Homework Help: Health: Substance Abuse: Aspirin

Chemical name: Accetysalicyclic acid
Generic name: Aspirin
Type of Drug: Analgesic e.g. pain killer

Short Term Effects

Aspirin is an example of how medical knowledge and the use of drugs can change over years. Once though harmless, aspirin is no longer recommended for children, since if they have certain infections, it may be linked to the onset of a rare and dangerous condition known as Reye's syndrome.

Adults that use aspirin have an immediate pain reduction, however, research has shown that while it reduces pain, it doesn't reduce illness or fever- it actually slows down the healing process.

Long Term Effects

Aspirin is not a drug of addiction, but regular abuse of aspirin can become a prevalent bad habit.

People suffering from pain causing illnesses, injuries or diseases often take toxic doses of aspirin regularly over long periods. Although the suggested dose is 4 times a day, many people in suffering use it a lot more. This relieves their pain almost automatically, but eventually can bring on dizziness, mental confusions and bleeding.

Prolonged use of small amounts of aspirin may also interfere with blood clotting.

Legal Status of Aspirin in Australia

Aspirin is a medical drug and is therefore easily available and legal in all Australian states. Aspirin can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies by adults. It is not sold to people under 18.

What is it made from?

The main ingredient in aspirin is salicylic acid. This is found in willow tree bark.

How is it taken?

There have been various different forms of aspirin for thousands of years. The Greeks, for example, had a dissolvable form of aspirin over 2,500 years ago.

In 1899, Felix Hoffmann discovered a low cost method of producing aspirin. He started an industry and introduced the world wide use of aspirin in a tablet form.

Taking aspirin in a tablet form through the mouth or anus has proved to be a valuable remedy.

Other Facts

Believe it or not, some people take aspirin to get "high". Ten years ago there used to ads on television claiming that mixing aspirin with Coca-Cola was guaranteed to give you a "buzz". This faulty reasoning has led to serious and fatal overdoses by many thrill seekers. In 1985 aspirin was the drug of choice during suicide attempts.

Why is aspirin used?

Unlike other pain relievers that lower pain by acting on the nervous system, aspirin acts at the point of pain. This makes it a helpful remedy for quick pain and headache release.

When a fever or inflammation is present, aspirin reduces body temperatures quickly by causing the blood vessels to dilute and weaken.

This reduces the pain/inflammation and relaxes the nervous system.

Can aspirin be good?

Research has shown that as aspirin reduces blood clotting, half an aspirin a day may reduce heart attacks and strokes in some people. This is still at an early stage of research and evidence is conflicting.

Homework Help: Health: Substance Abuse

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