Many secondary metabolites of plants have medicinal properties. It is their misuse that creates problems. Justify the statement with an example.
Drugs like barbiturates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, lysergic acid diethylamides (LSD) and other similar drugs, that are normally used as medicines to help patients coping with mental illnesses like depression and insomnia. Morphine is a very effective sedative and painkiller and is very useful in patients who have undergone surgery.
Misuse of plant metabolites fruits and seeds in amounts/frequency more than prescribed for medicinal purposes can impair one's physical, physiological or functional behaviour creating problem for the society and slowly moves towards the eaternal truth (death).
Why cannabinoids are banned in sports and games?
Cannabinoids are banned in sports, as athletes misuse these drugs to enhance their performance. But drugs obtained from cannabinoids can cannatnads have, a serious negative effect on their general health and in long term can hamper the normal functioning of organ system.
What is secondary metabolism?
Secondary metabolism (also called specialised metabolism) is a term for pathways and metabolites are small molecule produced by metabolism that are not absolutely required for the survival of the organism.
In case of plant, metabolites aid in the growth and development of plants. It also facilitates the primary metabolism.
$$ \text { Drugs and alcohol give short-term 'high' and long-term 'damages'. } $$
Curiosity, need for adventure and excitement and experimentation, constitute common causes, which motivate youngsters towards drug and alcohol use.
The frequent use of drugs/alcohols drive people to take them even when these are not needed, or even their use becomes self-destructive.
Short-term effects of drugs/alcohols
A relaxing effect
Lowered inhibitions
Slow reflexes
Reduced coordination
Reduced tension
Poor concentration
Slow reaction time
Slower brain activity
Sensations and perceptions that are less clear
Long-term effects of drugs/alcohols
Disrupts normal brain development
Liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver
Brain cells die, decreasing brain mass
Stomach and intestinal ulcers and destroyed organs
Blood pressure increases, causing heart disease, heart attack or stroke
Male sperm production decreases
Lower levels of iron and vitamin-B, causing anaemia
Alcoholism
Death and
Fetal alcohol syndrome in unborn children
Diseases like dysentery, cholera, typhoid, etc., are more common in over crowded human settlements. Why?
Dysentery, cholera and typhoid are more common in crowded settlements because these are infectious diseases and spread from person to person contact. Water gets contaminated with the excreta of infected people and causes the spread of infection to other people.