3-Use & Abuse Of Drugs Flashcards
(29 cards)
What do drugs need to be tested and trialled for?
Toxicity, efficacy and dose.
What are drugs?
Chemical substances that alter the way our body works.
What are the stages in developing a new drug?
- New drug made in lab.
- Tested in lab using cells, tissue culture and live animals for toxicity.
- Tested on healthy volunteers in clinical trials. Very low doses given initially to test for toxicity.
- If safe, further trials on humans to find optimum dose. In double blind trials some patients given a placebo (doesn’t contain drug). Neither patient nor doctor knows who has placebo until end of trial.
What is thalidomide?
A drug developed as a sleeping pill.
Why was thalidomide banned?
It was found to be effective in removing morning sickness on pregnant women, but hadn’t been tested for this. Many babies were born that had severe limb abnormalities.
What were the effects of the banning of thalidomide?
Drug testing became mor rigorous.
More recently thalidomide has been used in the treatment of leprosy.
Why do some use drugs recreationally?
They like the effect is has on them.
What recreational drugs are legal?
Nicotine and alcohol.
What recreational drugs are illegal?
Cannabis, heroin and ecstasy.
What can misuse of recreational drugs lead to?
Affect the heart and circulatory system.
Some are more harmful than others.
Why is the impact if legal drugs much bigger than illegal drugs?
More people use them.
What can the impact of legal drugs be?
Link between smoking and developing respiratory illnesses and lung cancer is well established.
Excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking causes damage to the liver, which can result in death.
Why may people become dependent/addicted to drugs?
They alter the chemical processes in them so may have withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms may by psychological or physical.
What is cannabis?
An illegal drug used for recreational purposes by many people. It’s a relaxant and can cause hallucinations.
What are the harmful side effects of cannabis?
Bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and mental illness.
Why is smoking cannabis beneficial to some?
It’s a good painkiller to people suffering conditions like HIV, multiple sclerosis, arthritis and cancer.
What are performance-enhancing drugs?
Substances used to increase a particular skill set.
What are steroids?
Performance-enhancing drugs taken to build mass and strength of muscles and/or bones.
What do stimulants do?
Boost body functions such as heart rate.
How do people know if athletes are taking performance-enhancing drugs, which are banned?
Athletes can be screened for these drugs and, if found to have taken them, can be banned from further participation.
What are statins?
Drugs that work in the liver to reduce the manufacture of cholesterol.
What are the pros of statins?
- Reduce manufacture of cholesterol
- Reduce risk of heart attack or stroke caused be cardiovascular disease by up to 1/3
- Most effective drugs for reducing LDLs (‘bad’ cholesterol)
What are the cons of statins?
- Can have many side effects
- Cannot be taken by children, pregnant women or heavy drinkers
- Use of statins reduces need for people to change unhealthy lifestyle
- Must be taken for life
What is experimental drug use?
When people try a drug for the first time out or curiosity, boredom or their friends are doing it. Sometimes to rebel against authority.
