Lawmakers Simulation
Consciousness Unit
Psychology
Mr. Aiello
Lawmakers Simulation
You are a member of the Federal Drug Administration. Your subcommittee is considering the
following drugs for categorization. Based upon the information provided, discuss and decide how
dangerous you believe each drug is, and how it should then be categorized. Here are the four
options:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Over-the-counter sales: legal to anyone over 18 years of age
Prescription required to purchase
Misdemeanor, person fined if found in possession
Felony, person jailed if found in possession
Drug 1
Name of drug:
Indiv.
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Pain killer, fever reducer, anti-inflammatory
Mild
No
No
Possible, but unlikely
Overdose possible, may cause allergic reaction, gastro-intestinal bleeding,
dizziness, tinnitus. Approx. 220 people die from accidental overdose per year.
Drug 2
Name of drug:
Indiv.
Group
Group
Use:
Reduced pain, relieve anxiety, aids in digestion in small amounts,
sleeping aid
Psych Dependency: Yes
Tolerance:
Yes
Addicting:
Yes (causes life-threatening withdrawal)
Genetic Damage: Yes
Concerns:
Overdose possible, can cause behaviors that could result in death (violence,
accidents), serious illness can develop when using this drug alone or in
combination with other drugs, can cause psychological problems. Approx.
250,000 deaths directly attributable to use/abuse of this drug per year.
Drug 3
Name of drug:
Indiv.
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Pain relief, blood thinner
Yes
Yes
No (some debate about this)
Yes
Increased heart rate, increased appetite, subjective intensification of
perceptions, apathy, impaired judgment, panic attacks, paranoid
ideation, reduction in male fertility, long-term use results in chronic
bronchitis and sinusitis, possible brain damage. Estimates of deaths
directly attributable to drug too controversial to state.
Group
Lawmakers Simulation
Consciousness Unit
Psychology
Mr. Aiello
Drug 4
Name of drug:
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Acts as a stimulant, reduces anxiety, appetite suppressant
Yes
Yes
Yes
Possible
Beginning use causes nausea, bronchitis and sinusitis. Continued use causes
many illnesses which contribute to 450,000 deaths per year (heart disease,
respiratory illnesses, cancers).
Drug 5
Name of drug:
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Anesthetic, pain killer, stimulant
Yes
Yes
Yes
Possible
Small amounts can cause heart failure, produces seizures, heart palpitation,
angina, strokes, arrhythmia, heart attacks, hyperthermia, visual problems,
perforated septum, malnutrition, depression, impotency, and kidney damage.
Number of deaths per year unknown.
Drug 6
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Drug 7
Use:
Psych Dependency:
Tolerance:
Addicting:
Genetic Damage:
Concerns:
Name of drug:
Indiv.
Indiv.
Indiv.
Group
Group
Group
Dermatologic antiacne agent
No
No
No
Yes
Eye irritation, dry nose and mouth, nausea, increased liver enzymes, blood in
urine, low red blood cell count, joint pain, hair loss, photosensitivity, if used
during pregnancy may cause severe fetal deformities. No deaths directly
attributable to use of this drug.
Name of drug:
Indiv.
Group
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist
No
No
No
Possibly
Depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and completed suicide reported,
neuropsychiatric symptoms, including changes in behavior, hostility, agitation,
depressed mood, and suicide-related events. Hypersensitivity reactions,
including angioedema, and rare but serious skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson
syndrome, erythema multiforme) reported, headaches, insomnia, somnolence,
abnormal dreams, flatulence, constipation, dysgeusia, fatigue, upper respiratory
tract disorder, abdominal pain, dry mouth, dyspepsia, increased appetite.