Term 4 : Substance abuse

Question 1

What is substance abuse?

Answer 1

Taking drugs and drinking unhealthy amounts of alcohol is called substance abuse.

Question 2

What is the difference between legal and illegal drugs? Give one example of each.

Answer 2

Legal drugs are drugs that are permitted by the authorities to be given to people usually with strict guidelines or clear instructions and information about the side effects of using the drugs. Paracetamol is a legal drug that is prescribed by doctors to help with pain. They should only be taken when you have pain and a fever and only the amount that are included in the instructions.

Illegal drugs are drugs that authorities have forbidden to be taken in any circumstance. Cocaine.

Question 3

Name two laws in South Africa that are in place to protect children and adults from the damaging effects of alcohol and smoking.

Answer 3

It is illegal for people under 18 to buy, drink or order alcohol.
It is illegal to serve alcohol to someone under 18.
It is illegal for people under 18 to buy cigarettes.
Restaurants must have an enclosed area for smokers.

Question 4

Name two warning signs that a person may have a substance abuse problem.

Answer 4

relying on drugs/alcohol to have fun or relax
not being able to remember what happened when drunk or high
withdrawing from family/friends
dropping grades at school or frequent absences
gradually needing more and more of a substance to achieve the same feeling

Question 5

What impact does drinking alcohol have on young people’s health?

Answer 5

Slows down bone and muscle growth
Lowers the immune system so the person gets sick more often
Makes it more difficult to stop drinking as they get older

Question 6

What other impacts can substance abuse have on a family?

Answer 6

Increased probability of physical and verbal abuse
Stealing money or items to sell for money in order to buy the substance.
Stealing substances in order to feed the persons appetite.

Question 7

How does smoking impact your health?

Answer 7

Damages your lungs
Makes your teeth yellow
Makes your skin wrinkly
Bad Breath
Can impact growth of bones - person will be smaller than if they had not smoked.

Question 8

What happens if you drink too much alcohol?

Answer 8

Breath smells, feel dizzy, can fall over, throw up, cannot see properly, cannot make decisions, don’t feel hungry, hands and feet shake.
You feel sick (hangover) the next day.
Pregnant women can harm their unborn babies damaging them for life.
Damage liver, kidneys, brain, heart.
If in excess, alcohol can poison the body and kill it.