Prepared by:

Padmaja Shandilya
Roll.no.19
Subject: Biology
Submitted to: Sapna
mam
 Acknowledgement
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have
been possible without the kind support and help of many
individuals. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of
them.

Furthermore I would also like to acknowledge with much

appreciation the crucial role of the staff of Shree Vasishtha
Vidhyalaya, who gave the permission to use all required
equipment and the necessary materials to complete the
task “investigatory project”. Next, many thanks go to the
head of the project, Sapna Trivedi who has invested her full
effort in guiding me in achieving the goal. I have to
appreciate the guidance given by supervisor Ms Rashmi
Khan as well as the panels especially in our project
presentation that has improved our presentation skills
thanks to their comment and advices. Also I would also like
to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in
finalizing this project within the limited time frame.
Contents
What is drug addiction?
Drug abuse vs. drug addiction
Commonly abused substance
Drug abuse prevention
Effects of drug on body and brain
Drug addiction
What is drug addiction
Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and b

Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and

behaviour. When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t
resist the urge to use them, no matter how much
harm the drugs may cause.
Drug addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or
other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol,
nicotine, opioid painkillers, and other legal
substances.
At first, you may choose to take a drug because you
like the way it makes you feel. You may think you
can control how much and how often you use it. But
over time, drugs change how your brain works.
These physical changes can last a long time. They
make you lose self-control and can lead you to
damaging behaviours.
There are a range of genetic and environmental risk
factors for developing an addiction that vary across the
population. Roughly half of an individual's risk for
developing an addiction is derived from genetics, while the
other half is derived from the environment. However, even
in individuals with a relatively low genetic loading,
exposure to sufficiently high doses of an addictive drug for
a long period of time (e.g., weeks–months) can result in an
addiction. In other words, anyo

hhhne can become an addict

What Are the Differences Between Drug Abuse

and Addiction?
Many people use the terms drugs abuse and drug addiction
interchangeably, even though they are very different terms.
If you are struggling with drugs in your life, it’s important
for you to know the difference between these two terms so
you can seek the right treatment. Only then, when you
identify your problem, will you begin to make the first
steps towards your recovery.

Although drug abuse and drug addiction are different

terms, they are related. Drug abuse refers to using drugs
even though it has become a problem in your life. You may
have begun using drugs without any noticeable negative
consequences, but as you continued to abuse drugs, the
negative consequences became more apparent.

People addicted to substance and people who abuse

substances are different. While both have adverse effects
on an individual’s life, knowing the difference between
abuses us addiction will help you understand and remedy
the situation. Those who abuse drugs and alcohol still have
control over their lives, while those with an addiction have
a disease that affects many aspects of their life. People with
addiction may seem to have only abuse problem, when in
reality their life is beginning to fall apart. Similarly, those
with an abuse problem might seem like they have an
addiction, but they are actually in control of their
substance use.

Commonly abused substance

ALCOHOL

Low levels of intoxication are likely to result in increased

sociability and euphoria, while higher levels of
consumption can result in sedation and dangerously low
pulse and breathing rate. Drinking large amounts of
alcohol can result in blackouts, or amnesia for the events
that occurred while intoxicated.
Despite being legal (and widely consumed) in many countries
around the world, studies have found that alcohol is actually the
most dangerous drug in the market – even above heroin and
cocaine. Over three million deaths are attributed to alcohol abuse
each and every year. Alcohol is a depressant, and the effects on
the mind and body.

Nicotine

Nicotine is the most well-known chemical found in tobacco. It’s an

alkaloid, which means it contains nitrogen and is chemically similar to
things like caffeine and cocaine.
As well as the tobacco plant, it’s also found in potatoes, tomatoes and
aubergine, though in very tiny amounts. To compare, there’s about 20 mg
of nicotine in 1 g of tobacco, compared to 0.0001 mg per 1 g of
aubergine. This is also the vegetable with the highest nicotine content, so
amounts in tomatoes and potatoes are even lower.
Cigarettes usually contain about 10 mg of nicotine. However, you don’t
actually get all of this when you smoke. In the end, you only actually
absorb about 1 mg of nicotine per cigarette.
Nicotine’s effects are the result of its ability to bind to certain receptors in
the brain. When the nicotine binds to the receptors in your brain, it
stimulates the release of “neurotransmitters.” These are like chemical
messengers used by the brain to send signals, with the most well-known
being dopamine.
These factors also go some way to explaining why nicotine is addictive.
When nicotine regularly stimulates the nACHR receptors, the body reacts
by reducing the number of receptors and making less acetylcholine itself.
This means that the same amount of nicotine won’t have the same effect
anymore. This is called “tolerance” to nicotine’s effects. And if you don’t
consume nicotine, the adaptations your body has made start to cause
problems.

Codeine

Codeine is one of the many pharmaceuticals classified as

an opiate. Opiates are narcotics with a high potential for
addiction. Codeine is typically administered in liquid or pill form,
and when used under the direction of a medical professional,
codeine is a relatively safe way to treat minor pain or control
troublesome coughs. However, users often abuse codeine for the
feelings of relaxation and euphoria they produce. Like many
opiates, withdrawal symptoms from codeine can be quite severe,
keeping the user in a cycle of use they find difficult to stop.
When a user takes an excess dose of codeine, he is subject to
loss of consciousness, respiratory collapse and/or cardiac arrest.
The resulting decrease in oxygenated blood to various organ
systems could be quite devastating. Without enough oxygen,
tissue in the brain and heart can die, leading to permanent organ
damage or even death.
Some of the less-serious side effects of codeine, such as
stomach upset, might only last a few hours. More concerning are
effects like mood changes or depression, which can persist for
years, depending on the duration and severity of abuse.

Opioids

Opioids are powerful painkillers that produce a sense of euphoria

in users. Derived from the poppy plant, opioids are often
prescribed by doctors to patients who are suffering from intense
pain. They are extremely habit-forming, sometimes even
causing addiction in as little as three days. Our bodies begin to
build a tolerance for opioids, meaning we have to take more to
get the same effect. People taking opioids for chronic pain are
especially at risk because tolerance continues to grow even after
the maximum dose has been reached. The brain also stops
producing natural endorphins, making a person more susceptible
to pain and diminishing their ability to feel happy naturally. When
someone stops using opioids, their brain takes time to repair.
They may experience intense withdrawal symptoms, such as
shaking, vomiting, and anxiety.

Cannabis

Cannabis is derived from the dried flowering tops, leaves, stems,

and seeds of the Cannabis sativa (hemp) plant. Cannabis has
been used for hundreds of years by humans for fibre (hemp),
seed oils, seed, medical treatment, and recreationally.
The compound is also known to stimulate appetite and induce
a relaxed state, as well as other effects on sense of smell,
hearing, and eyesight. THC can also cause fatigue. In some
people, it may reduce aggression. Some have demonstrated that
it shows some promise for the treatment of nausea and vomiting -
it may have antiemetic qualities that make it helpful for people
undergoing chemotherapy or other treatment where nausea can
be a side effect.

Medical marijuana is used to treat chronic pain, muscle

spasticity, anorexia, nausea, and sleep disturbances. Medical
marijuana is not subject to governmental standardization, making
its ingredients and potency unknown. Marijuana, inhaled through
vapour, brewed as a tea, applied as a balm, or eaten in products
such as brownies or chocolate bars.

Drug Abuse Prevention

Education is Key

Drug abuse prevention begins with

education, spreading the word regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself
and to the community. These programs are just the beginning.
 Drug abuse prevention begins with education, spreading the word
regarding the dangers of drugs to oneself and to the community. These
programs are just the beginning. The information provided is most
effective when it is followed up with continued support. Drug prevention
programs seek to involve the family, community or workplace in the
prevention process. To be effective, communities need to sustain the
progress. This often requires continued leadership and financial support.

Drug abuse has a pervasive effect on an entire community.

Understanding drug use risk factors and spreading the word through
prevention programs is the best defence against drug abuse.

 Parental monitoring has been the most effective way to slow the
expansion of drugs in family situations.
 School drug prevention programs serve a valuable purpose in first time
users aged 12-17.
 Schools with strict compliance rules and counselling support have been
successful at reducing usage.
 Programs should make sure to address all aspects of drug abuse. This
includes underage use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, illicit
street drugs, inhalants and the inappropriate use of legal drugs such as
prescription and over the counter drugs.
 These programs must also be tailored to the specific needs of the
audience. Having specialized programs for different genders, ages,
cultures and ethnicities only make the programs more effective.
 Family Based Drug Prevention. The prevention of drug abuse
should start inside the family unit as early as possible. There are
many obvious benefits of home based drug prevention education
including self-awareness, and the enhancement of parent-child
communication skills and family bonding. Parental supervision and
involvement are critical in adolescents. Parents must not only have a
plan to educate their children on the dangers of drug use and abuse,
but they must also establish and enforce family rules. This includes
creating an effective system of monitoring their children's activities.
 School Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs. Drug abuse
prevention should be addressed as early as preschool. Preschool
children can benefit from learning how to handle aggression, solve
 problems, and communicate better so that they can avoid putting
themselves at risk for drug abuse later in life. Middle and high school
programs should focus on peer relationships, communication,
assertiveness, drug resistance skills and developing anti-drug
attitudes. School based prevention programs should be repeated
often for the best level of success.
 Community Based Drug Abuse Prevention Programs.
Communities that make an effort to come together in the fight
against drugs are sure to make an impact in the prevention of drug
abuse. There are many places to establish these prevention
programs including schools, churches and community based clubs.
Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain. Different drugs can
have different effects. Some effects of drugs include health
consequences that are long-lasting and even permanent. They can even
continue after a person has stopped taking the substance.
Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and
one in four deaths results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths,
illnesses and disabilities stem from effects of drug abuse than from any
other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug and
alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries,
accidents and domestic violence incidents.

Health Problems
The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching, affecting
almost every organ in the human body. Drug use can:
 Weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections.
 Cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart rate to
heart attacks. Injected drugs can also lead to collapsed veins and
infections of the blood vessels and heart valves.
 Cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
 Cause the liver to have to work harder, possibly causing significant
damage or liver failure.
 Cause seizures, stroke and widespread brain damage that can impact
all aspects of daily life by causing problems with memory, attention
and decision-making, including sustained mental confusion and
permanent brain damage.
 Produce global body changes such as breast development in men,
dramatic fluctuations in appetite and increases in body temperature,
which may impact a variety of health conditions.
Effects on the Brain

Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs have been shown to
alter brain chemistry, which interferes with an individual's ability to make
decisions and can lead to compulsive craving, seeking and use. This then
becomes a substance dependency.
 All drugs of abuse - nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and others - effect
the brains "reward" circuit, which is part of the limbic system.
 Drugs hijack this "reward" system, causing unusually large amounts of
dopamine to flood the system.
 This flood of dopamine is what causes the "high" or euphoria
associated with drug abuse.

Behavioural Problems
 Paranoia
 Aggressiveness
 Hallucinations
 Addiction
 Impaired Judgment
 Impulsiveness
 Loss of Self-Control

Birth Defects
Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States use illicit drugs
such as cannabis, cocaine, Ecstasy and other amphetamines, and
heroin1. These and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for pregnant
women and their babies. Some of these drugs can cause a baby to be
born too small or too soon, or to have withdrawal symptoms, birth defects
or learning and behavioural problems. Additionally, illicit drugs may be
prepared with impurities that may be harmful to a pregnancy.
Finally, pregnant women who use illicit drugs may engage in other
unhealthy behaviours that place their pregnancy at risk, such as having
extremely poor nutrition or developing sexually transmitted infections.
Bibliography
NCERT Biology
Drug addiction-Wikipedia