Drugs and Consciousness Lesson 7-3

Psychoactive Drugs Starts at a young age is a psychoactive drug drug that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness can affect mood, perception, behavior

Psychoactive Drugs Range from stimulants in cola to depressants like alcohol to hallucinogens like marijuana and lsd

How Drugs Work Drugs are carried in the blood and taken to other tissues in the body they then attach onto the ends of nerve cells (neurons) and sent out their own messages (neurotransmitters) may tell a nerve cell not to fire (coma) or have them fire all at once (hallucinations)

Marijuana Dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant that causes an altered state of consciousness when smoked or ingested. Also called cannabis

Marijuana Legal and accepted in some cultures Abundant in U.S. in 1960’s made by drying the plant to form hashish, a gummy powder can be cooked and eaten

Marijuana Affects vary from person to person Affects can vary based on on the setting in which drug taken and user’s past experience music sounds fuller, colors look brighter, may feel elated

Marijuana Is not physically addictive but can become psychologically addictive Can heighten unpleasant experiences

Marijuana More damaging to the lungs than cigarettes no link to cancer Disrupts memory formation Adults using marijuana scored lower than equal-IQ nonusers on a 12th grade achievement test

Hallucinations Perceptions that have no direct external cause seeing, hearing, tasting things that aren’t there Can happen when a person is deprived of sleep truck drivers swerve to avoid cars that aren’t there

Hallucinations Usually involve color Caused when entire nervous system becomes aroused

Hallucinogens Substances that cause hallucinations Also called psychedelic because they create a loss of contact with reality LSD is one of the most powerful hallucinogens Does not take much to produce a trip

Hallucinogens Often dissolved into strips of paper or sugar cubes a person experiences many mood states and they are often quite intense sometimes it can be terrifying wall may pulsate or breath

Hallucinogens Sounds are seen and visuals are heard Single stimulus can become the focus of attention for hours LSD impairs thinking panic reactions are the most common side effect

Hallucinogens Flashbacks- can occur months after taking LSD PCP- also called angel dust also very unpredictable

Opiates Usually called narcotics opium, morphine and heroin Used as analgesics- reduce pain can produce euphoria- pleasurable state somewhere between sleep and awake

Opiates Can lead to physical addiction overdose results in loss of breathing heroine is so powerful it is illegal for Dr.’s to use

Alcohol Most widely used and abused drug it is encouraged by advertisements and social expectations causes a general loosing of inhibitions depressant that inhibits brain function

Alcohol Can cause people to act without restraint Affects depend on the amount and frequency of drinking Also varies by body size and what you have eaten

Alcohol Slurred speech, blurred vision, impairment in judgement big factor in accidents, divorces, and loss of jobs Permanent damage to brain and liver

Tranquilizers Calm anxieties and tensions perceive anxiety producing events, but remain detached from them can be dangerous if used for long periods of time

Stimulants Stimulate the central nervous system increase arousal and alertness caffeine, amphetamines (speed) cocaine users feel energized and invincible can cause heart failure and death

Drug Abuse and Treatment When does use become abuse? Drug abusers are people who regularly use illegal drugs or excessively use legal drugs

Drug Abuse and Treatment Why do people abuse drugs? Avoid boredom pressure from peers gain self-confidence forget about problems feel good

Drug Abuse and Treatment Why should people not abuse drugs? Danger of death or injury overdose or accident Can turn into an addiction overwhelming desire to obtain the drugs legal consequences destructive behavior

Treatment First- must admit they have a problem Enter treatment program or get therapy Must remain drug free Some join support groups to help with this