B1e Flashcards
What can drugs be?
Beneficial or harmful.
Why are some drugs only available on prescription?
Your doctor decides if you should have them as they are restricted.
What does addiction mean?
A physical need for the drug.
What are withdrawal symptoms?
What you get when you need a drug.
what is tolerance?
The body gets used to having it and so you need a higher dose to get the same effect.
What is rehabilitation?
Where you get help and support to try and overcome an addiction.
What are class A drugs?
The most dangerous with the heaviest penalties.
What are class C drugs?
The least dangerous with the lightest penalties.
What is the general effect of each drug?
Depressant - slow down brain activity
Pain Killers - block nerve impulse
Stimulants - Increase brain activity
Performance Enhancers - Muscle development
Hallucinogens - distort what is seen and heard
What are examples of drugs?
Depressants - alcohol, solvents and temazepam
Painkillers - aspirin and paracetamol
Stimulants - nicotine, ecstasy, and caffeine
performance Enhancers - anabolic steroids
Hallucinogens - LSD
What is the effect of depressants on the synapses of the nervous system?
Depressants bind with receptor molecules in the membrane of the next neurone blocking the transmission of the impulses.
What is the effect of stimulants on the synapses of the nervous system?
Stimulants cause more neurotransmitter chemicals to cross the synapse.
What can tobacco smoking cause?
Emphysema, bronchitis, cancer (mouth, throat, oesophagus and lung) and heart disease.
What is the effect of carbon monoxide?
Reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. If the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough oxygen it can lead to a heart attack.
What is the effect of nicotine?
It is addictive.
What is the effect of tar?
It collects in the lungs. Its full of carcinogens and its irritant.
What is the effect of particulates?
They accumulate in lung tissue.
How can cigarette smoke affect ciliated epithelial cells?
Smoking damages the cilia on the epithelial tissue lining the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, which encourages mucus to be produced. But excess mucus can’t be cleared because the cilia are damaged, si it sticks to air passages causing smoker’s cough.
the lungs also lose their elasticity, causing emphysema.
What are the short term effects of alcohol on the body?
Impaired judgement, balance and muscle control, blurred vision, slurred speech, drowsiness and increased blood flow to the skin.
What are the long term effects of alcohol on the body?
Liver and brain damage.
Why is there a legal limit for the level of alcohol in the blood/ breath for drivers and pilots?
Alcohol reduces the activity of the nervous system - it’s a depressant.
How can liver be damaged as it removes alcohol?
Alcohol is broken down by enzymes in the liver and some of the products are toxic. If you drink too much alcohol over a long period of time these toxic products can cause the death of liver cells, forming scar tissue that stops blood reaching the liver - this is called cirrhosis.
What is the cause of low birth weight babies?
Low oxygen in the blood of pregnant women caused by carbon monoxide can deprive the foetus of oxygen, leading to a small baby at birth.
