© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Seven: Making Decisions about Drug Use

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Drugs  Drug = any substance, natural or artificial, other than food, that by its chemical or physical nature alters structure or function in the living organism  Psychoactive drug = any substance capable of altering feelings, moods, or perceptions

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Process Addictions  Compulsively engaging in behaviors such as gambling, shopping, gaming, sexual activity  Cause serious financial, emotional, social, and health problems

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Process of Addiction  Addictive behavior has three common aspects: Exposure: Introduced to the drug or behavior that is considered pleasurable Compulsion: Time, energy, and money are spent to pursue the behavior. Normal behavior has already degenerated Loss of control: Addicted people lose the ability to control their behavior and results in addiction to more than one drug or behavior

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Codependence  Applies to people who are close to an individual who is addicted to something  Characteristics of codependents: Focused on protecting or coping with the addict Lose their sense of identity Experience stress, often resulting in chaotic behaviors, addictions, and physical illnesses

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Basic Drug Terms and Concepts  Central nervous system  Routes of drug administration  Drug misuse  Drug abuse  Drug dependence

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Central Nervous System  Neuron: A nerve cell Axon: The portion of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses to the dendrites of adjacent neurons Dendrite: The portion of a neuron that receive electrical stimuli from adjacent neurons  Synapse: The location at which an electrical impulse from one neuron is transmitted to an adjacent neuron  Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that transfer electrical impulses across the synapses between nerve cells

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Action of Psychoactive Drugs on the Central Nervous System

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Drug Administration  Routes of administration Inhalation Injection Absorption Ingestion  Dose-response curve: The size of the effect of a drug is related to the amount of the drug administered  Threshold dose: The smallest amount of a drug that has an observable effect

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Drug Misuse and Abuse  Drug misuse: Inappropriate use of legal drugs intended to be medications Intentional or unintentional  Drug abuse: Any use of a drug in a way that is detrimental to health or well- being

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Drug Dependence  Addiction/physical dependence: Compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a substance, habit, or practice to such a degree that cessation causes severe emotional or physiological reactions Withdrawal illness: Uncomfortable response of the body as it attempts to maintain homeostasis in the absence of a drug Tolerance: An acquired reaction to a drug in which the continued intake of the same dose has diminished effects  Psychological dependence: Craving a drug for emotional reasons and to maintain a sense of well-being  Intoxication: Dysfunctional and disruptive changes in physiological and psychological functioning, mood, and cognitive processes

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Dynamics of Drug Abuse  Individual factors Genetics Personality, attitudes, beliefs Interpersonal skills, self-esteem  Environmental factors Home and family School Peers Community  Societal factors Youth subculture Modeling and advertising Self-medication movement

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Six Categories of Psychoactive Drugs 1. Stimulants 2. Depressants 3. Hallucinogens 4. Cannabis 5. Narcotics 6. Inhalants

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Past Month Use of Selected Psychoactive Drugs among Americans 12 and Older

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Stimulants  Key actions: Stimulate the function of the central nervous system Increased heart rate, blood pressure, brain function Feelings of energy, exhilaration  Examples: Cocaine Amphetamine Methamphetamine Caffeine Ritalin Adderall

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Depressants  Key actions: Slow the function of the central nervous system Reduced heart and breathing rates, blood pressure Lowered inhibitions, impaired judgment Sedation, drowsiness, loss of consciousness  Examples: Barbiturates Rohypnol Alcohol Tranquilizers GHB

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Hallucinogens  Key actions: Altered states of feeling and perception (hallucinations, distortions of reality) Increased temperature, heart rate, blood pressure Weakness, tremors, nervousness, paranoia Synesthesia (sensation of combining of the senses)  Examples: LSD PCP Mescaline Ecstasy and designer drugs

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Cannabis  Active ingredient: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)  Key actions: Euphoria, confusion Slowed thinking and reaction time Impaired balance and coordination Cough, frequent respiratory infections  Examples: Hashish Marijuana

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Narcotics (Opiates)  Key actions: Relief of pain, euphoria Reduced heart rate and blood pressure Sedation, drowsiness, confusion  Natural and synthetic; derived from the Oriental poppy plant  Examples: Opium Morphine Heroin Oxycodone

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Inhalants  Volatile compounds  Key actions: Unpredictable, drunklike effects; aggression Euphoria Damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems  Examples: Gasoline Glues Paint Aerosol propellants Nitrites (“laughing gas”)

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Combination Drug Effects  Synergistic effect = heightened or exaggerated effect produced by the concurrent use of two or more drugs  Additive effect = combined (but not exaggerated) effect produced by concurrent use of two or more drugs  Potentiated effect = the use of one drug intensifies the effect of a second drug  Antagonistic effect = effect produced when one drug reduces or offsets the effects of a second drug

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Societal Response to Drug Use  Early prevention programs  Drug testing  Treatment and intervention  Nationwide organizations to increase awareness

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Preventing Drug Use  Primary prevention: Measures intended to deter first-time drug use Education  Secondary prevention: Measures aimed at early detection, intervention, and treatment; targets those who are starting to experiment Hotlines, counseling Screening Employee assistance programs  Tertiary prevention: Treatment and rehabilitation of dependent users

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Drug Testing  Increasingly popular prevention tool  Federal employees and contractors  Many private companies test to screen job applicants or monitor employee drug use

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Treatment and Intervention  Treatment College or University Settings Community programs Hospital facilities Private facilities  Intervention: An organized process that involves encouraging a chemically addicted individual to enter into drug treatment

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Facts about Substance Abuse Treatment

© 2011 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter Seven: Making Decisions about Drug Use