Religious attitudes to drug abuse

Question 1

Religious attitudes to the mind and body (5)

Answer 1

1. ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him’ (1 Cor 3 – St Paul)
2. Fifth Precept, etc. Free will to make decisions is a gift from God
3. Religions (Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism) and some Christians (e.g. Salvation Army and Methodists) forbid alcohol
4. Sikhism and Buddhism (and Islam during Ramadan) prohibit smoking because of the harm it does
5. the issue of craving in Buddhism (tanha)

Question 2

What rights and responsibilities people have regarding drug use (4)

Answer 2

1. Drugs are harmful, addictive and can kill
2. effects on society (crime, family, homelessness etc.)
3. treatment is expensive to public funds
4. the law should be obeyed and such substances are illegal.

Question 3

Why (religious) people use drugs (4)

Answer 3

1. body should be cherished and protected as it is on loan from God so medically prescribed (legal) drugs should be used to achieve this
2. addiction
3. peer pressure
4. enjoyment

Question 4

The different types of drugs available – including their effect on the mind and body (2)

Answer 4

1. Class B -Cannabis (weed, skunk, oil) amphetamines (speed)
2. Class A - Heroin (smack) Ecstasy (E)

Question 5

The effects of legal drugs (4)

Answer 5

1. cannabis has medicinal properties as a pain killer for sufferers of multiple sclerosis (although many religious believers only support its use when legally clinically prescribed as oral spray)
2. Some legal drugs are harmful and can be addictive.
3. Misuse can cause harm
4. Many of them are used socially and can cause harm. Medically prescribed drugs are more difficult to obtain and are designed to control or cure

Question 6

Reasons why taxes should be used to fund medical research and treatment for drug users, including alcohol/tobacco-related illness (2)

Answer 6

1. if they receive no help they may never be useful members of the community and may continue taking illegal drugs until they die
2. dharma (duty) to help others – Hinduism

Question 7

Reasons why taxes should not be used to fund medical research and treatment for drug users, including alcohol/tobacco-related illness (2)

Answer 7

1. others should not have to pay extra for this self-inflicted problem
2. others need help from taxation and are more deserving

Question 8

The problems associated with addiction (2)

Answer 8

1. addiction can take the place of God in a person’s life
2. people addicted to tobacco harm others in society including their family through unwise spending patterns by buying tobacco
3. people die from it or at least become unhealthy

Question 9

How (religious) people and society can help addicts and their families (4)

Answer 9

1. replacement drug therapies – use other drugs to get over withdrawal symptoms
2. Counselling – to help with the causes of the addiction
3. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous
4. Rehabilitation centres and charities

Question 10

The effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation programmes (4)

Answer 10

1. Process by which addicts are helped to defeat their addiction to drugs
2. best achieved with professional medical help
3. process of reintroduction into normal life.
4. Relapse rates for addiction are the same as for other chronic diseases

Question 11

Why (religious) people and society should help addicts and their families (4)

Answer 11

1. professional care is the most loving approach to drug users
2. if they receive no help they may never be useful members of the community and may continue taking illegal drugs until they die
3. taking illegal drugs can be a cry for help and religious teachings encourage believers to help those in need
4. if helping includes methods of safer drug taking e.g. providing sterile needles, these should be credited.

Question 12

The law on drugs (4)

Answer 12

1. Legal drugs are any drugs (e.g. caffeine, paracetamol) that can legally be bought and taken.
2. Age-restricted drugs (e.g. alcohol and nicotine) are included in this definition.
3. Medically prescribed drugs can only be obtained with the authorisation of a medical doctor in order to control or cure medical conditions.. Main difference is that legal drugs are widely available and easy to obtain.
4. Illegal drugs are labelled as class A, B or C – A being the worst with the heaviest penalties

Question 13

The laws relating to drugs are appropriate (cannabis should remain illegal) (2)

Answer 13

1. it appears to do no immediate harm and less than tobacco and alcohol
2. currently criminalises a lot of people and wastes police and court time

Question 14

The laws relating to drugs are not appropriate (cannabis should be legalised) (3)

Answer 14

1. it appears to do no immediate harm and less than tobacco and alcohol
2. currently criminalises a lot of people and wastes police and court time
3. use of cannabis (or forms of cannabis) for religious observance by Rastafarians, Ethiopian Coptic Church, some Hindu Sadhus and Nihang Sikh

Question 15

The laws relating to drugs are appropriate (alcohol should be legal) (3)

Answer 15

1. some research shows some alcoholic drinks are beneficial to health
2. alcohol is used in some religious ceremonies e.g. Holy Communion, Shabbat, Purim

Question 16

The laws relating to drugs are inappropriate (alcohol should not be legal) (2)

Answer 16

1. alcohol harms society because of the actions of those under the influence of alcohol/negative effects on family life e.g. role in domestic violence
2. alcohol is more harmful than some illegal drugs and responsible for many deaths; cost to NHS and the economy etc.