CONTENT IN A NUTSHELL	PLACE IN THE CURRICULUM	CENTRAL CONCEPTS
RELATED CONCEPTS	RELATED SKILLS	PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

CONTENT IN A NUTSHELL

The average life expectancy of U.S. citizens in 1990 was about 75 years, quite a contrast to a life expectancy of 68 in 1950 and of 60 in 1930. Chemistry and technology have played important roles in increasing the life expectancy and in improving the quality of life. Our increasing knowledge and understanding of the chemistry of biological processes and the discovery of therapeutic medical compounds (drugs) have contributed to the improvement of both mental and physical health and the quality and length of life.

A drug is a substance that can change a physical or psychological function in the body. Drugs may have both desirable therapeutic properties and undesirable side effects. Familiar substances like aspirin, antibiotics, alcohol, nicotine, etc., are drugs. When should a specific drug be used? The media often try to help make that decision through advertising. Teenagers are highly susceptible to the advertised message, and sometimes the message is correct. You can get rid of a headache with aspirin ("I have occasional aches and pains, and, when I do, my friend Bufferin is there to help me."), you can relieve an upset stomach with an antacid tablet ("Plop, plop! Fizz, fizz!"), and some first-aid ointments can help prevent infection and relieve pain ("Exclusive Formula! The three antibiotic ingredients widely recommended and used...plus an extra ingredient to relieve pain fast!"). Yet sometimes the properties of these substances may be independent of advertised claims.

On the other hand, the media message is often misleading. Some beer commercials, for example, try to lead people to believe that copious beer drinking can make one the life of the party and part of the in-crowd. This treatment of alcohol use is misleading and dishonest. Studies have shown that alcohol impairment does not make a person more gregarious and fun-loving, but rather leads to central nervous system depression and introversion. Indeed, government regulations now require truth in labeling, as the following typical warning on a whiskey label states: "...According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects; consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems..."

The purpose of this module is to inform students about the many positive uses of compounds used in medicine. These therapeutic drugs, some of which can be obtained over the counter, represent a variety of substances that help us cope with daily stress or disease. Yet, some of these substances (alcohol, tobacco, anabolic steroids) can be used illegally and abused. It is important that high school students understand the chemistry of drugs.

PLACE IN THE CURRICULUM

This module can be used as a supplement to an introductory organic chemistry module, or as the basis for enrichment through special projects and/or independent study.

CENTRAL CONCEPTS

1. The application of the principles of chemistry (and biology) to the introduction of new therapeutic agents is called medicinal chemistry. The medicinal chemist must have a knowledge of general and organic chemistry and biological sciences.
2. A therapeutic agent is often called a drug. A drug is any absorbed substance that changes any physical or psychological function in the body.
3. Physicians prescribe drugs to fight infection (antibiotics), reverse a disease process (heart stimulants), restore normal function (insulin), aid in diagnosis (radiopharmaceuticals), inhibit normal body processes (birth control pills), and maintain health (vitamins and vaccines).
4. Consumers use drugs to relieve common symptoms of discomfort (aspirin, cold remedies, antihistamines, antibiotics), to supplement the diet (vitamins), to enhance or inhibit normal body functions (sleeping pills, birth control pills, stimulants), etc.
5. Some people abuse drugs. Any drug can be abused, but the commonly abused drugs are alcohol, stimulants, depressants, opiates, tetrahydrocannabinol, nicotine, and anabolic steroids.
6. Drugs affect the living system, perform their action, and are eliminated from the body. Addiction, withdrawal, and tolerance are possible.
7. Drugs are known by brand names, generic names, and street names.
8. Drug sources are plants, animals, microorganisms, and laboratory synthesis.
9. Information about drugs can be obtained from the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR), PDR for Nonprescription Drugs, The Merck Index, and package label inserts.

RELATED CONCEPTS

1. Elementary biology
2. Brief introduction to organic chemistry (e.g., nomenclature, identification of functional groups)

RELATED SKILLS

1. Manipulative laboratory skills involving the use of common glassware and hardware are needed to perform the activities in this module. After completing their study of chemistry in medicine, students should be able to:

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

1. discuss a drug as any substance that will produce a change in the physical or psychological function of the body.
2. recognize medicinal chemistry as a link between chemistry and human biology.
3. differentiate between common drug terminology and scientific nomenclature.
4. state where to find information about drugs.
5. recognize that all drugs have positive and negative effects.
6. discuss the medicinal reasons and social reasons for drug usage.