SECTION 4 – DRUGS AND CONSCIOUSNESS

Objective: Describe the various kinds of drugs and their effects on consciousness. their effects on consciousness. Key Terms: addiction – a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance. habit-forming substance. depressant – a drug that reduces neural activity and slows body functions. slows body functions. intoxication – state of drunkenness characterized by impaired coordination and judgement. impaired coordination and judgement. narcotic – type of drug that dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces sleep; usually relieves pain, and induces sleep; usually those drugs made from the opium poppy those drugs made from the opium poppy plant. plant.

stimulant – drug that increases neural activity and speeds up body functions. speeds up body functions. amphetamine – type of stimulant often used to stay awake or reduce appetite. awake or reduce appetite. hallucination – a false sensory perception that occurs in the absence of any actual occurs in the absence of any actual stimulus. stimulus. delusion – an erroneous belief that may accompany certain psychotic disorders. certain psychotic disorders. hallucinogen – a psychadelic drug, such as LSD, that distorts perceptions and evokes that distorts perceptions and evokes sensory images in the absence of sensory images in the absence of actual sensory input. actual sensory input.

detoxification – the removal of a poisonous or otherwise harmful substance, such as alcohol or other drugs, from the body.

IV. Drugs and Consciousness *In terms of drugs, addiction means a person has taken a drug for a while and now their body craves it just to feel normal. A. Depressants 1. Alcohol a. Very widely used in the U.S. b. Too much can be lethal both short term and long term. c. intoxicates – causes you to become drunk. *slurred speech *blurred vision *reduced/impaired coordination *impaired judgement

d. Over 50% of all fatal car accidents. 2. Narcotics a. Addictive depressants used to reduce pain and induce sleep. *morphine *heroin *cocaine b. Many are made from the opium poppy plant. c. Withdrawals from addiction cam be very severe. *deep depression *Physical symptoms such as tremors, cramps, diarrhea, insomnia, vomiting, rapid heartbeat.

d. Needle sharing can cause death through the spread of disease such as AIDS and Hepatitis. B. Stimulants 1. Nicotine a. Found in the leaves of tobacco. b. Spurs the release of adrenaline which increases heart rate. c. Reduces appetite and raises metabolism. d. Smoking is most common way to ingest nicotine. *smokers are 10 x’s more likely to develop lung cancer. *kills more people than car accidents, alcohol abuse, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined. *Linked to heart disease, chronic lung/respiratory disease, premature birth, birth defects, and miscarriage. e. Secondhand smoke is found to be harmful to nonsmokers.

2. Amphetamines a. Help people stay awake or reduce appetite. b. First used by soldiers in World War II. c. Pill form or injected. d. Highs can cause people to stay awake for days. *Coming down is called “crashing” *People crashing can fall into a deep sleep, depression, and even commit suicide. e. Can cause frightening hallucinations. *Ex. bugs crawling on you f. Can cause delusions. *Thinking you can fly

3. Cocaine a. Derived from the leaves of the coca plant. b. Produces feelings of pleasure, reduces hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence. c. Can lead to death when overdosed – *raises blood pressure *decreases oxygen supply to the heart *increases heart rate d. Originally a painkiller. *Used by Freud to treat depression.

e. Symptoms of Overdose: *restlessness *insomnia *trembling *head aches *nausea *convulsions *hallucinations *delusions

C. Hallucinogens 1. Marijuana a. Can produce feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinations. b. Hashish, produced from the sticky part of the plant, has stronger effects than marijuana. c. Effects: *impairs perception and coordination *impairs memory and learning *can cause anxiety and confusion *increases heart rate and blood pressure.

d. Consciousness *Lose track of time(think time is passing more slowly than it is.) *Increased consciousness of heartbeat and other bodily sensations. *visual hallucinations *loss of sense of self – don’t know who or where they are.

2. LSD a. Lysergic acid diethylamide b. Can produce intense, bizarre hallucinations. c. Effects are unpredictable. *panic and confusion *self injury and suicide d. Can cause lasting side effects: *memory loss *violent outbursts *nightmares *feelings of panic *Flashbacks – hallucinations that happen weeks, months, and even years after LSD is used.

D. Treatments for drug abuse 1. Detox a. The removal of a harmful substance from the body. b. Most commonly used with alcohol and narcotics addiction. 2. Maintenance Programs a. Participants are given a controlled and less dangerous amount of the drug or less addictive substance. b. Controversial because users never completely come off the drug. 3. Counseling a. Can be done individually or in groups.

4. Support Groups a. Several people who share common experiences, concerns, or problems. b. Meet in a group setting to provide emotional and moral support. c. Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, etc.