Drugs

SUBMITTED TO: VIVEK (Biology facilitator)

SUBMITTED FROM: MIRUNALINI K (Grade 9)

Table of contents:

1. Introduction

2. Types of drugs

3. Medicinal drugs

4. Non- medicinal drugs

5. Conclusion

6. Bibliography
1. Introduction
A drug is any substance taken into the body that modifies or affects
chemical reactions in the body. Some drugs are medicinal drugs that are
used to treat the symptoms or causes of a disease for example
antibiotics but few drugs are non medicinal drugs which are harmful to
our body.

2. Types of drugs
In general, addictive drugs may be classified as Stimulants, Depressants,
Hallucinogens, or Opioids.
▪ Stimulants- These speed up the brain and make you more alert
▪ Depressants- Depressant drugs slow down the functions of the brain and the
hypothalamus, reduce pain, and slow down breathing rate
▪ Hallucinogens- These drugs make you feel, see or hear things which don’t
really exist. Such experiences are called hallucinations. Cannabis is a very
mild type, often making colours seem brighter and sounds louder.
▪ Opioids- Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including
anaesthesia. They bind to opioid receptors present inside body.
3. Medicinal drugs
Medicinal drugs are drugs taken into the body that modifies or affects
chemical reactions in the body. Some medicinal drugs that are used to
treat the symptoms or causes of a disease. Medicines can even affect
parts of the nervous system that control a body process. Nearly
everyone has taken an antibiotic. This type of medicine fights bacterial
infections.

Painkillers can have side effects and – in rare cases – lead to

complications. In order to avoid adverse effects, it is important to make
sure you use them properly. Long-term use of painkillers increases the
risk for depression. A recent study found that those who use painkillers
for a minimum of 180 days are 53 percent more likely to suffer
depression than those who use painkillers for a shorter period of time.

Common side effects of compound painkillers include:

▪ Feeling sick.
▪ Drowsiness.
▪ Feeling dizzy.
▪ Heartburn or indigestion.
▪ Constipation.

When we take a painkiller, the drug does two things: First, it depresses
the central nervous system, making it more difficult for pain signals to
reach the brain. Second, it attaches to opiate receptors to block pain
signals coming from the body.

Taking one or a mix of these medicines daily over a long time may cause
chronic kidney problems. This is called analgesic nephropathy.
4. Non-Medicinal drugs
Non medicinal drugs are drugs that are non-prescribed and not healthy.
Heroin, morphine(depressants), codeine (made from Opium) gives a
temporary boost but it can have many side-effects in a healthy body.
▪ Alcohol – Small amount of alcohol can release your anxiety
but also gives a misleading sense. The liver treats alcohol as
a toxin and 90% of the alcohol is detoxified in the liver, the
oxidation of alcohol to carbon dioxide and water. Only 10%
is excreted by the kidneys
▪ Smoking – The short- term effects of smoking cause the
bronchioles to constrict and the cilia lining the air passages
to stop beating. Nicotine, the addictive component of
tobacco smoke, produces an increase in the rate of the
heartbeat and a rise in blood pressure which causes heart-
attack. Tar in cigarettes causes lung cancer.
▪ Heroin – This is one of the drugs that are most widely
abused and the addiction of this drug is extremely serious.
This drug reduces hunger and makes its consumers sleepy
and weak as one become dependent upon the drug. This
causes anxiety and in severe cases it can lead to death.
▪ Carbon monoxide – The carbon monoxide damages the
lining of blood vessels and it disturbs the functions of a
body because it replaces oxygen which can prove to be
dangerous. It is also submitted on the inner lining of your
arteries which make smoking dangerous.
5. Conclusion

The drugs are useful but should be taken in more or with no use. If we
take antibiotics for viral infection, if may cause bacterial resistant and we
will not be able to use those antibiotics again. Using non prescribed
drugs can be hectic and can cause severe problems. These problems can
lead to death so usage of non medicinal drugs should be reduced all
over the world to protect individual’s lives. Non medicinal drugs should
be banned from producing and selling it.
 6. Bibliography

i. https://www.addictions.com/blog/5-long-term-effects-of-painkillers-on-
the-brain/#:~:text=Depression,a%20shorter%20period%20of%20time.

ii. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361006/#:~:text=They%20should
n’t%20be%20used,sure%20you%20use%20them%20properly

iii. https://igcse.school.blog/2019/08/21/igcse-biology-drugs-notes/

iv. https://root469.blogspot.com/2020/10/drugs-notes-pdf-gce-o-level-and-
igcse.html?m=1