Drugs - effect on chemical reactions Flashcards
What is the definition of a drug?
A drug is a substance that can change chemical reactions in the body.
What is a depressant?
A depressant is a drug that slows down brain and nerve activity.
Give three examples of a depressant
Temazepam (used for insomnia)
Solvents (glues, gases, aerosols.)
Alcohol
What is a hallucinogen?
A hallucinogen is a drug that alters what we see/ hear/.
What is a painkiller?
A painkiller is a drug that blocks nerve impulses.
What is a performance enhancer?
A drug that improves muscle development
What is a stimulant?
A drug that increases nerve and brain activity. Eg. caffeine, nicotine, ecstasy.
Give an example of a hallucinogen
An example of a hallucinogen is LSD -made from lysergic acid from the ergot fungus plant.
Give two examples of a painkiller
Two examples of a painkiller are aspirin and paracetamol.
What do stimulants/ depressants affect?
Stimulants/ depressants affect synapses between neurons.
What is a neurotransmitter?
A neurotransmitter is a chemical that is involved in passing nerve impulses from one cell to another across a synapse.
How do stimulants affect the synapse?
A stimulant causes more neurotransmitter molecules to diffuse across a synapse.
What do automatic control systems in the body include?
Automatic control systems include hormones or the nervous system.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment.
What do stimulants do to someone’s appetite?
Stimulants decrease someone’s appetite.
What does the central nervous system (CNS) include?
The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord.
What is the name of the system that contains nerves outside the brain/ spinal cord?
Peripheral Nervous system.
How do depressants affect the nervous system?
Depressants affect the nervous system by stopping neurons from sending impulses. They bind to the receptor molecules.
What are Class A drugs?
Class A drugs are the most dangerous drugs to use with the highest penalties.
What are Class C drugs?
Class C drugs are the least dangerous drugs to use with the lowest penalties.
What was used by the ancient Greeks to help cure fever/ pain?
Willow Bark was used by the ancient Greeks to heal fever and pain.
Why was salicylic acid modified into aspirin?
Salicylic acid was modified into aspirin as it is less irritating for the stomach.
What are the 3 steps of medicinal testing?
1- Drugs tested using computer models and human cells grown in a lab.
2 - Tested on animals. Given a substance, monitor side effects.
3- Tested on healthy volunteers. Then tested on people with an illness.
What is tested on the test group?
A group of volunteers called the test group, take the newly developed drugs.
What is tested on the control group?
A group of volunteers taking existing medication for the illness. If there is no medication, they take a placebo.
What is a placebo?
Placebo is an inactive substance that is used to resemble a drug that researchers use for control.
What are blind trials?
Blind trials are when volunteers do not know what group they are in, but the researchers do.
What are double-blind trials?
Double-blind trials are when the volunteers nor the researchers know what group the volunteers are in till the end of the trial.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are substances that slow down the growth of bacteria. They don’t, however, kill viruses.
What was the first antibiotic discovered and when?
The first antibiotic discovered was penicillin in 1928 by Alexandar Flemming.
What does HIV stand for?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency disease/virus.
What can injecting a drug from a needle that is used cause?
Injecting a drug from a needle that has been used can lead to HIV/ hepatitis.
Give an example of a performance enhancer?
An example of a performance enhancer is anabolic steroids.
