RA to Drugs

Question 1

Define drug.

Answer 1

A substance which, when taken, affects the body or mind.

Question 2

Define prescription drugs.

Answer 2

Drugs legally obtained only with a doctor’s consent.

Question 3

Define drug abuse.

Answer 3

Using drugs in a way which harms the user.

Question 4

Define illegal drugs.

Answer 4

Drugs which are illegal to possess, sell or use, put into three classifications according to their potential harm and addictiveness.

Question 5

Define social drugs.

Answer 5

Legal drugs which are still addictive, such as alcohol, nicotine or caffeine.

Question 6

What is alcohol?

Answer 6

A depressant social drug, which reduces reaction times.

Question 7

What effect does alcohol have on the body?

Answer 7

Liver damage, obesity and heart disease, while also causing damage to unborn children if it is drunk while pregnant (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome).

Question 8

What can alcohol cause a person to do?

Answer 8

Cause an accident while driving or antisocial behaviour (violence, vandalism and rape).

Question 9

How many deaths are attributed to alcohol each year?

Answer 9

30,000, mainly due to drink-driving.

Question 10

What measures are in place to try and stop people drinking too much alcohol?

Answer 10

Alcohol is taxed, as well as shop-owners having the right to refuse you service if they suspect that you’re drunk.

Question 11

In which (main) 2 religions is alcohol allowed?

Answer 11

Judaism (Purim; a Jewish festival held in spring) and Christianity (during Mass).

Question 12

What problems does tobacco cause?

Answer 12

Lung cancer (due to the carcinogenic properties of the tar), bronchitis and heart disease.

Question 13

How does the government pay for the health care for smoking related illnesses?

Answer 13

Around 80% of the cost of a pack of cigarettes is tax.

Question 14

What is nicotine?

Answer 14

It is both a stimulant (increased heart rate) and a depressant (causes fatigue); it is a social drug.

Question 15

In which (main) 2 religions is tobacco disallowed? Why?

Answer 15

Buddhism and Islam, as it affects perception.

Question 16

What is caffeine?

Answer 16

A stimulant and a social drug.

Question 17

Are there any long term effects of caffeine?

Answer 17

No.

Question 18

Give an example of a prescription drug.

Answer 18

Insulin.

Question 19

Give the punishments given for possession and trade of class A drugs.

Answer 19

Possession: Up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supply: Up to life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.

Question 20

Give the punishments given for possession and trade of class B drugs.

Answer 20

Possession: Up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supply: Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Question 21

Give the punishments given for possession and trade of class C drugs.

Answer 21

Possession: Up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supply: Up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Question 22

Give at least 3 examples of class A drugs.

Answer 22

Any 3 from…

• Crack cocaine
• Cocaine
• LSD
• Heroin
• Magic Mushrooms
• Methamphetamene (Crystal meth)

Question 23

Give at least 3 examples of class B drugs.

Answer 23

Any 3 from…

• Amphetamines
• Barbiturates
• Cannabis
• Codeine
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Synthetic cannaboids
• Synthetic cathinones

Question 24

Give at least 3 examples of class C drugs.

Answer 24

Any 3 from…

• Anabolic steroids
• Benzodiazepines (Diazepam)
• Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
• Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)
• Ketamine
• Piperazines (BZP
• Tranquilisers (e.g. Temazepam)

Question 25

Give the 2 types of addiction and why they exist.

Answer 25

1. Genuine or medical addiction - when your body becomes dependant on the drug to work properly. Insulin is needed by diabetics to keep their blood sugar constant to survive. Heroin addicts will feel intense physical pain if they stop taking the drug.
2. Social addiciton - not really addiciton, although people get into the habit of taking social drugs like nicotine or caffeine. It may feel strange not to take these social drugs, but no harm will come to somebody who stops.

Question 26

Give the possible effects of over-the-counter and illegal drugs on the body. Use paracetamol and meth/ecstacy as an example.

Answer 26

• Legal painkillers, like parecetamol, can destroy the liver with a slight overdose, as the liver cannot break down the chemicals inside it.
• Illegal drugs, like ecstacy can make the body extremely dehydrated, and water cannot be taken out of the body, causing possible cell membrane break-down in vital organs. Methamphetamine can damage hair follicles and break down skin and eyes.

Question 27

Give the effects of social and illegal drugs on the mind. Use alcohol and cannabis as examples.

Answer 27

• Alcohol can make rash decisions - such as sleeping with someone else - while under the influence.
• Long term use of illegal drugs like cannabis (and methamphetamine) can cause the user to develop schizophrenia. Also, when ‘high’, previously unnacompliashable tasks suddenly seem doable, often ending badly.

Question 28

Why do many religions object to drug use?

Answer 28

• They delibrately harm the body that God has given you
• They render you incapable of making good choices or achieving spiritual progress

Question 29

Give at least 3 reasons why people start taking drugs.

Answer 29

• They might take them to enjoy a night out more
• They may have progressed from legal drugs (like alcohol or ‘legal highs’)
• Peer pressure
• Role models in business or TV can make it seem attractive
• They might take it to deal with issues in their lives, like depression or low self-esteem

Question 30

Give at least 3 long term problems of alcohol.

Answer 30

Any 3 from…

• It can cause damage to the brain by killing off brain cells, which prevents the brain working properly;
• It can be linked to impotence (decrease sexual function) and infertility;
• It can cause heart problems;
• It can damage your liver and stop it working properly;
• It is a depressant, so it can make you depressed;
• It can make you fat, as it contains a lot of calories;
• It damages blood vessels making your skin redden and damaging circulation.

Question 31

Give at least 3 long-term effects of smoking.

Answer 31

Any 3 from…

• Heart disease;
• Emphysema (making it hard to breathe – often sufferers are reliant on oxygen tanks);
• Cancer of the lungs, mouth and airways;
• It can damage babies if pregnant women smoke.

Question 32

Give at least 2 withdrawal symptoms of strong illegal drugs.

Answer 32

Withdrawal symptoms might include:

• Nausea – feeling sick;
• Physical pain – aching muscles and bones;
• Blurry vision and hallucination (seeing things);
• Inability to go to the toilet properly or control your bladder.

Question 33

Give a (non-religious) charity which helps recovering alcoholics.

Answer 33

Alcoholics Anonymous; a charity which gives free help to people who are addicts to help them stop. Everyone has a ‘sponsor’ which they can call when they are tempted to drink.

Question 34

Give a (non-religious) charity that helps users of a wide variety (many illegal) of drugs quit.

Answer 34

Narcotics Anonymous; similar to AA, having meetings and sponsors, even online skype meetings.

Question 35

Is an addict every cured?

Answer 35

Yes and no. Addiction stays with a person for life, as the body will always find it easier to operate with the drug, so often organisations like AA are joined for life. A person may overcome their addiction with very little side effects later on, but will most likely still feel weak towards a certain substance.

Question 36

Give the link between drugs and crime on society.

Answer 36

• Some drugs will make people drink-drive, behave aggressively or damage property
• Drugs are expensive - people may steal in order to buy drugs
• Creating a supply of illegal drugs often involves other crimes to be commited, like smuggling, bribery and violence

Question 37

Give the links between drugs and expense to the taxpayer.

Answer 37

• The NHS has to employ more doctors and nurses due to drug abuse - illegal drugs are not taxed so employing the staff comes solely from the taxpayer, as well as new treatments needing to be developed;
• The police have to work to arrest dealers and they are more likely to be injured by drunk people. Again, costing the taxpayer money.

Question 38

What is the ‘Freedom’ Argument for legalising drugs?

Answer 38

Many people believe criminalisation of many drugs is an infringement to freedom. Drugs which do not cause harm to others should be legal. However, some drugs unknowingly harm others (e.g. in foreign countries with growing etc.), so it is the government’s responsibility to keep people safe.

Question 39

What is the Economic argument towards the legalisation of drugs?

Answer 39

If drugs were made legal, they could be massively taxed. The money made would be more than the cost to the NHS, therefore making the government money. (This could also give the benefit of better help to those affected and easier tracking of drug flow)

Question 40

What is a Buddhist’s view towards drugs?

Answer 40

The majority of Buddhists follow the Five Moral Precepts, to aid them in following the Noble Eightfold Path (the path which the Buddha left behind in order for others to achieve enlightenment).

Taking drugs would be directly against the 5MP, which tells Buddhists not to take intoxicating substances, as it clouds the mind; Buddhists focus on clearing the mind through meditation, so taking drugs would undo their work. Also, drugs may lead to bad decisions and saying bad things, breaking the actions on the NEP.

Question 41

What is a Christian’s view towards drugs?

Answer 41

• St. Paul teaches that ‘your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit’ and that ‘anyone who destroys God’s Temple, God will destroy him’ - implying that if you damage your body God will punish you.
• The Book of Proverbs contains a great deal of advice against drunkenness and the mistakes to which it can lead. Many Christians think that drugs, even if not bad in themselves, can lead to mistakes being made.
• Christians are taught follow the laws of the country they are in (Jesus taught ‘Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar’), so if drugs are illegal they should not use them.
• Alcohol is allowed as part of mass, however, in memory of the blood spilled for people. Some groups (such as Methodists) are part of the ‘temperance’ movement which encourages members not to drink.

Question 42

What is a Hindu’s view towards drugs?

Answer 42

There are no specific teachings about drugs, however, Hinduism’s focus is a personal journey towards Moksha (release from the cycle of rebirth), so how a Hindu performs his/her duty is up to them. Therefore some believe that drugs cloud the mind and lead to bad decisions, and this will make you lose Kharma.

However, some (e.g. Shivite monks) choose to use natural herbs similar to cannabis to acces ‘higher’ planes of conciousness and aid in meditation.

Question 43

What is a Muslim’s view towards drugs?

Answer 43

All intoxicants are haram (impure). These cloud the mind and take a person away from Allah. They can also lead to breaking other religious rules while under the influence of drugs; for that reason Muslims do not drink or use drugs.

Question 44

What is a Jew’s view towards drugs?

Answer 44

In the Book of Genesis (Torah), the idea of Stewardship is introduced, which says that our bodies are on load from God. Therefore damaging our bodies through drug use would be disrespectful.

However, wine is used in many Jewish ceremonies (e.g. Shabbat and Pesach), and also Jews are commanded to become so drunk they can’t tell if they’re cursing Haman or praising Mordechai during the festival of Purim (once a year - Jews don’t condone regular drunkenness).