Drugs

• define what a drug is

  a drug is a substance that when taken into the body has an effect on the chemical reactions that take place
• state what an antibiotic is

  an antibiotic is a drug used to treat bacterial infections
• how do antibiotics work

  antibiotics kill bacteria by destroying the cell wall which leads to the cell bursting or inhibiting the growth of the bacteria
• why can't antibiotics kill viruses

  because viruses do not grow and reproduce in the same way as bacteria and they do not have the same structure
• describe what happens when a bacterial strain becomes resistant to antibiotics

  a mutation occurs in a bacterial cell which makes it more resistant to the antibiotic, the antibiotic is administered and the mutated cell is not killed meaning it can reproduce to make more resistant bacterial cells
• what happens when bacteria gets resistant to antibiotics

  antibiotic resistant bacterial infections occur in hospitals such as MRSA which means that antibiotics be administered when there is a serious infection, and must be taken for the full course
• describe the effect of alcohol

  and heroin on the body

  alcohol and heroin are depressants so they block synapses to lower the rate of nervous impulses sent out which leads to slower reactions, less self control which may result in more crime and antisocial behaviour
• how can alcohol and heroin cause addiction

  the drugs release neurotransmitters like dopamine into synapses which can create a high which is addictive and can lead to withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, anxiety and headaches
• how can alcohol and heroin cause medical problems


  excess alcohol leads to liver damage, HIV infections because of shared needles in heroin
• define what performance enhancing drugs are


  drugs that are used to enhance sporting performance and are banned as they are seen as unfair and results in disqualification
• discuss the use of anabolic steroids as a performance enhancing drug

  anabolic steroids trigger the release of hormones which promote muscle mass and strength. different steroids target different muscle groups
• describe the use of testosterone as a performance enhancing drug

  testosterone enhances muscle strength and size as well as increasing hand eye coordination and energy
• how are cigarettes addictive

  cigarettes are addictive due to nicotine being inhaled from them which causes the release of dopamine, which can lead to long term smoking habits
• what diseases are caused by smoking

  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and coronary heart disease
• define what COPD is (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

  a group of diseases that decrease the efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs by damaging alveoli which lead to less surface area for diffusion and inflammation in the airways. COPD causes breathlessness, a persistent cough, and chest infections
• define what lung cancer is

  a serious case of cancer in which smoking is 85% the cause of. this is because cigarettes contain many toxic chemicals many of which are carcinogens
• define what coronary heart disease is in relation to smoking

  a strain is put on the heart as morecarbon monoxideandnicotineis inhaled. thecarbon monoxide displacesthe oxygen in haemoglobin andbindsto it instead, which meansless oxygenis present in the blood so the heart mustwork harderto supply more oxygen to tissues. alsoincreases chanceofblood clotsandchemical damagetoarteries. can lead toheart attackandheart failure
• what other factor affects the risk of getting COPD, coronary heart disease, and lung cancer?

  age, fitness, amount of time smoking
• what are the components of cigarettes

  over 7000 chemicals many of which are carcinogens and poisonous including carbon monoxide, tar, nicotine, arsenic, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide
• what is the effect of nicotine in cigarettes

  nicotine is addictive, causes a high heart rate, and releases adrenaline
• what is the effect of tar in cigarettes

  when tar is inhaled it sticks to the cilia in lung cells (which usually transport mucus away from the lungs) and prevents the cilia from trapping infections, which is why smokers are more susceptible to chest infections and have narrower airways
• what is the effect of carbon monoxide in cigarettes

  carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen in blood putting a strain on the heart