DrugsDrugs

Mr. RudolphMr. Rudolph

Psych IPsych I

Psychoactive Drugs and ConsciousnessPsychoactive Drugs and Consciousness3 categories3 categories– Depressants (downers)Depressants (downers)

Calm neural activityCalm neural activity

Slow bodily functionsSlow bodily functions

Alcohol, barbiturates, opiatesAlcohol, barbiturates, opiates

– Stimulants (uppers)Stimulants (uppers)Temporarily excite neural activityTemporarily excite neural activity

Arouse bodily functionsArouse bodily functions

Nicotine, caffeine, amphetamines, cocaineNicotine, caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine

– HallucinogensHallucinogensDistort perceptionsDistort perceptions

Evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory inputEvoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Marijuana, PCP, LSDMarijuana, PCP, LSD

DepressantsDepressants

AlcoholAlcoholPhysiological effectsPhysiological effects– Slows brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitionsSlows brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions– Slow sympathetic NSSlow sympathetic NS– Slower reactionsSlower reactions– Slurred speechSlurred speech– Deteriorated skilled performanceDeteriorated skilled performance

Beh. effectsBeh. effects– AggressivenessAggressiveness– More helpful when askedMore helpful when asked– ExpectationsExpectations

Memory affectedMemory affected– Disrupts processingDisrupts processing– BlackoutsBlackouts

Reduces self-awarenessReduces self-awarenessFocus on immediate situationFocus on immediate situation

Barbiturates (Tranquilizers)Barbiturates (Tranquilizers)

Numbutal, Seconal, Amytal, Luminal, Numbutal, Seconal, Amytal, Luminal, Sodium PenotholSodium Penothol– reds, blues, Amy’s, yellow jacketsreds, blues, Amy’s, yellow jackets

Depress Sympathetic NS activityDepress Sympathetic NS activity– Large doses:Large doses:

Impair memory/judgmentImpair memory/judgment

Lethal w/ alcoholLethal w/ alcohol

Often used by those attempting suicideOften used by those attempting suicide

OpiatesOpiates

Heroin, Opium, MorphineHeroin, Opium, MorphinePhysiological effectsPhysiological effects– Depress neural functioningDepress neural functioning

effectseffects– Bliss (pleasure)Bliss (pleasure)– Gnawing craving for stronger dosesGnawing craving for stronger doses– Can eventually lead to overdoseCan eventually lead to overdose

AddictionAddiction– When flooded w/ artificial opiates, brain stops When flooded w/ artificial opiates, brain stops

producing endorphinsproducing endorphins– When addict stops using, the person goes through When addict stops using, the person goes through

painful withdrawalpainful withdrawal

StimulantsStimulants

What do stimulants do?What do stimulants do?

Speed up bodily functionsSpeed up bodily functions– Increase heart and breathing ratesIncrease heart and breathing rates

Why are they used?Why are they used?– Stay awakeStay awake– Lose weightLose weight– Boost moodBoost mood– Increased athletic performanceIncreased athletic performance

The “crash”The “crash”– Body slows downBody slows down

NicotineNicotine

QuittingQuitting– 8% who try succeed (per year)8% who try succeed (per year)– With withdrawal comes cravings, hunger, and With withdrawal comes cravings, hunger, and

irritabilityirritability

Physiological effectsPhysiological effects– Release epinephrine and norepinephrineRelease epinephrine and norepinephrine– Central NS releases neurotransmittersCentral NS releases neurotransmitters

Calm anxietyCalm anxiety

Reduce pain sensitivityReduce pain sensitivity

Amphetamines & MethamphetaminesAmphetamines & Methamphetamines

Amphetamines—usually pillsAmphetamines—usually pills

Methamphetamines—smoked, snortedMethamphetamines—smoked, snorted– Produce instant highProduce instant high– Speed, crank, crystal methSpeed, crank, crystal meth

effectseffects– Initial euphoriaInitial euphoria

Periods of restlessness and repetitive beh.’sPeriods of restlessness and repetitive beh.’s

– Eventually leads to depression, insomnia, and Eventually leads to depression, insomnia, and addictionaddiction

EcstasyEcstasy

X, XTC, E, Adam, Doves, ThizzX, XTC, E, Adam, Doves, ThizzWhy is it used?Why is it used?– Lowers inhibitionsLowers inhibitions– RelaxationRelaxation

How does it workHow does it work– Blocks reuptakeBlocks reuptake

What does it do?What does it do?– Increased awareness and energyIncreased awareness and energy– lowers their inhibitions and relaxes themlowers their inhibitions and relaxes them– headaches, chills, eye twitching, jaw clenching, headaches, chills, eye twitching, jaw clenching,

blurred vision and nauseablurred vision and nausea– dehydration, hyperthermia and seizures dehydration, hyperthermia and seizures

CocaineCocaineHow is it made?How is it made?– CocaineCocaine– CrackCrack

How does it work?How does it work?– Blocks reuptakeBlocks reuptake

What does it do?What does it do?– Short termShort term

Bursts of energy, arousal, and alertnessBursts of energy, arousal, and alertnessTend to believe they are thinking more clearly and performing better Tend to believe they are thinking more clearly and performing better (overestimated)(overestimated)Heavy doses—hallucinations and crawling bugsHeavy doses—hallucinations and crawling bugs

– Long termLong termEmotional disturbanceEmotional disturbanceimpotenceimpotenceSuspiciousness and paranoiaSuspiciousness and paranoiaCardiac arrestCardiac arrest

– Local anestheticLocal anesthetic

HallucinogensHallucinogens

What are hallucinogens?What are hallucinogens?

Psychoactive drugsPsychoactive drugs– Distort perceptionsDistort perceptions– Evoke vivid imagesEvoke vivid images

Natural and syntheticNatural and synthetic

LSD (Acid)LSD (Acid)

Chemically similar to serotoninChemically similar to serotoninTypical experienceTypical experience– Simple geometric forms (lattice, cobweb, spiral)Simple geometric forms (lattice, cobweb, spiral)– More meaningful imagesMore meaningful images

TunnelTunnelPast emotional experiencesPast emotional experiences

– People frequently feel separated from their bodiesPeople frequently feel separated from their bodies– Experience realistic dreamlike scenesExperience realistic dreamlike scenes

Often become panic-stricken or harm themselvesOften become panic-stricken or harm themselves

– Similar to near-death experiencesSimilar to near-death experiencesTunnel visionTunnel vision

– Acid “flashbacks”Acid “flashbacks”

PCP (Angel Dust)PCP (Angel Dust)How is it used?How is it used?– Eaten, snorted, injected, or smokedEaten, snorted, injected, or smoked– Effects felt for 11-51 hoursEffects felt for 11-51 hours

Physiological effectsPhysiological effects– Prevents reuptake of neurotransmittersPrevents reuptake of neurotransmitters

effectseffects– Users appear to be "disconnected" from their environmentUsers appear to be "disconnected" from their environment– Effects are different from LSDEffects are different from LSD

Causes changes in body imageCauses changes in body imageFeelings of terror and confusion Feelings of terror and confusion

– Low doseLow doseEuphoria, numbness, anxiety, confusionEuphoria, numbness, anxiety, confusion

– Medium doseMedium doseConfusion, agitation, excessive salivation, "schizophrenic-type" Confusion, agitation, excessive salivation, "schizophrenic-type" behavior behavior

– High doseHigh doseSeizures, respiratory failure, coma, stroke, DEATH Seizures, respiratory failure, coma, stroke, DEATH

MarijuanaMarijuana

Made from cannabis plantMade from cannabis plant– THCTHC

Absorbed by lungsAbsorbed by lungs

Short term effectsShort term effects– Mild euphoria to hallucinations and delusionsMild euphoria to hallucinations and delusions– Impaired motor coordination and reaction timeImpaired motor coordination and reaction time– Disrupted memory formationDisrupted memory formation

Long term effectsLong term effects– QuestionableQuestionable– More respiratory problems than tobacco usersMore respiratory problems than tobacco users– High dosesHigh doses

Delusions, paranoia, and terrorDelusions, paranoia, and terror

Marijuana Marijuana ISIS addictive addictive