Hallucinogenic Plants Professor Suleiman Olimat

What is addiction? (Latin) addictus---attached to something, positive. Today alcoholism called a “brain disease”or bad habit or sin. Leading assumption of the text: Addiction is the key, not the substance or behavior Addiction defined by researchers as “a bad habit,” “a brain disease,” “helplessness,” “a problem of motivation”

Definitions Addiction—pattern of compulsive use. Has physical, psychological, social aspects. Emphasis on process rather than outcome.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM ( Changes to DSM in new edition: no longer dichotomy between abuse and dependence Addiction now the preferred term instead of dependence. Addiction now seen as a continuum. Substance use disorder requires 2 of following: toleranceinability to stop toleranceinability to stop withdrawal problemsexcessive spending or effort withdrawal problemsexcessive spending or effort use more than intended to obtain use more than intended to obtain reduced involvement continued use reduced involvement continued use

The question is often asked: Why would anyone addict to drugs? Research has shown that people generally take drugs to either feel good (i.e., sensation seekers, or anyone wanting to experiment with feeling high or feeling different) or to feel better (i.e., self-medicators, or individuals who take drugs in an attempt to cope with difficult problems or situations, including stress, trauma, and/or to lessen anxiety, fears, depression, or hopelessness).

Why people taking Drugs?

From being an addict to being a poet.

Stimulant A stimulant is a drug which increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and produces a sense of euphoria or awakeness. Stimulants can be used as recreational drugs, or therapeutically to increase alertness. They are also used and sometimes abused to boost endurance and productivity as well as to suppress appetite.

Dependence Physical Dependence: Withdrawal of drug produces physical symptoms. Body needs the drug for normal physiological function Psychological Dependence: Cravings for a drug, overcome by the desire to have a drug.

Central Nervous System The brain and spinal column The body’s control system…also responsible for sensory perception, thought, mood, memory, etc. Synapses within the CNS rely on a number of different neurotransmitters

CNS Neurotranmitters Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) Acetylcholine Tryptamines (serotonin) GABA (= ϒ -aminobutyric acid) Endorphins Cannabinoids Histimine Glutamate Glycine

Norepinephrine primary catecholamine, released from the adrenal medulla and postganglionic sympathetic neurons removed from synapses through re-uptake metabolized in the presynaptic terminal by endogenous monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)

Norepinephrine Drugs that increase norepinephrine concentrations in CNS synapses can be used to treat depression Norepinephrine antagonists can be used to treat psychosis and mania

Dopamine is associated with A. Learning B. Hunger C. Stress D. Pleasure

Norepinephrine Enhancer: Cocaine from Erythroxylum coca blocks nerve terminal membrane transport system, preventing re-uptake of norepinephrine (and other catecholamines) results in an accumulation of norepinephrine at receptors

Cocaine initially Decreases the amount of dopamine present in a synapse. Destroys the receptors on a post-synaptic neuron. Dissolves the plasma membrane of neurons in the brain. Increases the amount of dopamine present in a synapse.

Neuron AnimationNeuron Animation: tion/neuron-main.html

How Cocaine WorksHow Cocaine Works animation: /coca-anim-main.htmlwww.pbs.org/wnet/closetohome/animation /coca-anim-main.html

Norepinephrine Enhancer: Peganum harmala

Peganum harmala One of the active compounds in harmal is harmaline Harmaline is used as a sedative and to treat depression Mechanism of action: Harmaline inhibits MAO-A, which leads to an increased availability of neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin)

Ayahuasca Ayahuasca is a medicinal tea prepared from Banisteriopsis Caapi, a jungle vine, found in the tropical regions of South America. Ayahuasca has a rich legacy of associated traditions, myths and therapies.

B. caapi

Chemistry Beta-Carboline alkaloids as in Peganum harmala

Effect People who have consumed ayahuasca report having spiritual revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the universe as well as deep insight into how to be the best person they possibly can, His viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a rebirth. In addition, it is often reported that individuals can gain access to higher spiritual dimensions and make contact with various spiritual or extra dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.spiritualuniverserebirthdimensions