1. Drug Altered Consciousness States of Consciousness Unit 3

2. Objectives Define psychoactive drugs and reasons they are more problematic today, than historically Identify the 3 categories of drugs, common drugs for each category, and effects of their use. Examine the reasons some people become addicts, while others do not.

3. Psychoactive Drugs Chemicals that change moods and perception Have always been used in history, but are more problematic now b/c: 1. motives for use changed 2. drugs are synthetic and stronger 3. long term effects aren’t always clear due to new chemical mixtures, etc

4. 3 Categories of Drugs 1. Depressants 2. Stimulants 3. Hallucinogens

5. Depressants Alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, opiates Slow down cognitive processes Highly addictive, easy to develop a tolerance, cause severe withdrawals

6. Stimulants Caffine, nicotine, amphetamines and cocaine Stimulate the nervous system creating feelings of optimism and energy, but cause a severe “crash”

8. Hallucinogens and Marijuana Hal: Drugs that distort visual and auditory perception (acid, lsd, mescaline) Mar: mild hallucinogen. Causes a state of euphoria, anxiety, and/or paranoia. Infrequent use is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine, however, frequent long term use causes severe short term memory loss and cognitive damage that is permanent

9. Pot Head Damage is specifically indicated in areas of the brain responsible for memory, attention, decision-making, language, and executive functioning skills. Brain scan of a brain exposed to chronic marijuana usage. Yellow/orange areas indicate abnormalities.

10. Pot as a Medicine While pot has extremely negative effects on the developing teen brain, there are some medical benefits. The main ingredient THC has been found (preliminarily) to help in a variety of diseases Alzheimer's Parkinson’s Disease Muscular Sclerosis Glaucoma It is key to realize that all of these diseases have FDA approved medicines, which have proven as (in some cases more) effective as marijuana. –Marijuana is a last resort!

11. Abuse Can stem from any or all of the following Biology/genetics Psychology Social Setting Cultural Factors

12. Exit Ticket 1. Define psychoactive drugs and reasons they are more problematic today, than historically 2. Identify the 3 categories of drugs, common drugs for each category, and effects of their use. 3. Examine the reasons some people become addicts, while others do not.