Drug Addiction Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of ‘drug’?

A

A chemical substance that affects the body or mind in some way.

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2
Q

What is the definition of ‘overdose’?

A

An excessive and very dangerous drug dose.

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3
Q

What is the definition of ‘addiction’?

A

Compulsive engagement in something despite adverse consequences.

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4
Q

What is the definition of ‘relapse’?

A

Falling to a lower stage of treatment.

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5
Q

What are some examples of legal recreational drugs?

A
Alcohol
Nicotine
Caffeine
Solvents
Amyl/butyl nitrates
Manufactured ‘legal highs’
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6
Q

What are the three drug classes in the UK?

A

A, B and C, A being the worst drugs and carrying the highest sentence.

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7
Q

What are some reasons for taking drugs?

A
Boredom 
Adrenaline rush
‘Cool’/peer pressure
Sporting pressure
Distraction (grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, mental health issues, etc.)
Curiosity
Medical addiction (e.g. morphine)
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8
Q

Why do drugs often have nicknames?

A

Secrecy (although many drug nicknames become public)

Downplays seriousness

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9
Q

Why are there many slang terms for drug users?

A

Nicknames can often make people feel inferior, and drug users are no exception.
They can also be used for secrecy between drug users.

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10
Q

Why is this topic studied in RE? what are the links?

A

— Morals/ethics
— Religions often have teachings that can be applied to drugs (e.g. ‘my body is a temple’)
— Religious drugs (e.g. Rastafarians and cannabis)
— Drug charities often have a religious origin
— Respect for the law

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11
Q

Do our choices always have consequences?

A

Yes.

For example, peer pressure to take drugs can cause worry and fear. Many will then take drugs.

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12
Q

What are some consequences of taking drugs? Are they mostly advantages or disadvantages?

A
Mostly disadvantages:
Jail
Addiction
Health issues (e.g. smokers’ lungs, paranoid personality disorder, etc.)
Bad reputation 
Losing money
Getting ‘named and shamed’ in a local newspaper
Halitosis
Smell
Early death
Regular loss of consciousness
Leaving education
Being a disappointment
Marriage breakdown 
Eviction
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13
Q

What can influence our choices?

A
Social institutions:
— the media (mass and social)
— the family
— the peer group
— religion
— place of work
— the education system
— the legal system
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14
Q

Give two Bible verses that can be linked to drugs.

A

1 Corinthians

3: 16-17 (you are a temple of God + God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple)
10: 13 (‘Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.’)
10: 23 (God will not let you be tempted beyond your limits + he will provide a way out when tempted)

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15
Q

What are the four kinds of drug? Give some examples.

A

Analgesics/opiates (heroin, dikes, 118s)
Stimulants (amphetamines, cannabis (THC + CBD), cocaine, crack, ecstasy, MDMA, magic mushrooms, nicotine, caffeine, amyl/butyl nitrates)
Sedatives/depressants (cannabis (THC + CBD), tranquillisers (ketamine, etc.), alcohol, solvents)
Hallucinogens (ecstasy, MDMA, magic mushrooms, LSD)

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16
Q

What does Judaism say about drugs?

A

Judaism’s Tanakh tells us to be committed to a sound mind in a healthy body: a free, non-addicted, moderate way of life.

17
Q

How can churches help with drug use and addiction?

A
— Counselling/therapy/funding for others who run therapy sessions.
 — Bible study/conference
 — Addiction support (AA, Stauros, etc.)
 — Befriending addicts
 — Education
 — Acceptance + lack of judgement
18
Q

How are addicts’ lives like icebergs?

A

— Both are dangerous
— Biggest problem is below the surface
— Problem is hidden
— Most of their life is under the surface
— Addicts are stressed, which can be compared to melting icebergs

19
Q

Who are Stauros? what do they do? how do they try to follow Jesus’ example?

A

A Christian addiction organisation.
— Tries to offer support to addicts + families.
— Seeks to educate people (esp. churchgoers) about dangers of drugs and addiction.
— They hold weekly meetings for talking + encouragement. Always prayer time + a Bible message.
— Stauros tries to follow Jesus’ example by treating each person as an individual. It gives addicts pastoral support and care.

20
Q

Give a case study about drug use in Northern Ireland and the consequences of said use.

A

Leah Betts was a teenager who took Ecstasy.
— Symptoms:
— lively + full of energy
— dilated pupils
— ‘face glowed’ + ‘eyes smiled’
— she went stiff and screamed as brain slowly swelled when she was dying
— took E multiple times
— used ‘doves’ previously to night when she died + her friends had used it and knew how it worked
— £45 for 4 (?)
— she took the E to enjoy her party more
— her father was a police officer + mother a nurse but neither could help

21
Q

ESSAY QUESTION: Should churches help people with addiction?

A
YES
 — lack of judgement
 — priests are usually educated people
 — the Bible has some good messages in general
 — Jesus helped everybody + went out of his way to find marginalised people
NO 
 — may exploit the vulnerable
 — may try to convert vulnerable people
22
Q

ESSAY QUESTION: Should cannabis be legalised?

A

YES
— pure cannabis is not incredibly dangerous
— CBD has medicinal properties (migraines, epilepsy)
— calming/soothing/mood-booster
— naturally grown
— used for 1000s of years
— may be used instead of worse drugs by the easily-influenced
— regulation may put criminals out of business
— religions e.g. Rastafarianism
— universities could study w/o a licence
— already legal in some places e.g. Canada, California, etc.
— some drugs with worse effects (objectively) are legal with little intention of becoming illegal e.g. solvents
NO
— still rather dangerous: schizophrenia, hallucinations, stunted brain development if underage
— children can mistake gummies + brownies for normal food
— just because something is ‘naturally grown’ does not mean it is good e.g. sugar
— something that has been used for long is not necessarily good either e.g. alcohol
— gateway drug that can encourage experimentation
— just because it is legal elsewhere does not mean it is good e.g. American gun laws

23
Q

ESSAY QUESTION: What are the (dis)advantages of drugs education in schools?

A

ADVANTAGES
— Prevents vulnerable people destroying their lives — education + information is important
— Makes young people aware of dangers
DISADVANTAGES
— Can encourage curiosity
— Teachers may not know much about the subject

24
Q

ESSAY QUESTION: Should drugs be banned from sport? Use a case study.

A

Case study — Ben Johnson
Canadian sprinter @ 2 Olympics (84 + 88) — disgraced in 88 for two years — attempted a comeback for 92 Olympics but banned for life after retesting positive — coach (Charlie Francis) made all his athletes take them because ‘everyone else was on them’.

YES
— Unfair advantage
— Poor sportsmanship
— Meant to be role models — fake image of being very athletic whereas in reality they do not need to do as much training + may encourage the youth to try drugs
— Often illegal drugs
— Just because everyone else is doing it does not mean that it is good
NO
— Most sportspeople take them
— Sometimes medically prescribed
25
Q

What does Islam say about drugs?

A

Islam’s Koran is opposed to all drugs except medically prescribed ones. Muslims believe that all others lead people astray; nevertheless, cannabis is legal in many Muslim countries while alcohol is not.

26
Q

What does Buddhism say about drugs?

A

Buddhism’s Tipitaka tells us that one of the five commandments is to not take any substances that pollute/cloud the mind: this includes most drugs. Buddha encouraged his followers to refrain from any and all intoxicants.

27
Q

What does Stauros mean in English?

A

‘Christ’s cross’ in NT Greek.

28
Q

What is Stauros’ history? where do they work?

A

Created in 1980 by Arthur G. Williams, who had had alcohol addiction for ~12 years. His father had alcohol addiction growing up. His brother Mike later became Director. The current one is a man called Roy Brown, who also suffered from alcohol addiction.
The addiction brought strains upon Williams’ family. He first admitted his addiction in 1970. A few days afterwards, he spoke to his Christian doctor, found Jesus and felt forgiven.
Today, the charity has full-time workers and volunteers. They work w/ addicts and their families in India, Russia, the UK + USA.