The Use and Abuse of Drugs Flashcards
What three things are drugs tested for?
Efficacy, toxicity and dose
How are drugs tested?
■ In the laboratory, using cells, tissues and
live animals
■ In clinical trials involving healthy volunteers
and patients. Very low doses of the drug are
given at the start of the clinical trial. If the drug is
found to be safe, further clinical trials are carried
out to find the optimum dose for the drug. In some
double blind trials, some patients are given a
placebo, which does not contain the drug. Neither
the doctors nor the patients know who has
received a placebo and who has received the
drug until the trial is complete
What is a placebo?
A placebo is identical in colour, texture, size and shape as the drug being tested however it contains no active ingredient.
What is a double blind trial?
A double blind trial is where neither the doctor nor the patients know who has the placebo and who has the drug. It allows for a fairer result.
What are statins used to treat?
Used to reduce cholesterol, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease or heart problems.
What is thalidomide? What was it originally prescribed for? What is it used for now?
Thalidomide is a drug that was developed as a
sleeping pill. It was also found to be effective in
relieving morning sickness in pregnant women.
Thalidomide had not been tested for use in pregnant
women. Unfortunately, many babies born to mothers
who took the drug were born with severe limb
abnormalities. The drug was then banned. As a
result, drug testing has become much more rigorous.
More recently, thalidomide has been used
successfully in the treatment of leprosy and other
diseases.
What are the effects of alcohol on the body?
It is a depressant so can slow down reaction times and reduce alertness. It is broken down in the liver and so heavy drinkers can be at a higher risk of cancer, damage to the brain and damage to the kidneys.
What are the effects of nicotine on the body?
Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide and tar. Tar is a carcinogen (cancer causing substance) and the carbon monoxide can cause a low birth mass of babies. There are three main diseases that are caused by smoking; emphysema, lung cancer and bronchitis.
How does the tar in cigarette smoke affect a smokers lungs?
It damages the cilia which keep the lungs clean and it reduces the surface area of the avioli needed for gas exchange. 90% of lung cancer is caused by smoking.
What is cannabis? Why is it known as a gateway drug?
Cannabis is a illegal recreational drug. It is known as a gateway drug because it is said to make users more likely to use ‘harder’ drugs.
Do legal or illegal drugs have a greater impact?
The overall impact of legal drugs (prescribed and
non-prescribed) on health is much greater than the
impact of illegal drugs because far more people
use them.
Why don’t people find it easy to stop taking drugs?
Drugs change the chemical processes in peoples’
bodies so that they may become dependent or
addicted to the drug and suffer withdrawal
symptoms without them. Heroin and cocaine are
very addictive.
What are drugs that athletes use called? Are they legal?
There are several types of drug that an athlete can
use to enhance performance. Some of these drugs
are banned by law and some are legally available
on prescription, but all are prohibited by sporting
regulations. Examples include stimulants that boost
bodily functions such as heart rate; and anabolic
steroids which stimulate muscle growth.
