IGCSE BIOLOGY

CHAPTER 12: DRUGS

12.1 WHAT IS A DRUG?

A drug is a substance that affects

chemical reactions in the body.
Without drugs, many people would live
much shorter lives or suffer great pain.
Drugs used in medical care or to relieve
mild pain are very useful to us. However,
misuse of drugs cause harm to oneself
and others.

12.2 ANTIBIOTICS KILL BACTERIA IN THE BODY

Antibiotics are substances which kill

bacteria but do not harm other living
cells.
Antibiotics are made by fungi.
The first antibiotic discovered was
Penicillin made by the fungus Penicillium.
Penicillin kills bacteria by stopping them
from making their cell walls.

12.2 ANTIBIOTICS KILL BACTERIA IN THE BODY

The fungus Penicillium sometimes grow on decaying fruits

12.2 ANTIBIOTICS KILL BACTERIA IN THE BODY

Penicillin in growth
medium

Bacteria
without
cell wall

Bacteria grow in a medium with penicillin

12.2 ANTIBIOTICS KILL BACTERIA IN THE BODY

The clear area around the antibiotic disc is where the bacterial
growth is inhibited. The cloudy area is the region of bacterial growth

12.3 HEROIN IS AN ADDICITIVE DEPRESSANT

Opium poppy produce a substance

called
opium which is a mixture of different
chemicals.
Some of the chemicals in opium are
morphine and codeine. Both of these are
used as painkiller.
Opium is the raw material to produce
heroin which is a painkiller. Heroin is an

12.3 HEROIN IS AN ADDICITIVE DEPRESSANT

The dried latex of the fruit of the opium poppy is opium

12.3 HEROIN IS AN ADDICITIVE DEPRESSANT

Heroin is a powerful depressant. This

means that it slows down many functions
of the brain.
Heroin reduces pain, slows down
breathing and the action of the
hypothalamus.
When a person takes heroin, it produces a
feeling of euphoria (intense happiness).

12.3 HEROIN IS AN ADDICITIVE DEPRESSANT

Video on heroin addiction:

12.4 ALCOHOL IS ALSO A POWERFUL DEPRESSANT

People often drink alcoholic drinks

because alcohol can make people feel
more relaxed and release their inhibitions.
Alcohol is quickly absorbed through the
wall of the stomach and carried in the
blood to all parts of the body.
Alcohol breaks down in the liver but it
takes a long time.

12.4 ALCOHOL IS ALSO A POWERFUL DEPRESSANT

12.5 ALCOHOLISM IS A DANGEROUS DISEASE

Alcoholism is a disease in which a person

cannot manage without alcohol.
An alcoholic drinks large quantities of
alcohols regularly. This causes many parts
of the body to be damaged because
alcohol is poisonous to cells.

12.5 ALCOHOLISM IS A DANGEROUS DISEASE

12.5 ALCOHOLISM IS A DANGEROUS DISEASE

Comparison between a normal liver and liver with

cirrhosis

12.6 TOBACCO SMOKE CONTAINS IRRITANTS AND

CARCINOGENS

The main components of cigarette

smoke are tar, nicotine, carbon
monoxide and
smoke particles.

Components of cigarette smoke

12.7 NICOTINE IS ADDICTIVE

Component in
cigarette smoke

Effects

Nicotine

Causes addiction to smoking

Causes vasoconstriction leading to hypertension

Tar

Causes lung cancer

Carbon monoxide

Reduces the delivery of oxygen to body cells by

binding to haemoglobin inside the red blood cells

Smoke particles

Chemicals released by the white blood cells to

remove the smoke particles damage the lungs

* The chemicals break down the walls of the alveoli.

This causes emphysema. Emphysema reduces
the total surface area for gaseous exhange.

12.7 NICOTINE IS ADDICTIVE

A healthy lung has many small air spaces but a lung with
emphysema has fewer but bigger air spaces

12.7 NICOTINE IS ADDICTIVE