Grade 7 LO Substance Abuse

Question 1

When does substance abuse become addiction?

Answer 1

When the person can no longer control his need to escape from his problems

Question 2

What does it mean for a substance to be physically addictive?

Answer 2

It means that the body feels that it cannot function without it.

Question 3

What is the reason doctors give for why some people become addicts and others do not?

Answer 3

Doctors don’t know.

Question 4

What do you call substances taken for pleasure? What are the three types?

Answer 4

Recreational drugs. The types are opiates, depressants and stimulants

Question 5

Name three legal recreational drugs.

Answer 5

Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine.

Question 6

Name three illegal recreational drugs.

Answer 6

Dagga/marijuana, ecstasy and heroin.

Question 7

True or false: most recreational drugs are harmless

Answer 7

False, most recreational drugs are addictive and all of them can be harmful.

Question 8

What do opiates do? Give examples of opiates.

Answer 8

They copy the brain’s feel-good hormones, called endorphins, and bring about a state of peaceful euphoria.examples are heroin, morphine and opium.

Question 9

What are depressants also known as? And what do they do? Give examples.

Answer 9

Also known as downers. They slow down the messages in the brain and along the nerves. They reduce emotions and help people forget their problems. Examples are: alcohol, dagga and solvents.

Question 10

What are stimulants also called? And what do they do? Give some examples.

Answer 10

Also known as uppers, they speed up the messages in the brain and nerves. They help to heighten people’s senses, giving them more intense experiences. Examples are caffeine, nicotine, Tim, cocaine and ecstasy.

Question 11

List the different ways in which substances can be taken.

Answer 11

Swallowing: in pill or liquid form
Smoking: smoked and absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs, e.g. Tobacco, tik, dagga.
Snorting: sniffed or snorted up the nose, introducing the drug into the mucous linings of the nose from where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. E.g. Cocaine, heroin, speed and even tik.
Injecting: some drugs can be made into a liquid form and injected directly into the bloodstream using needles and syringes; e.g. Heroin, cocaine and tik.

Question 12

What are some of the dangers of injecting substances into your bloodstream?

Answer 12

Most people are not trained to give injections and could cause serious injury.
Sharing needles can cause the spread of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

Question 13

How is heroin taken and what type of substance is it?

Answer 13

Injected or snorted. It is illegal and is an opiate.

Question 14

How is ecstasy taken and categorise it.

Answer 14

Swallowing. It’s illegal, recreational and is a stimulant.

Question 15

How is alcohol taken and categorise it.

Answer 15

Swallowing, legal and a depressant.

Question 16

List seven physical symptoms of substance abuse.

Answer 16

Dramatic change in weight.
Red or glassy eyes, or pupils larger or smaller than usual.
Changes in eating habits.
Neglecting grooming habits and appearance.
Tremors, slurred speech or trouble walking or staying upright.
Odd smells on breath, body or clothing.
A rash around the nose or mouth.
Unexplained needle marks, bruising or blisters on the skin.

Question 17

List ten behavioral symptoms of substance abuse.

Answer 17

Stopping usually activities like sports, hobbies and homework.
Declining academic results.
Having a new group of friends and avoiding old friends and family.
Mood swings, irritability, outbursts.
Changes in sleep patterns or sudden restlessness or laziness.
Lying and other selfish behaviour.
Stealing or borrowing money or items.
Feeling unmotivated, hopeless, depressed and even suicidal.
Using room deoderisers and incense or always sucking mints or chewing gum.
Constantly talking about drugs or pressuring others to drink or use drugs.
Taking risks, including sexual risks.
General forgetfulness, blackouts or memory lapses.
Getting into trouble wi law, into fights or causing accidents.
Being fearful, anxious, confused, depressed or paranoid.

Question 18

Who will normally notice a person’s abuse of substances?

Answer 18

Usually the person’s friends and family.

Question 19

What improves the chances of someone being able to recover from substance abuse?

Answer 19

If symptoms are recognized early.

If the person is prepared to accept help.

Question 20

How does most substance abuse start?

Answer 20

With experimentation while under the influence of alcohol.

Question 21

What do we call a substance that makes people susceptible to substance abuse?

Answer 21

A gateway drug.

Question 22

What influences people experimenting with drugs?

Answer 22

Being drunk, being curious, because they see their friends and peers experimenting with a drug.

Question 23

What are the reasons for people using drugs?

Answer 23

To escape physical or emotional problems.
Low self esteem.
Anxiety.
Loneliness.
Unhappy family life.

Question 24

Alcohol has what effect?

Answer 24

It numbs feelings of depression.

Question 25

What effect does cocaine have?

Answer 25

It boosts energy and confidence.

Question 26

What effect do sleeping pills have?

Answer 26

They help to cope with panic attacks.

Question 27

How does addiction develop?

Answer 27

To start with, the substance does deal with the problems and makes life seem better for the person. They then take more and more. If they don’t use, the problems seem even worse, so they go back to drugs.

Question 28

Name three contributing factors to why people start taking drugs.

Answer 28

The individual themselves.
The relationships that they have.
The community in which they live.

Question 29

List four intrapersonal factors contributing to substance abuse.

Answer 29

Personality traits
Attitudes
Beliefs
Genetics

Question 30

Name three interpersonal influences contributing to substance abuse.

Answer 30

Family
Friends
Personal/home situation

Question 31

List 7 community and social factors influencing substance abuse.

Answer 31

Minimum purchase age for alcohol and cigarettes.
Romanticizing of alcohol and drugs on TV and movies.
Advertising of alcohol.
Cost of alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs.
National laws concerning alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs.
Local law enforcement.
School rules.

Question 32

True or false: there is no genetic link for alcoholism and drug taking.

Answer 32

False, there is a clear genetic link.

Question 33

What type of home environment reduces the risk of a child experimenting with drugs?

Answer 33

A stable, structure environment with clear rules and good communication.

Question 34

True or false: economic background of a person can play a role in a person’s decision to abuse a substance.

Answer 34

True.

Question 35

How can you protect yourself from falling into the trap of substance abuse?

Answer 35

Choose friends carefully and support one another when you need it.
Choose good role models.
Do not believe everything you see on movies or tv.
Exercise and take part in sport.
Share your problems with someone you trust.
Obey the rules set by your parents, caregivers and teachers.
Join a social or religious group that promotes healthy living.
Educate yourself about drugs.
Work on your assertiveness skills; practice saying ‘No’.
Develop your social skills.
Do not experiment with cigarettes and alcohol.

Question 36

What are the stages for getting help with abuse?

Answer 36

Early detection.
Admitting that there is a problem.
Seeking help or having Friends, family and significant people insisting that person get helps.

Question 37

If your friend is experiencing some of the risk factors contributing to substance abuse, describe how you can help.

Answer 37

Support your friend.
Help build self-esteem.
Compliment him/her on his/her strengths.
Point to the great potential that this friend has and that substance abuse will harm this.
Encourage him/her to get exercise.
Talk about the negative effects of drugs.

Question 38

If someone you know is already abusing substances, what should you do?

Answer 38

Try to reach out to the person.
Encourage him to seek professional help.
Don't judge.
Be supportive and understanding.
Be there.
Really listen.
Don't always offer advice.
Offer to attend a support group with the friend.
Or help them contact a professional.

Question 39

What are some of the organizations that you can contact for help with substance abuse?

Answer 39

Narcotics anonymous.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Drug addiction help.

Question 40

What is substance abuse?

Answer 40

It is using a legal or illegal substance in the wrong way, generally for its effect on the body and emotions.