Drug Effects and Alcohol Awareness Quiz

Psychoactive Drugs

• Chemical substances that affect brain function, altering emotions and mental states.
• Influence mood, thoughts, perceptions, and behavior.
• Some are illegal (illicit), while others are legal but have restrictions. Examples include cocaine, heroin, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana (in some states).

Psychoactive Drug Statistics

• About half of adult Americans have used an illicit drug at some point, with marijuana being the most common.
• Approximately 1 in 10 Americans over 12 years old currently uses an illicit drug.
• Marijuana use is increasing among high school seniors, surpassing cigarette smoking.
• About 1 in 10 Americans will develop a drug abuse or dependence disorder during their lifetime.

Drug Abuse

• Repeated drug use can cause or worsen problems in personal and occupational life, as well as health problems.
• Polyabusers use more than one drug at a time.

Drug Dependence

• Drug abuse often leads to drug dependence, characterized by loss of control over drug use.
• Individuals are strongly compelled to use drugs, unable to stop even when it harms their lives.

Dependence (Detailed)

• Physiological dependence: Body chemistry alters due to repeated use, making the body reliant on a constant supply of the drug.
• Withdrawal syndrome (or abstinence syndrome): Unpleasant, sometimes dangerous symptoms that arise when drug use is stopped.
• Tolerance: Increasing amounts of a drug are needed to achieve the same effect.

Types of Drugs

• There are three main categories of psychoactive drugs:
  • Depressants: Calm neural activity and slow down bodily functions (e.g., alcohol).
  • Stimulants: Temporarily excite neural activity and arouse bodily functions (e.g., caffeine, cocaine, meth).
  • Hallucinogens: Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images (e.g., marijuana, LSD, Ecstasy).

Alcohol

• Most commonly abused depressant.
• Intoxicant – a chemical substance that induces a state of drunkenness.
• Women become intoxicated at lower doses due to differences in body composition and alcohol metabolism.
• Alcohol impairs judgment, concentration, and the ability to assess consequences, often leading to unsafe behavior (e.g., unsafe sex).
• Alcohol-related problems (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, liver and heart disease) cause nearly 90,000 deaths annually in the US.

College Drinking

• Approximately 6 in 10 college students drink at least once a month (often underage).
• College students tend to drink more than non-college peers.
• Alcohol-related deaths (overdoses and accidents) affect about 1,800 college students annually.
• Alcohol is strongly linked to physical and sexual assault.

Binge Drinking

• Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks for men, and 4 or more drinks for women, in a single occasion.
• Binge drinking is increasingly common among college and high school students.
• It leads to poor academic performance, health problems, and raises the risk of alcohol and drug-related issues.

College Drinking (Risks)

• Binge drinking and drinking games can be dangerous, potentially leading to coma, death, blackouts, and seizures.
• Choking on vomit is a significant cause of alcohol-related deaths, as alcohol depresses the nervous system, disrupting natural vomiting reflexes.
• Never leave an unresponsive or unconscious person alone.

Barbiturates & Tranquilizers

• Calming/sedating drugs with legitimate medical uses (high blood pressure, surgery, seizures).
• Highly addictive when abused.
• Lead to euphoria and relaxation.
• Overdoses can result in convulsions, coma, and death, especially when combined with alcohol.
• Tranquilizers (e.g., Xanax, Valium) are also depressants used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.

Opioids (AKA Opiates)

• Addictive pain-relieving and sleep-inducing drugs.
• Examples include morphine, heroin, codeine, Vicodin, and OxyContin.
• Produce a rush of pleasure and reduce awareness of personal problems.
• Commonly prescribed for pain management.

Heroin

• Induces a short euphoric rush (5-15 minutes), followed by a relaxed drowsy state.
• The initial rush is often compared to an orgasm.
• Physical dependence develops rapidly with regular use.

Stimulants

• Increase central nervous system activity (e.g., increased heart rate, breathing).
• Examples include amphetamines, cocaine, MDMA, nicotine, and caffeine.

Amphetamines

• Activate the nervous system, increasing heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
• Boost alertness, concentration, and reduce fatigue.
• High doses produce an intense rush.
• Increase availability of neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and dopamine.
• Directly stimulate reward pathways.
• High doses can lead to extreme symptoms, including death. Amphetamine psychosis is characterized by hallucinations and delusions.

Cocaine

• Derived from the coca plant.
• Blocks dopamine reuptake in the synapse between neurons.
• Produce a state of pleasure.
• Damages the heart and circulatory system, potentially leading to life-threatening or fatal outcomes.
• Psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, and irritability can arise.

MDMA/Ecstasy

• Produces euphoric and hallucinogenic effects.
• Psychological effects include depression, anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia.
• Cognitive deficits (memory and learning).
• Physical effects such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, jaw clenching, and body temperature shifts.
• High doses can be fatal (consciousness loss, seizures, or death).

Nicotine

• Mild stimulant and highly addictive.
• Speeds up heart rate, reduces appetite.
• Produces a mild "psychological kick."
• Increases arousal, alertness, and concentration, but can also paradoxically lead to relaxation.
• Releases endorphins.
• Significantly shortens life expectancy.
• Smoking damages many body organs and has contributed to over 480,000 deaths annually in the US, but the rates are declining.

Caffeine

• Mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate.
• Most commonly used psychoactive drug.
• Generally safe in moderation.
• Enhances wakefulness and mental alertness.
• High doses may cause jitteriness and nervousness.

Hallucinogens

• Alter sensory perceptions and produce distortions or hallucinations.
• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a common example.
• May cause vivid hallucinations and sensory distortions.
• Typically produces a trip that can last up to 12 hours.
• Effects can include pupil dilation, increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature shifts, sweating, tremors, loss of appetite, and sleeplessness.

Marijuana

• Alters perception, potentially causing hallucinations.
• Lower doses can induce relaxation and mild euphoria.
• High doses can cause nausea, vomiting, disorientation, panic attacks, and paranoia.
• Physiological dependence is unclear.
• Driving under influence is dangerous.
• Regular use can impair cognitive functions and lead to brain abnormalities.

Other Factors

• Unemployment can increase the likelihood of drug abuse.
• Genetic factors play a role in drug addiction, but no single gene is responsible. Multiple genes interact with the environment.
• Some people may be predisposed to experience greater pleasure from drugs, increasing the risk.
• Regular drug use can damage brain circuits and impair the ability to produce dopamine.

Treatment

• Detoxification: Clearing the body of addictive drugs, typically requiring a hospital stay.
• Psychological support: Counselors can help address psychological issues such as depression and low self-esteem.