How do

Medicines and
Drugs Influence
the Functioning
of the Body?
VANESSA FUERSTENBERG
Introduction
Medicines and drugs affect multiple aspects of our
bodies. A good example of medicines and drugs
changing the way our bodies behave and react are
mind-altering drugs and analgesics. Mind-altering
drugs, also known as psychoactive drugs, are
substances that can alter the mood, consciousness,
and thoughts of the persons who use them. Some
examples of mind-altering drugs are ecstasy,
alcohol, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and
amphetamines. Analgesics, also known as pain
medication, are designed to alleviate pain. Some
examples of analgesics are opioids, Tylenol,
Aspirin, and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs.
How do Mind- Altering Drugs and
Analgesics Affect the User?
MIND- ALTERING DRUGS
ANALGESICS
ECSTASY: ECSTASY USERS TEND TO FEEL EUPHORIC, HAVE HEIGHTENED
SENSITIVITY, INCREASED PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ENERGY, INCREASED
OPIOIDS: OPIOID DRUGS BIND TO OPIOID RECEPTORS ON CELLS IN THE BRAIN AND
SOCIABILITY, SWEATING, LOSS OF BODILY MOVEMENTS AND MILD
BODY. THESE CELLS CAN HAVE CONTROL OF THE USERS DIGESTION, PAIN, AND OTHER
INTOXICATION.
BODILY FUNCTIONS; THE BODY ALREADY CONTAINS OPIOID CHEMICALS, SUCH AS
ENDORPHINS, WHICH RELIEVE PAIN AND MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.
ALCOHOL: ALCOHOL DRINKERS HAVE LOWERED INHIBITIONS, HAVE
TROUBLE CONCENTRATING, AND HAVE A LOSS OF COORDINATION.
TYLENOL: TYLENOL IS USED TO HELP CONDITIONS SUCH AS HEADACHE, MUSCLE
ACHES, ARTHRITIS, BACKACHE, TOOTHACHES, COLDS, AND FEVERS
CANNABIS: CANNABIS USERS HAVE AN ALTERED SENSE OF TIME, IMPAIRED
BODY MOVEMENT, DIFFICULTY WITH THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING.,
ASPIRIN: ASPIRIN IS USED TO REDUCE FEVER, RELIEVE MILD TO MODERATE PAIN FROM
AND IMPAIRED MEMORY.
CONDITIONS SUCH AS MUSCLE ACHES, TOOTHACHES, COMMON COLD, AND
HEADACHES.
HEROIN: HEROIN USERS FEEL A RUSH OF ENERGETIC SENSATIONS, WARM
FLUSHING ON THE SKIN, DRY MOUTH, AND A HEAVY FEELING IN THE
NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS: THESE REDUCE THE PRODUCTION OF
EXTREMITIES.
PROSTAGLANDINS. PROSTAGLANDINS ARE CHEMICALS THAT HELP CREATE
INFLAMMATION, PAIN, AND FEVER.
COCAINE: COCAINE USERS EXPERIENCE EXTREME SENSITIVITY TO LIGHTS
AND SOUND, INTENSE HAPPINESS, IRRITABILITY, PARANOIA, AND A
DECREASED APPETITE.

AMPHETAMINES: AMPHETAMINES CAN CAUSE PROFUSE SWEATING,

BLURRED VISION, TICS, RAPID HEART RATES, DIFFICULTY URINATING, AND
FASTER, DEEPER BREATHS.
Should Mind- Altering Drugs be Legal?
While there are some mind- altering drugs that are
legal, many are not. There is much debate and
controversy around these drugs and their legalization.
Many believe that due to physical risk caused by these
drugs (such as overdosing) and the fact that users can
become addicted they shouldn’t be legalized.
However, others say that these drugs can be used for
good, they say that these drugs can alleviate pain from
injuries or disease, and they can also treat mental
illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
How do Analgesics Work?
Analgesics keep injured or damaged from releasing
a chemical called prostaglandin. The chemical
prostaglandin is a chemical that nerves are very
sensitive to, so the nerves then transmit the
pain/injury message to the brain. The brain then
responds to the pain. When you take analgesics the
chemical prostaglandin can’t produce, therefore it
won’t react with the nerves and won’t give the brain
the message about the pain/injury.
 Aspirin and Acetaminophen
Aspirin and Acetaminophen are analgesics that have both advantages and disadvantages of their use.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Treats headaches. Taking a little more than the maximum

recommended dose for a few days can be toxic.
Treats minor aches and pains.
Combining these medicines with certain
Reduces fever. amounts of alcohol can cause liver failure.
Lessens inflammation. Heartburn.

Some people use low-doses to prevent Stomach pain.

blood clots. Ulcers.
Morphine: Good or Bad?
Morphine is another analgesic, with quite a bit of pros and cons. On one hand it decreases heart rate, blood pressure, and venous return, and stimulates
local histamine-mediated processes. On the other hand morphine messes with your blood platelets and if you get injured you can easily bleed out.
Conclusion
Analgesics and psychoactive drugs can have
many different effects on the body. These
effects can be emotional, physical, and
mental. These medicines and drugs
manipulate or add chemicals into the body
which then causes these effects. For example,
mind-altering drugs affect the level of
neurotransmitters in the brain. The
neurotransmitters most commonly impacted
by drug use are dopamine and serotonin.
These neurotransmitters stabilizes mood,
enhances pleasure, and regulates emotions. In
analgesics, the chemical prostaglandin is
prevented from being released which prevents
nerves from giving the brain the message of
the pain.
 References
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