A1 Understand health issues page 26

Question 1

Why are illicit drugs challenging to tackle for governments and healthcare workers?

Answer 1

Illicit drugs are challenging because users are often resistant to seeking treatment and may not admit to using them. The drugs cause various physical and psychological harms.

Question 2

What are some health risks associated with different methods of drug use?

Answer 2

Smoking drugs like cannabis can damage lungs, snorting cocaine can harm nasal tissues, and injecting heroin can damage blood vessels and cause infections.

Question 3

How do different governments approach dealing with illicit drugs?

Answer 3

Some governments ban drugs entirely and impose harsh sentences, while others, like Portugal, have decriminalized drugs and offer addiction treatment instead of arrest.

Question 4

What are class A, B, and C drugs in the UK?

Answer 4

In the UK, drugs are classified as class A, B, or C based on their risk level, with class A being the most harmful and carrying the highest legal penalties.

Question 5

What is chlamydia, and what are some of its symptoms?

Answer 5

Chlamydia is a bacterial STI caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms include discomfort during urination and genital soreness, though it may also be asymptomatic.

Question 6

What can happen if chlamydia is left untreated?

Answer 6

If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to serious infections in the womb or testes and cause infertility in both men and women.

Question 7

What challenges are scientists facing with treating gonorrhoea?

Answer 7

Scientists are seeing an increase in antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhoea, making it more difficult to treat.