Psychoactive Drugs

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Psychoactive Drugs
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Psychoactivity and Dependence
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Psychoactive Drug

• A chemical substance that alters perceptions,
  mood, or behavior
• Three common psychoactive drugs
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Nicotine
• Induce an altered state of consciousness

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Common Properties of Addiction

• Physical dependence
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Drug rebound effect

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Drug Abuse

• Recurrent drug use that results in disruption of
  academic, social, or occupational functioning or
  in legal or psychological problems

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Dependence

• A state of physiological and/or psychological
  need to take more of a substance after continued
  use.
• Withdrawal follows if the drug is discontinued

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Tolerance

• Reduced responsiveness to a drug, prompting the
  user to increase the dosage to achieve effects
  previously obtained by lower doses of the drug

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Tolerance
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Withdrawal

• The discomfort and distress that follow when a
  person who is dependent on a drug discontinues
  the use of the drug
• Withdrawal symptoms are usually the opposite of
  the drugs effects Drug Rebound Effect

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Why do people abuse drugs?Biopsychosocial Theory
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Drugs and Neurotransmission
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Neurotransmission

• The process whereby neurons communicate with each
  other
• Neurotransmission, especially in the brain and
  spinal cord, helps explain the effects of
  psychoactive drugs.
• Psychoactive drugs interfere with normal
  neurotransmission.

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Neurotransmitters

• Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps
  between neurons
• When released by the sending neuron,
  neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and
  bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron,
  setting up the next link in the chain of
  communication.

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Synapse

• The junction between the tip of the sending
  neuron and the receptor sites on the receiving
  neuron
• Call the synaptic gap or cleft

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Neural Activity
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Neurotransmitters and the Synapse
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Reuptake

• Process where the unused neurotransmitter
  chemical is reabsorbed by the sending neuron

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Reuptake
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Psychoactive Drugs and Synapses

• Psychoactive drugs affect synapses and
  neurotransmitters in three ways
• Binding with receptor sites (mimics)
• Blocking receptor site
• Blocking neurotransmitters reuptake
• Increase the likelihood of the receiving neuron
  firing

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Drug Classifications
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Four Psychoactive Drug Categories

• Four different categories we will study
• Depressants depress, inhibit brain activity
• Opiates Similar to morphine, produce feelings
  of euphoria reduce pain
• Stimulants excite brain activity
• Psychedelic/Hallucinogens/Marijuana distort
  sensory perceptions.
• Designer Club Drugs fifth category that
  includes variety of psychoactive drugs.

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Drug Classifications Depressants
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Depressants

• Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body
  functioning
• Includes alcohol and sedatives

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Depressants

• AlcoholCNS depressant
• Barbituratesinduce sleep
• Tranquilizersrelieve anxiety

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Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

• Found in beer, wine, and liquor
• The second most used psychoactive drug (caffeine
  first)
• Slows thinking, and impairs physical activity

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Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

• A measure of how much alcohol is in a persons
  bloodstream
• BAC of .08 considered legal intoxication in most
  states

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What do we mean by one drink?
One 12-ounce can of beer has about the same
amount of alcohol as 4 ounces of wine or 1 ounce
of whiskey
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Euphoric Affects of Alcohol

• Alcohol impairs the parts of the brain
  responsible for controlling inhibitions and
  making judgments
• Results in less self-control and sometimes more
  aggressive behavior.
• Also depends on environment and expectations.

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Alcohol, Memory, and Sleep

• Studies have shown that alcohol impairs memory by
  suppressing the processing of events into long
  term memory.
• Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further disrupting
  memory storage.
• Also impairs speech and physical functioning.
• Death can occur if the brains respiratory center
  can no longer function.

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Alcohols Affect on the Brain
Alcoholism shrinks the brain
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Sedatives

• Drugs that reduce anxiety or induce sleep
• Also called tranquilizers
• Include barbiturates and benzodiazepines

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Barbiturates

• Drugs that depress the activity of the central
  nervous system and thereby reduce anxiety
• Can be lethal in overdose and interact with other
  drugs, especially alcohol
• Impair both memory and judgment
• Can create tolerance and physical mental
  dependence
• Withdrawal can cause REM rebound nightmares,
  hallucinations, disorientation and even
  life-threatening convulsions.

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Benzodiazepines/Tranquilizers

• Drugs that depress that activity of the central
  nervous system without most of the side effects
  associated with barbiturates
• Help to reduce anxiety
• Include Valium and Xanax
• Can create dependency

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Inhalants

• Chemicals that are inhaled to alter
  consciousness.
• Paint, glue, gasoline, nitrous oxide aerosol
  sprays.
• Low doses may relax and reduce inhibition
• High doses can cause hallucinations and loss of
  consciousness.
• Toxic to the liver and other organs.

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Addiction and Depressants

• Play Depressants and Their Addictive Effect on
  the Brain (424) Segment 22 from The Mind
  Psychology Teaching Modules (2nd edition).
• How does withdrawal occur?
• Whats happening to the neurons of an addict?
• How are these drugs suppressing the nervous
  system?

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Drug Classifications Opiates
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Opiates/Narcotics

• Drugs that depress neural activity, temporarily
  lessen pain and anxiety and produce feelings of
  euphoria
• Include opium, morphine, and heroin

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Endorphins

• Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to
  pain control and to pleasure
• Bodys natural pain killers

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Morphine

• Strong sedative and pain-relieving drug derived
  from opium
• Works by preventing pain neurons from firing or
  releasing pain-signaling neurotransmitters
  (Substance P) into the synapse

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Other Opiates

• Chemically similar to morphine and have strong
  pain-relieving properties
• Mimic the brains endorphins
• Heroin, methadone
• Percodan, Demerol

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Drug Classifications Stimulants
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Stimulants

• Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up
  body functions
• Include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and
  cocaine
• All are at least mildly addictive.

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Caffeine

• Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and
  some soft drinks
• Provides user with a sense of increased energy,
  mental alertness, and forced wakefulness
• Blocks neurological receptor sites that if
  activated, sedate the central nervous system
• Withdrawal symptoms are sleepiness, fatigue,
  anxiety, insomnia, increased heart rate.

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Nicotine

• Stimulant found in tobacco
• Effects similar to those of caffeine reduces
  fatigue drowsiness and increases mental
  alertness
• Affects various areas in the brain affecting
  mood, attention arousal
• Very addictive and does not stay in the body very
  long
• See video clip on nicotine addiction.

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Cocaine

• Stimulant derived from leaves of the coca plant
• Crack cocaine crystals
• Blocks the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters
• Dependency is quick and severe places extreme
  strain on cardiovascular system
• See the story of Len Bias (4 min)
• Can cause cocaine psychosis schizophrenia-like
  symptoms including auditory hallucinations
  paranoia, cocaine bugs or tactile hallucinations

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How Cocaine Works
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Amphetamines

• Drugs that stimulate neural activity, speeding up
  body functions, with associated energy and mood
  changes
• Includes speed, uppers, and methamphetamines
• Mimic adrenaline
• Can cause irreversible changes in mood function
  by reducing dopamine receptors transporters.
• Withdrawal causes fatigue, deep sleep, intense
  depression, increase in appetite.

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Drug Classifications Hallucinogens
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Hallucinogens/Psychedelic Drugs

• Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory
  images in the absence of sensory input
• Include LSD, Mescaline and Marijuana

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Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

• Powerful hallucinogenic drug
• Also known as acid
• The effects vary from person to person
• Users can be dangerous to themselves and others.
• Similar to neurotransmitter, serotonin.
• Flashbacks, psychotic reactions can occur.

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Hallucinogen Affect

• Hallucination - like patterns Geometric forms,
  similar to those experienced by drug users during
  drug - induced hallucinations, can be seen in the
  embroidery of the Huichol. These Mexican Indians
  used peyote, from which the hallucinogen
  mescaline derives.

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Marijuana

• Leaves, stems, resin, and flowers form the hemp
  plant
• When smoked, lower inhibitions and produce
  feelings of relaxation and mild euphoria
• THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active
  ingredient. Receptors in the brain for
  anandamide also accept THC
• Disrupts memory lung damage from smoke
• Withdrawal may cause insomnia, tremors and
  decreased appetite.
• Is helpful in decreasing nausea and reducing
  effects of glaucoma.

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Club Drugs

• Ecstasy (MDMA)feelings of euphoria, increased
  well-being.
• Side effectsdehydration, hyperthermia, tremor,
  rapid heartbeat

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Ecstasy

• Hallucinogenic drug that produces lower
  inhibitions, pleasant feelings, and greater
  acceptance of others
• Also called MDMA
• Blocks serotonin reuptake prolonging its good
  feeling
• Even moderate users may experience permanent
  brain damage to serotonin nerve endings even
  memory and verbal reasoning problems up to a year
  later.
• Dehydration, rapid heartbeat, tremors, muscle
  tension, teeth clenching high body temp can
  result.

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Other Club DrugsDissociative Anesthetics

• Dissociative anestheticsinclude PCP and
  Ketamine.
• Deaden pain, produce stupor or coma, may induce
  hallucinations
• Create feelings of dissociation
  depersonalization
• PCP or angel dust, ketamine
• Effects of trips differ for each person
• Can result in hyperthermia (high body temp),
  convulsions death.
• Affects neurotransmitter glutamate causing a
  release of more dopamine in the brain.
• Highly addictive.
• Long term effects can be memory loss and
  depression.

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Prevention
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High School Drug Use(Johnston others, 2002)
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Treatment

• Play Treating Drug Addiction A Behavioral
  Approach (1940) Segment 30 from The Mind
  Psychology Teaching Modules (2nd edition). Watch
  if time allows.
• What become triggers for addicts?
• How do addicts bodies react to triggers?
• Describe how this treatment works.
• Describe what withdrawal/addiction is like?
• What do brain scans show about addicts brains?