B1.3 The use and abuse of drugs

Question 1

What is a drug

Answer 1

A substance that alters the way in which teh body works

Question 2

double-blind trial

Answer 2

Sometimes, neither doctor nor patient know who is given the drug

Question 3

Thalidomide

Answer 3

Thalidomide was developed as a sleeping pill, but doctors found it could be used for morning sickness in pregnant women. Unfortunately it had not been tested for this. Some babies were born with limb abnormalities.

Question 4

placebos

Answer 4

These do not contain a drug. Half the patients are given the placebo and half take the drug. This is to check whether the drug really does have an effect on the patient.

Question 5

Addiction

Answer 5

This means you become dependant on them and you need them more and more.
If you try to stop taking addictive drugs you will suffer withdrawal symptoms.

Question 6

stimulants

Answer 6

Some drugs like caffeine and cocaine speed up the activity of your brain. They make you feel more alert. These are stimulants.
They increase your brain activity

Question 7

depressants

Answer 7

Others, like alcohol and cannabis, slow down the responses of the brain. These are depressants.

Question 8

Drugs in sport

Answer 8

Steroids are drugs which are used to build up muscle mass.
Other drugs may be used to increase stamina. These drugs stimulate the body to produce more red blood cells. This means they can carry more oxygen around the body.

Question 9

Smoking

Answer 9

• Nicotine is the addictive substance in tobacco smoke.
  o This makes it difficult for people to stop smoking.
• Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens, which are chemicals that cause cancer:
• Tobacco smoke also contains carbon monoxide which reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.