Under the Influence Unit 3 Lesson 6

Objective Explore the effects of drugs and alcohol on consciousness. Explore the effects of drugs and alcohol on consciousness. Differentiate between substance abuse and dependence. Differentiate between substance abuse and dependence.

Warm Up Identify one common characteristic of a hypnotic state. Identify one common characteristic of a hypnotic state.

Psychopharmacology Study of psychoactive drugs and their effects on behavior & mental processes. Study of psychoactive drugs and their effects on behavior & mental processes.

Just Say No! Psychoactive Drugs Psychoactive Drugs –Affect our N.S. and alter states of consciousness, sensation & perception, emotions & motivation, and thoughts. Licit (legal) Licit (legal) Illicit (illegal) Illicit (illegal)

How Drugs “Work” Alter interaction b/t neurotransmitters & receptors Alter interaction b/t neurotransmitters & receptors Others increase or decrease release of specific neurotransmitters Others increase or decrease release of specific neurotransmitters Cross the blood-brain barrier & enter brain tissues. Cross the blood-brain barrier & enter brain tissues.

Faces of Addiction 20 cigars a day 20 cigars a day Age 38, irregular heartbeat Age 38, irregular heartbeat Age 67, mouth cancer Age 67, mouth cancer Age 79, 33 operations took away most of his jaw, barely able to swallow and talk. Age 79, 33 operations took away most of his jaw, barely able to swallow and talk. Age 83, death Age 83, death

Important Terms Abuse Abuse –Continued use even though it’s causing or compounding problems in daily life. Addiction Addiction –Overwhelming and compulsive desire to obtain and use the drug

Important Terms Tolerance Tolerance –Increasingly larger doses needed to achieve the desired effect.

Important Terms Dependency Dependency –Change in the nervous system so person physically needs to take the drug or else… Withdrawal Withdrawal –Painful physical symptoms that occur when a drug- dependent person stops using the drug

Major Mood Changers (Handout) Stimulants Stimulants Depressants Depressants Narcotics Narcotics Hallucinogens Hallucinogens Marijuana Marijuana Inhalents Inhalents

Activity Alcohol & The Teen Brain Alcohol & The Teen Brain –A Webquest providing you the info to “make informed decisions”

Alcohol Affects Teens Differently Than Adults Adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to many effects of alcohol Adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to many effects of alcohol –Memory, brain damage, altered brain development, driving skills, long-term cognitive deficits Less vulnerable to others Less vulnerable to others –Sedation (sleepiness), loss of balance, hangovers

Alcohol Affects Teens Differently Than Adults What This Means… What This Means… –First, since they're not as sleepy, they may consume more alcohol, resulting in greater mental impairment. –Second, they may be more likely to engage in activities that put them at risk, such as driving a car (dvp frontal lobe)

Alcohol & Memory Alcohol has a powerful impact on the ability to form new memories, particularly for facts and events (hippocampus) Alcohol has a powerful impact on the ability to form new memories, particularly for facts and events (hippocampus) Drinking too much or too fast can cause blackouts – missing memories for events that occur while drunk Drinking too much or too fast can cause blackouts – missing memories for events that occur while drunk –Different from passing out: falling asleep from drinking too much, drinking oneself unconscious Blackouts are frighteningly common among adolescents and can encompass events ranging from driving a car to engaging in risky sexual activity. Blackouts are frighteningly common among adolescents and can encompass events ranging from driving a car to engaging in risky sexual activity. –Females seem particularly vulnerable to blackouts and are more likely to be harmed by the experiences!

Alcohol & Memory As seen in the following ad, the industry is well aware that its products can shut down memory function ! As seen in the following ad, the industry is well aware that its products can shut down memory function !

Risking Addiction Why risk it? Curiosity Curiosity Feel good Feel good Peer Pressure Peer Pressure Parental Use Parental Use Rebelliousness Rebelliousness Escape Escape Self-Handicapping/Scapegoat Self-Handicapping/Scapegoat

Risking Addiction Your risk for addiction depends on lots of things: Personality Personality Genetic makeup Genetic makeup Family history Family history Coping skills Coping skills Drug of choice Drug of choice

Closure Should the drinking age be lowered to 18? Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?