You’ve probably used drugs before. If you’ve ever been sick you have taken antibiotics, pain killers and other drugs to help you. In moderation and under medical supervision some dugs are very helpful.

In the table bellow drag the drugs into their correct column

On the other hand, some drugs can do serious damage to your body and mental well being.

Drugs are chemical substances that affect the way your body works. This affect can be positive or negative depending on the drug.

They alter the chemical reaction which occur in your cells and body.

We can break drugs up into 2 categories  

Medical drugs and Recreational Drugs.

Medical drugs are used to make you better. The benefit your health and relieve pain and discomfort caused by infection or disease.

Paracetamol is used to relieve pain and antibiotics are used to fight infections.

As said above, in the right amount, and under medical supervision drugs can be beneficial to you. However even medical drugs, if abused, can become a serious health risk.

Recreational drugs are drugs which are taken for pleasure and enjoyment. People may use recreational drugs to help them relax (depressants) or stay awake (stimulants).

Usually, recreational drugs will serve no health benefits and cause harm to the body.

Many of these drugs are illegal and can cause serious damage to your body.

Legal Recreational

Illegal Recreational

Quick Questions

1. Define the term ‘Drug’

2. What are the two types of drugs in the world?

3. Give 2 examples of illegal drugs

4. How does alcohol and tobacco affect your body?

Even with medical drugs, addiction can form. If your body becomes used to the changes caused by a drug, it may become dependent on the drug. Eventually you need this drug to feel normal. When this happens your are addicted.

When you try to stop taking a drug you are addicted to, you begin to develop withdrawal symptoms.

Headaches, anxiety, sweating, shakes, mood changes and cravings are a few types of withdraw symptoms.

Quick Questions

1. What is an addiction

2. How does an addiction form

3. What are withdraw symptoms and what would you expect to see in someone who     is going through withdraw.

Questions

Questions

1. Copy and complete the sentence

Drugs are _____ that affect the way your boy works. ______ Drugs are taken for enjoyment. ________ Drugs benefit health.

If you take drugs too often you may develop an ______. When addicted people stop taking drugs, they suffer ______ _____, which can make it harder to give up.

2. Describe three differences between medicinal drugs and recreational drugs.

3. Explain how recreational drugs can have a negative effect on on people’s lifestyle.

4. Create a small 8 page booklet taking about drugs. Include, medicinal and recreational, depressants and stimulants, examples, addiction and withdraw symptoms. You can draw pictures and use the Internet to help you research

Extension tasks

5. Explain fully the term addiction, and suggest reasons why some people con to rely upon recreational drugs.

6. Research task. Research one of the following drugs and explain their effect on the body

i. Ecstasy

ii. Marijuana

iii. Morphine