substance misuse

Question 1

How does substance misuse affect the respiratory system?

Answer 1

• Causes damage to the trachea and nasal passage, which increases risk of infection in these areas.
• Has a negative impact on gas exchange
• Causes ruptures in the air sacs in lungs (Pulmomary edema)
• Cause diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Question 2

How does substance misuse affect the cardiovascular system?

Answer 2

• Abnormal heart rates leading to heart attacks.
• Hypertension (leading to strokes, High Blood Pressure and kidney infection)
• Coronary Heart Disease - causes arteries to be unable to deliver enough oxygen to heart because of narrower blood vessels.
• Plaque can build up.
• Can cause Angina.

Question 3

How does substance misuse affect the digestive system?

Answer 3

• increased risk of throat/liver/colon cancer.
• liver and kidneys are damaged.
• Abdominal pain and nausea, causing gastritis and ulcers in stomach lining.
• Lack of blood flow to stomach and intestines.
• Diarrhoea
• Lack of appetite.

Question 4

How does substance misuse affect the reproductive system?

Answer 4

• drugs can cause long term impacts on the system such as infertility.
• can directly affect sperm and eggs such as low sperm count.
• drugs can pass directly into blood stream, affecting pregnancy (eg stillbirth)

Question 5

How does substance misuse affect the immune system?

Answer 5

• If drugs continuously enters the body, the immune system is weakened so is moire vulnerable to infections, poor organ function and diseases.
• more prone to side effects if weakened (dehydration, decreased eating and sleeping, mental exhaustion)

Question 6

How does substance misuse affect the Nervous system?

Answer 6

• drugs interfere with way neuron’s send and receive signals, which explains why people have a temporary high from drug use.
• Causes nerve and tissue damage.
• Causes High Blood pressure
• Can cause Paranoia.