Understanding Drugs, Immunity, and Health: Key Concepts

Posted on Feb 21, 2025 in Biology

Drugs and Health: Key Concepts

Drug-Related Issues

  1. Drug-Induced Disorders
  2. Routes of Drug Consumption: Injecting, snorting, drinking, smoking.
  3. Ketamine Availability: In India (as in Mexico and other countries where resources are scarce).
  4. Drug Use in Spain: Spain leads in cocaine consumption and ranks fourth in cannabis, amphetamines, and ecstasy use, with increasing consumption at a younger age. Many causes of mortality in Spain are linked to drugs, such as lung cancer (tobacco), traffic accidents (alcohol), and drug overdoses.

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol

Alcohol and tobacco are legal drugs. Alcohol affects the brain and can cause problems in the kidneys, liver, and circulatory system.

Effects of Alcohol:
  • Increases the risk of car accidents.
  • Increases distraction at work.
  • Leads to homicide and suicide tendencies.
  • Can harm the fetus during pregnancy.

Tobacco

Tobacco is a plant that is smoked, native to the Americas.

Components of Tobacco:

Ammonia, arsenic, butane, cyanide, methane, nicotine, tar…

Effects of Tobacco:
  • Lung Cancer
  • Asthma
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Oral cancer
  • Premature skin aging and wrinkles

Eating Disorders

  1. Eating Disorders: Chronic and progressive conditions characterized by a disturbed body image and fear of gaining weight. Examples include anorexia, bulimia, and vigorexia. Symptoms include losing weight and feeling sick, feeling guilty when eating, and perceiving oneself as fat despite being underweight.

Hominids and Evolution

  1. Hominids: The order of mammals that includes humans and their closest relatives.

Features of Hominids:

  • Hands and feet with 5 fingers.
  • Opposable thumbs.
  • Forward-facing eyes with stereoscopic vision.
  • Arm rotation around the shoulder.
  • Ability to bend at the waist.
  • Larger brain proportion.

Medications as Drugs

  1. Medications as Drugs: Drugs and medicines are substances or chemicals that alter the way the body functions.

Potential Effects:

  • Excessive sleepiness.
  • Engagement in quarrels or fights.
  • Red or swollen eyes.
  • Weight loss or gain.
  • Frequent coughing.
  • Constant runny nose.

Immunity

Types of Immunity:

  • Natural Immunity: The body’s inherent ability to resist microorganisms and their toxins.
  • Acquired Immunity: Develops when antibodies are transferred from one individual to another.

Active vs. Passive Immunity:

  • Active Immunity: Acquired through contact with an antigen.
  • Passive Immunity: Provides rapid but short-lived protection, acquired during pregnancy.

Vaccines and Serums:

  • Vaccine: A preparation of antigens from pathogens that cannot infect, designed to create antibodies that recognize and attack the infection.
  • Serum: The liquid part of blood remaining after coagulation, containing antibodies.

Drugs: Definition and Types

  1. Drug Definition: Any substance introduced into the body that alters nervous system function.

Legal vs. Illegal Drugs:

  • Illegal Drugs: Substances punishable by law, such as marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.
  • Legal Drugs: Substances that can be legally purchased, such as tobacco and alcohol.

Drug Dependence and Tolerance

Tolerance:

With repeated drug use, the effect of the drug diminishes, requiring increased doses to achieve the same effect.

Dependence:

A process where, upon stopping drug use, the consumer experiences illness due to addiction.