drugs

drugs

1. definition = a substance that modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body

2. harmful

   • smoking
     • pregancy
       • reduces oxygen to fetus
         • miscarrige
         • premature birth
         • low weight
     • cigarettes
       • 4000 chemicals
       • nicotine
       • carbon monixide
         • combines with hymoglobin
           • reduces ability of blood to carry oxygen
             • strain on circulatory system
               • heart disease
               • strokes
       • tar
         • carcinogens
           • cancer
             • lung
             • mouth
             • throat

3. beneficial

   • extracted from natural resources
     • drug testing
       • computer models
         • human cells grown in labs
       • animal testing
       • clinical trials
         • test group
           • new drug
         • control group
           • existing drug or placebo
         • blind trials
           • volunteers don't know if test or control group
         • double blind trials
           • volunteers and researchers don't know which group they're in
   • Antibiotics
     • slow down or stop growth of bacteria
     • penicillin
       • 1928, Alexander Fleming

4. depressant

   • slows down nerve and brain activity
   • alcohol, solvents, temazepam
   • affect the synapses between neurones in the nervous system
   • stop the next neurone sending nerve impulses

5. hallucinogen

   • changes what we see and hear
   • LSD

6. painkiller

   • blocks nerve impulses
   • aspirin, paracetomol

7. performance enhancer

   • improves muscle development
   • anabolic steroids

8. stimulant

   • increases nerve and brain activity
   • nicotine, caffeine, ecstasy
   • cause more neurotransmitter molecules to diffuse across the synapses

9. prescription

10. illegal

    • class A
      • most dangerous
    • ecstasy, cannabis, heroin, cociane
      • addicitve
      • damage heart & circulatory system
      • needle drugs, infected blood
        • HIV, hepititas

11. alcohol

    • ethanol
    • depressant
    • slows signals in nerves and brain
    • liver removes alcohol from bloodstream
      • enzymes breakdown alcohol
        • toxic
    • effects
      • sleepiness
      • impaired judgment
      • loss of balance
      • loss of control
        • blurred vision and speech
      • increased blood flow to skin
      • damage to liver and brain