Drug
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A drug is something that affects the way the body works.
About Drugs
- Drugs can be medicine to make us better or they can be harmful.
- All drugs have side effects.
- Drugs can change the way you think and make you do things you wouldn't normally.
- The drugs we take that are not medicine are:
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Nicotine
Examples
| Alcohol | Caffeine | Nicotine |
| Alcohol changes the way you think. It slows your reactions and also makes you more confident. This causes you to be clumsy and make mistakes. Too much alcohol damages your liver. | Caffeine speeds up your reactions, makes your heart beat faster and makes you feel more awake when you're tired. | Smoking causes you to feel more relaxed and calm but also makes you feel more alert. Nicotine in cigarettes is very addictive making it difficult to quit. Over a long time smoking can lead to breathing problems and eventually lung cancer. |
