Biology · Ch 10 — Human Health and Diseases
Drugs Abuse
Drugs Abuse
Surveys consistently show rising drug and alcohol use, especially among youth — a real cause for concern given the harm it can cause. The drugs most commonly abused fall into three groups: opioids, cannabinoids and the alkaloids of coca, alongside a separate category of hallucinogens.
a. Opioids: These bind to opioid receptors present in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Heroin (also called 'smack'), chemically di-acetyl morphine, is extracted from the latex of the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. Heroin is a depressant — it slows down the body's activity.
Drawn by us to help you understand the concept clearly, and verified to make sure it's accurate. For exams, practice from your textbook's own diagram.
What this figure shows. The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum: the flower, the unripe capsule that is scored to collect latex, and the source of the …
b. Cannabinoids: These interact with receptors in the brain; inhaling or ingesting them affects the cardiovascular system. They are obtained from the inflorescences and other parts of Cannabis sativa — marijuana, hashish, charas and ganja are all different forms of drug obtained from this same plant.
Drawn by us to help you understand the concept clearly, and verified to make sure it's accurate. For exams, practice from your textbook's own diagram.
What this figure shows. A leaf of Cannabis sativa, palmately divided into narrow serrated leaflets; the plant's inflorescences and other parts give marijuan …
c. Cocaine: An alkaloid obtained from the coca plant, Erythroxylum coca. It raises the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine, and an excessive dose causes extreme euphoria, irritability and paranoia. …
Drawn by us to help you understand the concept clearly, and verified to make sure it's accurate. For exams, practice from your textbook's own diagram.
What this figure shows. A flowering branch of Datura, with its trumpet-shaped flower and spiny fruit; the plant has hal …