Humans_Concept_5

Subject Facts

Addictive prescription medicines There is a range of prescription medicines that may be appropriately prescribed to treat specific medical conditions but have the potential, due to their addictive nature, to lead to additional problems. Withdrawal symptoms after using such medicines are not uncommon. There have been notable cases in the recent past where patients have become addicted to antidepressants and tranquillizers such as Prozac@, Librium^m and Valium. These are normally prescribed only to adults and for short periods of time, so any potential addiction will probably be that of the adult; however, an addiction may have secondary effects on children in the household. Analgesics, which are prescribed for serious pain relief, have forms that are addictive and can be closely related to illegal narcotic forms of the drug — in fact, some prescription drugs (such as morphine) are illegal if held for non-medicinal purposes.

Tobacco

This is a legal, but highly addictive and toxic drug. The addictive element, nicotine, affects blood pressure to produce a calming sensation. Inhaling the smoke allows toxic, carcinogenic gases to enter the lungs, The tar in the smoke blocks the alveoli in the lungs, reducing the effectiveness of respiration and leading to breathing problems (see Chapter 3, page 6 f ).The carbon monoxide content in the smoke reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen, leading to increased blood pressure and consequent heart problems. The capacity of arteries is reduced, leading to poor blood supply in the extremities of the body — in extreme cases necessitating the amputation of limbs. Further carcinogens attack the lungs, throat, mouth and stomach, causing tumours which are usually fatal. Passive smoking (inhaling 'secondhand^’ smoke) can also result in the development of cancers.

Alcohol

Alcohol can become physically addictive in large doses, ht affects the nervous system as a mild anaesthetic (painkiller), aiding relaxation and slowing muscular reactions. Larger amounts can seriously affect overall motor control (speech and movement), ultimately leading to unconsciousness, coma and potentially death. Over long periods of time, persistent alcohol abuse can cause liver and brain damage, resulting in death. Most alcohol related injury and sudden death is the result of using machinery or driving while under the influence. There are significant links between the use of alcohol and outbursts of violent and irrational behaviour.

Solvents

Inhaling fumes from solvents (glue, cleaning fluids, butane gas, white spirit and so on) causes an intoxicated state. it can seriously affect behaviour, resulting in hallucinations and loss of control over bodily functions. There can be immediate and irreparable damage to the lungs, liver and brain. Most of the deaths from solvent abuse are a result of inhaling vomit while unconscious.

Illegal addictive drugs

The range of illegally available drugs are described and discussed in very clear terms in a variety of pamphlets and booklets available from your local health education office. Space here does not permit adequate coverage of this delicate area.

Ethical issues

In any classroom discussion of drug problems, there are real ethical issues that need careful handling, especially f someone in the family is a drug user (for example, a smoker). It is important to stress that it is the behaviour, not the person, that is the problem. Awareness that some forms of drug use are more socially acceptable than others is relevant — but the dangers of legal' and even prescribed drugs must not be ignored.

Why you need to know these facts

All drugs, especially when taken inappropriately, have the ability to do harm to the human body — including prescribed and 'over the counter' medicines. The use of non-medicinal or 'recreational' drugs is generally seen as a problem that can be addressed through preventative education. However, the issues need to be discussed in the context of wider social circumstances that go beyond the scope of classroom science.

Vocabulary

Addiction — a physical craving for a substance, which can lead to 'withdrawal symptoms'.

Drug — any chemical that enters and has an effect on the body.

Tobacco — a highly addictive, carcinogenic substance made from the leaves of the tobacco plant, and containing the drug nicotine

Amazing facts

Among new cases of lung cancer, 90% are tobacco addicts — and 90% of these will die as a direct result of the cancer.

At current (2012) prices, a 20 cigarettes per day habit will cost between Q050 and 2700 per year — or up to {66000 over a 25-year period

In 2005, figures indicated that 11 ,000 British deaths per year could be attributed to passive smoking.

Common Misconceptions

Alcohol is not dangerous if consumed in small amounts.

Although it may not be directly harmful to the user, any use of the drug impairs judgement and may lead to rash and dangerous acts, such as physical violence or driving a car with impaired reactions. The legal limit for blood alcohol level in a driver is below that needed to be 'drunk'.

Low tar cigarettes are less harmful.

Any intake of carcinogenic chemicals is harmful and potentially lethal, Even passive smoking can cause health problems such as asthma in children, and can lead to untreatable damage later in life. Individuals react to these toxic substances differently: one person who smokes high tar cigarettes may survive for longer than someone else who smokes a low tar brand Many other factors, such as the effectiveness of filters, how much of the cigarette is smoked and how deeply it is inhaled, have to be taken into account

Smoking can be used as a slimming aid.

In so far as sucking on a cigarette is an alternative oral activity to eating, then yes. Other, equally health-damaging options for losing weight would be to fill up' on polystyrene beads, to staple your lips together or to have a limb surgically removed Smoking tobacco does depress the appetite slightly — mainly because it damages the taste buds and makes eating a less pleasant experience. In overall health terms, there are far more effective and less damaging options for weight reduction — such as regular exercise and sensible diet.

Questions

Purely scientific questions about drugs are the easy ones! But teaching about drugs and their harmful effects is bound to lead to more difficult questions: 'Why does my Mum smoke if she knows it will kill her?', 'Why does Dad hit me when he's been drinking?' Your school, as a whole, needs to prepare to deal positively with questions like these, and to involve other support services and parents when appropriate. As with sex education, it is worth involving parents in the forward planning and arranging to provide support for them where they request it. Often, educating the child means educating the whole family.

What makes drugs addictive?

Addiction is a continued physical need for a drug, Through taking a drug, your body can build up a tolerance to its effect, requiring larger and larger intakes to have the same effect An actual addiction is when the body physically needs the drug to maintain a balance and will become ^till' if the drug is withdrawn (headaches, nausea and sleeplessness are common drug 'withdrawal symptoms'). Drug taking can also be 'habit forming': people get used to doing it because it makes them feel happier or more confident, and so find it hard to give up even though there is no physical addiction.

Why are some alcoholic drinks stronger than others?

Alcohol-based drinks are not pure alcohol: they are a mix of alcohol, water and various flavourings. The higher the alcohol content, the 'stronger' the drink Beers, wines and spirits are made by different chemical processes, which produce different concentrations of alcohol. There are natural limits to the strength of alcoholic drinks produced by fermentation alone: an unusually strong home-made wine will contain highly toxic 'long-chain' alcohols.