Transcript types of drugs - Amazon Web Services

TYPES OF DRUGS
How do drugs affect the body?
• Nerves (neurones) carry information for
the nervous system.
• There is a gap between two nerves called
a synapse.
• Information crosses these gaps as
impulses.
• Drugs affect the speed at which these
impulses cross the gaps.
How a synapse works
When one
impulse reaches
the end of a
nerve (neurone) a
chemical is
produced.
Impulse
moves this
way
Chemical moves
across the gap
The chemical
moves across the
gap and when it
gets to the next
neurone it starts
another impulse
How do drugs affect the synapse?
• Caffeine, cocaine and amphetamine are
stimulants
• They work by increasing the speed by
which impulses cross the synapse.
• Faster impulses can cause faster heart
rate and breathing.
• Using drugs like cocaine and
amphetamine can lead to addiction.
Sedatives
• Sedatives are drugs which slow down the
speed of the impulses as they cross the
synapse
• Barbiturates and alcohol are sedatives
• These increase reaction times (it takes a
longer time to do something)
Analgesics
• Some drugs are given to relieve pain.
• These are called analgesics
• They include paracetamol, ibuprofen
heroin and morphine.
• These work by blocking the impulses at
the synapses in parts of the brain that deal
with pain
Taking too much
• Paracetamol is a mild pain killer and it is a
safe drug if the correct dose is taken.
• If more is taken it is called an overdose
and can damage the liver.
• Morphine and heroin are very strong pain
killers.
• People who take them for a long time can
become addicted.
Solvents
• Chemicals in glues, aerosols, spray paint and
lighters are called solvents.
• These are very dangerous.
• Solvents are breathed in and they enter the
lungs. They then get into the blood stream and
reach the brain.
• They slow down breathing and heart rate.
• Some people die because solvents cause heart
failure.
• Solvents also cause damage to the nerves, brain
damage and memory loss.
Now try these exercises
Exercise 7 - Matching
Exercise 8 - Cloze