Drug Misuse - Definitions + Trends

Question 1

Drug Abuse

Answer 1

Persistent or sporadic excessive use unrelated to accepted medical practice.

Question 2

Tolerance

Answer 2

reduction/loss of the normal response to a substance

Question 3

Psychological Dependence

Answer 3

A feeling of satisfaction and psychic drive that requires periodic or continuous administration of the drug to produce pleasure/avoid discomfort

Question 4

Physical Dependence

Answer 4

intensive physical disturbances that occur when administration is suspended

Question 5

4 areas where people misuse drugs:

Answer 5

1. Experimentation
2. Recreational Use
3. Problematic Use
4. Addiction

Question 6

Why do people misuse drugs?

Answer 6

• Peer pressure
• Rebellion
• Combat depression (to stop feeling low)
• To overcome shyness, anxiety, lack of confidence
• To feel good, high, exhilarated, euphoria, rush

Question 7

What do the desired effects of drugs depend on?

Answer 7

DEPENDS ON ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION:
- Swallowed
- Injected
- Smoked
- Sniffed
AND THE TYPE OF DRUG MISUSED:
- Stimulants
- Depressants
- Hallucinogens

Question 8

Name 5 types of stimulant.

Answer 8

1. Cocaine Hydrochloride
2. Cocaine Freebase
3. Amphetamine
4. Methamphetamine (crystal meth)
5. Ecstasy

Question 9

Name 3 types of depressant

Answer 9

1. Opiates/Opioids
2. Benzodiazepines
3. Cannabis

Question 10

Name 2 types of hallucinogens

Answer 10

1. LSD

2. Magic Mushrooms

Question 11

What is the desired effect of a stimulant?

Answer 11

Euphoria + Excitement

Speed up the CNS

Question 12

What is the desired effect of a depressant?

Answer 12

Euphoria, contentment + well-being

Slow down CNS

Question 13

What is the desired effect of a hallucinogen?

Answer 13

Sights + Sounds become distorted and exaggerated

Alter perceptions

Question 14

What do penalties for drug offences depend upon?

Answer 14

1. The legal class of the drug
2. Which court hears the charge (magistrates or crown court)
3. Whether the charge is ‘possession’, ‘possession with intent to supply’ or ‘supplying a controlled drug’

Question 15

What are the class A drugs?

Answer 15

• Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, crack, magic mushrooms, amphetamines (if prepped for injection)

Question 16

What are the class B drugs?

Answer 16

• Amphetamines, Cannabis, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine

Question 17

What are the class C drugs?

Answer 17

• Buprenorphine, Tranquillisers, some painkillers, Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine

Question 18

What are the possible consequences for class A drugs?

Answer 18

Possession of controlled class A: £5000 fine and/or 6 months in prison

Intent to supply (@ crown court): unlimited fine and/or life imprisonment

Question 19

What are the possible consequences for class C drugs?

Answer 19

Possession: £2500 fine and/or 3 months imprisonment

Question 20

What 3 things can we used to measure drug misuse in the UK?

Answer 20

1. Offences
   - Number of cautions fallen by nearly 2/3 in last 10 years
2. Surveys
   - Crime Survey for England + Wales
   - Latest survey indicates public perceive crime rates to have fallen whilst worry about crime remains the same.
3. Treatment
   - National Drug Treatment Monitoring System