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1. Overview of Psychopharmacology Psychopharmacology: Field that explores how drugs affect biological systems and behaviors. It examines: ○ How drugs enter the body: Routes of administration (oral, intravenous, etc.). ○ Where drugs act: The target sites, especially in th...

1. Overview of Psychopharmacology Psychopharmacology: Field that explores how drugs affect biological systems and behaviors. It examines: ○ How drugs enter the body: Routes of administration (oral, intravenous, etc.). ○ Where drugs act: The target sites, especially in the brain. ○ How drugs are eliminated: Metabolism and excretion pathways. ○ Causes of addiction: Changes in brain function and behavior due to repeated drug use. Key Historical and Cultural Aspects Botany and Ritual: Early use of plants in medicine and religious rituals. Mysticism: Drugs used to induce spiritual visions or altered states of consciousness. Law and Society: Laws evolved to control drug use based on societal values and issues like addiction. Origin of the Term "Pharmaco" "Pharmako": Derived from ancient Greek, meaning "medicine/poison." The Greeks understood that the difference between medicine and poison could be determined by dosage. 2. Definitions Drug: An exogenous (external) chemical that, in small amounts, alters physiological processes. Psychoactive Drug: A chemical that affects mental processes (thoughts, feelings, perceptions) through its action on the nervous system. ○ Most psychoactive drugs originate from plant-based chemicals. ○ Example: Aspirin, derived from willow bark, is one of the most widely used drugs for pain relief. Key Terminology Psyche: Mind or soul (Greek). Droog: Dried plant (Dutch, origin of the word "drug"). 3. Ethnopharmacology Ethnopharmacology: The study of the relationship between people and plant-based drugs, often discovered through trial and error. ○ Drugs were used in spiritual and religious practices for altering consciousness or reaching divine insights. ○ Cannabis: Domesticated for medicinal and recreational purposes even before important crops like corn. Historical Figures and Practices Plant People: Healers, shamans, witches, and herbalists who used plants for healing throughout history. ○ Hildegard von Bingen: A German nun known for her writings on medicinal plants. Believed to have suffered from migraines, which she described as "visions." 4. Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse: A harmful relationship with drugs, leading to consequences such as addiction, DUI, or overdose. ○ Abuse Potential: The likelihood of a drug to lead to abusive patterns of use, driven by its pharmacology, route of administration, dose, and the context of use. Factors Contributing to Abuse 1. Pharmacology: The chemical properties of the drug, such as its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier quickly (e.g., fentanyl) or its long half-life. 2. Dosage: The amount of the drug taken. 3. Route of Administration: How the drug enters the body (e.g., smoking, injection, orally). 4. Psychological and Sociocultural Context: Factors such as stress or cultural norms may influence drug use. ○ Example: Nicotine is often used as a coping mechanism for stress. Drug Offenses and Incarceration Federal Bureau of Prisons: The majority of offenses relate to drugs, with many being addicts rather than dealers. ○ The War on Drugs (1980-2019) significantly increased the prison population for drug offenses, particularly affecting men and people of color.  Racial Disparities: 1 in 3 Black men are at risk of incarceration, largely due to drug-related offenses. 5. Drug Laws First U.S. Drug Ban: 1875 Opium Ban Opium Poppy: Produces sap that contains opioids. Historically used both medicinally and recreationally. ○ In the 19th century, China used opium for recreational purposes, leading to widespread addiction. ○ Chinese Immigrants in the U.S.: Smoked opium in dens, leading to societal concerns and the eventual ban of smoking opium in 1875, a racially targeted measure. Opium Use in Euro-American Communities 1875 Ban: While opium smoking was banned for Chinese immigrants, liquid opium continued to be used among Euro-American populations without prohibition. ○ This double standard highlights early racial biases in drug legislation. 6. Additional Key Concepts Addiction: A compulsive need for a substance, driven by changes in brain reward systems. ○ Chronic use of drugs can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, as well as psychological dependence, where individuals feel they need the drug to cope or function. Blood-Brain Barrier: A protective layer in the brain that only allows certain substances to pass through, impacting the effectiveness and abuse potential of various drugs.