Clare Symons Biology
Medicine and Drugs
Misuse of legal recreational drugs and their effects
Alcohol
Alcohol is the commonly used drug, but very few people know it counts as a drug. It is a
depressant on brain activity meaning it slows down your body's responses in all kinds of ways. A
small amount can reduce your feelings of anxiety and fear, but it will often exaggerate whatever
mood you’re in, for example, make you angrier. The short-term effects, e.g. a hangover, can last for
a couple of days, but more long-term effects can do permanent damage to the body, including
damage to the liver and high blood pressure.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a drug, commonly found in cigarettes. It stimulates the release of dopamine,
which can have an effect on mood, appetite and other brain functions. It can help with
concentration or relaxation. It is one of the most addictive drugs, and that is usually why it’s so
dangerous. If someone suddenly stops taking nicotine, they usually experience prolonged
withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and mood swings. Nicotine in itself can cause a raise in blood
pressure and various heart problems. When used in cigarettes, however, it can cause even more
serious health issues, because of what is in the cigarette.
Misuse of illegal recreational drugs and their effects
Ecstasy
Ecstasy makes users feel energised, alert and alive. It can also make music and colours more
intense, giving people a temporary feeling of love towards friends and strangers around them. Some
of the short-term effects include anxiety, panic attacks, confused episodes, paranoia and even
psychosis. The physical side-effects include dilated pupils, a tingling feeling, tightening of the jaw
muscles, raised body temperature and the heart beating faster. Anyone on the drug with a heart
condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the
drug.
Cannabis
It is a drug made from the cannabis plant. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active
drug in cannabis that causes all the symptoms. Cannabis has a number of different effects, including
hallucinations and sedating effects. Taking cannabis can make people feel relaxed and happy and the
hallucinogenic effects can give the user a feeling of time slowing down. It can also make people very
hungry; this can be called ‘getting the munchies’. These effects are only short term, so it wears of
eventually, but there are more serious long-term effects such as: lung cancer, infertility and mental
health problems. I can also increase the heart rate and affect blood pressure, which can be especially
harmful for those with heart disease.
Heroin
Heroin is drug made from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy. Heroin gives
users a feeling of warmth and well-being. Bigger doses can make people very sleepy and very
relaxed. It can also slow down the way the body works and it can last for a number of hours.
However, there are some more dangerous effects of taking heroin. This includes gangrene (the
Medicine and Drugs
Misuse of legal recreational drugs and their effects
Alcohol
Alcohol is the commonly used drug, but very few people know it counts as a drug. It is a
depressant on brain activity meaning it slows down your body's responses in all kinds of ways. A
small amount can reduce your feelings of anxiety and fear, but it will often exaggerate whatever
mood you’re in, for example, make you angrier. The short-term effects, e.g. a hangover, can last for
a couple of days, but more long-term effects can do permanent damage to the body, including
damage to the liver and high blood pressure.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a drug, commonly found in cigarettes. It stimulates the release of dopamine,
which can have an effect on mood, appetite and other brain functions. It can help with
concentration or relaxation. It is one of the most addictive drugs, and that is usually why it’s so
dangerous. If someone suddenly stops taking nicotine, they usually experience prolonged
withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and mood swings. Nicotine in itself can cause a raise in blood
pressure and various heart problems. When used in cigarettes, however, it can cause even more
serious health issues, because of what is in the cigarette.
Misuse of illegal recreational drugs and their effects
Ecstasy
Ecstasy makes users feel energised, alert and alive. It can also make music and colours more
intense, giving people a temporary feeling of love towards friends and strangers around them. Some
of the short-term effects include anxiety, panic attacks, confused episodes, paranoia and even
psychosis. The physical side-effects include dilated pupils, a tingling feeling, tightening of the jaw
muscles, raised body temperature and the heart beating faster. Anyone on the drug with a heart
condition, blood pressure problems, epilepsy or asthma can have a very dangerous reaction to the
drug.
Cannabis
It is a drug made from the cannabis plant. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active
drug in cannabis that causes all the symptoms. Cannabis has a number of different effects, including
hallucinations and sedating effects. Taking cannabis can make people feel relaxed and happy and the
hallucinogenic effects can give the user a feeling of time slowing down. It can also make people very
hungry; this can be called ‘getting the munchies’. These effects are only short term, so it wears of
eventually, but there are more serious long-term effects such as: lung cancer, infertility and mental
health problems. I can also increase the heart rate and affect blood pressure, which can be especially
harmful for those with heart disease.
Heroin
Heroin is drug made from morphine, which is extracted from the opium poppy. Heroin gives
users a feeling of warmth and well-being. Bigger doses can make people very sleepy and very
relaxed. It can also slow down the way the body works and it can last for a number of hours.
However, there are some more dangerous effects of taking heroin. This includes gangrene (the
