Drugs and Consciousness

Drugs and Consciousness  What are substance use disorders? When is a drug a disorder? Diminished Control Uses more substance, or for longer than intended Spends much time acquiring, using, or recovering from effects of substance Craves the substance Diminished Social Functi...

Drugs and Consciousness  What are substance use disorders? When is a drug a disorder? Diminished Control Uses more substance, or for longer than intended Spends much time acquiring, using, or recovering from effects of substance Craves the substance Diminished Social Functioning Uses disrupts work, school, or home life Continues despite social problems Causes reduced social, recreational, and work activities Drug Action Experiences tolerance Experiences withdrawal when attempting to end  Drugs Drugs Drugs- Terms to know Psychoactive Tolerance: Addiction: drugs: Diminishing effect Need to have it, Chemicals that with regular use of regardless of alter perceptions the same dose of adverse and moods drug. consequences. Withdrawal: Physical Psychological Discomfort & Dependence: Dependence: distress that Your body needs it Craving for the follows stopping to feel normal. drug. Example: to the use of Withdrawal happens relieve negative addictive drug. when stopped. emotions. THREE MAJOR TYPES OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS Psychoactive drugs change functions of the nervous system; altering perception, mood, consciousness, cognition or behavior Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens Depressants Reduces nervous system activity and slow body functions  Alcohol ► Slows brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions. ► Slows sympathetic nervous system activity. ► Slow reactions, slurred speech, skill performance deteriorates (driving). ► Memory disruption ► Adolescent binge drinking: nerve cell death, reduces new neurons, impairs synaptic connections. ► Reduces self-awareness and self control Negative effects: depression, memory loss, organ damage, impaired reactions, death Benzodiazepines/ Barbiturates (tranquilizers) ► Depress nervous system activity ► Prescribed to reduce anxiety and induce sleep. ► Large doses: impaired memory/judgment ►Benzos/Barbiturates + alcohol = LETHAL WHY? Wisdom Teeth Removal  Opioids ► Heroin, methadone, codeine, OxyContin, morphine, fentanyl ► Lethargy sets in but so does bliss (euphoria) ► Higher doses needed as tolerance increases ► Extreme discomfort in withdrawals. ►Body will stop producing its own natural painkillers… endorphins. Stimulants Excites nervous system activity and speeds up body functions Nicotine ► Arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being. ► Each year, tobacco kills nearly 5.4 million of its 1.3 billion customers. ► As powerful and as quickly addictive as heroin and cocaine. ► Hard to quit ► withdrawal : craving, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, and distractibility.  Cocaine ►Euphoria → crash ►Confidence/energy ►Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine used up → depressed mood. ► Crack: faster-working crystallized form. Briefer but more intense high, more intense crash. Methamphetamine ► Dopamine release ► 8+ hours of heightened energy and euphoria. ► After Effects: irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures, social isolation, depression and occasional violent outbursts. ► Overtime, can reduce the body’s baseline dopamine levels = decreased functioning. Hallucinogens Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images  Club Drugs (Ecstasy) ► Triggers dopamine release, serotonin release and blocks its reuptake (prolongs feel-good feels) ► High energy, emotional elevation, connectedness with others. ► Can cause: ► dehydration/overheating (with dancing can lead to death) ► permanently depressed mood (damages serotonin producing neurons) ► impaired cognitive and immune functioning. LSD (aka Acid) Person’s current mood and expectations color the emotional experience ► Could be euphoric - detached - panicked Stages ► Geometric forms (lattice, cobweb, spiral → tunnel/funnel ► Replay past emotional experiences → separated from body ► Dreamlike scenes so real may become panicked or harm themselves.  Marijuana ► Enhanced sensation, relief of pain, distortion of time, relaxed. ► Mild hallucinogen: amplify sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes and smells. ► Different than other drugs when it comes to tolerance ► Use it more often (especially in adolescents) = greater chance of anxiety or depression. ► Disrupts memory formation and immediate recall. ► Heavy use results in shrinkage of brain areas that process memory/emotions  Why do people use drugs? (There is no right/wrong answer) Testing Effect! -Multiple Choice 1. Alcohol, barbiturates and opiates are all in a class or drugs called a. Depressants b. Stimulants c. Hallucinogens a. Depressants Testing Effect! -Multiple Choice 2. After continued use of a psychoactive drug, the drug user needs to take larger doses to get the desired effect. This is referred to as _________ a. Withdrawal b. Tolerance c. Dependence b. Tolerance Testing Effect! -Multiple Choice 3. Excites nervous system activity and speeds up body functions a. Depressants b. Stimulants c. Hallucinogens b. Stimulants Testing Effect! -Multiple Choice 4. Stimulants are to caffeine as depressants are to a. heroin b. cocaine c. marijuana d. LSD a. heroin Testing Effect! -Multiple Choice 5. Mark’s compulsive use of cocaine continues even though he knows it has damaged his health & marriage, which he wants to preserve. He is showing signs of a. tolerance b. hallucinations c. addiction d. withdrawal c. addiction