Drugs and Consciousness Module 25

Tolerance & Addiction  Substance use disorder –  Psychoactive drugs –  Tolerance (neuroadaptation- brain chemistry adapts)-  Addiction –  Physical dependence  Psychological dependence  Withdrawal -

Types of Psychoactive Drugs  Depressants – reduce neural activity and slow body functions  Alcohol  Disinhibits  Impairs judgment  Slows neural processing  Disrupts memory formation (suppresses REM sleep)  Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)  Reduced self-awareness and self-control  Expectancy effects

Types of Psychoactive Drugs  Barbiturates – (tranquilizers)  Used to induce sleep or reduce anxiety  Large doses – impair memory/judgment  Can be Fatal – mixed with alcohol  Opiates – (Heroin, narcotics -morphine, codeine)  Floods system with opiates and brain stops producing endorphins, increased tolerance and increased withdrawal symptoms create vicious cycle

Types of Psychoactive Drugs  Stimulants – drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions  Caffeine  Amphetamines  Nicotine –  instantaneous rewards keep people smoking  Cocaine –  blocks reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine creating “high”  When cocaine wears off, absence of these neurotransmitters produces a crash.

Types of Psychoactive Drugs  Methamphetamines -  May permanently reduce dopamine production  Ecstasy(MDMA)-  stimulant & hallucinogen  Risk immune system suppression  Can cause permanent damage to mood and memory  Dehydration and escalating body temperatures

Types of Psychoactive Drugs  Hallucinogens – drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory imagery in the absence of sensory input.  LSD(acid) – powerful hallucinogenic drug  Euphoria to panic  Sensations similar to near-death experience  Marijuana  Impaired learning/memory, increased risk of psychological disorders, lung damage  THC – major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations 