Drugs

- Any chemical substance, that if taken into the

body, then it modifies or affects chemical
reactions in the body leading to a change in the
organism's physiology or psychology.

Examples of Drugs

1. Medicinal Drugs
- Drugs that are used for diagnosis, curing,
treating the symptoms, or preventing a
disease.

Characteristics of Medical
Drugs
- They are useful if consumed in considerable
amounts.
 Examples of Medicinal Drugs
(a) Antibiotics
- Medicinal drugs produced by certain fungi or
bacteria that affect the working of prokaryotic
cells (bacterial cells).

Use of Antibiotics
- Drugs that help the body to fight against
prokaryotic infection (bacterial infection).

Effect of Medicinal Drug / How

Antibiotics Work
- Destroy/Damage cell walls of bacteria by
either disrupting their structure/ function or
by preventing them from reproducing.

Characteristics of Antibiotic
1.Do not destroy our body cells (animal cells)
because they do not have cell walls and also
 because they target processes and structures
that are specific to prokaryotic cells (bacterial
cells).
2.Do not destroy viruses and fungi because they
do not have cell walls.

Effectiveness of Antibiotics
- Some bacteria that cause diseases have
become resistant to antibiotics, this decreases
the effectiveness of prescribed antibiotics when
someone has a bacterial infection.
Reason For Decrease In Effectiveness of
Antibiotics
- Type of bacteria is resistant to that particular
antibiotic.

Reason Why Antibiotics Do Not Affect

Viruses
- Viruses are not able to be treated with
antibiotics because antibiotics work
by disrupting cell structure/functions but
viruses do not have cell wall structure, cell
membrane structure or any cell organelles
structure and do not perform any cell function.

Examples of Cell Functions That Are Disrupted

(a) Respiration
(b) Breaking down structure of cell in some way
Reason Why Viruses Do Not Contain Any Cell
Structure Thus Do Not Perform Any Cell
Function
- Viruses do not perform any cell
functions and do not have cell wall structures,
cell membrane structure or any cell organelle
structure because viruses infect and utilise
machinery of animal cells to reproduce, that are
not affected by antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance
- Various antibiotics have been discovered and
developed since the first antibiotic was
discovered and antibiotics are still widely
overused.

Prescribed Antibiotics Resistance

- It is increasing because:

(a) It is overused and being prescribed when it

is not really necessary. This leads, to a decrease
 in effectiveness of antibiotics, and increase in
incidence of antibiotic resistance.
(b) Patients fail to complete the fully
prescribed course by a doctor. This leads, to a
decrease in effectiveness of antibiotics, and
increase in incidence of antibiotic resistance.
(c) It is unnecessarily used in large scale use of
antibiotics in farming because some animals are
not actually sick even though they are given
antibiotics in order to prevent diseases when
livestock are kept in close quarters. This leads,
to a decrease in effectiveness of antibiotics, and
increase in incidence of antibiotic resistance.
 This leads, to a decrease in effectiveness of
antibiotics, and increase in incidence of
antibiotic resistance.
Example of Bacteria That Are Resistant To
Antibiotics
Group name
 Superbugs
Example of Superbugs
 - MRSA
Method In Which Individuals Are Able To
Prevent Increase in Incidence of Antibiotic
Resistance
1. Take antibiotics only when absolutely
essential.
2. If prescribed a course of antibiotics, then
ensure that entire course of antibiotic is
completed even if you feel better after a few
days.
(b) Analgesics
(c) Caffeine
 2. Misused Drugs
- Drugs that are used for a purpose not consistent with legal or medical
guidelines.

Examples of Misused Drugs

1. Alcohol
- Misused drug produced when yeast ferments
break down sugars without oxygen present.

Examples of Alcohols That Contain

The Alcohol Called Ethanol
 Wines
 Beers
 Spirits

Characteristics of Alcohol
1.They are depressant drugs because they
decrease the speed of signals in nerves and
brain meaning that they decrease the speed of
activity in the brain.
 2.Increases reaction time because it reduces
neuron transmission that reduces the speed of
signaling into the brain, therefore, this means it
increases the time taken to react to situations.

Rules Because of Alcohol

- These are legal limits for drinking and driving in
many countries.

Diffusion of Alcohol
- Occurs from a region of high concentration
which is in the epithelium of the ileum to a
region of low concentration which is in the
blood.
Effect of Diffusion of Alcohol on Rate
at Which Effect of Alcohol Start
Showing
- Diffusion of alcohol is a very fast process
therefore this leads to effect of alcohol on the
body to be quickly noticed.
Effects of Alcohol On Everyone
Short Term Effects
- Vomiting because alcohol is
toxic to the body, and
therefore this leads to the
body finding a method of
removal of this substance.
- Impaired judgement and
potentially violent behavior
because alcohol leads to
decrease in self-control.
Long Term Effects
- Damages brain causing
memory loss and confusion.
- Damages liver because liver
has to break down large
amounts of alcohol damaging
the cells leading to cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis
- Chronic disease of liver
noticeable by degeneration of
cells, inflammation, and
fibrous thickening of tissue.
Symptoms of Cirrhosis
 Fatigue.
 Easily bleeding or bruising.
 Loss of appetite.
 Nausea.
 Swelling in your legs, feet or
ankles (edema).
 Weight loss.
 Itchy skin.
  Yellow discoloration in the skin
and eyes (jaundice).

Treatment of Cirrhosis
- Liver transplant.

- Impaired balance and muscle - Leads to an addiction (strong

control.
- If it is consumed in smaller
quantities, then it leads to
sleepiness, while if it is
consumed in larger quantities,
then it leads to
unconscientiousness.
need to drink alcohol) that
eventually causes damage to
brain and liver.
- Leads to tolerance to alcohol
which is the point at which the
body is used to a certain
substance that the person
needs more.

Effects of Alcohol On Youngsters

- Vomiting because alcohol is toxic to the body, and therefore this leads to
the body finding a method of removal of this substance, in youngsters, this
is able to lead to death because it makes them choke on their vomit.

Removal of Alcohol From Blood

Stream
- Liver removes alcohol from bloodstream by producing enzymes that break
down alcohol.
Characteristics of Products Formed By
Removal of Alcohol From Blood Stream
 Toxic.

Effect of Toxicity
- Leads to liver being irreparably damaged.

2. Heroin
- Misused drug produced from juice from the opium poppy.

Use of Heroin
- Drugs that make the body get the feeling of euphoria.

Euphoria
- State at which everything seems to be wonderful and all worries and
problems disappear.

Effect of Heroin
1. Relieve pain, decreases breathing rate and induces sleep.

2.Addiction
- Leads to a strong addiction because the need for heroin keeps on getting
stronger.
Effect of Addiction
- If an addict stop taking heroin because they are unable to get it, then this
leads to them suffering from:

Body Effect of Addiction (Withdrawal

Symptoms)
Health Effect of Addition
1. Depression
2. Vomiting
3. Nausea
4. Abdominal pain
5. Muscle cramps
6. Weakness of the body
7. Difficulty sleeping
8. Sweating
9. Anxiety

Social Effect of Addiction

10.Leads to addict doing anti – social activities because the addict
is able to go to almost any length to get it.

Economic Effect of Addiction

11.Leads to addict turning to crime because they need more
money in order to pay for the increased amounts of the drug
that they are consuming.
  They are unable to get the money they need through legal methods
because the drug makes them unable to maintain a job and cope with
everyday life.

Consequence of Heroin Addict Not Getting Heroin

1. Leads to addicts injecting the drug using unsterilised needles that is able to
promote the spread of blood-borne infection diseases.
2. Syringe needles cost money, therefore this leads to addicts injecting the drug
using unsterilised needles (because of sharing needles) that is able to
promote the spread of blood-borne infection diseases.

Example of Diseases
 HIV

3. Tolerance
- Leads to tolerance very quickly, which is the point at which the body is used
to a certain substance that the person needs more, this increases the risk of
accidentally overdosing, that can cause death.

Similarity Between Addiction and Tolerance

 Lead to person needing a higher dose in order to give the same effect.

Characteristics of Heroin
1. They are powerful depressant drugs because they decrease the speed of
signals in nerves and brain meaning that they decrease the speed of activity in
the brain.
2. They belong to a class of drugs called narcotics.
How Heroin Affects Nervous System
1. In the brain, there are various chemical neurotransmitters that transfer
nerve impulses across synapses.
2. The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse and fit into receptor
molecules on the postsynaptic membrane.

Group of Neurotransmitters
 Endorphins
Function of Endorphins
1. Reduce sensations of pain.
2. Affect mood 
3. Reduce sensations of hunger and thirst.
4. When endorphins enter the brain, heroin is broken down into morphine.
5. Morphine molecules bond into some of the endorphin receptors. 

Effect of Bond
- Makes users feel so good.

Effect of Heroin In Internal Body

- Decreases production of natural endorphins and other neurotransmitters,
this is what leads to a person needing a higher dose in order to give the
same effect.
3. Smoking (Tobacco) and Gas
Exchange System
Effect of Smoking
- Leads to chronic obstructive lung disease, coronary heart disease
and increased risks of several different types of cancer.

Example of Type of Cancer

 Lung cancer

Constituents of Smoke
1. Nicotine
- Addictive misused drug.

Effects of Nicotine
1. Narrows blood vessels, this affects circulatory system by putting more
strain on it because it increases the rate at which the heart beats and
increases blood pressure.
2. Narrow blood vessels eventually become clogged with plaque.
 If this occurs in the coronary artery, then this causes coronary heart
disease.
  If the heart muscle cells are not able to produce enough oxygen to meet
energy demand during exercise, then less aerobic respiration occurs but
instead more anaerobic respiration occurs, producing lactic acid.

Lactic Acid
- Not able to be removed because of lack of blood supply.

Lactic Acid & Oxygen Debt

- Lactic acid built up in muscle cells that is required to be removed because
it lowers the pH of cells (increasing acidity) and therefore is able
to denature enzymes in reactions that have a catalyst, this kills heart
muscle cells.
 If enough heart muscle cells die, then this leads to a heart attack.

3. Affects brain by making people more relaxed.

Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer

 In majority of cases, lung cancer is caused by smoking.
*

* Graph showing correlation between numbers of adults who smoke and

lung cancer rates over time

General Trend
Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer
 - The lower the number of adults who smoke, the lower the lung cancer
rates a few years later because cancer takes time to develop.

Comparison Between Rate of Developing Lung Cancer

 Rate of developing lung cancer for women has been increasing, while in
men, rate of developing lung cancer is decreasing because number of
female smokers continued to increase in the 1950s and 1960s before
starting to fall while number of male smokers started to decrease in the
1950s and 1960s.

* Cancer takes some years to develop, this means that a fall in female
rates of developing lung cancer is likely to occur later.

2. Tar
- Misused drug.

Characteristics of Tar
1. Substance that is able to cause cancer.

Cancer
- Uncontrollable production of cells.

Cancer Causing Agent In Tar

 Benzopyrene
 - It is able to affect the lining of the lungs or the lungs themselves causing a
tumour (cancer).
- Tar is a carcinogen and is linked to increased chances of cancerous cells
developing in the lungs.

How Tar Causes Cancer

- Tar in cigarette smoke damages DNA cells causing them to divide
repetitively.
- When some of the tar goes into the blood then this causes cancer.

2. Substance that is able to cause infections

Disease Name: Chronic Bronchitis

How Chronic Bronchitis Is Formed
- Tar paralyses cilia allowing dust and bacteria to enter the lungs causing
infections.
- It stimulates goblet cells and mucus glands to enlarge, to produce more
mucus (form phlem) that slides down from the bronchitis into the lungs.
- Bacteria breeds in the bronchitis which leads to coughing.

Coughing
- Constant coughing damages walls of alveoli, this causes the stop of
exchange of gasses between the blood and the lungs.

Disease Name: Emphysema

Causes of Emphysema 
 - Occurs as a result of frequent infection, this means phagocytes are
attracted to lungs where they release elastase that is an enzyme
that breaks down elastin in alveoli walls, in order to enable them to be able
to reach the surface where the bacteria are.
- Without adequate elastin in alveoli, the alveoli are not able to stretch,
therefore they recoil and many burst.

Breakdown of Alveoli
- Results in appearance of large air spaces, this reduces surface area for gas
exchange and increases breathing rate.

Effect of Emphysema
- Eventually, patients become breathless and wheezy, this means that they
may need a constant supply of oxygen in order to stay alive.
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

- Occurs when chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that are two different

diseases which are frequently linked to smoking, occur together.

Effect of COPD
1. Destroys Cilia
- This obstructs cleaning of airways, and mucus that contains dirt, bacteria
and viruses builds up blocking the smallest bronchioles.

Smoker’s Cough
- Attempt to move mucus.
- It damages epithelia, resulting in scar tissue, this narrows the airways and
makes breathing difficult.

2. Carbon Monoxide
Function of Carbon Monoxide
- Reduces oxygen carrying capacity of blood.

Characteristics of Carbon Monoxide

- Carbon monoxide reacts with haemoglobin, to produce
carboxyhemoglobin.

Characteristics of Carboxyhemoglobin
- Is unable to carry oxygen.
Effect of Function of Carbon Monoxide and Characteristics of
Carbon Monoxide On Breathing System and Circulatory System
Breathing System
- Puts more strain on breathing system because it increases breathing
frequency and depth in order to get the same amount of oxygen into the
blood.

Circulatory System
- Puts more strain on circulatory system because it increases heart rate
(pumps blood faster around the body) and it also increases risk of coronary
heart disease and strokes.

Effect of Carbon Monoxide

- Kills a person if it is in large amounts.

Carbon Dioxide + Tar

- Contribute in extra production of mucus.

4. Particulates
- Tiny smoke particles that increase rate of development of emphysema
because there is no cilia in order to remove the particles.
Normal Lung
Smoker’s Lung
 Performance Enhancement
Drugs
Performance Enhancement Drugs in
Sport

Additional Hormones
- Increases effects of hormones produced in the body that help to control the
way the body develops and responds to changes.

Use of Additional Hormones

- Improve sporting performance.

Examples of Additional Hormones

 Steroids (Anabolic Steroid)
- Group of hormones that stimulate anabolic reactions to occur in the body
meaning smaller molecules build up larger molecules using energy
(synthesis of large molecules).

Example of Steroids
 Testosterone 
 Location of Production
- Produced in testes.

Function
- Affects development of male secondary sexual characteristics.

Effects
- Causes more proteins to be made in muscles in order for muscles to
become larger and stronger, therefore this increases muscle mass.

Use of Effect of Testosterone In Athletes

- Helps athletes train harder and for longer periods of time. 
- Increases aggression that gives an edge when competing.

Rules of Steroids In Athletes

- Use of steroids is banned because it gives an unfair advantage and because
it has serious side effects.

Side Effects of Use of Steroids

o Increases risk of heart disease
o Increases risk of liver damage
o Increases risk of kidney damage
o Affects menstrual cycle in women
o Decreases ability of immune system to destroy pathogens.