Drugs Flashcards
What are the for and against about Athletes using performance enhancing drugs?
For Drugs:
1) Athletes have the right to make their own decision about whether taking drugs is worth the risk or not
2) Drug-free sport isn’t really fair anyway -different athletes have access to different training facilities, coaches & equipment
Against drugs:
1) It’s unfair if people gain an advantage by taking drugs, not just through training.
2) Athletes may not be fully informed of the serious health risks of the drugs they take.
What are health and ethical impacts of taking performance enhancing drugs?
1) there are several different types including anabolic steroids (that increase muscle size) and stimulants (that increase heart rate).
2) these drugs can have negative health effects e.g. steroids can cause high blood pressure.
Drugs Claims: you need to know whether drugs companies and scientists research is reliable or not.
To know that a drug is safe to take or will help you, you need to know that…?
The drug has been tested properly, on a large sample of people, by scientists with no connection to the manufacturers.
What are the three main stages in drug testing?
Drugs are tested on human cells and tissues in the lab.
The Next step is to test the drug on live animals.
If the drug passes the test on animals then it’s tested on human volunteers in a clinical trial.
Why do why do scientists test drugs on live animals?
To see whether the drug works and produces the effect you want to find out about it toxicity and the best dosage.
The law in Britain states that new drugs must be tested on two different live mammals. Some people believe it’s cruel to test on animals but others believe this is the safest way to make sure the drug isnt dangerous before it is given to humans.
What is a placebo and why are they used?
A placebo is a sugar pill that looks like the real drug but doesn’t do anything. It allows for the placebo effect. This is when the patient expects the treatment to work and so feels better even though the treatment isn’t doing anything. They use placebos to test how well the real drug works.
Give an example of what can happen when drugs are not thoroughly tested?
The case of thalidomide.
• Thalidomide was intended as a sleeping pill and was tested for that use. But later it was also found to be effective in relieving morning sickness.
• Unfortunately thalidomide hadn’t been tested as a drug for morning sickness so wasn’t known that it passed through the placenta and affect the fetus, causing abnormal lymph development. Babies were born with no arms or legs at all.
• About 10,000 babies were affected by thalidomide and only about half of them survived. The drug was banned, and more rigourous testing Pro sieges were introduced.
• More recently thalidomide has been used in the treatment of leprosy and some cancers.
What is the difference between soft and hard drugs?
Illegal drugs often divided into two main classes – soft and hard. Hard drugs are usually thought of as being seriously addictive and generally more harmful.
However hard drugs such as heroin & ecstasy and soft drugs such as cannabis can all cause heart and circulatory problems.
What are the three common opinions that that drug users say about the link between cannabis and hard drugs?
1) Cannabis is a “Stepping stone”
Effects of cannabis create a desire to try harder drugs.
2) Cannabis is a “gateway drug “
Cannabis use brings people into contact with drug dealers.
3) “It’s all down to genetics”
Certain people are more likely to take drugs generally, so cannabis users will also try other drugs.
Tobacco and alcohol are legal recreational drugs. What impact do they have on people who use them?
Smoking:
1) Smoking causes disease of the heart, blood vessels and lungs.
2) Tobacco smoke causes cancer.
3) Nicotine is the drug found in cigarettes – it’s addictive so it’s hard to stop smoking.
Alcohol:
1) Alcohol affects the nervous system and slows down the bodies reactions.
2) Too much alcohol leads to impaired judgement, poor coordination and unconsciousness.
3) Excessive drinking can damage the liver and brain.
What impact does tobacco and alcohol have on society?
Tobacco and alcohol have a bigger impact in the UK than illegal drugs are so many people take them.
The NHS spends lots on treating people with lung diseases caused by smoking.
In addition to the financial costs, alcohol and tobacco cause sorrow and anguish to people affected by them either directly or indirectly.
