The use and abuse of drugs

Biology

describe a drug

A drug is an externally administered substance which modifies or affects chemical reactions in the body.

Categories of drugs?

Depressant and Stimulant

Depressant?

Slows down nerve impulse and brain activity

Stimulant?

They increase the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to the next. This increases alertness, heart rate and breathing rate

Beneficial effects of drugs?

Pain relief, Treatment of disease, Mood influencing effect

What is Heroin?

A powerful depressant that has a sedative effect

Sedative effect?

Slows down the nervous system

Explain how heroin affects the nervous system, limited to its effect on the function of synapse.

Heroin affect synapses in the brain. It fits into receptors that normally accept neurotransmitters called endorphins. Endorphins in the brain normally make us feel good. Heroin reduces the production of endorphins therefore there is nothing to fit into the endorphin receptors when users are not taking heroine and consequently they feel awful.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms:

Vomiting, Diarrhea, Hallucinations, Muscular pain and Shaking.

Mainlined definition

drug normally taken by injection in the vein

Alcohol

slows down nervous system

Effects of Alcohol:

• It is a depressant

• IT slows reaction times

• When consumed in excessive quantities it leads to loss of self control

• it also leads to lover damage which can eventually prove fatal.

Use of antibiotics

Antibiotics are medications specifically designed to treat bacterial infections by either killing it or inhibiting the growth

How does antibiotics kill bacteria

Killing bacteria by interfering with their cell wall formation, causing the bacteria to burst or die.

How does antibiotiics inhibit bacterial growth

stop bacteria from growing and multiplying, allowing the body’s immune system to eliminate the infection

What is a superbug?

bacteria that gains immunity and cant get killed

Antibiotic Resistance

Every time antibiotics are used, some bacteria survive due to natural variations or mutations. These survivors multiply, passing on their resistant traits. This is an example of natural selection.

MRSA

Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus