1 of 30© boardworks ltd 2008. 2 of 30 © boardworks ltd 20083 of 30 what is a drug? a drug is any...

1 of 30 © Boardworks Ltd 2008


What is a drug?

A drug is any substance that changes the way the body or mind works.

How many different types of drug can you name?

Paracetamol, alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and ecstasy are all examples of substances that can be called drugs.

Some drugs are beneficial, like asthma drugs, but others like alcohol and nicotine in cigarettes can cause harm.

Drugs can be categorized into over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, recreational drugs and illegal drugs.


How is each type of drug classified?


How do drugs affect the body?


How can other substances harm the body?

Solvents such as aerosols, glues, paint and cleaning fluid can make people feel uninhibited, happy and dizzy if inhaled.

Inhaling solvents can cause vomiting and blackouts. People can also suffer fatal heart problems, even when solvents are taken for the first time.

Long term solvent abuse has been shown to damage the brain, liver and kidneys.


Why are drugs so dangerous?

You never know what other substances have been added to an illegal drug, so these could cause unknown effects.

Drugs can affect the way your brain works and cause damage to your body. They make you more likely to have accidents and make bad decisions.

An overdose is when someone takes too much of a drug. This can cause death or serious illness.

People can become addicted to drugs. This means that they develop a physical or mental need for the drug.


When tobacco smoke is inhaled, the nicotine quickly enters the bloodstream and has a stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Cigarettes are made from finely cut and dried tobacco leaves. Tobacco is made from the leaves of the tobacco plant, which contain small amounts of nicotine.

Smoking tobacco

However, smoking is very dangerous and can have serious effects on the lungs and respiratory system.


Smoking and the respiratory system

Why is a respiratory system that works properly essential for good health?

The respiratory system, which includes the lungs, provides the body with the oxygen it needs for respiration.

The lungs are delicate, spongy organs that deal with 12,000 litres of air each day.

How does smoking damage the respiratory system?


What’s in a cigarette?


How does smoking affect health?

How will these chemicals be harmful to the body’s systems?

Carbon monoxide – A poisonous gas that reduces the amount of oxygen that red blood cells can carry around the body.

Nicotine – An addictive drug that affects the central nervous system. It increases the heart rate and narrows the blood vessels, causing high blood pressure.

Tar – A brown, sticky substance that consists of tiny particles and is formed when tobacco smoke condenses. Tar paralyzes tiny hairs in the airways called cilia, this stops them removing mucus easily.


How does smoking affect the lungs?

Which picture shows the healthy lungs of a non-smoker and which shows the unhealthy lungs of a smoker?

Which set of lungs would you prefer?


Smoking statistics

Smoking doesn’t just make you unfit and unhealthy; it kills.

In the UK, around 114,000 smokers die every year as a result of their habit – that’s the same as 13 people per hour.

With such scary statistics about smoking, what can be done to help people give up this harmful habit?

About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their habit.

Smoking is thought to kill around five times more people in the UK than road traffic accidents, other accidents, poisoning and overdose, alcoholic liver disease, murder and manslaughter, suicide and HIV infection all put together.


Smoking ban

Passive smoking has health implications for people who do not smoke.

People living with a smoker are 25% more likely to get lung cancer.

Due to the serious effects of smoking on smokers and non-smokers, the government has banned smoking in enclosed public places, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and offices.

Every year, 17,000 children are admitted to hospital due to inhaling smoke from those around them.

What is happening in other countries?


Smoking bans around the world

Smoking is banned in many public places around the world.

Italy

Australia

Romania

Greece

BostonPakistan

Tokyo

ThailandUganda

South Korea

Tanzania

Iran

Turkey

California

South Africa

Norway

Ireland

France

UK

New York


Smoking quiz


Cannabis

Cannabis is an illegal drug made from parts of the cannabis plant. It is usually smoked with tobacco, and can cause a relaxing effect.

Some health experts say that cannabis is a gateway drug. This means that it can lead to the use of more harmful drugs.

However, cannabis is a mild hallucinogen and prolonged use may be linked to increased risk of developing schizophrenia.

In the short term cannabis use can cause dizziness, paranoia and loss of coordination.


The effects of smoking and cannabis


What is alcohol?

Alcohol is a chemical called ethanol, found in alcoholic drinks.

It is an addictive drug that can have serious consequences.

This legal drug can lower your inhibitions and affect your judgement.

Alcohol is seen by many people as a socially acceptable drug, however this doesn’t mean that it can’t be harmful.


How does alcohol affect health?

Alcohol is a recreational drug that has short-term and long-term effects on the body.

The liver breaks down alcohol to remove this toxic drug from the body. Too much alcohol can damage the liver leading to cirrhosis or cancer.

Alcohol is a depressant, it works by slowing down the nervous system and relaxing the brain. Alcohol can reach the brain in just one minute. Too much alcohol can damage the brain cells and cause depression.


Alcohol advice

It is recommended that men should drink no more than 21 units a week, and women 14 units.

How many units are in each drink?

2

2

3

2

1.5

1 pint of normal lager

1 pint of cider

1 bottle of alcopop

250 ml of wine

25 ml of spirit

Drink Units of alcohol

175 ml of wine

1

1 pint of strong lager 3


Drink driving

Alcohol slows down reactions and affects coordination and judgement. This can be very dangerous when driving a car.

In the UK the maximum blood alcohol level is 80 mg in 100 ml. This means that men should drink no more than four units of alcohol before driving and women should drink no more than three units.

Alcohol affects different people in different ways so it’s best not to drink at all if you plan to drive.

On average, 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured in the UK each year in drink drive collisions.


The effects of alcohol


Glossary


Anagrams


Multiple-choice quiz

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Documents

illegal drugs

recreational drugs

prescription drugs

overthecounter drugs

asthma drugs

respiratory system

smoking tobacco

addictive drug