33.4 Effects of Drugs Effects of Drugs Section 33.4 How Drugs Work · drug - a substance, natural or artificial, that alters the function of the body ex. antibiotics, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, cocaine, marijuana, caffeine · drugs that affect the nervous system... 1. increase amount of neurotransmitter released into synapse 2. prevent neurotransmitters from binding to a dendrite by blocking receptor site 3. prevent a neurotransmitter from leaving a synapse 4. imitate a neurotransmitter Dopamine · a neurotransmitter · involved with control of body movements and other functions, and with feelings of pleasure and reward "feel good" hormone · excess dopamine is reabsorbed by the neuron that released it · many drugs that affect the NS influence the level of dopamine Stimulants · drugs that increase alertness and physical activity · nicotine increases amount of dopamine released into synapse constricts blood vessel, raises blood pressure, makes heart work harder linked to lung cancer · caffeine - most commonly used binds to adenosine receptors on neurons in brain - adenosine slows down brain making you drowsy caffeine blocks adenosine and gives you a burst of energy temporarily raises epinephrine (adrenaline) levels Depressants · drugs that slow down NS, lower blood pressure, interrupt breathing, slow heart rate, relieve anxiety, make you sleepy · alcohol affects at least 4 neurotransmitters short-term effects - impairs judgement, coordination, reaction time long-term effects - reduction in brain mass, liver damage, stomach and intestinal ulcers, high blood pressure · inhalants - chemical fumes short-term effects - intoxication, nausea, vomiting, death long-term effects - memory loss, hearing loss, vision problems, nerve damage, brain damage Tolerance & Addiction · tolerance can lead to addiction · tolerance - need more of the same drug to get the same effect · addiction - physiological (body needs it) or psychological (you think you need it) dependence on a drug physiological - increased levels of dopamine in synapse (feelings of pleasure) quitting decreases dopamine levels (pleasing feeling leaves) psychological - use the drug for emotional reasons

Effects of Drugs How Drugs Work - Oak Park Independent€¦ · short-term effects - impairs judgement, coordination, reaction time long-term effects - reduction in brain mass, liver

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Page 1: Effects of Drugs How Drugs Work - Oak Park Independent€¦ · short-term effects - impairs judgement, coordination, reaction time long-term effects - reduction in brain mass, liver

33.4 Effects of Drugs

Effects of DrugsSection 33.4

How Drugs Work· drug - a substance, natural or artificial, that alters the function of the body

ex. antibiotics, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, cocaine, marijuana, caffeine

· drugs that affect the nervous system...1. increase amount of neurotransmitter

released into synapse2. prevent neurotransmitters from binding to a

dendrite by blocking receptor site3. prevent a neurotransmitter from leaving a

synapse4. imitate a neurotransmitter

Dopamine· a neurotransmitter· involved with control of body movements and other functions, and with feelings of pleasure and reward

"feel good" hormone· excess dopamine is reabsorbed by the neuron that released it· many drugs that affect the NS influence the level of dopamine

Stimulants· drugs that increase alertness and physical activity· nicotine

increases amount of dopamine released into synapse

constricts blood vessel, raises blood pressure, makes heart work harder

linked to lung cancer· caffeine - most commonly used

binds to adenosine receptors on neurons in brain

- adenosine slows down brain making you drowsy

caffeine blocks adenosine and gives you a burst of energy

temporarily raises epinephrine (adrenaline) levels

Depressants· drugs that slow down NS, lower blood pressure, interrupt breathing, slow heart rate, relieve anxiety, make you sleepy· alcohol

affects at least 4 neurotransmittersshort-term effects - impairs judgement, coordination,

reaction timelong-term effects - reduction in brain mass, liver damage,

stomach and intestinal ulcers, high blood pressure· inhalants - chemical fumes

short-term effects - intoxication, nausea, vomiting, deathlong-term effects - memory loss, hearing loss, vision

problems, nerve damage, brain damage

Tolerance & Addiction· tolerance can lead to addiction· tolerance - need more of the same drug to get the same effect· addiction - physiological (body needs it) or psychological (you think you need it) dependence on a drug

physiological - increased levels of dopamine in synapse (feelings of pleasure)

quitting decreases dopamine levels (pleasing feeling leaves)

psychological - use the drug for emotional reasons