7.3 Drugs and Consciousness Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness.

Drug Tolerance A person has developed the need to take greater doses of the drug to get the same effect initial doses had

Drug Dependency A person now needs to take the drug to prevent withdrawal symptoms of NS

Withdrawal Painful physical and psychological symptoms that occur after a drug- dependent person stops using the drug

Stimulants Amphetamines Speed, crank, crystal, ice Methamphetamine (new twist---not pill form, but smoked or snorted, for a faster high) Increase blood pressure, heart rate, enhanced mood, alertness, and energy

Stimulants cont. Amphetamines (cont.) Leads to excessive restless behavior, repetitive beh., depression, agitation, insomnia, paranoia Brain damage, NS destruction

Stimulants Cocaine Horse, snow, crack Increased physiological and psychological arousal (energy, alert) Appetite suppression, insomnia, irritation, nose damage, hallucinations, bugs---circle of depresssion, fatigue, withdrawal, craving

Stimulants cont. Cocaine (cont.) Usually only lasts 30 minutes or so Impaired decision-making, analysis of self and abilities Brain damage, NS destruction

Legal Stimulants Caffeine –Physiological arousal--- hyper feeling, energy, improved reaction time –Psychological arousal--- decreased feeling of fatigue and drowsiness, alertness, improved mental reaction time

Legal Stimulants Nicotine –Physiological effects--- lung cancer, heart and vascular disease, emphysema –Psychological arousal--- improves attention, concentration, and short- term memory in low doses

Opiates Opium, morphine, heroinheroin Reduce pain, create euphoria (like state between waking and sleeping), constipation One of the fastest “tolerance” drugs

Opiates (cont.) Dependence leads to: –Hot and cold flashes –Sweating –Muscle tremors –Stomach cramps Overdose leads to: –Respiratory failure

Hallucinogens Psychoactive drugs that produce strange perceptual, sensory, and cognitive experiences The person sees or hears things that he knows are not realistic Cultural uses

Hallucinogens (cont.) LSD (lycergic acid diethylamide) –Visual hallucinations, perceptual distortions, increased sensory awareness, and intense psychological feelings –“Tripping” is dependent on user’s state of mind

Hallucinogens (cont.) LSD dangers include: –Psychotic paranoia (can require hospitalization) –Uncontrolled frightening flashbacks of the trip –Tolerance develops quickly, but no reports of dependence

Hallucinogens (cont.) Psilocybin (mushrooms) –Pleasant and relaxed state (low dose) to perceptual distortions in time and space (med. dose) to hallucinations, body image distortions, etc. –Tripping is like an “awake dream”

Hallucinogens (cont.) Psilocybin dangers include: –Psychotic states last long and are unpredictable –Accidental poisoning from bad ‘shrooms

Hallucinogens (cont.) Designer drugs –Manufactured or synthetic drugs designed to mimic existing illegal psychoactive drugs / effects Ecstasy (MDMA) is an example

Hallucinogens (cont.) Ecstasy (MDMA) –Resembles both mescaline (hallucinogen) and amphetamine (upper) –Increases emotional awareness and intimacy, and alters visual perceptions –Lowers inhibitions (aphrodisiac)

Hallucinogens (cont.) Ecstasy (MDMA) dangers include: –Jitteriness, anxiety, jaw clenching, fear and insomnia (low doses) –Panic, rapid heartbeat, paranoia, and psychotic episodes (med. dose) –Confusion, fatigue, depression, severe nausea (high, prolonged dose)

Hallucinogens (cont.) Ecstasy (MDMA) dangers include (cont): –Physically damages neurons over time which can lead to an uncountable number of neurological problems

Alcohol Psychoactive drug Depressant: depresses CNS activity Seems like a stimulant first, but later depresses many physio / psycho responses

Alcohol (cont.) Few drinks = friendliness and loss of inhibitions Several drinks = interferes with ability to understand events around them Many drinks = Impairs motor coord, cognitive abilities, decision making, speech

Marijuana Psychoactive drug (THC in the leaves creates the effect) One of the few drugs where no deaths are caused by its direct biological effects 5-10 minute effect after inhalation Dose indicates type of high

Marijuana (cont.) Low dose = mild euphoria Moderate dose = perceptual and time distortion High dose = hallucinations, delusions, and distortions of the body image