Test yourself “How much do you know about drug addiction”?

Vocabulary you may need:

white blood cells cerebellum prefrontal cortex limbic system white matter parietal lobes dopamine quadriceps muscles

лейкоцит мозжечок кора головного мозга лимбическая система белое вещество (мозга) теменная доля головного мозга допамин, дофамин четырехглавая мышца бедра

1. Drug addiction is best defined as:

a. a bad habit.

b. a disease that is characterized by occasional drug use that temporarily changes a person’s behavior.

c. a disease that is characterized by the controlled use of drugs.

d. a disease that is characterized by an uncontrollable, compulsive urge to seek and use drugs.

2. Teenagers’ brains are:

a. the same as adult brains.

b. the same as adult brains with the exception of the parietal lobes, which are still forming.

c. completely formed.

d. different from adult brains.

3. The part of the brain in which emotional reactions are created is called:

a. the cerebellum.

b. the parietal lobes.

c. the prefrontal cortex.

d. the limbic system.

4. The part of the brain that adults use to make long-term plans and decisions is called:

a. the prefrontal cortex.

b. the parietal lobes.

c. the cerebellum.

d. the limbic system.

5. Most drugs of abuse act on:

a. the parietal lobes.

b. the limbic system.

c. the cerebellum.

d. the prefrontal cortex.

6. Drugs interfere with:

a. the ability of the brain to produce white matter.

b. the ability of the brain to use white blood cells.

c. the chemical communication between brain cells.

d. the ability of brain cells to use hemoglobin.

7. When teens smoke cigarettes, they:

a. become addicted to nicotine more quickly than adults.

b. are not affected by nicotine.

c. become addicted to nicotine at the same rate as adults.

d. become addicted to nicotine less quickly than adults.

8. Most adults who are addicted to drugs started using them:

a. when they were teenagers.

b. as adults at parties.

c. in their early twenties.

d. as adults, who use drugs to relax.

9. Dopamine is:

a. a type of white matter in the brain that receives messages in the cerebrum.

b. a natural chemical in the brain that carries messages in the parietal lobes.

c. a natural chemical in the brain that carries messages in the limbic system.

d. a type of gray matter in the brain that receives messages in the parietal lobes.

10. In teenagers, drug use interferes with:

a. bone formation.

b. normal brain development.

c. the ability to use the parietal lobes for decision making.

d. the quadriceps muscles.

Make a survey on the situation on the drug problem in your educational establishment, your native city. Report in class about its results.

5. Express your opinion on drug addiction. What are the main argu­ments on how teenagers can be convinced to stop?

Prepare the small report on the harmful effects and risks of taking drugs, alcohol and smoking.

7. Write an essay on the following topic “ Drugs are becoming more and more common in many countries. What are some of the problems associated with drug abuse, and what are some of the possible solutions?”

Vocabulary of synonyms you should use:

 

Drug abuse – drug addiction

Drugs: heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, narcotics, allucinogenics, marijuana, cannabis, ecstasy, prescription drugs, hard drugs, soft drugs

Drug user – addict – victims of drug abuse – users

Drugs – illegal substances

Smuggling – trafficking

Dealing – selling

Dealer – pusher

Common – widespread, rife, prevalent, ubiquitous

Solution – solve

Country – societies, nation, communities

Text 2. Internet addiction

 

Active vocabulary to remember

 

withdrawal symptom withdrawal addiction drugs gambling dependency to surf the Internet disorder spare-time to predict

– абстинентный синдром, синдром отмены – уход – пагубная привычка, наркомания – наркотики – игра в азартные игры – зависимость – рыскать по Интернету – болезнь – свободное время – предсказывать

 

Last week, in a private rehabilitation clinic outside Edinburgh, Leo Ed­wards, a sixteen-year-old schoolboy, was going through severe withdrawal symptoms. His body often shook violently and uncontrollably, and at mealtimes he regularly threw cups and plates around the dining room. The boy's addiction had nothing to do with alcohol, drugs, gambling or food. His problem was “Net obsession” – an over-dependency on the Internet.

An international group of psychologists has recently suggested that any­one who surfs the Internet for long periods is clinically ill and needs medi­cal treatment. According to their report, Internet addicts should be treated in the same way as alcoholics, drug addicts, compulsive gamblers and people with eating disorders.

Leo Edwards is not an isolated case. Russell Hopkins, aged fifteen, from Gateshead in north-east England, is a typical online addict. Every day after school, and after dinner until three or four in the morning, he will be found in his room surfing the Net or playing computer games. By the end of the day he will have spent more than six hours online. Understandably, his parents are extremely worried. Not only has his school work suffered, but Russell's addiction has also destroyed his social life and his spare-time interests. For instance, he has just dropped out of his school's basketball team in order to spend more time at his computer. Instead of spending next weekend having a good time out with friends, he'll be spending it indoors surfing the Internet. Russell has recently joined an Internet online support group. It may seem ironic that many of the support groups for Internet addicts are online but at least Russell has sought help. Not everyone does. Dr Ann Hoffman, who runs an online support group, says, "People don't realise that being online for more than four hours a day amounts to addiction and that they have a serious problem. I predict that the number of people who join online support groups will have risen dramatically within three years."

 

Practice: