drug & beh txt 10-13

Short-Answer Quiz (10 Questions)

Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. Describe two historical uses of tobacco and how its perception changed over time.

2. What are the three major Canadian tobacco companies, and where is the majority of Canadian tobacco grown?

3. Explain the myth of "safer" cigarettes and what regulations exist today to combat this perception.

4. What are the main physiological effects of nicotine on the body, and why is it considered highly addictive?

5. Outline Health Canada's recommendations for caffeine consumption for different age groups, including pregnant women and adolescents.

6. Describe the early history of coffee houses and their role in social and political life, particularly in England.

7. Briefly explain the different NAPRA drug schedules and how they classify medications in Canada.

8. What are the therapeutic uses and potential side effects of aspirin?

9. Identify the species of Cannabis plant and describe their different growth, potency factors, and psychoactive components.

10. Explain the mechanism of action of THC in the brain, including the receptors it binds to and the neurotransmitters it affects.

Answer Key to Short-Answer Quiz

1. Historically, tobacco was used medicinally to treat ailments like headaches and wounds, with French physician Jean Nicot promoting its benefits. Over time, criticism emerged linking tobacco to adverse health effects, leading to growing regulation.

2. The three major Canadian tobacco companies are Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., and JTI-Macdonald Corporation. The majority (90%) of Canadian tobacco is grown in southwestern Ontario, specifically in areas like Delhi and Tillsonburg.

3. "Safer" cigarettes, like filter and low-tar versions, were marketed as reducing health risks, but have not been proven to do so long term. Since 2020, cigarette packages must list toxic contents, and marketing "safer" cigarettes is prohibited, addressing the misleading claims.

4. Nicotine acts as a CNS stimulant, mimicking acetylcholine at nicotinic receptors and causing adrenaline release. It is highly addictive due to its stimulating and blocking effects, coupled with dopamine release in the brain's reward center.

5. Health Canada recommends a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults, 300 mg per day for pregnant women, and 85 mg per day for children. Adolescents should consume no more than 2.5 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight.

6. Coffee houses emerged in England around 1650 and became central to social and political life, serving as places for learning, discussion, and business deals. Charles II even tried to ban coffee houses due to fears they were "hotbeds of seditious talk."

7. The NAPRA drug schedules classify medications in Canada, with Schedule I being prescription-only drugs, Schedule II being drugs sold without a prescription but kept behind the counter, and Schedule III being OTC drugs that can be displayed in the pharmacy.

8. Aspirin is used therapeutically as an analgesic for mild-to-moderate pain, an antipyretic to reduce fever, and an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling. Potential side effects include increased bleeding time, gastrointestinal bleeding, and the risk of Reye's syndrome in children with viral infections.

9. Three main species of cannabis are Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. C. sativa is tall and mainly used for fibers, C. indica is shorter and cultivated for psychoactive resins, and C. ruderalis is found mainly in Russia.

10. THC binds to specific CB1 receptors in the brain, primarily in areas linked to movement, memory, cognition, and reward. This binding affects neurotransmitter release, such as increasing dopamine levels, which contributes to the psychoactive and addictive effects of cannabis.

Essay Questions (5 Questions)

1. Discuss the evolution of tobacco use in Canada, including its early popularity, the rise of regulations, and current smoking trends. Analyze the factors contributing to the decline in cigarette sales and the emergence of alternative tobacco products.

2. Explore the history, cultural impact, and economic significance of coffee, focusing on the role of Tim Hortons in shaping Canada's coffee culture. Also, analyze the factors driving coffee's popularity and its potential health benefits and risks.

3. Examine the controversies surrounding the use of over-the-counter drugs, particularly OTC sleep aids and cough/cold medications for children. What are the potential dangers and benefits, and what guidelines should be followed to ensure safe usage?

4. Analyze the history and current state of cannabis policy in Canada, including the factors leading to legalization and the ongoing debates surrounding its regulation. Discuss the perceived benefits and risks of cannabis use and the need for education and harm reduction strategies.

5. Compare and contrast the physiological and psychological effects of nicotine, caffeine, and THC. How do these substances affect the brain, body, and behavior, and what are the implications for addiction, health, and public policy?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Nicotine: A central nervous system stimulant found in tobacco, highly addictive due to its effects on neurotransmitters like dopamine.

• Caffeine: A mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and other products, primarily affecting the central nervous system by blocking adenosine receptors.

• THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): The main psychoactive compound in cannabis, responsible for its euphoric and mind-altering effects.

• Cannabinoids: Chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, with THC being the most well-known.

• CB1 Receptors: Cannabinoid receptors primarily located in the brain and central nervous system, which are activated by THC and affect movement, memory, and cognition.

• CB2 Receptors: Cannabinoid receptors mainly located in immune cells, suggesting a role in modulating immune response.

• Secondhand Smoke: Smoke inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others, posing significant health risks to nonsmokers.

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Methods such as nicotine gum or patches used to help smokers quit by providing nicotine without harmful substances.

• Caffeinism: Excessive caffeine consumption leading to symptoms such as nervousness, irritability, and insomnia.

• Anandamide: A naturally occurring cannabinoid-like substance in the brain that binds to cannabinoid receptors.

• NAPRA Drug Schedules: A system in Canada that classifies drugs into different schedules based on their accessibility, ranging from prescription-only (Schedule I) to over-the-counter (Schedule III).

• OTC Drugs: Over-the-counter medications that can be purchased without a prescription, often used for self-treatment of common ailments.

• Blood-brain barrier: A semipermeable membrane that separates circulating blood from brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system.

• Endocannabinoid System: A complex cell-signaling system that regulates a wide range of functions, including mood, appetite, sleep and more.

• Vasoconstriction: The constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.

• Hypertensive: Abnormally high blood pressure.

• Diuretics: Substances that promote increased urination.

• Analgesic: A medicine used to relieve pain.

• Antipyretic: A medicine used to reduce fever.

• Anti-inflammatory: A medicine used to reduce swelling and inflammation.

• Addiction: A state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences.

• Tolerance: The state when a person no longer responds to a drug in the way they did at first. So it takes a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same effect as when the person first used it.

• Withdrawal: Symptoms that can occur after reducing or stopping use of a substance after a period of prolonged use.

• Psychosis: A severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.

• Anxiolytic: A drug used to relieve anxiety.

• Neuroprotective: Protecting nerve cells against damage.

• Hypersensitivity: An exaggerated or inappropriate response to a stimulus, such as a drug.

• Neurotoxicity: The damaging or destruction of nerve tissue.

• Leukoplakia: White patches in the mouth, often precancerous, associated with smokeless tobacco use.

• Carboxyhemoglobin: Formed when carbon monoxide (CO) binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

• Monoamine Oxidase (MAO): An enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters like dopamine.

• Nucleus Accumbens: A brain region associated with reward and pleasure, where dopamine release reinforces addictive behaviors.

• Shisha: Flavored tobacco smoked through a hookah, often falsely believed to be safer than cigarettes.

• Diterpines: Natural compounds found in coffee that can potentially raise cholesterol levels.

• Hyperinsulinemia: A condition in which there are excessively high levels of insulin circulating in the blood.

• Inverse Agonist: A drug that binds to a receptor and produces an effect opposite to that of an agonist.

• Placebo: A substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value.

• Guarana: A natural stimulant often added to energy drinks for its caffeine content.

• Taurine: An amino acid often added to energy drinks, believed to enhance cognitive performance when combined with caffeine and glucose.

• Methylxanthines: A class of chemical compounds, including caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine, known for their stimulant effects.

• Fair Trade: A social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainability.

• Organic: Food that's produced using environmentally and animal-friendly farming methods.

• Sinsemilla: A preparation of cannabis made from the unpollinated flowering tops of female plants, which are bred to have high THC content.

• Hashish: A cannabis concentrate made from compressed or purified preparations of resinous material from the plant.

• Cachexia: Weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.

• Spasticity: A condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.

• Epilepsy: A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

• Intraocular Pressure (IOP): The fluid pressure inside the eye.

• Bronchospasm: Contraction of the muscles lining the bronchioles, the small airways in the lungs.

• Agonist: A chemical or drug that binds to a receptor and activates the receptor to produce a biological response.

• Amotivational Syndrome: A controversial concept suggesting long-term cannabis use leads to a lack of motivation and poor performance.

• Teratogen: An agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo.

• Guarana: A natural stimulant often added to energy drinks for its caffeine content.

• Synesthesia: A neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses.

• Guarana: A natural stimulant often added to energy drinks for its caffeine content.

• Taurine: An amino acid often added to energy drinks, believed to enhance cognitive performance when combined with caffeine and glucose.

• Emphysema: A lung condition that causes shortness of breath.