Drugs and Consciousness  Psychoactive Drug  a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood  Physical Dependence  physiological need for a drug  marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms  Psychological Dependence  a psychological need to use a drug  for example, to relieve negative emotions

Dependence and Addiction  Tolerance  diminishing effect with regular use  Withdrawal  discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use Small Large Drug dose Little effect Big effect Drug effect Response to first exposure After repeated exposure, more drug is needed to produce same effect

Psychoactive Drugs  Depressants – “downers”  drugs that reduce neural activity  alcohol, barbiturates, opiates  slow body functions - sympathetic NS

Psychoactive Drugs  Alcohol  affects motor skills, judgment, and memory  reduces self awareness  Disrupts processing of recent events into long-term memories  large amts – depressant, small amts - stimulant

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Psychoactive Drugs  Barbiturates  tranquilizers, mimic effects of alcohol  drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Psychoactive Drugs  Opiates  opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin)  opiates depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety  highly addictive

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Psychoactive Drugs  Stimulants – “uppers”  drugs that excite neural activity  caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine  speed up body functions – nicknamed “speed”

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Psychoactive Drugs  Amphetamines  drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speed-up in body functions and associated energy and mood changes  more powerful than cocaine

Psychoactive Drugs  Cocaine  effects depend on dosage, form, expectations, personality and situation (coca leaves, powder, crack )  Blocks dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine – depression, irritability

Cocaine Euphoria and Crash

Psychoactive Drugs  Ecstasy  MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetami ne)  stimulant and mild hallucinogen  dangerous short and long term effects  Blocks the reabsorbtion of serotonin, releases dopamine

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Psychoactive Drugs  Hallucinogens  psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input  LSD  MDMA (Ecstasy)

Psychoactive Drugs  LSD  lysergic acid diethylamide, also as acid  a powerful hallucinogenic drug  chemically similar to serotonin and block it  THC  the major active ingredient in marijuana  triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations  cognitive effects out last the use of the drug

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Near-Death Experiences  Near-Death Experience  an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death  often similar to drug- induced hallucinations

Psychoactive Drugs

Trends in Drug Use

Perceived Marijuana Risk

Near-Death Experiences  Dualism  the presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact  Monism  the presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing

Links Meth Ingredients – Meth Ingredients – Meth Epidemic – PBS Frontline Series