Page 64 - Biology_Form_3

Biology for Secondary Schools

a dangerous drug for the user. Its taken by either by altering the information about real
either sniffing through the nose or smoking. things producing illusion or by producing
false image; hence, causing hallucinations.
Stimulants They cause a person to hallucinate (hear and

These are drugs which stimulate or excite see) things which are not real. The effect of
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the nervous system by elevating mood, these drugs depends on several factors such
increasing energy and feelings of wellbeing, as type of chemicals used, the amount taken
and alertness. They speed up the reaction or (dosage), and emotional state of the user.
action of the brain and make someone more Users of these drugs show signs of violence,
alert. Examples include amphetamines, mental illness with confusion, fear and
cocaine, caffeine, nicotine and tobacco. depression. Examples of such drug includes
Caffeine is a less dangerous stimulant and Cannabis (marijuana, bhang, hashish or
commonly used in our environment since charas), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),
it is found in coffee, tea, some diet pills as phencyclidine and mescaline.
well as in some soft drinks such as cola.
Cocaine is a dangerous drug for the user Inhalants
taken either by smoking or sniffing through Inhalants are products which include spray,
the nose. paints, markers, glues, kerosene, toluene,
petroleum and cleaning fluids. These

Narcotics products contain dangerous substances
These are the substances that dull the senses that have psychoactive (mind-altering)
and relieve pain by depressing the cerebral properties when inhaled. People who use
cortex in the brain. They also affect the inhalants breath in the fumes through their
thalamus which is the regulatory center of nose or mouth usually by sniffing, snorting
the body. Examples of narcotics include or huffing.
heroin and pharmaceutical drugs like
Oxycontin, codeine, morphine, methadone, Correct ways of handling and using
and fentanyl. Most of these drugs are used drugs
to reduce pain and suppress cough. Usually Drugs such as sedatives and pain killers,
codeine is found in most cough medicines can be very helpful to people if taken with
for reducing pain. Morphine is used to a doctor’s prescription. However, they must
dull severe pains since it is stronger than be taken in the right amounts and at the
codeine. right time because they can be extremely
harmful if not taken correctly. The reasons
Hallucinogens for this is that, drug may impair a person’s
These are drugs that distort visual and judgments and make him or her clumsy. For
auditory perception. They interfere with example, a person may become addicted
the way brain interprets impulses from the to cigarette smoking. Drugs might also
sensory organs. The interference can be cause injury by damaging cells of the body.

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BIOLOGY FORM 3 FINAL EDITED 16.09.2025.indd 57 KAMISHNA 23/10/2025 11:52:40 KAMISHNA