1. Drugs and the Nervous System

2. Drugs Drug – any substance, other than food, that changes the structure or function of the body. all drugs whether legal or illegal have the potential to do harm if used improperly or abused

3. Drugs that affect the synapse Synapses are key relay stations for your nervous system Your nervous system needs neurotransmitters to bridge the gap between neurons Drugs that interfere with the neurotransmitters disrupt the functioning of your nervous system.

4. Stimulants Stimulants – increase the actions regulated by the nervous system Effects: increase heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. Increase release of neurotransmitters at some synapses in the brain

5. Leads to a feeling of energy and well-being When it wears off, you feel fatigue and depression Long term use can cause circulatory problems, hallucinations, and depression

6. Depressants Depressants – decrease the rate of functions regulated by the brain Effects: slow down heart rate and breathing rate, lower blood pressure, relax muscles, and relieve tension

7. Some depressants can enhance the effects of neurotransmitters that prevent nerves from starting action potentials This calms down the parts of the brain that sense fear and relaxes the individual People can become depended on these drugs to get through the stresses of everyday live

8. Cocaine Cocaine causes the sudden release in the brain of neurotransmitter call dopamine The release of large amounts dopamine produces an intense feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. When the effects wear off the amount of dopamine is depleted and leaves the user feeling sad and depressed

9. Cocaine also acts like a powerful stimulant, increases heart rate and blood pressure Crack is a form of cocaine that is extremely potent and dangerous. It produces an intense “high” that wears off quickly leaving the users brain with too little dopamine The user is left depressed and sad and quickly seeks another dose of the drug.

10. Opiates Opiates are a powerful class of pain killing drugs Opiates mimic natural chemicals in the brain know as endorphins, which normally help to overcome sensation of pain

11. The first doses of these drugs produce strong feeling of pleasure and security The body quickly adjust to the high levels of endorphins and then cannot go without the drug When a user tries to stop taking the drug they suffer from uncontrollable pain and sickness because the body cannot produce enough natural endorphins

12. Marijuana Marijuana is the most widely abused illegal drug Smoking or ingesting THC (the active ingredient of marijuana) produces temporary feelings of euphoria and disorientation

13. Smoking marijuana is more destructive to the lungs than smoking tobacco Long-term use of marijuana can result in loos of memory; inability to concentrate; and in males, reduced levels of testosterone

14. Alcohol Alcohol is one of the most dangerous and abused legal drugs Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the rate at which the central nervous system functions It slows down reflexes, disrupts coordination, and impairs judgment

15. Women who are pregnant and drink run the risk of having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a group of birth defects caused by the effects of alcohol on the fetus. Babies born with FAS suffer from heart defects, malformed faces, delayed growth and poor motor development

16. Alcohol and disease Alcoholism is a disease that is the result of a person becoming addicted to alcohol Long term alcohol abuse destroys cells in the liver, and reduces the livers ability to handle alcohol The formation of scar tissue can happen, this is known as cirrhosis of the liver This blocks blood flow in the liver and can lead to liver failure.

17. Drug Abuse Drug abuse = the intentional misuse of any drug for nonmedical purposes Drug abuse can lead to physical damage to your body or produce a psychological dependence These dependences can lead to addition

18. Addiction = an uncontrollable dependence on a drug – Addiction can be either physical or psychological Psychological dependence is when a person has a mental craving or need for a drug Physical dependence is when the body cannot function without the drug – Stopping the drug will result in pain, nausea, chills and fever