Drugs

What is a Psychoactive Drug? Chemical substance that alters perceptions, mood, or behavior through their actions at the neural synapse Chemical substance that alters perceptions, mood, or behavior through their actions at the neural synapse Three most common psychoactive drugs: Three most common psychoactive drugs: Caffeine Caffeine Alcohol Alcohol Nicotine Nicotine Cause an altered state of consciousness Cause an altered state of consciousness

Drugs and Neurotransmission

Neurotransmitters and the Synapse

Reuptake

Psychoactive Drugs and Synapses Affect synapses and neurotransmitters in several ways: Affect synapses and neurotransmitters in several ways: Binding with receptors (agonists) Binding with receptors (agonists) Blocking receptor site (antagonists) Blocking receptor site (antagonists) Blocking neurotransmitter’s reuptake Blocking neurotransmitter’s reuptake Inhibiting action potentials Inhibiting action potentials

How Are Drug Effects Studied? Carefully controlled conditions Carefully controlled conditions Compare behavior before and after use of drug Compare behavior before and after use of drug Often use the double-blind procedure Often use the double-blind procedure No one knows who is taking the placebo and who is taking the drug No one knows who is taking the placebo and who is taking the drug Tricky because: Tricky because: Drugs affect different people differently Drugs affect different people differently Drugs can affect the same person differently at different times Drugs can affect the same person differently at different times

Drug Classifications

Psychoactive Drug Categories Three different categories we study: Three different categories we study: Depressants Depressants Stimulants Stimulants Hallucinogens Hallucinogens

1. Depressants Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functioning Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functioning Includes alcohol, barbiturates (anything that ends in an “al”), and opiates (body’s own opiates = endorphins) Includes alcohol, barbiturates (anything that ends in an “al”), and opiates (body’s own opiates = endorphins)

Affects of Alcohol Effects: Effects: Part of brain that controls inhibitions and making judgments Part of brain that controls inhibitions and making judgments Perceptual-motor skills Perceptual-motor skills Visual-spatial processing Visual-spatial processing Problem solving Problem solving Abstract reasoning Abstract reasoning Studies have shown that alcohol impairs memory by suppressing the processing of events into long term memory Studies have shown that alcohol impairs memory by suppressing the processing of events into long term memory Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further disrupting memory storage Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further disrupting memory storage Can literally shrink the brain Can literally shrink the brain What areas of the brain is it affecting?

2. Stimulants Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions Include: caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine Include: caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine

Caffeine Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and some soft drinks Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and some soft drinks Provides user with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced wakefulness Provides user with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced wakefulness Blocks neurological receptor sites that, if activated, sedate the central nervous system Blocks neurological receptor sites that, if activated, sedate the central nervous system

Nicotine Stimulant found in tobacco Stimulant found in tobacco Very addictive and does not stay in the body very long Very addictive and does not stay in the body very long Will reach the brain in 7 seconds  releases epinephrine and norepinephrine  diminishes appetite and boost alertness and mental efficiency Will reach the brain in 7 seconds  releases epinephrine and norepinephrine  diminishes appetite and boost alertness and mental efficiency Just as quickly addictive as heroin and cocaine Just as quickly addictive as heroin and cocaine Also stimulates the release of dopamine and natural opiates Also stimulates the release of dopamine and natural opiates

Facts about Nicotine Tobacco kills 5.4 million of its 1.3 billion consumers a year Tobacco kills 5.4 million of its 1.3 billion consumers a year A teen-to-grave smoker has a 50% chance of dying from the habit A teen-to-grave smoker has a 50% chance of dying from the habit If you don’t smoke by the time you get through your college years, you probably never will If you don’t smoke by the time you get through your college years, you probably never will Among teens whose parents and best friends are nonsmokers, the smoking rate is close to 0 Among teens whose parents and best friends are nonsmokers, the smoking rate is close to 0 Half of all Americans who have ever smoked, quit Half of all Americans who have ever smoked, quit

Methamphetamine Temporarily triggers the release of dopamine (enhanced energy and mood) Temporarily triggers the release of dopamine (enhanced energy and mood) Over time, will reduce the baseline dopamine levels in the body leaving the user with a depressed functioning Over time, will reduce the baseline dopamine levels in the body leaving the user with a depressed functioning

3. Hallucinogens Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input Include: LSD and Marijuana Include: LSD and Marijuana Albert Hofmann – creator of LSD Albert Hofmann – creator of LSD

Marijuana Gets to the brain in 7 seconds Gets to the brain in 7 seconds Will linger in the body for a month or more Will linger in the body for a month or more THC is a anandamide agonist THC is a anandamide agonist Triggers release of other neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin) Triggers release of other neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin) Alters sensory perception (cerebral cortex), effects movement, impact memory (hippocampus) Alters sensory perception (cerebral cortex), effects movement, impact memory (hippocampus)

Biology, Psychological, and Social influences Some people may be vulnerable to particular drugs Some people may be vulnerable to particular drugs Drug use can be caused by psychological factors Drug use can be caused by psychological factors Stress Stress Depression Depression Feelings of failure Feelings of failure Social influences Social influences Young, unmarried, and have recently left home – more likely to use drugs Young, unmarried, and have recently left home – more likely to use drugs Married and have children, drug use decreases Married and have children, drug use decreases Peers – also what adolescents think their friends are doing Peers – also what adolescents think their friends are doing