Module 22: Drugs

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Module 22Drugs

• Chapter 9
• States of Consciousness

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Psychoactive Drug Dependence

• A chemical substance that alters perceptions,
  mood, or behavior
• Three common psychoactive drugs
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Induce an altered state of consciousness

• A state of physiological and/or psychological
  need to take more of a substance after continued
  use.
• Withdrawal follows if the drug is discontinued

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Withdrawal Tolerance

• The discomfort and distress that follow when a
  person who is dependent on a drug discontinues
  the use of the drug
• Withdrawal symptoms are usually the reverse of
  the drugs effects.

• Reduced responsiveness to a drug, prompting the
  user to increase the dosage to achieve effects
  previously obtained by lower doses of the drug

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Tolerance
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Drugs and Neurotransmission

• Module 22 Drugs

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Neurotransmission

• The process whereby neurons communicate with each
  other
• Neurotransmission, especially in the brain and
  spinal cord, helps explain the effects of
  psychoactive drugs.
• Psychoactive drugs interfere with normal
  neurotransmission.

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Neurotransmitters

• Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps
  between neurons
• When released by the sending neuron,
  neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and
  bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron,
  setting up the next link in the chain of
  communication.

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Synapse

• The junction between the tip of the sending
  neuron and the receptor sites on the receiving
  neuron
• Call the synaptic gap or cleft

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Neural Neurotransmitters
Activity and the Synapse
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Reuptake

• Process where the unused neurotransmitter
  chemical is reabsorbed by the sending neuron
• How anti-depressants work they facilitate the
  reuptake

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Drug Classifications

• Module 22 Drugs

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Psychoactive Drugs and Synapses

• Psychoactive drugs affect synapses and
  neurotransmitters in three ways
• Binding with receptors
• Blocking receptor site
• Blocking neurotransmitters reuptake

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Five Psychoactive Drug Categories

• Five different categories we will study
• 1. Depressants
• 2. Opiates
• 3. Stimulants
• 4. Hallucinogens
• 5. Marijuana

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Drug Classifications 1. Depressants

• Module 22 Drugs

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1. Depressants

• Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body
  functioning
• Includes alcohol and sedatives

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Depressants Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

• Found in beer, wine, and liquor
• The second most used psychoactive drug (caffeine
  first)
• Slows thinking, and impairs physical activity

• BAC a measure of how much alcohol is in a
  persons bloodstream
• BAC of .08 considered legal intoxication in most
  states

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Affects of AlcoholEuphoric Memory Sleep

• Alcohol impairs the parts of the brain
  responsible for controlling inhibitions and
  making judgments

• Studies have shown that alcohol impairs memory by
  suppressing the processing of events into long
  term memory.
• Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further disrupting
  memory storage.

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Do you have an alcohol problem?
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Depressants Sedatives

• Drugs that reduce anxiety or induce sleep
• Also called tranquilizers
• Include barbiturates and benzodiazepines

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Barbiturates Benzodiazepines

• Drugs that depress the activity of the central
  nervous system and thereby reduce anxiety
• Can be lethal in overdose and interact with other
  drugs, especially alcohol
• Impair both memory and judgment
• Can create tolerance and dependence

• Drugs that depress that activity of the central
  nervous system without most of the side effects
  associated with barbiturates
• Include Valium and Xanax
• Can create dependency

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Drug Classifications 2. Opiates

• Module 22 Drugs

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2. Opiates

• Drugs that depress neural activity, temporarily
  lesson pain and anxiety
• Include opium, morphine, and heroin

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Opiates Morphine Endorphins

• Strong sedative and pain-relieving drug derived
  from opium
• Works by preventing pain neurons from firing or
  releasing pain-signaling neurotransmitters into
  the synapse

• Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to
  pain control and to pleasure
• Bodys natural pain killers

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Drug Classifications 3. Stimulants

• Module 22 Drugs

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3. Stimulants

• Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up
  body functions
• Include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and
  cocaine

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Caffeine Nicotine

• Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and
  some soft drinks
• Provides user with a sense of increased energy,
  mental alertness, and forced wakefulness
• Blocks neurological receptor sites that , if
  activated, sedate the central nervous system

• Stimulant found in tobacco
• Effects similar to those of caffeine
• Very addictive and does not stay in the body very
  long
• Explains constant cravings

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Cocaine Amphetamines

• Stimulant derived from leaves of the coca plant
• Crack cocaine crystals
• Blocks the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters
• Dependency is quick and severe places extreme
  strain on cardiovascular system

• Drugs that stimulate neural activity, speeding up
  body functions, with associated energy and mood
  changes
• Includes speed, uppers, and methamphetamines
• Mimic adrenaline
• Can cause irreversible changes in mood

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Cocaine

• http//www.drugfreeworld.org/real-life-stories/coc
  aine.html

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Drug Classifications 4. Hallucinogens

• Module 22 Drugs

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4. Hallucinogens

• Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory
  images in the absence of sensory input
• Include LSD and ecstasy
• Sometimes called psychedelics

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Lysergic Acid Ecstacy Diethylamide (LSD)

• Powerful hallucinogenic drug
• Also known as acid
• The effects vary from person to person
• Users can be dangerous to themselves and others.

• Hallucinogenic drug that produces lower
  inhibitions, pleasant feelings, and greater
  acceptance of others
• Also called MDMA
• Even moderate users may experience permanent
  brain damage.

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Drug Classifications 5 Marijuana

• Module 22 Drugs

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5. Marijuana

• Leaves, stems, resin, and flowers form the hemp
  plant that, when smoked, lower inhibitions and
  produce feelings of relaxation and mild euphoria
• THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active
  ingredient
• Disrupts memory lung damage from smoke

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In a small group answerShould marijuana be
legalized?

• Why or why not?
• What would age requirements be?
• Where could it be bought?
• For medicinal and/or recreational use?
• Would it be taxed?
• Consider other legal and illegal drugs in your
  reasoning.

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Heres what you said

• Overwhelmingly yes.
• 18/21 discuss other age restrictions
• Specialty store.
• Yes tax but state or govt tax?
• Medicinal yes
• Recreational only about ½ the groups
• A few groups said no
• Dangerous, gateway drug, bad habit, etc.

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Mouse party!

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

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PreventionYou tell me.

• Module 22 Drugs

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High School Drug Use(Johnston others, 2002)