Drugs

Understanding Drugs

• Drugs are substances that cause changes in the body’s functions.
• Drugs can either be therapeutic (medicine) or recreational (e.g. alcohol, nicotine).
• Therapeutic drugs like antibiotics or pain relief, help treat diseases and manage symptoms.
• Recreational drugs alter the body’s functions for enjoyment or experience and can lead to addiction.

Classification of Drugs

• Drugs are usually classified as depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, or performance enhancers.
• Depressants, such as alcohol or narcotics, slow down the nervous system.
• Stimulants, like caffeine or nicotine, speed up the nervous system.
• Hallucinogens like LSD lead to altered perceptions and potential psychological dependency.
• Performance enhancers like steroids improve physical performance but can have severe side-effects.

The Impact of Drugs

• All drugs have potential side-effects that can be harmful.
• Regular, heavy use of some drugs, like alcohol, can lead to severe health issues like cirrhosis of the liver.
• Some drugs, like tobacco, can cause cancer.
• Overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a significant problem for public health.
• Drugs can impact the normal function of synapses (communication between nerve cells) within the brain.

Addiction and Drug Dependency

• Addiction is a physical or psychological need for a drug, often accompanied by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not taken.
• Frequent use of some drugs can lead to tolerance, where increased amounts of the drugs are needed to feel the same effects.
• Substance misuse can lead to social, physical, legal, and financial problems.