Drug Abuse Pre-reading Activity

Transcription

1 Drug Abuse Pre-reading Activity Discussion Questions Discuss the following statements. Do you think they are true or false? There is not a drug problem in the UAE. Tobacco is more addictive than heroin. Cannabis has no serious side effects. People who take crack are likely to go on to take harder drugs. It is safer to take drugs by injection than in other ways. Athletes take anabolic steroids to improve their performance. It is easy to tell when someone is on drugs. Click here to read about street drugs. 1 of 13

2 Drug Abuse (1) Whether we like it or not, it is a fact that drug abuse is now an issue affecting most societies. There are problems both of drug trafficking and drug abuse in the UAE, and a study done by Dr. Hashim Abdullah Salem of the Interior Ministry s Police College in 1996 showed that about 70 per cent of drug users in the country were UAE nationals. It is therefore extremely important that you know the facts about drugs and drug abuse. (2) When you hear the words drug addict you probably immediately think of someone hooked on heroin or cocaine. In fact, drug abuse is not confined to illegal drugs. (3) Many thousands of people are dependent on substances which can be found in the home, such as nicotine (one of the most addictive drugs), or alcohol, both of which can have very harmful effects. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea and many soft drinks, is also a drug, and certain drugs prescribed by doctors such as barbiturates and tranquillizers may also be misused. However, this information sheet will focus on the features and dangers of various substances and drugs which are commonly abused. Marijuana (other names: cannabis, hash, grass, dope, pot) (4) Comes from the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, and is grown mostly in Asia. It causes feelings of relaxation and well-being, but may cause some people to have anxiety attacks. The main dangers are like those of tobacco smoking lung cancer, bronchitis and breathing problems, but some studies have shown that the risk of developing lung cancer is between five to ten times greater than with cigarette smoking. Long-term effects may include depression and apathy, and difficulty in remembering things. Cocaine (other names: coke, C, snow) (5) Is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant, which is found mostly in South America. A very powerful stimulant, it causes a short-term feeling of well-being. It is very easy to become addicted to cocaine, as users soon need new doses to prevent the feeling of depression and tiredness that occur as its effect wears off. Its side effects include trembling, insomnia, and damage to the inside of the nose, as it is usually sniffed. An overdose may cause a fatal heart attack or respiratory failure. Crack (6) This is a form of cocaine which is mixed with water and chemicals to allow it to act faster in the body system. Its very quick-acting effects (it takes only ten seconds to reach the brain) lead to a rush of pleasure which lasts about ten minutes. This is followed by a sharp let-down feeling, and may lead to depression and aggressive behaviour along with a terrible craving for more of the drug. It is highly addictive, and the user may go on to other drugs such as heroin. Regular crack users become violent and irritable, lose their self-control and self-respect, and may turn to crime to obtain the money they need to finance their addiction. Ecstasy (other names: E, M25s) (7) Ecstasy is a stimulant drug, producing a heightened awareness. The tablets are often tampered with, and other drugs such as heroin may be added to them. Its effects are felt about twenty minutes after taking the drug, and may last for several hours. Ecstasy raises the body temperature, and because it is often taken at parties, when the user is dancing and getting hot, it can lead to a dangerously high degree of dehydration, along with raised blood pressure and 2 of 13

3 kidney malfunction. There have been many cases of young people collapsing and dying shortly after taking ecstasy. It can also cause liver and brain damage, and depression. Heroin (other names: H, brown sugar) (8) Heroin is a powerful painkiller, and is used medically, for example with cancer patients. It is produced form morphine, but is twice as strong. It gives a feeling of contentment and wellbeing, slowing down the nervous system. Heroin is highly addictive, both physically and psychologically. Withdrawal symptoms are severe, and include cramps, sweating, shivering and chills. It is one of the most dangerous drugs because it is taken usually by injection, which brings with it the risk of vein damage, gangrene, hepatitis and AIDS. Overdosing is easy when injecting with heroin, and leads to unconsciousness, coma and death. LSD (other names: acid, sugar) (9) This is the most powerful hallucinogenic drug. It directly affects the brain, causing the user to see, feel and think differently, or go on a trip, an irreversible, unstoppable experience which lasts for about eight hours. A trip can be very risky; some users have died because they have done things like jumping out of windows in the misbelief that they could fly. The effects of LSD can sometimes be felt several weeks after taking a dose. Solvents (10) This group includes paint thinners and glue. This dangerous from of drug abuse is particularly common amongst younger children, because of the ease of availability. The effects are rather like being drunk, with the user becoming light-headed and giddy. The minor side effects of taking solvents are feeling sick and confused, and finding it hard to balance and to speak clearly. However, the methods of taking the solvents carry serious risks: some users hold plastic bags over their nose or head, which can lead to suffocation; spraying a solvent directly down the throat causes the airways to freeze, and the user to die. Some users become unconscious and die from choking on their vomit. Long-term users risk permanent brain, kidney and liver damage. Amphetamines (other names: speed, uppers) (11) These artificial stimulants were once commonly used to lose weight. They keep the user awake by speeding up the nervous system. When the effects wear off, depression and paranoia can set in, along with violent behaviour and delusions. The long-term effects include heart problems and mental disorders. Anabolic steroids (12) These drugs are used by athletes to make them perform better in sports by improving muscle and strength. The serious side effects include liver damage, infertility and stunted growth in young people. How can you tell that someone is on drugs? (13) If you think that someone is on drugs, there are several signs that you can look for. But remember, many young people go through periods of moodiness, irritability or withdrawn behaviour, so be careful in assuming that someone who shows these characteristics is taking drugs. (14) Below are some warning signs that someone may be abusing drugs: feeling tired a lot of the time 3 of 13

4 a change in appetite sudden changes in mood and personality confusion, slurred speech and strange behaviour unusually small or large pupils shivering soreness around the nose; sniffing unsteadiness and poor physical co-ordination playing truant from school losing interest in friends and hobbies losing interest in personal appearance using perfume or aftershave to hide the smell of drugs always trying to get money using things like: i. lots of matches or lighters ii. plastic bottles with their base removed iii. bent pieces of pipe iv. packets of cigarette papers with pieces torn from them v. buckets or bowls of water 4 of 13

5 Drug Abuse (Ex. 1) Match the drug with its side effects. raised blood pressure; kidney malfunction; liver/brain damage heart problems brain, kidney, liver damage liver damage; infertility; stunted growth lung cancer; bronchitis fatal heart attack; respiratory failure gangrene, hepatitis, AIDS marijuana heroin solvents cocaine amphetamines anabolic steroids ecstasy Drug Abuse (Ex. 2) 1. There is not a drug problem in the UAE. 2. Close to 70% of drug users in the UAE are Emiratis. 3. Tobacco is more addictive than heroin. 4. Cannabis has no serious side effects. 5. Most cocaine comes from southern Australia. 6. Taking crack cocaine may lead people to go on to take harder drugs. 7. The effects of ecstasy last about twenty minutes. 5 of 13

6 8. Morphine is a pain killer produced from heroin. 9. It is safer to take drugs by injection than in other ways. 10. LSD is most dangerous when users inject it. 11. Solvent abusers often die as a result of the way they ingest the drug. 12. The long term effects of solvent abuse are someone becoming permanently light-headed and feeling drunk. 13. Amphetamines cause the nervous system to speed up and this is followed by depression. 14. Athletes are forbidden to take anabolic steroids to improve their performance. a) Ture 15. It is easy to tell when someone is on drugs. 16. Moodiness, irratibility and withdrawing from social situations are sure signs that someone is abusing drugs. 6 of 13

7 Drug Abuse (Ex. 3) additional and are are are as at be be being by by carries died drugs from harder has hepatitis However is issue members not such these user ways It is important nowadays that all (1) of society are informed about the (2) of drug abuse. Although household substances (3) as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can (4) dangerously addictive, this leaflet concentrates on (5) substances which are illegal. Some drugs (6) considered softer than others as they (7) less addictive and their side effects (8) usually not as dangerous. Marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines and solvents are examples of these. (9), although solvents such as glue are (10) so dangerous in the short-term, the (11) in which users take them can (12) very risky, and solvent users have (13) from suffocation and choking. If ecstasy (14) being taken when the user is (15) very physically active, such as dancing (16) a party, it can cause death (17) heat stroke and dehydration. All soft (18) can have serious long-term effects. The (19) drugs include cocaine, crack, heroin and LSD, and there are both highly addictive (20) can have very physically harmful side-effects. Cocaine and heroin may result in death, (21) it is very easy for the (22) to overdose when taking them. LSD (23) the risk of the user dying (24) doing something dangerous because his brain (25) been directly affected. Heroin brings the (26) risks associated with injecting a drug (27) needle, which include diseases such as (28), AIDS and gangrene. 7 of 13

8 Drug Abuse (Ex. 4) Enter the prefix for each example. ir dis il mis mal un im ab over de Enter the correct prefix in the table. ir dis il mis mal un im ab over de 8 of 13

9 Drug Abuse (Ex. 5) Across: 1 not able to reproduce (Paragraph 12) 4 not balanced properly (Paragraph/Section 14) 6 not able to sleep (Paragraph 5) 7 false belief (Paragraph 9) Down: 2 not lawful (Paragraph 2) 3 too much medicine/drugs (Paragraph 5) 4 not awake, aware or feeling (Paragraph 10) 5 does not work properly (Paragraph 7) 8 can not be undone/reversed (Paragraph 9) 9 can not be halted or ended (Paragraph 9) 10 not enough water (Paragraph 7) 7 to utilise in an improper way (Paragraph 3) 9 of 13

10 Drug Abuse (Wordsearch) 10 of 13

11 Ex. 1 Key raised blood pressure; kidney malfunction; liver/brain damage heart problems brain, kidney, liver damage liver damage; infertility; stunted growth lung cancer; bronchitis fatal heart attack; respiratory failure gangrene, hepatitis, AIDS ecstasy amphetamines solvents anabolic steroids marijuana cocaine heroin Ex. 2 Key (b) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (c) 11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (a) 14. (c) 15. (b) 16. (b) Ex. 3 Key It is important nowadays that all members of society are informed about the issue of drug abuse. Although household substances such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can be dangerously addictive, this leaflet concentrates on these substances which are illegal. Some drugs are considered softer than others as they are less addictive and their side effects are usually not as dangerous. Marijuana, ecstasy, amphetamines and solvents are examples of these. However, although solvents such as glue are not so dangerous in the short-term, the ways in which users take them can be very risky, and solvent users have died from suffocation and choking. If ecstasy is being taken when the user is being very physically active, such as dancing at a party, it can cause death from heat stroke and dehydration. All soft drugs can have serious long-term effects. The harder drugs include cocaine, crack, heroin and LSD, and there are both highly addictive and can have very physically harmful side-effects. Cocaine and heroin may result in death, as it is very easy for the user to overdose when taking them. LSD carries the risk of the user dying by doing something dangerous because his brain has been directly affected. Heroin brings the additional risks associated with injecting a drug by needle, which include diseases such as hepatitis, AIDS and gangrene. 11 of 13

12 Ex. 4 Key of 13

13 Ex. 5 Key Wordsearch Key of 13