasks like simple problem solving for the test subjects were following hit me will be up against one of life's everyday challenges building a bookcase some assembly required manhole Explorer with a drugs alter ability to focus to follow instructions patiently stick with the task reserve the dexterity to assemble this bookcase  remember stuff is James before arriving you smoke marijuana is kind of task I'm comfortable that you need to do one of these now a tiny wrench set of instructions in a carpenter high on drugs what could go wrong I think they're trying to drive people crazy with instructions the bookcase could be assembled in just eight steps is designed to be simple do I don't really want to give the false impression that pot smokers are going to like to put together desk I don't think should pot smokers be putting together anything  got medicated intoxicated why would I want to put a desk together time  would you sit on that by obviously didn't finish and I might even did a couple things wrong that I would have had back to correct  change this trouble focusing because the THC is brain doesn't just inhibit short-term recall also taxes his ability to concentrate before arriving for his test Jeff smoke crystal meth and thanks for being here for substance abuse by more than half a million Americans so how do you feel about it about doing this task starting unlock James Jeff attacks his task with Vigor like many meth users he relishes activities oh wow yeah nice though has that takes every nerve and he like you're alive and you're definitely live here wide-awake your alert feel like guard dog and I'm wake me up at 8 a.m. control Road E-Check has to drive the Benz truck fall in the first one or the last one out hurry up and wait that's when he started using  like a weird electric blanket to wear that stimulates the whole day just becomes the thing you just do like heroin and cocaine meth is highly addictive once used the body craves withdrawal is painful and depressing the continued use is even more dangerous all systems are on Overdrive after just 10 minutes Jeff's body is overheating Zane is hideous drug I'm going to sister and my feet get all clammy and definitely sweat just six and a half minutes left  Monmouth fuses burn as many calories just sitting still as most people would from a 15-minute workout goodbye meth use with physical exercise and the body starts to broil  releasing where does three times its normal volume of perspiration 3 - 1 are you how was this ass your math I would have given up at the first sight of trouble or been like but it also cooked him from within thanks for participating hug  next up is Rob he's been taking cocaine I don't feel that excited about it but I'll I'll throw it together real quick time is nonsense you have 20 minutes starting now Roberts Construction what you give him an itch  Nursery you can put it together by the directions but you missing always missing half the parts and stuff so I always just kind of put it make it fit and put it together securely and then nobody ever really checks are they going to work is it as well as boosting energy the psychoactive in can cocaine cause the sensation of inflated self confidence Rob gets such a rush it overlooks details when you go over it done I hate him to put this part put part A and Part B and screws and I didn't look at the book I didn't even use all the parts it's together you know it might be done on cocaine together but guess what look I mean you can either hold whatever you want right maybe I should pay more attention to detail but I don't really deal in details ideal big pictures man like it together that works so what kind of book cakes results from a drug known for launching users into a dreamy Haze Vicky smoke heroin a substance she uses three to four times a day you have 20 minutes beginning now 24/7 the book I was like oh this looks pretty complicated  did Vicki lays out the pieces exactly as to pick it in the structions the medical team surprised she's working call me 10 efficiently  I don't think the drugs make any difference in like you know if I'm smart enough to figure out how to make a bookcase I am on or off the drugs take me longer the most impressive thing that we saw today was in our coin user she was consistent through it and allowed her to assemble the furniture at a greater Pace than anybody else turns oh Vicki high functioning addict from the surface or behavior is normal but only because she's high but rain keeps demanding the drug to Stave off with draw so overall how did the four drugs affect our subjects ability to focus  does marijuana motivation was the problem thank you could easily deduce that people smoke marijuana together cocaine made Rob feel above such tasks I'll blow so I don't really care if I blame them and finally just by taking heroin Vicki completed the bookcase for Success comes as a very high price she can't function without it heroin Now controls Vicky's entire life try to stop  take a survival tactic it says you have finally got finally got the cheapest now  take a severe flu and the only thing that will make you go away or was it getting hired next  Twitter users into an emergency situation how was a function under extreme stress cocaine meth and marijuana or exploring what happens when people using these drugs chase a variety of physical and mental challenges but now we're raising the stakes  survival one of the most powerful human drives in an emergency acting without Panic is crucial to getting it right can be a matter of life or death so how does it work on drugs and I next experiment will test how the four uses react to extreme psychological pressure while under the influence  Gymkhana is a veteran firefighter with his help our four test subjects will experience a simulated house fire water breathing is going to be a major problem because they're going to be anxiety they're going to be tired they're going to be nervous going to be scared they're going to wonder where the heck am I and why am I even here to be right around the corner and I saw all the fire trucks in the fireman and I was like oh my gosh miscarrying I don't know how I'm going to get through this an emergency text me to get Essence Lane burned I'll probably go through the whole thing off The Smokehouse get on your hands and knees fly cuz that's where the fresh air is they have five minutes to go in find a lockbox and get back out there were protective gloves and a breathing mask that's blacked out so they can't see a thing just like firefighters in training but the most critical tool of cool head in a in a real fire you barely have three minutes before the accumulating smoke turns deadly Ford Taurus issues try to test silver will doors open it download the ground anytime I'm walking around in the dark extremely disoriented Mickie James and Jeff make the way in find the Box Hensley when I'm high I think about what will happen when it again on meth I can finish now it's Rob's turnt I'm ready his heart rate will be monitored remotely on this round he hasn't cocaine but it's hard as already beating fast tirades jump 20 points I don't want to burn I don't want to die but I got to get done anxiety kicks in his lack of control was typical of a cocaine addict  even when they're not using the effects linger for days we shut my lights out like that plane to me. Freaked me out I don't like that if I can't see I get I go crazy  yeah really I have lost his heart rate monitor  does logic is Monitor Rob is now a danger to himself and others Timmerman becomes a casualty show me buddy man got cut I brought back this way before he's used what will happen when we return to the SmokeHouse high on cocaine will the other subjects react when they are drugs that put to the test now the medical team faces an issue do they continue the experiment in neck to users to the stress of this emergency and stop I know it's been difficult and even a little dangerous but we have good monitoring and place and I'm thankful that our subjects are here to help us explore how drugs work  the test goes on so the subjects will face The Smokehouse again but now trucks first stop Williams Vicky balloon do this right now she's been smoking heroin very concerned about her in this test her pupils are pinpoint and her balance is off very hard to breathe years of heroin smoking because irritated Vicky's lungs and damage the tiny hairs are cilia that nor play Sweet particles away  all it takes is a small dose of anxiety to squeeze the Airways almost totally shut terrified she has to exit the house call Nemesis come and sit right here really claustrophobia can really like  Vicky's body is unable to cope with severe intoxicated on meth Jeff will now try to Smoke House heart rate 110 respiration rates 20 stable going in I can't find it stop the test are you that's it we're done got to slow down you got to relax again into overdrive he panicked the Mets pet of his whole system who tell his body crashed that's coming down quick have anything you want to say about that test what's the point next up is James the marijuana user is it pro couldn't be more different he's taking it slow and steady  I went there last he fears to have no anxiety reaction his breathing is totally normal deep in his brain memories of every emergency James has faced with the THC his damaged access to those memories giving him less information about how to react  time stop how is your search on more stuff but I still didn't find what I was looking for I'm handsome Moody Blues song Alright guys finally it's Rob's turn the first time of The Smokehouse he reacted aggressively tries it after snorting cocaine kind of like being I can go in and get out can I see him or nothing. Cuz we've seen on other tests but Rob does cocaine his heart starts pounding aggravated anxiety kicked in I could see it in his breathing I could see this heart rate I could hear it in his voice as well as increasing brain chemicals to boost of confidence cocaine floods the body with adrenaline this prepares the body for a flight in large quantities that can lead to anxiety and anger sometimes simultaneously in a very hard fashion that was the last straw because he didn't know what he could have been hitting  Deluxe top so you can come and make it a little anxious in there and sit down let's get pulse ox and blood pressure I don't feel like being real sociable right now. You know the questions are getting on my nerves he's in it aggravated State on cocaine but wearing a monitor situation have supporting I have adequate monitoring and I'm experienced in handling people in the acute phase of addiction trying to tell me tell me the goodness  there's no good news Coke addicts report a folding crease in panic attacks and also suffer from a great enhanced risk of cardiac arrest many remain unaware of the risks if I didn't high on cocaine watch out you know what I mean I was sitting on the chair in the White House by the end of the day  the SmokeHouse tested the reaction set the for users to extreme psychological pressure marijuana James impaired memory led to a false sense of security in a total lack of urgency on meh I'm still confused activity than a crash on cocaine violence and delusion and heroin induced Panic hinting at a serious underlying problem in the lungs  user sometimes report that drugs give him a cent vulnerability feeling of being superhuman a final experiment will explore with a drugs can really increase strength please check the thermal in the platform stability since marijuana and heroin to relax the body methamphetamine cocaine Jeff smokes meth Rob snorts coke before they do the lift a series of increasingly heavy household appliances to gauge the maximum strength silver selling right there that one right there Jeff and Rob we handle all the TVs with a 60 pound washer playing time to test it crystal meth user Jeff the medical team needs to assess if he's intoxicated the last time you used meth like 10  aura the first TV star traits 130 motion is coordinated as earlier experiments method first revs up his approach to the task it's just like being awake wide awake starting to look a little pale it's not spinach or anything this is Miss even with a strong stimulant stymied by the washer when I saw the methamphetamine at that point we observe closely I just made him burn and then crash the next truck cocaine is the one that team predicts is most likely to boost performance this is partly due to its psychological effect makes the you like they can attempt tasks above their strength level so they have greater confidence and energy in attempting how did the workaday world robbed is a builder and cocaine is a regular tools on the job  had a long day at work if I do find all that stuff will be done by 6  cocaine powder flies up is not toilet up to 100 miles per hour ships off to the nasal membranes right into his bloodstream Rob's blood pressure Rises his heart starts to race fats and sugars break I'm faster priming his muscles for Action in his brain cocaine molecules buying the nerve receptors triggering the release of the feel-good neurochemical Rob's body is receiving Primal get-up-and-go messages and a wave of self-confidence he's raring to when's the last time you use cocaine about 15 minutes ago on this side pretty closely cuz it's pretty high pretty question. what's on the thermal monitor normal exercise heart rate for 33 year-old like Rob is 140 beats per minute it's up to 1:45 you feel okay if you feel okay walk in the park heart rate 155 he lives 250 lb TV in just seconds  rupture so confident he moves past the 60 pound washer the defeated in the first time around and head straight for the 70-pound fridge a lot of strength cocaine does something to me where I get like little extra burst it's like the end of a football game you need to get three more yards physical effects of kicked in with his heart pumping hard level Rockets from 5 liters a minute to 35  more oxygen married to his muscles in addition to the self-confidence and energy he feels Rob is also getting a genuine strength boost is concrete the fridge Raiders 170 to 172 so we're going to stop test at this point the cocaine users people concerned about the possibility of heart attack or stroke will see your heart still beating pretty quick  how much a little bit of stimulant you can just put stops on the cart and drag it up the stairs and get it to where it's got to go and be done with it so I will continue to do what I'm doing and when I do it my way things get done ultimately the strength test revealed supercharges the metabolism but leave the user exhausted and weak and there's no strength increase Coke stimulate brain and the body but to a dangerous degree it makes Rob stronger but it could give him a heart attack next as our experiments conclude are you reveal to the subjects what their behavior is doing to the inside of their bodies in a virtual autopsy men and women all regular drug users  and launch them into a series of tests to measure the effects of powerful intoxicating substances  Nile meter for test subjects one last time to learn what drugs have done to the inside of their bodies so far what they may do to their futures to be in here do you have any how drugs have affected your body causes your heart to need more oxygen and sometimes your body can't meet that need and that mismatch right there causes a heart attack about 1 out of 7 people your age using cocaine like you do will have a heart attack in the next 5 years you got your mind  what about what I got accomplished after I did two lines of cocaine did you not see me the refrigerator all the way up the stuff that's a short-term response and I'm talking to about a long-term cost you got about a 30% chance of the next five years having a serious hard complication and you're 33 years old I don't believe you  no way do you think you have a problem cocaine I don't think I have a problem with cocaine at all they want to know something for you there's hope  you are young and it is reversible  now I know you have used marijuana many years this is a picture of your lungs when you smoke especially something that has carcinogens in it that affect his measurable and in you come in at about 84% of your lung function okay I would expect me since my lungs were weak as a child it probably wouldn't be good to smoke smoking marijuana long-term does increase lung cancer risk I'm not going to die don't answer it's a known risk I will not stop using marijuana do you have any idea how heroin use is affected your body over time the number of tests that we did and what you see in your situation is very concerning overtime when you smoke heroin as it goes into the small Airways of your whose it causes irritation in the lungs the longer that goes on that scoring will start to become permanent and irreversible this is the lung age and you're 28 years old and your estimated long ages 84 years old hearing that is very scary it's extremely scary. It's terrifying to me the next issue that comes up with it in your heart has picture of your heart but when you get these clumps of bacteria that deposit themselves in your heart they deposit on these valves that your current Pace you have a 40% chance of having some form of heart failure in the next five to seven years home stores carry who played some of those hairs look scary if you're interested we have made available to drug detoxification detoxing get help it I think you methamphetamine has next on the number of different systems in your body over time and the first one we talked about is your heart the electrical conduction system of your heart has damaged by the methamphetamine not solely the reason for his no method wouldn't be anything happening as I got older bethamphetamine is the reason do you think you have a problem with methamphetamine with a lot of things if you wanted help with it I we have made arrangements for you to have it that you know that play she's talking about I can't that's just not something there's no denying the punishment these chemicals in turn the body  but it's often reversible that's another miracle of the incredible human machine even extreme damage can be repaired if you make that voice you have the facts so it's up to you to make up your own mind kiwi also tell you rich anyway vestigation next Sunday at 9 at Maestro Eli Roth asks evil

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