University:
Manchester University
Course:
COMM 220 | Introduction to Health Communication
Academic year:

2024
Views:

450

Pages:

12
Author:

larbiwxcvbn

Health: Drugs Drugs are any substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind. Legal Drugs Include any drugs used for a medical purpose  Medicines are legal drugs (typically prescribed by a doctor or sold in stores or pharmacies)  Cigarettes and Alcohol are legal drugs  Illegal Drugs ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Marijuana Ecstasy Cocaine LSD Crystal Meth Heroin  Take a minute to think about the answer to this question… How are Medicines and Drugs related?  Medicines are drugs that are used to treat or prevent diseases or other conditions All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines. Medical drugs are effective in treating illness when taken as directed by a physician or according to the label instructions. 1. 2. 3. 4. Medicines that help prevent disease Medicines that fight pathogens Medicines that relieve pain and other symptoms Medicines that manage chronic conditions, help maintain or restore health, and regulate body’s systems   Today almost 95% of all children receive vaccines Vaccines a preparation that prevents a person from contracting a specific disease ▪ Contain a weakened or dead pathogen that causes the disease and allows body to produce antibodies that fight the disease ▪ Example: Flu Antibodies are drugs that destroy disease-causing microorganisms, called bacteria  Pain Relievers include anything from aspirin to strong narcotics such as morphine or codeine.   Oral Medication ▪ Taken in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquids  Topical Medications ▪ Applied to the skin   Inhaled Medicines Injected Medicines ▪ Delivered in through a shot straight to the bloodstream Medicines have a variety of different effects. Including:  Side-effects: reactions to medicine other than the one intended Examples: drowsiness, fatigue As a class make a list of as many side-effects as you can think of. Tolerance: condition in which the body becomes used to the effect of a medication requiring larger doses of the medicine to produce the same effect. Withdrawal: occurs when a person stops using a medicine on which he or she has become physiologically dependent. Medicines should only be taken as prescribed or instructed on the label.  Prescription Medicines are medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse-practitioner.  Over-the-Counter Medicines are medicines you can buy without a doctor’s prescription and should be used only as the label directs. Drug Misuse:  Using medicine in ways other than the intended use Drug misuse can prevent the user from getting the full benefit of the medicine and can have serious health consequences. What are some examples of drug misuse?