PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS RG 5c

DRUGS AND CONSCIOUSNESS Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (effects consciousness).

DEPENDENCE & ADDICTION Continued use of psychoactive drug produces tolerance. With repeated exposure to a drug, the drug’s effect lessens. Thus it takes bigger doses to get the desired effect.

WITHDRAWAL & DEPENDENCE Withdrawal: Upon stopping a drug (after addiction) users may experience undesirable effects of withdrawal. Dependence: Absence of drug may lead to feelings of physical pain, intense cravings (physical dependence) and negative emotions (psychological dependence).

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ADDICTION Addiction is a craving for a chemical substance despite its adverse consequences (physical & psychological). 1. Addictive drugs quickly corrupt. 2. Addiction cannot be overcome voluntarily. 3. Addiction is not different than repetitive pleasure seeking behavior

DEPRESSANTS Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions, they include: 1. Alcohol 2. Barbiturates 3. Opiates

ALCOHOL ● In low doses – relaxes drinker by slowing down the sympathetic nervous system (lowering inhibitions and judgments) ● In high doses – reactions slow, speech slurs, and skilled performance deteriorates ● Also affects memory by disrupting the processing of recent events into long-term memory, reduces self-awareness, and focuses one’s attention on immediate situation rather than future consequences

ALCOHOL ● How does the body react to alcohol? o generally it takes about one hour to metabolize the alcohol in one drink (1 oz. 80-proof liquor, 4 oz. wine or 12 oz. beer) o women metabolize alcohol more slowly than men  if woman and man of the same weight consume the same amount of alcohol, the woman would be more intoxicated than man due to the way their bodies are composed…men have more muscle which speeds up the metabolizing of the alcohol

BARBITURATES ● drugs that mimic the effects of alcohol – depress CNS activity & in larger doses, can lead to impaired memory and judgment ● Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples. (Sleeping pills, some anti-anxiety medications)

Opiates Opiates: Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive. ne

HEROIN ● user gets a short lived feeling of blissful pleasure (lasts for about 3-5 hours), followed by craving for another fix, the need for progressively larger doses, and physical withdrawal symptoms ● Methadone is often used when trying to combat a heroin addiction o at the dosages given the individual does not get “high” yet it is enough to reduce the intense physical cravings o However, people can become addicted to Methadone

STIMULANTS Stimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and speed-up body functions. 1. Caffeine 2. Nicotine 3. Cocaine 4. Ecstasy 5. Amphetamines 6. Methamphetamines

CAFFEINE & NICOTINE Caffeine and nicotine increase heart and breathing rates, and other autonomic functions to provide energy. intl.com

CAFFEINE ● Found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate and many over-the-counter meds ● Most people use caffeine in some form everyday…it is considered the most popular and widely used psychoactive drug ● Increases attentiveness & improves mood by mimicking adenosine (a neurotransmitter) ● Is physically addictive o Individuals can experience withdrawal symptoms if stop intake (usually from a few days up to a week will have headaches, be irritable, drowsy or be tired…esp. if a regular coffee, tea, soda drinker) ● At high doses, it can produce anxiety, restlessness, insomnia & increased heart rate – known as “coffee nerves”

CAFFEINE The recommended amount of caffeine per day is 250 milligrams…

Nicotine, the drug found in tobacco leaves, is one of the most common stimulants. It spurs the release of the hormone adrenaline, which causes the heart rate to increase. Cigarette smoking is as addictive as heroin. Stopping can cause nervousness, drowsiness, loss of energy, headaches, and other side-effects. Each year more than 400,000 Americans die from smoking-related illnesses more than number who die from car accidents, alcohol/drug abuse, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined. Cigarette smoke contains 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer.

Among adult smokers who have ever smoked, 86% began at age 21 or younger. Men tend to smoke more than women. Smoking is linked with social activities, which makes it more difficult to stop. Smoking in pregnancy accounts for an estimated 20-30% of low- birth weight babies, up to 14% of preterm deliveries, and some 10% of all infant deaths. In 2009, an estimated 20.6% of adults and 19.5% of high school students were smokers. Over 5% of middle school students admitted to being smokers, as well.

AMPHETAMINES ● (“speed” or “uppers”) ● Suppress appetite and were once prescribed as diet pills o No longer prescribed because of tolerance to its appetite-suppressant effects occurs quickly, meaning the individual needs more and more of the drug to maintain effects ● Also increase concentration and reduce fatigue…can increase anxiety and irritability as well

METHAMPHETAMINES (CRYSTAL METH) ● lllegal drug manufactured in street laboratories that is either smoked or injected ● as with all amphetamines, after using for awhile one “crashes”, exhibiting withdrawal symptoms of fatigue, deep sleep, intense mental depression & increased appetite o it is highly addictive…aftereffects include: irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures, periods of disorientation and occasional violent behavior o Over time, it appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels, leaving the users with permanently depressed functioning

COCAINE ● Illegal stimulate derived from coca tree o Derivatives (novocaine) are used today as anesthetics o cocaine was part of Coca-Cola’s original formula in 1888, it was replaced in 1903 by caffeine – yet coca leaves, with cocaine extracted for medical purposes are still used today. When inhaled/”snorted”, reaches brain in minutes – producing intense euphoria, mental alertness & self- confidence which lasts for several minutes o usually minutes if someone is a binge user m

COCAINE ● Blocks the reuptake of dopamine…so the brain is flooded with dopamine-produced pleasure sensations

ECSTASY (MDMA) ● A stimulant and mild hallucinogen ● Increases empathy, peacefulness and the person “feels” calm or relaxed, yet they also seem to have an unending supply of energy o Making it a popular “club drug”  the immediate dehydrating effects, combined with prolonged physical activity (like dancing) causes the person risk of severe overheating, increased blood pressure and death ● Researchers have found a decline in memory and performance on IQ tests o And they believe MDMA causes long-term serotonin changes in the brain…leading to reduced serotonin levels & increased risk of depressed mood Greg Smith/ AP Photos

HALLUCINOGENS Hallucinogens are psychedelic (mind- manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. Ronald K. Siegel

LSD (LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE) “ACID” ● one of the most powerful drugs known – only takes one- millionth of an ounce to produce altering effects o first synthesized from rye fungus by Swiss chemist in late 1930s – Hoffman accidentally ingested a minuscule amount of the substance, having the first LSD trip ever) ● trip lasts 6-14 hours – effects vary greatly o visual distortions & hallucinations o Emotions very intense & unstable and impaired thoughts ● “bad trips” o terrifying & users are in a state of panic, feel as they will go mad & never come out  some have ended tragically in accidents, death or suicide) ● flashbacks -- have sudden, w/o warning brief recurrences of trip weeks/months after use

MARIJUANA ● produces feeling of elation, promotes relaxation, relieves inhibitions, relieves anxiety & increases sensitivity to sights, sounds & touch – causes sense of time to be distorted ● THC (tetrahydrocannibinol), ingredient that produces the high, remains in body long after use o 10% remains in system after 7 weeks ● effects: impairs attention/coordination, slows reaction time, interferes with concentration, logical thinking, ability to form new memories & ability to hold in mind what is said o chronic use associated with loss of motivation and general apathy – it also causes respiratory damage faster than cigarette smoking & heavy use/abuse affects the reproductive system, esp. in males Hemp Plant

Marijuana cigarettes yield almost 4 times as much tar as tobacco cigarettes. Regular use dulls emotions and suppresses the immune system. Marijuana is fat soluble, unlike alcohol which metabolizes rather quickly. It can be detected for up to a month in the body. Long-term use can result in chromosomal damage.

DRUGS Summary

INFLUENCES ON DRUG USE Use of drugs is based on biological, psychological and social-cultural influences.

Treatment: Detoxification – the removal of harmful substances from the body. Most common for alcoholics and narcotic addicts. Maintenance Programs – participants are given controlled and less dangerous amounts of the drug or some less addictive substitute. Sometimes used for narcotics addicts. Counseling – individual and group methods used for treating stimulant and depressant abuse. Support Groups – consist of several people who share common experiences, concerns, or problems. Group setting provides emotional and moral support.