AP PSYCHOLOGY: UNIT IV Introductory Psychology: Consciousness Topic: Psychoactive Drugs

PART ONE Consciousness: Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive Drugs  Chemical substances that modify mental, emotional or behavioral functioning  Continued use of a psychoactive drug produces tolerance; thus creating a situation in which greater quantities are needed to produce the desired effect Leads to…?

Consciousness: Psychoactive Drugs Physical Dependence  Condition occurring when a person’s body becomes unable to function normally without a particular substance Psychological Dependence  The feeling that a drug is needed to continue a feeling of emotional or psychological well-being Withdrawal  Physical symptoms that can include nausea, pain, tremors, crankiness & high blood pressure, resulting from the lack of an addictive substance

Depressants: Down in the Valley

Depressants  A class of drugs that decrease the functioning of the central nervous system

Depressants: Down in the Valley Alcohol  The most commonly used & abused depressant  10 t0 20 million American suffer from alcoholism  Impact of Alcoholism  Health risks (liver, heart, brain, etc.)  Loss of work time, loss of job, loss of economic stability  MANY, MANY, MANY RISKS…

Depressants: Down in the Valley Signs of Alcohol Abuse  Range from…  Binge drinking + drunkenness  Guilt associated with drinking  Drinking in the morning and/or drinking alone  Drinking to recover from drinking  Drinking enough to have blackouts or memory loss  Lying about drinking  Sensitivity to comments What constitutes “a drink?” (see handout)

Depressants: Down in the Valley Barbiturates/Major Tranquilizers  Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment  Sedative effects Range from mild sedation or sleepiness to unconsciousness or coma  Highly addictive; users rapidly develop a tolerance  Examples Nembutal Seconal

Depressants: Down in the Valley Benzodiazepines/Minor Tranquilizers  Drugs that lower anxiety and reduce stress  Considered safer than Barbiturates; prescribed much more often  Examples Valium Xanax Librium  Minor tranquilizers can STILL be very addictive & dangerous

Depressants: Down in the Valley Opiates (Narcotics)  Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin); depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety  Bind to & stimulate receptor sites for endorphins; when brain is repeatedly flooded with an artificial opiate, it eventually stops producing its own Highly addictive & associated with severe withdrawal Treatment options? Methadone…

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away

Stimulants  A class of drugs that cause either the sympathetic division or the central nervous system (or both) to increase levels of functioning, at least temporarily  Excite neural activity & speed body functions  “Uppers”

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away Amphetamines  Stimulates neural activity, causing accelerated body functions, as well as energy & mood changes  Synthesized in laboratories DO NOT provide extra energy; simply cause people to burn energy reserves; leads to an inevitable crash  Methamphetamine  Related compound; sometimes prescribed to treat ADHD, obesity and narcolepsy DANGER: “Crystal Meth”

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away Cocaine  A natural drug that induces euphoria, energy, power & pleasure followed by a crash  Leads to agitated depression; the “high” depletes the brain’s supply of dopamine, serotonin & norepinephrine Highly addictive Three basic signs of physical dependency Compulsive use Loss of control Disregard for consequences

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)  Also known as Ecstasy  Stimulant (and mild hallucinogen)  Produces euphoric high  Can damage serotonin- producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory  Known as the “Club Drug”

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away Caffeine  Naturally occurring in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa nuts & at least 60 other types of plants  Mild stimulant; increases heart and breathing rates Found in coffee, tea, most sodas, chocolate & many over-the-counter drugs

Stimulants: Up, Up & Away Nicotine  Relatively mild, though toxic stimulant; produces a slight “rush” or sense of arousal; raises blood pressure & accelerates heart rate; also stimulates the release of adrenalin  Nearly 438,000 Americans die from nicotine-related illnesses each year According to the CDC (2002), that’s more people than those who die from accidents, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and other drug abuse, AIDS, suicide and homicide COMBINED  Rates of usage?  Addictive power?

Hallucinogens: Higher & Higher

Hallucinogens  A class of drugs that cause false sensory messages (hallucinations), altering the perception of reality  Example In some cases sensations can cross over each other (e.g. colors have sound, sounds have smells, etc.)

Hallucinogens: Higher & Higher Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)  A synthetic hallucinogen; extremely potent  Synthesized from a grain (rye) fungus called ergot Takes people out of the real world & puts them into a world of the brain’s creation; NOT ALWAYS A PLEASANT PLACE! Phencyclidine (PCP)  A synthetic drug so dangerous that it became useful only as an animal tranquilizer  ***Depending on its dosage, can be a hallucinogen, stimulant, depressant or analgesic drug

Hallucinogens: Higher & Higher Marijuana (Cannibas Sativa)  Mild hallucinogen derived from the leaves and flowers of a particular type of hemp plant  Best known and most commonly abused hallucinogen Effects relatively mild compared to others Mild euphoria and relaxation Altered time sense Mild visual distortions Associated with high levels of psychological dependency & low (no) levels of physical dependency