S.NO.

TOPIC

1. Abstract.

2. Classification of Drugs.

3. Some Harmful Drugs.

4. How Drug Addiction begin.

5. Usage of Drugs.

6. Short Term Effects.

7. Long Term Effects.

8. Tobacco.

9. Effect of Nicotine.

10. Harmful components of Smoking.

11. Alcohol.

12. Impact of Drinking Alcohol

13. Conclusions.

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Abstract
Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or
chemical abuse, is a disorder that is
characterized by a destructive pattern of using a
substance that leads to significant problems or
distress. Teens are increasingly engaging in
prescription drug abuse, particularly narcotics
(which are prescribed to relieve severe pain), and
stimulant medications, which treat conditions like
attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy.
Any substance, other than food, used in the
prevention, diagnosis, all aviation or treatment of
a disease is called a drug. Drug is also known as
a medicine. Generally, the term drugs applied to
any stimulating or depressing substance that can
be habituating or addictive. A drug, broadly
speaking, can be categorized in many ways; hard
or soft, uppers or downers, addictive or non-
addictive, most harmful or least harmful, legal or
illegal.
Classification of Drugs
There are a large number of drugs on which
people become dependent. These are classifies
into four major groups: sedatives and
tranquillizer There are a large number of drugs
on which people become dependent. These are
classifies into four major groups: sedatives and
tranquillizer opiate narcotics, stimulations and
hallucinogens.

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Some Harmful Drugs

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1. Heroin:
Commonly used as smack Heroin is chemically
diacetylmorphine which is a white, odorless,
bitter crystalline compound. This is obtained by
acetylation of morphine which is extracted from
latex of poppy plant Papaver somniferum.
Generally taken by snorting and injection, heroin
is a depressant and slows down body function.
2. Cannabinoids:
Natural cannabinoids are obtained from the
inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa. The
flower tops, leaves and the resin of the plant are
used in various combinations to produce
marijuana, hashish, charas and ganja. Generally
taken by inhalation and oral ingestion, these are
known for their effects on cardiovascular system
of the body.
3. Cocaine:
It is obtained from coca plant Erythroxylum coca,
native to South America. It interferes with the
transport of the neuro-transmitter dopamine.
Cocaine, commonly called coke or crack is
usually snorted. It has the potent stimulating
action on central nervous system, producing
sense of euphoria and increased energy.
Excessive dosage of cocaine causes
hallucinations.

How drug addiction Begin?

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There are many factors that lead people to drug
addiction.
1. Curiosity: Frequent references to drugs by
public media create curiosity for having a
personal experience of the drugs.
2. Friend’s pressure: Frequent appreciation of
drug experience by friends allures others to start
the use of drugs.
3. Frustration and Depression: Some people start
taking drugs to get relief from frustration and
depression.
4. Desire for More Work: Students sometimes
take drugs to keep awake the whole night to
prepare for examination. It is not desirable as it
may cause mental breakdown.
5. Looking for a Different World: A wrong notion
that the drugs open up a new world tempts some
young pupils to start taking-drugs.
6. Relief from Pain: A prolonged use of pain-
relieving drugs with physician’s advice at times
leads to addiction.
7. Family History: Children may take to drugs by
seeing their elders in the family.
8. Excitement and Adventure: The young take to
drugs to satisfy their instinct for excitement and
adventure.

Smoking, Drinking and Use of Drugs

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Smoking and drinking and use of drugs
frequently or regularly are social diseases. Young
people take to these habits for fun, show off or
curiosity, as an adventure or feeling of freedom,
or as a gesture of defiance against the elders
who themselves indulge in these activities but
check the youngsters. Temporary escape from
the life problems and mental relaxation felt on
taking the drugs in the beginning increase
people’s interest in them. Soon they become
habitual and find in difficult to leave. The daily
dose to get the desired effect increases with
time.

Short-Term Effects
• Loss of appetite
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body
temperature
• Contracted blood vessels
• Increased rate of breathing
• Dilated pupils
• Disturbed sleep patterns
• Nausea
• Hyperstimulation
• Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behaviour

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• Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability
• Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of
bugs burrowing under the skin
• Intense euphoria
• Anxiety and paranoia
• Depression
• Intense drug craving
• Panic and psychosis
• Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from
high doses (even one time)

Long-Term Effects
• Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and
brain, high blood pressure, leading to heart
attacks, strokes and death
• Liver, kidney and lung damage
• Respiratory failure
• Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
• Malnutrition, weight loss
• Auditory and tactile hallucinations
• Sexual problems, reproductive damage and
infertility (for both men and women)

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• Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion
• Irritability and mood disturbances
• Increased frequency of risky behaviour
• Delirium or psychosis
• Severe depression
• Tolerance and addiction (even after just one
use)

Tobacco

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Sources:
It is a native of South Africa, where the Red
Indian first started smoking. Now the tobacco
plant has spread the world over. It has large,
quote to Lancelot leaves and terminal clusters of
tubular, white or pink flowers.
Modes of Use:
Tobacco is used for smoking, chewing and
snuffing. Its main stimulating component is
poisonous volatile alkaid nicotine, which causes
addiction. Nicotine synthesis occurs in the roots
of the plant but it is stored in the leaves. The
leaves contain 2 to 8% nicotine. Inhaling tobacco
smoke from cigars, cigarettes, biddies, pipes and
hubble-bubble is called smoking. Cigar is a roll of
tobacco leaf. Cigarette is cut tobacco wrapped in
paper. Bidi is tobacco wrapped. In a piece of leaf.
Tobacco smoke is drawn directly from pipe and
through water is hubble-bubble. Smoking may
give some temporary relief to the strained nerves
but in the long run it proves a dangerous health
hazard. The quantity of nicotine contained in one
cigar may prove fatal if injected intravenously
into a person. When smoked only 10% of the
smoke is inhaled. Hence, no immediate ill effect
is observed. Smokers may develop a
physiological craving for nicotine and then they
cannot give up smoking.

Effect of Nicotine:

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Nicotine is a low concentration.
(i) Stimulates conduction of nerve impulses.
(ii) Relaxes the muscles.
(iii) Releases adrenaline, increasing heart beat
rate and pressure.
(iv) Increased blood pressure due to smoking
chances the risk of heart diseases.
(v) Retards fetal growth in expecting mothers
and
(vi) Causes tobacco addiction. High concentration
of nicotine paralyses nerve cells.

Harmful components of Tobacco Smoke:

Besides the poisonous nicotine, the tobacco
smoke contains carbon-monoxide, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons and tar.
Other Effects:
(i) Smoking affects economy:
A smoker not only waste money, but also runs
risk of burns and fires.
(ii) Smoking mars personality:
Teeth may become stained. Lips may get
discoloured and breath becomes foul. A person
with a cigarette hanging from the mouth look
odd.

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(iii) Smoking is annoying to others:
Cigarette smoke is quite annoying to non-
smokers. It may prove even more harmful to
them. A smoker should avoid smoking. When in
the company of non smokers. A smoker makes
the nearby people passive smokers through
inhaling smoke released by him.

Alcohol
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing
ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, although in
chemistry the definition of alcohol includes many
other compounds. Ethanol is a centrally-acting
drug with a depressant effect. Beer is an
alcoholic beverage and thus has the same
harmful effects as other kinds of alcohol,
depending on the quantity consumed.
Reasons for Drinking:
• Psychological factors are curiosity, poor stress
control, escape from reality, poor impulse
control, low self – esteem, positive attitudes
towards alcohol, to get rid of problems, to
overcome loneliness, relief from tension and to
gain courage.
• Social factors are peer pressure, modeling,
easy availability of alcohol in the market, party
culture, family environment (Parent/s drinking
alcohol), lack of family support, to keep up social
norms and to show their masculinity.

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• Biological factors are genetic vulnerability like
family history of alcoholism in parents or near
relatives and to get sleep.

Impact of Drinking Alcohol:

Unlike other foods, alcohol does not require
digestion. When one drinks, alcohol is absorbed
directly into the bloodstream through the walls of
the stomach and the intestine.
Once alcohol enters the bloodstream it circulates
throughout the body. Alcohol is metabolized in
the liver and is changed to carbon dioxide, water
and some calories of energy which gets
converted into fat. A small amount of alcohol
goes out of the body through breath, urine and
sweat. Regular, excessive use of alcohol causes
acute and chronic problems related to health,
occupation, family and social relationships.

Health Problems:
Alcohol can damage every system of our body.
Gastro intestinal system (stomach and
intestines): Increased acid secretion leading to
acidity, ulcers, gastritis, and cancer
Liver : Hepatitis, jaundice and vomiting of blood
due to cirrhosis of liver, liver cancer, acute liver
failure.

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Pancreas : Pancreatic damage due to
inflammation of pancreas and acute pancreatitis
leading to sudden death.
Central nervous system: (brain and spinal
cord): Permanent damage of brain resulting in
memory disturbances, other nervous problems,
fits and mental illnesses.
Cardio vascular system: High blood pressure,
increased tendency to heart attacks,
enlargement of the heart.
Hangovers: Excessive drinking can lead to
hangovers, thus causing problems like headache,
nausea, vomit and body aches.
Weight gain: alcohol consumption in larger
quantities can lead to weight gain, because
alcoholic beverages are usually high in calories.
Weak immune system: alcohol consumption
makes your immune system weak, thus making
your body more susceptible to infections.
Cancer: alcohol when consumed in excessive
quantities puts you at a higher risk of developing
cancer
Fatal alcohol syndrome: Drinking alcohol in
pregnancy may cause the Fatal Alcohol
Syndrome (physical abnormalities, growth
retardation and developmental delay).
Sources:
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, flammable, colourless
liquid having a penetrating odour and burning
taste. It is one of the products of the distillation

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of fermented grains, fruit juices and starches with
the help of yeast enzymes. It is the principal
constituent and the in toxicating principle of
wines.
Modes of Use:
Alcohol is taken in low concentration, as the beer,
toddy and wine and in relatively high
concentration as arrack, brandy, whisky, rum,
gin, vodka etc.

CONCLUSIONS:
“It does not matter how slowly you go as
long as u do not stop”.

VELAMMAL
VIDHYASHRAM
MAMBAKKAM

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 SENIOR SECONDARY
CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
BIOLOGY(044)
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
REPORT ON:
DRUG ADDICTION

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