DRUGS

Drugs may be taken for medical reasons or personal reasons and can have both goo
d and bad effects.
Drug: any chemical substance that affects the functioning of the body. Eg. anti
biotics, painkillers, marijuana, heroin, alcohol, nicotine etc…
Drug Abuse: the use of drugs in excessive amounts for non-medical purposes.
Type of drug Effects Examples
Depressants Slow down the actions of the nervous
System. Barbiturates, heroin, morphine,
Tranquilisers and alcohol
Stimulants Speed up the actions of the nervous system, highly addictive.
Amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, caffeine, nicotine
Hallucinogens Affect the nervous system and produce feelings of false reality.
Cannabis(marijuana), LSD(lysergic acid diethylamide) and solvents such as glue o
r lighter fuel.

Problems Of Drug Abuse:

Social-
• Accidents
• Crime: stealing, murder, wounding
• Prostitution:suicide
• Family suffers neglect
• School/education neglected
• Absenteeism from work.
Economic-
• All resources spent on drugs
• Expensive
• Physiological-
• Infection
• Exposure to diseases eg. STDs
• Weakening of body.
Specific Examples: ALCOHOL (legal drug)
It is a depressant that slows down the actions of the nervous system.
Short Term Effects
• Slurred speech
• Impaired mental functioning
• Loss of muscular coordination
• Increased excretion leading to dehydration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Violent or aggressive behaviour
• Loss of consciousness may follow
Long Term Effects
• Physical and psychological dependence
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Malnutrition and risk of deficiency diseases
• Cirrhosis of liver
• Liver cancer
• Stomach ulcers
• Coronary heart disease and high blood pressure
• Pregnancy; miscarriage, fetal abnormalities
Physiological:
• Depressant
• Small amounts create a relaxed feeling, increased confidence
• Damage organs
• Affect cerebrum; vision, speech, thinking etc…
• Medulla affected-death
Social:
• Breakdown of family relations
• Rape
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Family break up
• Crime
• Accidents-interfers with muscle control
Economic:
• Job loss
• Default on loan payments
• Hospital services
Marijuana (Illegal drug)
A green or grey mix of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cann
abis sativa.
Physiological Effects
• Problems with memory and learning
• Distorted perception
• Difficulty in thinking
• Difficulty in problem solving
• Loss of coordination
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• More tar and carbondioxide as the smoked form is unfiltered
• Hallucinogen
• Dizziness, light headedness
• Cancer in respiratory tract
• Blood shot eyes, dry mouth and throat
Social
• Leads to use of other drugs
• Crimes
• Less productive
Economic
• More money into police and military
Prescription Drugs:
Diet Pills-
• Increase metabolic rate, burn more calories
• Stimulants (amphetamines)
• Addictive
• Same effects as other drugs
• Eg. Acai fat burn pills
Antibiotics-
• Anti bacterial drug
• Resistant strains of bacteria
• Egs. Penicillin, erythromycin, amoxicillin
Steroids-
• Treat Rheumatism and inflammatory ailments
• Given to post operative patients to promote muscle growth and tissue regeneratio
n
• Heart disease, liver damage, abnormal sex organs
• Egs. Cortisone, betametasone,vitamin d, oestrogen
Tranquilisers(depressants)-
• Reduce hyperactivity, anxiety, tension
• Induce sleep
• Addiction, toxicity
• Egs. valium, phenobarbitone, seconal

Plant and Animal Diseases

Plant Diseases:
• Caused by fungi and viruses
• Spread easily by planting infected plants, leaving infected plant parts in the s
oil, spores, saliva of biting plant pests.
• Egs. Potato blight, sugarcane smut, papaya ringspot, pepper mottle virus, banana
wilt, lethal yellowing in coconuts
Animal Diseases:
• Usually bacterial. Egs. Anthrax in farm animals, mastitis in cows, scours in pig
lets
• Animals can be vaccinated and good sanitation helps
Egs of diseases carried by animals that can spread to humans are:
• Avian flu-chickens
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE/madcow)
These diseases are called Zoonotic diseases.
Economic and Social Effects Of Plant And Animal Diseases:
• Decreased and lost production
• Price and market effects
• Trade
• Food security and nutrition
• Human health and the environment
• Financial costs