B1e - drugs and you

Question 1

Explain the basis of the legal classification of drugs(2)

Answer 1

Class A being the most dangerous with the heaviest penalties

Class C being the least dangerous with the lightest penalties

Question 2

Recall types of drugs, their effects and an example of each(5)

Answer 2

depressants: slow down brain’s activity (e.g. alcohol, solvents, temazepam)

pain killers: block nerve impulses (e.g. aspirin , paracetamol)

stimulants: increase brain’s activity(e.g.nicotine, ecstasy and caffeine)

performance enhancers: muscle development(e.g. Anabolic steroids)

hallucinogens: distort what is seen and heard.(e.g. LSD)

Question 3

Explain the action of depressants and stimulants on the synapses of the nervous system(2)

Answer 3

depressants bind with receptor molecules in the membrane of the next neurone blocking the transmission of the impulses

stimulants cause more neurotransmitter to cross the synapse

Question 4

Explain the effect of smoking on ciliated epithelial cells lining the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, and how this can lead to smoker’s cough(3)

Answer 4

Smoking damages the cilia on the epithelial tissue lining the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, which encourages mucus to be produced

Excess mucus can’t be cleared because the cilia are damaged, so it sicks to air passages causing smoker’s cough

Lungs lose their elasticity, causing emphysema

Question 5

Describe how the liver can become damaged by alcohol(3)

Answer 5

Alcohol is broken down by enzymes in the liver and some of the products are toxic

These toxic products can cause the death of liver cells, forming scar tissue that stops blood reaching the liver - called Cirrhosis

If liver can’t do its normal job of cleaning the blood, dangerous substances start to build up and damage the rest of the body

Question 6

Describe some effects of alcohol on the body(5)

Answer 6

Short term effect: increased reaction time, blurred vision, impaired judgement

Long term effect: liver and brain damage