Drug Addiction Flashcards
What is the definition of ‘drug’?
A chemical substance that affects the body or mind in some way.
What is the definition of ‘overdose’?
An excessive and very dangerous drug dose.
What is the definition of ‘addiction’?
Compulsive engagement in something despite adverse consequences.
What is the definition of ‘relapse’?
Falling to a lower stage of treatment.
What are some examples of legal recreational drugs?
Alcohol Nicotine Caffeine Solvents Amyl/butyl nitrates Manufactured ‘legal highs’
What are the three drug classes in the UK?
A, B and C, A being the worst drugs and carrying the highest sentence.
What are some reasons for taking drugs?
Boredom Adrenaline rush ‘Cool’/peer pressure Sporting pressure Distraction (grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, mental health issues, etc.) Curiosity Medical addiction (e.g. morphine)
Why do drugs often have nicknames?
Secrecy (although many drug nicknames become public)
Downplays seriousness
Why are there many slang terms for drug users?
Nicknames can often make people feel inferior, and drug users are no exception.
They can also be used for secrecy between drug users.
Why is this topic studied in RE? what are the links?
— 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
Do our choices always have consequences?
Yes.
For example, peer pressure to take drugs can cause worry and fear. Many will then take drugs.
What are some consequences of taking drugs? Are they mostly advantages or disadvantages?
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
What can influence our choices?
Social institutions: — the media (mass and social) — the family — the peer group — religion — place of work — the education system — the legal system
Give two Bible verses that can be linked to drugs.
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)
What are the four kinds of drug? Give some examples.
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)
What does Judaism say about drugs?
Judaism’s Tanakh tells us to be committed to a sound mind in a healthy body: a free, non-addicted, moderate way of life.
How can churches help with drug use and addiction?
— Counselling/therapy/funding for others who run therapy sessions. — Bible study/conference — Addiction support (AA, Stauros, etc.) — Befriending addicts — Education — Acceptance + lack of judgement
How are addicts’ lives like icebergs?
— 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
Who are Stauros? what do they do? how do they try to follow Jesus’ example?
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.
Give a case study about drug use in Northern Ireland and the consequences of said use.
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
ESSAY QUESTION: Should churches help people with addiction?
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
ESSAY QUESTION: Should cannabis be legalised?
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
ESSAY QUESTION: What are the (dis)advantages of drugs education in schools?
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
ESSAY QUESTION: Should drugs be banned from sport? Use a case study.
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
What does Islam say about drugs?
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.
What does Buddhism say about drugs?
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.
What does Stauros mean in English?
‘Christ’s cross’ in NT Greek.
What is Stauros’ history? where do they work?
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.
