Drug Abuse

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

A drug is a substance that, if consumed, will affect the way our bodies and mind work

Question 2

Different categories of drugs and what they do?

Answer 2

Stimulants (increase activity of brain)
Depressants (decrease activity of brain)
Hallucinogens (distort vision and hearing)
Opoid analgesics (painkilling effect)

Question 3

Why secular people take drugs?

Answer 3

Boredom
Rebellion
Peer pressure
Fun 
Escapism
Addiction
Risk 
Curiousity

Experimental
Experiential (have a desirable effect eg feeling happy)
Addiction
Recreational

Question 4

Examples of illegal drugs

Answer 4

Heroin
Cocaine
Marijuana

Question 5

Examples of legal drugs

Answer 5

Alcohol
Caffeine
Tobacco

Question 6

sanctity of life?

Answer 6

The inherent holiness of each life because it is a gift from God

(Drug abuse evades this)

Question 7

Laws/statistics on smoking

Answer 7

13 mil people smoke in UK
Illegal to sell tobacco products to U18s
Illegal to smoke if U16
Illegal to smoke inside public places in part of UK
Illegal to smoke in the car with children
There is a heavy tax on cigarettes

Question 8

Short term and long term effects of smoking?

Answer 8

ST:
Stains fingers and teeth
Bad breath
Causes wrinkles
Affects sporting performance

LT:
Coronary heart disease
Emphysema 
Cancer of mouth, throat, lungs, bladder
Risk to health of baby if pregnant

Question 9

What is passive smoking?

Answer 9

Aka second hand smoking : breathing in fines of someone else smoking
This has similar negative effects to smoking first hand

Question 10

Short term and long term effects of drinking alcohol?

Answer 10

ST:
Increased aggression
Loss of control and judgement
Inability to work

LT:
Decrease in brain tissue and function
Infertility
Heart disease and heart failure
Anxiety 
Depression 
Obesity

Question 11

How are drugs classified?

Answer 11

Drugs are classified as A, B, C

all drugs classified within the same group will all involve the same legal punishment

Question 12

Class A drug legal punishment

Answer 12

Max 7 years for possession

Max life in prison for supplying

Question 13

Class b drugs legal punishment?

Answer 13

Max 5 years for possession

Max 14 years for supply

Question 14

Class c drugs legal punishment?

Answer 14

Varies … Generally 2 years for possession and 14 years for supplying

Question 15

Examples of class a drugs

Answer 15

Heroine
Cocaine
Ectasy

Question 16

Examples of class b drugs

Answer 16

Cannibis (weed)

Amphetamines (speed)

Question 17

Examples of class c drugs?

Answer 17

Anabolic steroids

Tranquillisers eg Valium

Question 18

Describe the reclassification of cannabis

Answer 18

In 1971 cannabis = class B (labelled as a ‘gateway drug’

In 2004 it was reclassified as class C cos was less dangerous than other class B

However in 2008 the government decided it should be class B because was more dangerous than class C drugs due to skunk cannabis (aka concentrated THC content) was becoming more popular

Question 19

Arguments for cannabis being class B

Answer 19

Causes mental health issue - over 1000 people suffer from psychotic illnesses from taking it
500 people a week are admitted to hospital for taking it (dangerous)
It is a gateway drug - leads to more dangerous drugs eg cocaine

Question 20

Arguments for cannabis being class c / legalised

Answer 20

Less dangerous than other class B drugs like amphetamines
If legalised the government can tax cannabis sales and put money into NHS and education
It grows naturally (like tobacco)
Rastafarians (eg Bob Marley) believe when the bible says ‘God created herb’ it means cannabis and therefore it is okay
Has a medical for some conditions, eg multiple sclerosis (BUT cannot be legally prescribed)

Question 21

Rights people have regarding drug use?

Answer 21

Right to self determination (ie the gov shouldn’t control what we do to OUR own bodies)
Right to medical care if we fall ill and the subsequent prescriptions (prescribed drugs)

Question 22

Instances where the mind and body interact?

Answer 22

Digestive system is control by the mind - anxiety, depression and fear affect its function
Psychological stress can trigger high blood pressure, migraine headache or even diabetes

Question 23

What is taxation?

Answer 23

Money payed as tax

Eg cigarettes and alcohol are highly taxes (increasing their price) to reduce sales of these items - health precaution

Question 24

Arguments for and against taxation of alcohol/cigarettes going towards treatment for drug users?

Answer 24

FOR-
People who are paying for their addiction will be able to be directly helped by the treatment available
Moral thing to do?

AGAINST-
Might discourage people to quit their addiction as the effect of the taxes could help them in the long term

Question 25

How can religious people help those suffering from addiction?

Answer 25

Salvation Army (Christian charity) offers rehabilitation and support programmes for those wanting to overcome addiction Pray Offer emotional support Donate to charities

Question 26

Rehabilitation?

Answer 26

The process by which addicts are helped to defeat their addiction to drugs. Example of one is Castle Craig

Question 27

How effective are rehabilitation programmes?

Answer 27

They aim to intergrate addicts back into society once they have recovered so they can achieve long term abstinence 74% of addicts who attended Castle Craig Hospital are abstinent from drugs and alcohol for a year after leaving

Question 28

Buddhist attitudes to drugs

Answer 28

Buddhists try to follow the five moral precepts to help them follow the noble eightfold path.... The 5th precept prohibits taking any intoxicating substance that harms the mind (includes alcohol and caffeine) One Buddhist teacher, Ole Nydhal, described drugs as 'activators that burn out favourable karma and leave you completely broke' (they force short term bliss but leave addiction-- user is just attempting to revive initial bliss)

Question 29

Christian attitudes to drugs against

Answer 29

AGAINST : 1 Corinthians 6:19 'your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit' - the physical body is sacred and therefore shouldn't be polluted with drugs ... By attacking ur body, ur attacking a temple created by God, and thus attacking God's authority RCC 'the use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds is a grave offence' Drugs will make people incapable of praying / being alert to god Methodists oppose alcohol due to anti social behaviour effect and therefore promote temperance at the Eucharis and use unfermented grape juice Christians are taught to follow the laws of the country they are in (Jesus said 'give to Caesar what belongs to caesar') and therefore if drugs are illegal they shouldn't use them

Question 30

Christian attitudes to drugs for

Answer 30

FOR: 1 Corinthians 11:24 / Last Supper Jesus said 'this cup is the new covenant of my blood, whenever you drink it do this in remembrance of me' .. This was the Eucharist : the sacrificial ritual of Jesus under appearance of wine and bread, instituted by Jesus at the last supper Controlled usage of prescription drugs is okay because they do not damage body and mind that God created Ethiopian Coptic Church and Rastafarian sector allow cannabis to be used as it is a natural herb that God created

Question 31

Hindu attitudes to drugs against

Answer 31

They will cloud the mind and lead to bad decisions (user will accumulate neg karma and not achieve moksha) Disrespecting Brahman by disrespecting your body

Question 32

Hindu attitudes to drugs for

Answer 32

A few Hindu holy men, Sadhus, use Bhang (mild form of cannabis) During Holi (ancient Hindu spring festival) Bhang is part of the celebration in many homes... In diluted forms it provides a mild buzz Cannabis (inc Bhang) is associated with Shiva, who is said to have rested on the shade of a cannabis plant of a v hot day. Shiva gave the plant to humanity in thanks Some Hindu Mystics use cannabis to aid spiritual experience and access higher planes of conscienceness) In the Vedas, a drug called Soma was used as an offering and drunk by priests. The Vedic God Soma was 'the master of plants', 'the healer of disease' and brought wealth In later Hinduism it was believe the moon waxes and wanes when the drug is taken by the gods

Question 33

Philosopher view on drugs

Answer 33

Victorian philosopher, John Stuart Mill said 'over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign' For drugs: If ur not harming anyone else u should be able to take what you want (opposes 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar) Against: Everyone's actions are interconnected therefore actions will always effect others Also drugs cloud the mind and therefore the drug user may not be aware of whom their effecting

Question 34

Mind?

Answer 34

Element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think and feel

Question 35

Medicine ?

Answer 35

A drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease eg paracetamol

Question 36

Legal drugs definition?

Answer 36

Drugs prescribed to a patient or bought over the counter

Question 37

Illegal drugs definition?

Answer 37

Prescription drugs that have been dangerously modified and substances that are banned by the law

Question 38

Recreational drugs definition?

Answer 38

A drug, like cocaine or marijuana, used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that the occasional use of the substance is not addictive

Question 39

What is drug abuse?

Answer 39

The habitual taking of illegal drugs

Question 40

What is addiction?

Answer 40

The condition that results when a person ingests a substance, like alcohol, that can be pleasurable but the continued use becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities such cases as work