1. Communication and Structure Chemicals and the Body

2. Agonists-Drugs that mimic a neurotransmitter. Antagonists-Drugs that stop a neurotransmitter.

3. Chemicals and the Body Psychoactive Drug: A drug capable of influencing perception, mood, cognition, or behavior. Methods of getting a drug into the body: Via Inhalation –Nasal Cavity –Lungs –Smoked Via Injection –Subcutaneous –Intraparatineal –Intravenous –Intramuscular Via Absorption –Skin –Mouth –Anal Cavity (intestines) Via Ingestion

4. Fat/Water Soluble Distinction Fat Soluble: Stored- –Bodies fat tissues –Fat deposits –Liver Storage methods make these substances potentially poisons. –Potential to build up to harmful levels in the body –Active in the brain because they bind to fats. Water Soluble: Not easily stored. Used the moment they enter the body. Unused material is flushed out.

5. Major Categories Stimulants:  Speed up activity in the CNS.  Nicotine, Caffeine, Cocaine, Amphetamines  Ritalin and Adderall Depressants:  Slow down activity in the CNS.  Alcohol, Tranquilizers, Barbiturates  Most Inhalants Opiates:  Relieve pain.  Opium, Morphine, Heroin  Methadone Psychedelic drugs:  Disrupt normal thought processes.  Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD),  Mescaline (Peyote Cactus Buttons)  Salvia Divinorum, Psilocybin (Mexican Magic Mushrooms),  Marijuana (Tetra-Hydra-Cannibinol)  Nutmeg, Thyme, Mace

6. Chemicals and the Body Naloxone- –Counters Heroin. –Also counters the placebo effect.

7. Symptomatology Tolerance: Increased resistance to a drug’s effects accompanying continued use. Withdrawal Symptoms: Physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone addicted to a drug stops taking it. –Withdrawal from a depressant can kill you –Withdrawal from an opiate will make you wish you were dead

8. Therapeutic Window Defined: (Therapeutic Index) Comparison of the amount of a therapeutic agent that causes the therapeutic effect to the amount that causes toxic effects. –Quantitatively, it is the ratio given by the dose required to produce the toxic effect divided by the therapeutic dose –Commonly used measure of therapeutic index is the lethal dose of a drug for 50% of the population divided by the effective dose for 50% of the population TR = LD50 / ED50