MIND-ALTERING DRUGS “But the man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.” Ajamian – Cole – Marshall

MIND-ALTERING DRUGS produce a qualitative change in thought, perception or mood cause remarkable distortions in touch, smell, hearing, and vision aka psychedelic drugs psychotomimetic (simulating ‘madness’’) hallucinogens (a hallucination – perception or feeling that has no external cause )

MIND-ALTERING DRUGS lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD ) from ergot – fungus that grows on rye and other grains mescaline from peyote cactus (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine) psilocybin from ‘magic mushrooms’  These 3 resemble neurotransmitter serotonin… bind with receptors in the brain… ‘overstimulate’ the receptors tetrahydrocannabinol found in marijuanna… cannabis… extracted from Cannabis sativa

LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide (or, if you prefer, Lysergsäure-diethylamid)

(not to be confused with LDS)

Urban Legends “Acid stays in your body forever” “That one guy jumped off that building” “Acid fries holes in your brain” “That one guy got stuck”

Effects Highly varied depending on dose, user’s physiology and psychology Magnified perception Destroy user’s sense of judgment –“that one guy who jumped from that building” Strong, often opposite emotions Physically – dilationof pupils, inc heart rate, bp, body temp… sweating, sleeplessness, tremors Potential for bad trips and acid flashbacks No physically addictive properties Fast tolerance cycle

Effects Highly varied depending on dose, user’s physiology and psychology Magnified perception Destroy user’s sense of judgment –“that one guy who jumped from that building” Strong, often opposite emotions Physically – dilationof pupils, inc heart rate, bp, body temp… sweating, sleeplessness, tremors Potential for bad trips and acid flashbacks No physically addictive properties Fast tolerance cycle

LSD’s Structure Note the indole* ring! * benzene fused to a five membered ring containing a nitrogen Fat soluble Diffuses into brain easily Can cross placental barrier to reach fetus

Mescaline - effects vivid color hallucinations less potent than LSD high lasts about 12 hours decrease in appetite long term use may cause liver damage

Mescaline - structure

Psilocybin - effects mild hallucinogen Low dose: similar to cannabis High dose: similar to LSD

Psilocybin - effects High dose (similar to LSD) –intensification of color –hallucinations –sense of well-being Low dose (similar to cannabis) Not addictive?... But tolerance is an issue

“Lasts up to four hours!”

Similarities in Structure of these 3 Psychedelics Indole – heterocyclic amine Contains a benzene sharing a C=C with a heterocylic ring containing a secondary amine.

Serotonin neurotransmitter

LSD Locate indole ring Diethyl amine side chain

Psylocybin locate indole role note - dimethylamine [-N(CH 3 ) 2 ] note - dihydrogen phosphate on benzene

Mescaline benzene ring no fused-ring heterocyclic…has primary amine instead

Properties related to Structure LSD, psyilocybin, (and mescaline) have similar structures… which give them similar properties differences in structure relate to differences in properties presence of more nonpolar groups (- methyl) increases fat solubility which increases their potency presence of more polar groups (dihydrogen phosphate) decreases fat solubility which decreases potency

Comparison single dose of LSD micrograms — an amount roughly equal to one-tenth the mass of a grain of sand. threshold effects can be felt with as little as 25 micrograms of LSD. [ an active dose of mescaline is roughly g, has effects comparable to 100 µg or less of LSD.mescaline

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) AKA… “Never touch the freeze, just the sticky green leaves…” “…so apt to turn everything–the air, the sky—to Persian rugs.”

“But what is the other terms for it?” “Bionic, the bomb, the puff, the blow, the black, the herb, the sensei, the chronic, the sweet Mary Jane, the s---, ganja, split, reefa, the bad, the Buddha, the home grown, the ill, the Maui Wowie, the method, pot, lethal turbo, tie, shake, skunk, stress, whacky, weed, glaze, the boot, dimebag, Scooby Doo, bob, bogey, backyard boogie.” –Ali G

Cannabis (Marijuana) - Effects Mild hallucinogen – effects similar to alcohol Low doses –excitement, silliness

Cannabis (Marijuana) – Effects cont. Higher doses: –changes in perception (bright colors, keen hearing) –closed- and open-eye visual hallucinations –feelings of anxiety, depression, uneasiness, panic, fear –difficulty with decision making – more likely to follow suggestions of others –difficulty with memory –Reflexes dulled, thinking blurred – so task like driving becomes difficult

Cannabis (Marijuana) – Effects cont. Long term: –Tolerance is NOT an issue –Psychologic dependence can develop –Risks associated with smoking - cancer –Potential for a bad trip

Legalization of Cannabis: For Offer relief from some diseases and ailments –AIDS – ‘wasting syndrome’ – C inc appetite –Cancer – nausea – C dec nausea so patients can keep food down –Cancer – anxiety/tensions– C dec this in terminal patients –Glaucoma – inc eye pressure – C dec interior eye pressure

Legalization of Cannabis: For Improve quality / safety of drug –Reduce harmful impurities Reduce association with ‘hard’ drugs. Would reduce strain on courts, prisons, and law enforcement Dismantling of violent black market Opportunity for balanced drug education Would save billions of dollars Personal freedom

Legalization of Cannabis: Against Regular use can lead to respiratory ailments Potential depression of immune system? Decreased fertility in some males? Chromosomal damage? Potential exacerbation of psychiatric ailments

Legalization of Cannabis: Against “Gateway drug” Criminal sources –Users overpay for drug Risk of drugged driving