Drugs Claims

Question 1

What do you need to do to the claims about the effects of drugs?

Answer 1

Look at them critically

Question 2

What are statins?

(1,2,3)

Answer 2

1. Prescribed drugs
2. Lower the risk of heart disease
3. Lower the risk of circulatory disease

Question 3

What is there evidence that statins do?

(2)

Answer 3

1. Lower blood cholesterol
2. Significantly lower the risk of heart disease in diabetic patients

Question 4

Why were the results of the studies into the effects of statins so reliable?

(4)

Answer 4

1. Original research done by gov. scientists with no connection to manufacturers
2. Original research had a big sample size - 6 000 patients
3. A control group was used (in original study)
4. Other studies have since backed up these findings

Question 5

For which drug is reliability not very clear cut?

Answer 5

Cannabis

Question 6

What have scientists investigated about cannabis?

Answer 6

Whether the chemicals in cannabis cause mental health problems

Question 7

What make the results of investigations into cannabis unreliable?

(2)

Answer 7

1. The results vary
2. They are open to interpretation

Question 8

When will/ could we be sure if cannabis causes mental health problems?

Answer 8

When/ if more conclusive evidence is found

Question 9

Wht do you need to know to know if a drug is safe/ will help you?

Answer 9

1. If it has been tested properly
2. On a large sample of people
3. By scientists with no connection to the manufacturers