Drugs of the futureDrugs of the future

Master teacherMaster teacher:: Ph.D. Cristina FeleaPh.D. Cristina Felea

Students:BurzaStudents:Burza Ştefania Ştefania Moldovan MihaelaMoldovan MihaelaRus Oana CristinaRus Oana Cristina

Babes Bolyai UniversityFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Cluj Napoca -2011-

IntroductionIntroduction

Drugs are being used since ever, to modify the Drugs are being used since ever, to modify the sensation, perception, mood, and behaviour.sensation, perception, mood, and behaviour.

Alcohol, caffeine, coca, nicotine, marijuana and many Alcohol, caffeine, coca, nicotine, marijuana and many other substances have been used in a variety of other substances have been used in a variety of cultures in the world for religious ceremonies, healing cultures in the world for religious ceremonies, healing by shamans, or as a brief escape from the rigours of a by shamans, or as a brief escape from the rigours of a difficult existence.difficult existence.

A lot of what passes for modern medicine is simply the A lot of what passes for modern medicine is simply the refinement and repackaging of ancient remedies.refinement and repackaging of ancient remedies.

Opiates from poppies Opiates from poppies

Digitalis from foxgloveDigitalis from foxglove

Aspirin from the bark of willow treesAspirin from the bark of willow trees

Top drugsTop drugs In the following table you can observe In the following table you can observe

some of the most commonly used drugs.some of the most commonly used drugs.

The science in drugsThe science in drugsCocaineCocaine

It is most often used recreationally for the happiness It is most often used recreationally for the happiness effect. effect.

Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration.and method of administration.

The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and adiscomfort and depression and a

craving to experiencecraving to experience the drug again. the drug again.

Side effects can include twitching, Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, whichparanoia, and impotence, whichusually increases with frequent usage.usually increases with frequent usage.

MethamphetamineMethamphetamine

Users may become obsessed or perform Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

Although…Although…

Research is increasingly showing that Research is increasingly showing that drugs may be able to help some drugs may be able to help some patients with conditions as diverse as patients with conditions as diverse as arthritis, cancer, and Parkinson's, to arthritis, cancer, and Parkinson's, to chronic pain, headaches, and chronic pain, headaches, and heartburn.heartburn.

Future drugsFuture drugs

This is the active This is the active ingredient in Tylenol, ingredient in Tylenol, acetominophen. acetominophen.

It, and most other It, and most other drugs are nanosized, drugs are nanosized, but what makes this but what makes this different from different from nanodrugs?nanodrugs?

Nanodrugs are Nanodrugs are distributed throughout distributed throughout the body viathe body via

nanosized capsules.nanosized capsules.

The ethics of drugsThe ethics of drugs

Certain drugs have been prohibited during the Certain drugs have been prohibited during the past 20 years.past 20 years.

Even with most of the dangerous drugs being Even with most of the dangerous drugs being prohibited, consumers can still purchase them, prohibited, consumers can still purchase them, without thinking the consequences that they have without thinking the consequences that they have on their health. on their health.

The most interesting fact is, that the officials The most interesting fact is, that the officials know this problem, and don’t seem to take this to know this problem, and don’t seem to take this to seriously.seriously.

Conclusions Conclusions As a conclusion to our presentation, in the near future a big As a conclusion to our presentation, in the near future a big

increase of drug usage is expected, and their side effects increase of drug usage is expected, and their side effects wont be pleasant.wont be pleasant.

Drugs even if there are good, or bad willDrugs even if there are good, or bad willalways exist in society and there will always exist in society and there will always be persons who will abuse always be persons who will abuse their usage.their usage.

As in every domain nowadays As in every domain nowadays science will probably prove and science will probably prove and help people to understand the danger help people to understand the danger of drugs, and we hope that somewhere of drugs, and we hope that somewhere in the future drugs will disappear. in the future drugs will disappear.

BibliographyBibliography *** Time magazine *** Time magazine

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998969,00.hthttp://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998969,00.html#ixzz1AAyUWJxDml#ixzz1AAyUWJxD

*** *** http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/gen002.htmhttp://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/gen002.htm *** ***

http://www.tahan.com/charlie/nanosociety/course201/nanos/JSppt.http://www.tahan.com/charlie/nanosociety/course201/nanos/JSppt.pdfpdf

*** *** http://www.livescience.com/health/081209-bad-smart-pills.htmlhttp://www.livescience.com/health/081209-bad-smart-pills.html

Thank you!Thank you!