Lesson 4 of 4

Drug misuse and addiction

Goal: Describe how drug misuse affects behaviour, health and life processes.

Puzzles for this lesson

Stimulants speed up the nervous system. Depressants slow it down.

StimulantMakes the brain and nerves more active. You feel more alert. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants.

DepressantMakes the brain and nerves less active. Reactions get slower. Alcohol is a depressant.

Drug misuse means taking an illegal drug, or taking a legal drug or a medicine in a way that does harm.
It changes behaviour and health. A person may take risks and make poor decisions. The brain, the liver and the heart can be damaged.
It upsets life processes, such as movement (clumsy), sensitivity (slow to react) and nutrition (loss of appetite).
Addiction means depending on a drug and finding it very hard to stop. Stopping brings withdrawal symptoms, such as a craving, shaking or feeling sick.

Worried about a drug, or about someone who takes one? Talk to an adult you trust, such as a parent, a teacher or a school nurse.

Your turn

This lesson’s activity starts here in a moment.

I can tell a stimulant from a depressant.I can describe one effect of each on the body.

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Drug A substance that changes the way the body or mind works

Medicine A drug that treats an illness or eases its symptoms

Caffeine A stimulant found in coffee, tea and cola

Alcohol A depressant found in drinks such as beer and wine

Nicotine The addictive drug in tobacco smoke

Stimulant A drug that speeds up the nervous system

Depressant A drug that slows down the nervous system

Nervous system The brain, the spinal cord and the nerves

Liver The organ that breaks down alcohol

Drug misuse Taking a drug in a way that does harm or breaks the law

Addiction Depending on a drug and finding it very hard to stop

Withdrawal symptoms Unpleasant effects felt when an addicted person stops taking a drug

Craving A strong urge to take a drug again

For teachers: AQA Extend only