Which of the following is incorrect with reference to drug abuse?

Nicotine is a very effective sedative and pain killer.

The correct answer is Option (3) –Nicotine is a very effective sedative and pain killer.

Tobacco has been used by human beings for more than 400 years. It is smoked, chewed or used as a snuff. Tobacco contains a large number of chemical substances including nicotine, an alkaloid. Nicotine stimulates adrenal gland to release adrenaline and nor-adrenaline into blood circulation, both of which raise blood pressure and increase heart rate. Smoking is associated with increased incidence of cancers of lung. Morphine is a very effective sedative and painkiller, and is very useful in patients who have undergone surgery.

Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals that interact with cannabinoid receptors primarily found in the brain. They are naturally derived from the inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana or cannabis. The flower tops, leaves, and resin of the cannabis plant are used in various combinations to produce marijuana, hashish, charas, and ganja.Cannabinoids are typically consumed through inhalation or oral ingestion. When consumed, they have known effects on the cardiovascular system of the body.

Opioids are the drugs, which bind to specific opioid receptors present in our central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Heroin , commonly called smack is chemically diacetylmorphine which is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound. This is obtained by acetylation of morphine. Heroin is derived from morphine, which is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the latex sap of the opium poppy plant, Papaver somniferum. The opium poppy plant has been cultivated for centuries for its medicinal properties.

Coca alkaloid or cocaine is obtained from coca plant Erythroxylum coca, native to South America. It interferes with the transport of the neuro-transmitter dopamine. Cocaine, commonly called coke or crack is usually snorted. It has a potent stimulating action on central nervous system, producing a sense of euphoria and increased energy. Excessive dosage of cocaine causes hallucinations.