The Dictionary Meaning Of Drugs.

1.A medicine used in hospital’s to make people better and stop diseases.

2.A dangerous thing that makes people act differently and have bad behavior. These drugs can become addictive easily.

Addictive means that you cant stop taking something.

Drugs

Illegal Drugs

Legal Drugs

Prescription Drugs

Cocaine

Coltalin

Ibuprofen

Cigarettes

Alcohol

Heroin

Cannabis

Paracetemol

Legal Drugs: Cigarettes

• When you smoke a cigarette you put dangerous things into your body• Your heart becomes blocked up and breathing is difficult• If you smoke for a long time your lungs will become black• Your skin will become wrinkled and yellow• Smoking causes cancer in the Throat and Lungs

Legal Drugs: Alcohol

•Drinking too much alcohol can cause the liver to not work properly which can kill someone. •Alcohol can cause cancer too. •If you drink too much you may feel very unhappy. •Alcohol also causes harm to unborn babies. •Alcohol may make someone behave badly.•If your liver is hurt it is difficult to become better again.

Illegal Drugs: Cannabis

•Cannabis comes from a plant. •If you smoke it, it can make your heart beat faster and make your eyes go red. •You may also have mental health problems and cancer.

•Cocaine is a dangerous white powder. •If you take it, it will affect your whole body. •Your brain can be damaged and you may feel very hungry. •You may also get a bad fever and a sore throat. •Cocaine is very addictive.

Illegal Drugs: Cocaine

•Heroin is a dangerous brown powder. •It is even more addictive than Cocaine. •If you take it you may get a very damaged heart and liver.• Also your skin will get sores and you may get a cold or the flu.

Illegal Drugs: Heroin

Prescription Drugs

• A prescription drug is a drug that your doctor gives you to help you get better when you are sick.

•You are allowed to take these drugs if you are sick.

• If you are not sick and you take these drugs, it is wrong.

• Just because the drugs are given to you by a doctor, it does not mean that it is ok to take more than you need to.

Leah Betts

The Legacy of Tragic Leah

Leah Betts was at her birthday party when she took drugs. She became ill very quickly and went into a coma. Four days later she died. She was only 18.

This story upset many people in the UK and the newspapers printed the story for many weeks. Leah’s parents allowed the newspapers to show the picture of Leah in hospital, so that other people would not want to take drugs.

Since she died, Leah’s parents have been to over 2,500 schools in the UK, telling children that it is wrong to take drugs. However many teenagers still take drugs and 72 people died in 2002. Leah’s best friend said “I now know how valuable life is. I used to think bad things only happened to other people”.

Leah had never taken drugs before. This shows that you can die or become very ill from only taking drugs once.

Why do people take drugs?

They use them as a way to cope with their problems.

To look good in front of friends.

To help with an illness.

They are addicted and cant stop.

What will happen if you take drugs?

They will have a big effect on you and your family and friends.

Drugs will hurt your body and give you many problems. Your brain, liver and heart will all be affected. You will become very ill.

You would change and your family would think that you were very different.

People addicted to drugs have no money as they spend it all on drugs.

The drugs used the most in Hong Kong are cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, heroin and prescription drugs.

Drugs Awareness Campaigns

Our School took part in the Knotting Hearts drugs awareness campaign. This happens every year on the 19th of October. You could also organize this campaign in a secondary school.

Homework

• Make a mind map from the information you have learnt today

• Using your mind map, write an essay the effects of drugs, what they do to

your body and how you and your family would feel if you took drugs.

• Give to your Interview Class teacher on Monday the 22nd of February (after

Chinese new year).