GT ALOHA VIDHYA MANDIR

1
Neelankarai, Chennai – 600 115

CLASS - XI

CBSE
BIOLOGY PROJECT
2022 – 2023

NAME : LYNTON OREB

REG NO. : 14
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

2
Certified that this is a bonafide project work done by

………LYNTON OREB……………………… Reg. No………14…………………………of

Class XI, GT ALOHA VIDHYA MANDIR, NEELANKARAI, CHENNAI- 600 115,

during the year 2022 – 2023.

Principal Teacher – In – charge

Submitted for AISSCE Practical Examination held on

……….……………….in BIOLOGY at GT ALOHA VIDHYA MANDIR,

CHENNAI – 600 115.

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

SCHOOL SEAL
S.NO: CONTENT PAGE.NO:

3
1. INTRODUCTION 4-5

2. WHY PEOPLE START TO TAKE ALCOHOL, 5 - 5

SMOKING AND DRUG

3. IF TAKING DRUGS MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD 5 - 6

OR BETTER, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

4. HOW DRUG ADDICTION BEGIN 6-7

5. CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS 7-8

6. SOME HARMFUL DRUGS 9 - 10

7. SHORT TERM EFFECTS 10 - 11

8. LONG TERM EFFECTS 11 - 11

9. WHO IS AT RISK FOR DRUG ADDICTION? 12 - 13

10. MEDICATION 13 - 14

11. EPIDEMIOLOGY 15 - 17

12. THE SUFFIXES "-HOLIC" AND "-HOLISM" 18 - 18

13. CAN DRUG ADDICTION BE CURED OR 19 - 20

PREVENTED?

14. SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DRUG 20 - 21

ADDICTION.

15. BIBLIOGRAPHY 22 - 22
 DRUG ADDICTION

4
INTRODUCTION

Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage

in certain behaviors, often drug usage, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences.
Repetitive drug use often alters brain function in ways that perpetuate craving and weakens (but
does not entirely negate) self-control. This phenomenon – drugs reshaping brain function – has
led to an understanding of addiction as a brain disorder with a complex variety of psychosocial
and neurobiological (and thus involuntary) factors implicated in addiction's development. Classic
signs of addiction include compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, preoccupation with
substances or behavior, and continued use despite negative consequences. Habits and patterns
associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification (short-term
reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).

There are different types of addition. They are

1) Behavioral addiction
Behavioral drug addiction symptoms change the way that person normally behaves.
Behavioral addiction symptoms can also change a person’s habits and priorities.
2) Opioids addiction
Opioids cause physical dependence, and treatment typically addresses both dependence
and addiction
3) Alcohol addiction
Alcohol, like opioids, can induce a severe state of physical dependence and produce
withdrawal symptoms such as delirium
tremens.

Further information: Alcoholism

 5
Alcohol, like opioids, can induce a severe state of physical dependence and produce
withdrawal symptoms such as delirium tremens. Because of this, treatment for alcohol addiction
usually involves a combined approach dealing with dependence and addiction simultaneously.
Benzodiazepines have the largest and the best evidence base in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal
and are considered the gold standard of alcohol detoxification.
Pharmacological treatments for alcohol addiction include drugs like naltrexone (opioid
antagonist), disulfiram, acamprosate, and topiramate. Rather than substituting for alcohol,
these drugs are intended to affect the desire to drink, either by directly reducing cravings
as with acamprosate and topiramate or by producing unpleasant effects when alcohol is
consumed, as with disulfiram. These drugs can be effective if treatment is maintained, but
compliance can be an issue as alcoholic patients often forget to take their medication or
discontinue use because of excessive side effects. According to a Cochrane Collaboration
review, the opioid antagonist naltrexone is an effective alcoholism treatment, with the
effects lasting three to twelve months after the end of treatment.

WHY PEOPLE START TO TAKE ALCOHOL, SMOKING AND USE OF DRUG

 Social pressure
 Desire for excitement
 Feeling of independence
 Liking of taste
 Desire to escape from such realities of life as disappointments
 Failures
 The desire to offset the hardships and monotony of daily life

IF TAKING DRUGS MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD OR BETTER, WHAT'S THE

PROBLEM?

When they first use a drug, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects. They also may
believe they can control their use. But drugs can quickly take over a person's life. Over time, if
drug use continues, other pleasurable activities become less pleasurable, and the person has to take

6
the drug just to feel “normal.” They have a hard
time controlling their need to take drugs even
though it causes many problems for themselves
and their loved ones. Some people may start to
feel the need to take more of a drug or take it
more often, even in the early stages of their
drug use. These are the signs of an addiction.
Even relatively moderate drug use poses dangers. Consider how a social drinker can become
intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy
that affects many lives. Occasional drug use, such as misusing an opioid to get high, can have
similarly disastrous effects, including impaired driving and overdose.

HOW DRUG ADDICTION BEGIN?

Many factors lead people to drug addiction.

1. Curiosity: Frequent references to drugs by public media create curiosity for having a personal
experience of the drugs.
2. Friend’s pressure: Frequent appreciation of drug experience by friends allures others to start the
use of drugs.
3. Frustration and Depression: Some people start taking drugs to get relief from frustration and
depression.
 4. Desire for More Work: Students sometimes take drugs to keep awake the whole night to prepare

7
for the examination. It is not desirable as it may cause a mental breakdown.
5. looking for a Different World: A wrong notion that drugs open up a new world tempts some
young pupils to start taking drugs.
6. Relief from Pain: A prolonged use of pain-relieving drugs with a physician’s advice at times
leads to addiction.
7. Family History: Children may take to drugs by seeing their elders in the family.
8. Excitement and Adventure: The young take to drugs to satisfy their instinct for excitement and
adventure.

CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

Drugs can be classified mainly based on the following criteria:

1. Pharmacological Effect
2. Chemical Structure
3. Drug Action
4. Molecular Targets
1. Based on Pharmacological Effect – Based on the action of drugs on our body, they are
classified based on their therapeutic actions. Such as antacids reduce acidity in the stomach,
analgesics are pain killers, antiseptics kill microorganisms, etc.
2. Based on Chemical Structure – Based on the common chemical structures, drugs are classified
into various classes. As chemical structures, functional groups, etc., are responsible for their
chemical properties. Mostly, drugs having similar chemical structures show similar effects on
the body. For example, sulphonamide drugs, barbiturates, etc.
3. Based on Drug Action – Drugs are also classified based on their action on molecular targets
and effects on our body. For example, histamines are responsible for causing inflammation in
the body, and we take anti-histamines to block their actions
.
 Based on Molecular Targets – Some

8
drugs target protein, carbohydrates,
etc. Generally, drugs that have similar
structures target similar molecules in
our body and produce responses
accordingly.

.
SOME HARMFUL DRUGS

9
1. Heroin:
Commonly used as smack Heroin is chemically diacetylmorphine which is a white, odorless, bitter
crystalline compound. This is obtained by acetylation of morphine which is extracted from the
latex of the poppy plant Papaver somniferum. Generally taken by snorting and injection, heroin is
a depressant and slows down body function.

2. Cannabinoids:
Natural cannabinoids are obtained from the inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa. The flower
tops, leaves, and resin of the plant are used in various combinations to produce marijuana, hashish,
charas, and ganja. Generally taken by inhalation and oral ingestion, these are known for their
effects on the cardiovascular system of the body.

As of 2010, there are no effective pharmacological interventions for cannabinoid addiction. A 2013
review on cannabinoid addiction noted that the development of CB1 receptor agonists that have
reduced interaction with β-arrestin 2 signaling might be therapeutically useful.

3. Cocaine:
It is obtained from the coca plant Erythroxylum coca, native to South America. It interferes with
the transport of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Cocaine, commonly called coke or crack is usually
snorted. It has a potent stimulating action on the central nervous system, producing a sense of
euphoria and increased energy. An excessive dosage of cocaine causes hallucinations.
 10
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
• Loss of appetite
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature
• Contracted blood vessels
• Increased rate of breathing
• Dilated pupils
• Disturbed sleep patterns
• Nausea
• Hyperstimulation
• Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior
• Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability
• Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs burrowing under the skin
• Intense euphoria

11
• Anxiety and paranoia
• Depression
• Intense drug craving
• Panic and psychosis
• Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses (even one time)

LONG-TERM EFFECTS
• Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and brain, high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks,
strokes and death
• Liver, kidney and lung damage
• Respiratory failure
• Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected
• Malnutrition, weight loss
• Auditory and tactile hallucinations
• Sexual problems, reproductive damage and infertility (for both men and women)
• Disorientation,
apathy, confused
exhaustion
• Irritability and mood
disturbances
• Increased frequency
of risky behavior
• Delirium or
psychosis
• Severe depression
• Tolerance and addiction (even after just one use)
WHO IS AT RISK FOR DRUG ADDICTION?

12
Various risk factors can make you more likely to become addicted to drugs, including:

 Your biology. People can react to drugs differently. Some people like the feeling the first
time they try a drug and want more. Others hate how it feels and never try it again.
 Mental health problems. People who have untreated mental health problems, such as
depression, anxiety, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to
become addicted. This can happen because drug use and mental health problems affect the
same parts of the brain. Also, people with these problems may use drugs to try to feel better.
 Trouble at home. If your home is an unhappy place or was when you were growing up,
you might be more likely to have a drug problem.
 Trouble in school, at work, or with making friends. You might use drugs to get your
mind off these problems.
 Hanging around other people who use drugs. They might encourage you to try drugs.
  Starting drug use when you're young. When kids use drugs, it affects how their bodies

13
and brains finish growing. This increases your chances of becoming addicted when you're
an adult.
MEDICATION
Nicotine addiction

Another area in which

drug treatment has been
widely used is in the
treatment of nicotine
addiction, which usually
involves the use of
nicotine replacement
therapy, nicotinic
receptor antagonists, or nicotinic receptor partial agonists. Examples of drugs that act on nicotinic
receptors and have been used for treating nicotine addiction include antagonists like bupropion
and the partial agonist varenicline.

Opioid addiction

Opioids cause physical dependence, and treatment typically addresses both dependence and
addiction.
Physical dependence is treated using replacement drugs such as suboxone or Subutex (both
containing the active ingredients buprenorphine) and methadone. Although these drugs perpetuate
physical dependence, the goal of opiate maintenance is to provide a measure of control over both
pain and cravings. The use of replacement drugs increases the addicted individual's ability to
function normally and eliminates the negative consequences of obtaining controlled substances
illicitly. Once a prescribed dosage is stabilized, treatment enters the maintenance or tapering
phases. In the United States, opiate replacement therapy is tightly regulated in methadone clinics
and under the DATA 2000 legislation. In some countries, other opioid derivatives such as
dihydrocodeine, dihydroetorphine, and even heroin are used as substitute drugs for illegal street

14
opiates, with different prescriptions being given depending on the needs of the individual patient.
Baclofen has led to successful reductions of cravings for stimulants, alcohol, and opioids, and also
alleviates alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Many patients have stated they "became indifferent to alcohol" or "indifferent to cocaine"
overnight after starting baclofen therapy. Some studies show the interconnection between opioid
drug detoxification and overdose mortality.

Psychostimulant addiction
As of May 2014, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for any form of psychostimulant addiction.
Reviews from 2015, 2016, and 2018 indicated that
TAAR1-selective agonists have significant therapeutic
potential as a treatment for psychostimulant addictions;
however, as of 2018, the only compounds which are
known to function as TAAR1-selective agonists are
experimental drugs
 15
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Due to cultural variations, the proportion of individuals who develop a drug or behavioral addiction
within a specified period (i.e., the prevalence) varies over time, by country, and across national
population demographics (e.g., by age group, socioeconomic status, etc.).

Asia
The prevalence of alcohol dependence is not as high as is seen in other regions. In Asia, not only
socioeconomic factors but also biological factors influence
drinking behavior.
The overall prevalence of smartphone ownership is 62%,
ranging from 41% in China to 84% in South Korea.
Moreover, participation in online gaming ranges from 11%
in China to 39% in Japan. Hong Kong has the highest number
of adolescents reporting daily or above Internet use (68%).
Internet addiction disorder is highest in the Philippines, according to both the IAT (Internet
Addiction Test) – 5% and the CIAS-R (Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale) – 21%

.
 Australia

16
The prevalence of substance use disorder among Australians was
reported at 5.1% in 2009.

Europe
In 2015, the estimated prevalence among the adult population
was 18.4% for heavy episodic alcohol use (in the past 30 days);
15.2% for daily tobacco smoking; and 3.8, 0.77, 0.37, and 0.35%
in 2017 cannabis, amphetamine, opioid, and cocaine use. The mortality rates for alcohol and illicit
drugs were highest in Eastern Europe.
United States
Based on representative samples of the US youth population in 2011, the lifetime prevalence of
addictions to alcohol and illicit drugs has been estimated to be approximately 8% and 2–3%
respectively. Based upon
representative samples of the US adult
population in 2011, the 12-month
prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug
addictions was estimated at 12% and
2–3% respectively. The lifetime
prevalence of prescription drug
addictions is currently around 4.7%.
As of 2016, about 22 million people in
the United States need treatment for an addiction to alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. Only about
10%, or a little over 2 million, receive any form of treatment, and those that do generally do not
receive evidence-based care. One-third of inpatient hospital costs and 20% of all deaths in the US
every year are the result of untreated addictions and risky substance use. Despite the massive
overall economic cost to society, which is greater than the cost of diabetes and all forms of cancer
combined, most doctors in the US lack the training to effectively address drug addiction.
Another review listed estimates of lifetime prevalence rates for several behavioral addictions in
the United States, including 1–2% for compulsive gambling, 5% for sexual addiction, 2.8% for
food addiction, and 5–6% for compulsive shopping. A systematic review indicated that the time-

17
invariant prevalence rate for sexual addiction and related compulsive sexual behavior (e.g.,
compulsive masturbation with or without pornography, compulsive cybersex, etc.) within the
United States ranges from 3–6% of the population.
According to a 2017 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, almost half of US adults know a
family member or close friend who has struggled with drug addiction at some point in their life.
In 2019, opioid addiction was acknowledged as a national crisis in the United States. An article
in The Washington Post stated that "America's largest drug companies flooded the country with
pain pills from 2006 through 2012, even when it became apparent that they were fueling addiction
and overdoses."

South America
The realities of opioid use and opioid use disorder in Latin America may be deceptive if
observations are limited to
epidemiological findings. In the United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
report, although South America
produced 3% of the world's morphine
and heroin and 0.01% of its opium, the
prevalence of use is uneven. According
to the Inter-American Commission on
Drug Abuse Control, consumption of
heroin is low in most Latin American
countries, although Colombia is the
area's largest opium producer. Mexico,
because of its border with the United
States, has the highest incidence of use.
THE SUFFIXES "-HOLIC" AND "-HOLISM"

18
In contemporary modern English "-holic" is a suffix that can be added to a subject to denote an
addiction to it. It was extracted from the word alcoholism (one of the first addictions to be widely
identified both medically and socially) (correctly the root "wikt: alcohol" plus the suffix "-ism")
by misdividing or rebracketing it into "alco" and "-holism". (Another such misdivision is
interpreting "helicopter" as "heli-copter" rather than the etymologically correct "helico-pter",
giving rise to such derived words as "heliport" and "jetcopter". There are correct medico-legal
terms for such addictions: dipsomania is the medico-legal term for alcoholism; other examples are
in this table:

Colloquial term Addiction to Medico-legal term

danceaholic dance choreomania

workaholic work ergomania

sexaholic sex erotomania, satyromania, nymphomania

sugarholic sugar saccharomania

chocoholic chocolate

rageaholic rage / anger

CAN DRUG ADDICTION BE CURED OR PREVENTED?

19
As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug
addiction generally isn’t a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.
People who are recovering from an
addiction will be at risk for relapse for
years and possibly for their whole
lives. Research shows that combining
addiction treatment medicines with
behavioral therapy ensures the best
chance of success for most patients.
Treatment approaches tailored to
each patient’s drug use patterns and
any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery.
More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Results from NIDA-funded
research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the
media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events
and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug use as harmful, they tend
to decrease their drug taking. Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people
understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial
roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.
 Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is
compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.
 Brain changes that occur over time with drug use challenge an addicted person’s self-
control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. This is why drug
addiction is also a relapsing disease.
 Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Relapse indicates the need for
more or different treatment.
 Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger
dopamine. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable
but unhealthy activities, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.
 20
 Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person
feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as
tolerance. They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high.
 No single
factor can predict
whether a person
will become
addicted to drugs. A
combination of
genetic,
environmental, and
developmental
factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the
chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.
 Drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.
 More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Teachers, parents, and
health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use
and addiction.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION.

 Romantic love may be the mother of all addictions—indeed a positive addiction that
enables one to overcome other cravings to win life's greatest prize: a mating partner.

 Alcohol is the most commonly used drug. ...

 Prescription drugs kill more people than illegal drugs. ...
 Heroin used to be legal—and was marketed as a cough suppressant. ...
 Coca leaves are used as herbal medicine. ...
 Animals (probably) do drugs too.
 More teens die from prescription drugs than heroin/cocaine combined.
 In 2013, more high school seniors regularly used marijuana than cigarettes as 22.7%

21
smoked pot in the last month, compared to 16.3% who smoked cigarettes.
 60% of seniors don't see regular marijana use as harmful, but THC (the active ingredient
in the drug that causes addiction) is nearly 5 times stronger than it was 20 years ago
 1/3 of teenagers who live in states with medical marijuana laws get their pot from other
people's prescriptions.
 The United States represents 5% of the world's population and 75% of prescription drugs
taken. 60% of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them free from friends and relatives
 Adderall use (often prescribed to treat ADHD) has increased among high school seniors
from 5.4% in 2009 to 7.5% this year.
 54% of high school seniors do not think regular steroid use is harmful, the lowest number
since 1980, when the National Institute on Drug Abuse started asking about perception on
steroids.
 By the 8th grade, 28% of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 15% have smoked cigarettes,
and 16.5% have used marijuana.
 Teens who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less
likely to use drugs than those who don't
 6.5% of high school seniors smoke pot daily, up from 5.1% five years ago. Meanwhile,
less than 20% of 12th graders think occasional use is harmful, while less than 40% see
regular use as harmful (lowest numbers since 1983).
 About 50% of high school seniors do not think it's harmful to try crack or cocaine once or
twice and 40% believe it's not harmful to use heroin once or twice.
 22
BIBLIOGRAPHY

 https://freebythesea.com/addiction-resources/drug-addiction/types-of-drug-addiction/
 https://www.1000sciencefairprojects.com/Biology/drug-addiction.php
 https://dishcoachingcentre.com/investigatory-project-biology-for-class-12/
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction
 https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-
addiction
 https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
 https://medlineplus.gov/druguseandaddiction.html
 https://www.embibe.com/exams/classification-of-drugs/