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Caffeine, found in coffee and some energy drinks, is a stimulant drug.

Biology - Abuse of Drugs (AQA)

Some drugs treat illness, others are misused for their effects. In GCSE Biology you explore how drug abuse affects the brain, synapses, behaviour and long-term health.

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Fascinating Fact:

Drugs that are abused often act on synapses, they boost or block neurotransmitters and change brain signalling.

In GCSE Biology (AQA), you study how different drugs affect the nervous system and behaviour. You also look at health risks, dependence, withdrawal and the social impact of drug abuse.

Key Terms

Drug abuse: Repeated, harmful use of a drug that damages health, relationships or everyday life.
Dependence: When the body and brain adapt to a drug so stopping it causes strong cravings or withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms: Unpleasant physical or mental effects that happen when a dependent person suddenly reduces or stops a drug.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does drug abuse mean in GCSE Biology?

In GCSE Biology, drug abuse means using a drug in a way that is harmful or illegal, such as taking high doses, using someone else’s medication, or using street drugs for effect.

How can drugs affect synapses in the brain?

Many abused drugs interfere with normal signalling at synapses. They may increase or reduce neurotransmitter release or block reuptake, changing mood, perception, self-control and the reward pathway.

What health risks are linked to abusing drugs?

Drug abuse can lead to addiction, mental health problems, organ damage, higher risk of infections, accidents and poor decision making, which can all reduce life expectancy and quality of life.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

A drug is a substance that always ...

has no effect on the body

changes the chemical processes in the body

is used for medical purposes

is used for recreational purposes

Whether the drug is legal or illegal, it changes the normal functioning of the body. For example, painkillers interfere with the transmission of signals along nerves that are attached to pain receptors

2 .

Regular drinkers of alcoholic drinks can become addicted to them. Which of the following is the addictive substance in alcoholic drinks?

Methanol

Ethanol

Propanol

Butanol

The ethanol is produced naturally by the fermentation of sugar. Research carried out in 2004 suggest that our Stone Age ancestors were brewing alcoholic drinks

3 .

Doctors say that pregnant women should not drink alcohol or smoke tobacco or cannabis. Why?

They think the mother should be saving her money to spend on the baby

It increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, reduced intelligence of the baby and low birth weight

The baby will be born with a strange coloured skin

It makes them very tired

A foetus in the womb is easily damaged by drugs which interfere with the normal development of both the body and the brain

4 .

Some sports people cheat by taking drugs called anabolic steroids. Why?

They increase the number of red cells in the blood so it can carry more oxygen to the muscles

They increase the number of white cells in the blood so it can carry more oxygen to the muscles

They increase blood pressure and heart rate which gets more oxygen to the muscles in a shorter time

They increase muscle mass, making the user stronger and faster

Steroid abuse disrupts the normal production of hormones in the body, causing both reversible and irreversible changes in the men and women who take them. Competing athletes are banned from taking these drugs

5 .

Some people take energy drinks that contain caffeine to increase their sports performance. Caffeine is a stimulant drug, this means that it ...

increases the number of red cells in the blood so it can carry more oxygen to the muscles

increases the number of white cells in the blood so it can carry more oxygen to the muscles

increases blood pressure and heart rate which gets more oxygen to the muscles in a shorter time

increases muscle mass making them stronger and faster

Caffeine doesn't work on everybody

6 .

Drugs that are classed as stimulants ...

build up your muscles

slow down your thinking processes

make you gain weight

increase your heart rate and other bodily processes

Stimulants are designed to make the user more alert

7 .

Which of the following are long term effects of regular misuse of alcohol on the human body?

Liver damage

Brain damage

Weight gain

All of the above

Alcohol is toxic to our bodies

8 .

Alcohol and tobacco are examples of what type of drugs?

Legal medical drugs

Illegal medical drugs

Legal recreational drugs

Illegal recreational drugs

Small amounts of alcohol based drinks can help some people to relax but in bigger quantities they cause a loss of self control

9 .

The legal recreational drug nicotine is usually obtained from smoking tobacco. Which of the following statements is not true?

Smoking increases your risk of lung, mouth and throat cancer

Nicotine is addictive making it hard for regular smokers to stop smoking

It takes several hours for the nicotine in cigarette smoke to reach the brain

The circulatory system is damaged by smoking, which increases the risk of heart disease and strokes

Nicotine reaches the brain in as little as 30 seconds after being inhaled as it enters the bloodstream in the lungs

10 .

Which of the following statements about cannabis is true?

Long-term use of cannabis can damage your brain and cause mental illness in some people

Smoking cannabis does no harm to your body

Long-term use of cannabis causes your eyesight to deteriorate

Cannabis helps you to concentrate better

Cannabis smoke contains chemicals that cause permanent damage to certain parts of the brain. It has been discovered that smoking cannabis as a teenager lowers IQ and makes learning much more difficult. Long term use has been clinically linked to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, paranoia, suicidal thoughts and a lack of interest in the world

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)