Use and Abuse of Drugs Flashcards
What is a drug?
A substance that alters the chemical reactions in the body.
What is drug dependency?
When a drug alters the chemical reactions in the body so that the body becomes addicted to it. Not taking a drug you’re addicted to can result in withdrawal.
What are the three types of drug?
- Medicinal
- Recreational
- Performance-enhancing
What is a medicinal drug?
A medically useful drug i.e. antibiotics.
What are recreational drugs?
Drugs that are used for fun i.e. marijuana, cocaine etc
What are performance-enhancing drugs?
Drugs that enhance someone’s athletic ability.
Give two types of performance enhancing drugs and what effect they have on the body.
- Anabolic steroids increase muscle mass and strength
* Stimulants give energy
What is the argument for the use of drugs in sport?
- Athletes have the right to risk their health
- Drug free sport isn’t fair anyway as athletes have access to different facilities
- Avoids penalisation of drug takers
What is the argument against drugs in sport?
- Unfair for people to get an advantage without training
- Athletes may not be aware of all the risks
- Unfair for poor countries as wealthy countries can afford more drugs
What steps must be taken when testing a medicinal drug?
1) Tests on human cells and tissues
2) Tests on at least two mammals to test effects on multiple body systems
3) Tests on healthy volunteers to check for side effects.
What happens to the dosage during stage three of testing a medicinal drug? Why?
The dosage is steadily increased in order to find the optimum dose.
What is a placebo?
A false drug used in drug trials to make sure the effects of a drug are purely medical and not psychological.
What is a blind trial?
A drug trial in which the patient doesn’t know whether or not they have a placebo.
What is a double-blind trial?
A drug trial I which neither the patients or the doctors know who has a placebo.
What was thalidomide originally created as?
A sleeping pill
