Drugs Flashcards
If your body is addicted to drugs what may happen?
The body will go through withdrawal symptoms
What drugs are very addictive?
Heroin
Cocaine
Nicotine
Caffeine
What are drugs used for?
Medicinal, recreational or performance enhancing purposes
Why do you need a prescription for certain drugs?
Some drugs such as morphine can be dangerous if misused
What are recreational drugs?
Drugs taken for fun
They are legal or illegal
What do anabolic steroids do?
Increase muscle size
What do stimulant drugs do?
Increase heart rate
What negative effects come with taking steroids?
High blood pressure
What ethical issues are there against drugs?
It’s unfair if people gain an advantage by taking drugs not just though training
Athletes may not be informed of the serious health risks of the drugs they take
What ethical issues are there for drugs?
Athletes have the right to make their own decision about taking the risk
Drug free sport isn’t really fair as different athletes have different training facilities coaches equipment etc.
What do statins do?
Lower the risk of heart disease
Lower blood cholesterol
Lower the risk of heart disease
What have scientists investigated about cannabis?
Whether the chemicals in cannabis smoke causes mental health problems
What is the first stage in drug testing?
Testing on human cells and tissues
This doesn’t happen if the drug affects multiple or whole body systems
What is the second stage of drug testing?
Testing on live animals
Checks if it works and toxicity and dosage
Must be tested on two different live animals in uk
What happens in the third stage of drug testing?
Tests on human volunteers
Healthy - to make sure there’s no harmful side effect
Ill patients- optimum dose found
What dosage are healthy patients given in a drug trial?
A low dose that is slowly raised
How are ill patients tested in a drug trial?
They’re split into two groups one given the new drug and the other a placebo
Sees the actual difference made
Checks for placebo effect
What is a placebo?
A drug given in the same form as the actual drug but makes no chemical changes in the body
What is a blind trial?
The patient in the study doesn’t know whether they’re getting the drug or the placebo
What is a double blind trial ?
Neither doctor nor patient know who is taking the placebo
Why are some trials double blind?
To stop doctor being subconsciously influenced by their knowledge
Why did thalidomide cause problems in pregnant women?
The drug was tested as a sleeping pill but wasn’t tested on pregnant women
What side effects happened to foetuses of mothers who took thalidomide?
It oases trough the placenta and caused abnormal limb development
Only half survived
What is a hard drug?
A seriously addictive and harmful drug
