MindAltering Drugs Larry Scheffler Lincoln High School

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Mind-Altering DrugsLarry SchefflerLincoln High
School

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Mind-Altering Drugs

• Mind-altering drugs or hallucinogens as they
  are often called affect the brain in such a way
  as to alter perception of reality
• Four different kinds of hallucinogenic drugs
  include
• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide),
• Psilocybin and Psilocin
• Mescaline,
• Cannabis (marijuana its active ingredient THC).

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Indole Ring Structure

• The indole ring (or a modification of it) is the
  basic structure present in almost all
  hallucinogens including
• LSD
• Psilocybin
• Psilocin
• Mescaline (Lacks the complete ring.)

The indole structure
Mescaline a partial indole structure
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A Neuron Synapse

• Neurotransmitter chemicals such as serotonin
  transmit electrical impulses
• Hallucinogenic drugs affect the transmission of
  neural impulses particularly in the brain.

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LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) was discovered
  in 1938 by a Swiss scientist named Albert
  Hoffman.
• Hoffman tested some on himself, not knowing the
  limits of a safe dosage.
• It was thought that the mind-altering properties
  of LSD could be used with medicinal purposes in
  the treatment of psychological disorders.

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LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

• The discovery resulted from an investigation of
  partially synthetic amides of Lysergic acid.
• LSD itself does not occur naturally but is
  derived from ergot, a fungus that grows on wheat
• LSD was synthesized with the intention of
  obtaining an analeptic
• Methergine developed as a result of LSD research
  is used to stop hemorrhages.

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LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
Note the similarities of the LSD structure to the
neurotransmitters serotonin and L-Dopamine. Each
structure has an indole ring
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LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

LSD is thought to disrupt the way that serotonin
is used by the brain Small doses, as little as
0.028 mg will produce a noticeable effect.
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Immediate Effects of LSD

• The immediate effects usually last about 12 hours
• Symptoms include restlessness, dizziness, and
  alterations in vision and audio perceptions and
  hallucinations.
• Time becomes meaningless
• Feeling is often described as flying.
• In some cases despair and suicidal thoughts.

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Longer Term Effects of LSD

• Highly addictive.
• Long-term mental health problems after using LSD
  are common.
• Bad trips can be triggered.
• Depression leading to suicide is a long-term
  effect of using LSD, and addiction.
• Users may re-experience early memories, even
  pre-birth memories or flashbacks.
• Originally used in psychotherapy but discontinued
  because of it may lead to psychosis in
  susceptible patients.

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Mescaline
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MESCALINE (Peyote)

• Mescaline is found in a small, spineless cactus
  (known botanically as Lophophora williams ii)
  which grows in the deserts of Mexico and the
  American Southwest.
• When the crown is sliced off and dried, it forms
  a hard, brownish disc known as a "button," which
  is chewed for its hallucinogenic properties.

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MESCALINE (Peyote)

• Mescaline is of the oldest hallucinogens known
• Peyote buttons were chewed for religious purposes
  in Mexico centuries before the Conquistadors even
  knew Mexico existed.
• Early tales of peyote rituals among the Aztec
  and Toltec Indians date ceremonial use back some
  3,000 years.
• 1560 Spanish explorers described the effects on
  Mexican Indians as having terrible visions that
  lasted for 2-3 days

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MESCALINE (Peyote)
The Spaniards quickly outlawed "peyotism," which
they linked with cannibalism and witchcraft, and
enacted the first set of anti-drug laws in the
Western Hemisphere, all aimed at wiping out
Indian use of the plant. During the American
Civil War, peyote use began spreading north from
Mexico on a large scale. 11 states have enacted
laws to ban religious use of peyote. Federal
courts have affirmed the right to sacramental use
by Native American religious use A 1990 ruling
by the U.S. Supreme Court, affirmed the right of
states to control ritual peyote use
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MESCALINE (Peyote)
Peyote was also believed to be a god-powerful
medicine, capable of giving sight to the blind
and healing incurable diseases.
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MESCALINE (Peyote)
The chemical structure of mescaline contains
three ether groups and a partial indole ring
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MESCALINE (Peyote)

• Peyote contains more than fifty psychoactive
  ingredients
• The most powerful of which is mescaline
  (3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine)

The hallucinogenic effects of the mescaline
related compounds is believed to be related to
the similarities of their structures to
amphetamine.
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Effects of MESCALINE (Peyote)

• Mescaline triggers increased heart rate, body
  temperature, and blood pressure and dilation of
  the pupils.
• Normal coordination and reflexes are reduced, and
  the skin may feel dry and itchy.
• Peak effects hit 2-3 hours after ingestion, and
  run their course in about 12 hours.

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Effects of MESCALINE (Peyote)

• Other effects can include
• Rapid changes in mood
• Feelings of empathy and kinship
• Distortions in perception
• Exasperates conditions of anxiety and depression

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Psilocybin and Psilocin
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PSILOCYBIN

• Certain types of naturally occurring mushrooms
  contain hallucinogenic chemicals known as
  psilocybin and psilocin.
• Psilocybin and Psilocin are found in the liberty
  cap mushroom (Psilocybe semilanceata (Magic
  Mushroom)
• Dried mushrooms contain about 0.4 psilocybin
  and trace amounts of psilocin.

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PSILOCYBIN PSILOCIN

• Psilocybin and psilocin belong to the tryptamine
  family and their effect is similar to the natural
  neurotransmitter serotonin,
• Psilocybin and psilocin are both alkaloids which
  means they are nitrogenous substances that appear
  in nature. .

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Structure of PSILOCYBIN
The structure of Psilocybin has an indole
structure shown In the diagram at the right.
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Structure of PSILOCIN
The structure of Psilocin has an indole structure
shown In the diagram at the right. The hydroxy
phosphate structure is replaced with a hydroxyl
group
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Effects of Psilocybin and Psilocin

• Within 30 minutes of taking small amounts (i.e.
  1-2 grams) of mushroom, there is nausea,
  sweating, feeling hot and shaky, heart racing,
  lightheadedness, or anxiety.
• A relaxed feeling and a sharpening of senses
  sometimes follow
• With larger amounts (2-14 grams) they may
  experience time distortion, euphoria, seeing
  brilliant colors, flashing lights and even shapes
  and images.

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Long Term Effects of Psilocybin and Psilocin

• Long term effects unknown
• Danger of mushroom poisoning by inability to
  distinguish from poisonous varieties
• Poisoning occurs when there is excessive
  vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, chest pain,
  pounding and racing heart, fear, anxiety,
  paranoia, and seizures.  

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MARIJUANA (cannabis)
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MARIJUANA (cannabis)
Marijuana is a drug made from the stems,
flowering tops, leaves and seeds of the hemp
plant (cannabis sativa).
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MARIJUANA (cannabis)

• The active ingredient in Marijuana is a compound
  called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
• Structurally THC contains multiple carbon rings,
  with several methyl groups attached, and OH
  group on a benzene ring, as well as a five carbon
  chain.

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MARIJUANA (cannabis)
The concentration of THC is the determines the
potency and effects of the drug.
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Other Cannabinoids
Other hallucinogenic compounds found in marijuana
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MARIJUANA (cannabis)

• Generally marijuana has a THC content of 1-3
  with specialized breeding making contents of
  slightly higher possible.
• Hashish, made from the resin of the hemp plant is
  much more potent with concentrations between 10
  to 15.
• The THC content of any of the products of the
  hemp plant depends greatly on the environment in
  which the plant is grown.

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Effects of Cannabis/THC

• Feelings of relaxation
• Enhanced visual and auditory perceptions
• Confusion and emotional distress
• Has been used to relieve pain in some terminally
  ill patients

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Long term effects

• Lethagy and apathy
• Lowering of fertility
• Decreased mental capacity
• Gateway drug
• Potential for abuse
• Illegal activities associated with Marijuana

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Long Term Use

• Addictive properties are not entirely known.
• Some experts believe that marijuana is less
  addictive than alcohol or nicotine, both of which
  are legal.
• Risk of long term brain damage is not entirely
  known

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Impact of THC on the Brain

• It is known that THC affects and influences the
  activity of cells at specific sites called
  cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells in the
  brain.
• Some areas of the brain have many cannabinoid
  receptors others have few or none.
• Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts
  of the brain that influence pleasure, memory,
  thought, concentration, sensory and time
  perception, and coordinated movement.

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Legalization of Marijuana Arguments in Favor

• Marijuana is available medically to many
  terminally ill patients as well as for some other
  conditions,
• Legalization would allow police to focus there
  efforts on more important matters
• also taxes on marijuana would possibly generate
  large amounts of revenue

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Legalization of Marijuana Arguments Against

• Increased costs to society especially from
  cancer and heart disease from smoking
• Increased danger from people driving under the
  influence,
• Marijuana abuse would increase
• Marijuanas status as a gateway drug would lead
  to increased addiction to more dangerous drugs
  such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin

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Can a thorough understanding of the use and
chemical composition of these drugs lead to the
discovery of new pharmaceutical tools for
psychiatric treatment or experimentation?
Hallucinogens must be classed as a toxic. They
induce unmistakable intoxications. In a broad
sense they are narcotics.
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In all things there is a poison, and there is
nothing without a poison. It depends only upon
the dose whether something is poisonous or not.
-- Paracelsus -16th Century
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