Drugs and Consciousness

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Drugs and Consciousness

• Psychoactive Drug
• a chemical substance that alters perceptions and
  mood
• Physical Dependence
• physiological need for a drug
• marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms
• Psychological Dependence
• a psychological need to use a drug
• for example, to relieve negative emotions

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Dependence and Addiction

• Tolerance
• diminishing effect with regular use
• Withdrawal
• discomfort and distress that follow discontinued
  use

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Depressants downers
• drugs that reduce neural activity
• alcohol, barbiturates, opiates
• slow body functions - sympathetic NS

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Alcohol
• affects motor skills, judgment, and memory
• reduces self awareness
• Disrupts processing of recent events into
  long-term memories
• large amts depressant,
• small amts - stimulant

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Animation - Alcohol

• http//outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/synapse
  .swf
• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/mouse.html

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Barbiturates
• tranquilizers, mimic effects of alcohol
• drugs that depress the activity of the central
  nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing
  memory and judgment

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Opiates
• opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin)
• opiates depress neural activity, temporarily
  lessening pain and anxiety
• highly addictive

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Animation - Heroin

• http//outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/synapse
  .swf
• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/mouse.html

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Stimulants uppers
• drugs that excite neural activity
• caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine
• speed up body functions nicknamed speed

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Animation

• Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine
• http//outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/synapse
  .swf
• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/mouse.html

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Amphetamines
• drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing
  speed-up in body functions and associated energy
  and mood changes
• more powerful than cocaine

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Cocaine
• effects depend on dosage, form, expectations,
  personality and situation
• (coca leaves, powder, crack )
• Blocks dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine
  depression, irritability

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Cocaine Euphoria and Crash
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Psychoactive Drugs

• Ecstasy
• MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
• stimulant and mild hallucinogen
• dangerous short and long term effects
• Blocks the reabsorbtion of serotonin, releases
  dopamine

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Animation - Ecstasy

• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/mouse.html

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Psychoactive Drugs

• Hallucinogens
• psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort
  perceptions and evoke sensory images in the
  absence of sensory input
• LSD
• MDMA (Ecstasy)

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Psychoactive Drugs

• LSD
• lysergic acid diethylamide, also as acid
• a powerful hallucinogenic drug
• chemically similar to serotonin and block it
• THC
• the major active ingredient in marijuana
• triggers a variety of effects, including mild
  hallucinations
• cognitive effects out last the use of the drug

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Animation - LSD

• http//learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/d
  rugs/mouse.html

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Near-Death Experiences

• Near-Death Experience
• an altered state of consciousness reported after
  a close brush with death
• often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

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Psychoactive Drugs
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Trends in Drug Use
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Perceived Marijuana Risk
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Near-Death Experiences

• Dualism
• the presumption that mind and body are two
  distinct entities that interact
• Monism
• the presumption that mind and body are different
  aspects of the same thing

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Links

• Meth Ingredients
• http//www.kci.org/meth_info/sites/Riverside_Count
  y.htm
• Meth Epidemic PBS Frontline Series
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/
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