Drugs and Consciousness

1
Drugs and Consciousness

• Psychoactive Drug
• chemical substance alters perceptions and mood
• Physical Dependence
• physiological need for drug
• marked by unpleasant
  withdrawal symptoms
• Psychological Dependence
• psychological need to use drug
• ie to relieve negative emotions

2
Dependence and Addiction

• Tolerance
• diminishing effect with regular use
• Withdrawal
• discomfort and distress that follow discontinued
  use

3
Psychoactive Drugs

• Depressants
• drugs that reduce neural activity
• slow body functions
• alcohol, barbiturates, opiates
• Stimulants
• drugs that excite neural activity
• speed up body functions
• caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine

4
Psychoactive Drugs

• Hallucinogens
• psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions
• evoke sensory images in absence of sensory input
• LSD
• Barbiturates
• drugs that depress activity of central nervous
  system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and
  judgment

5
Psychoactive Drugs

• Opiates
• opium and derivatives (morphine/heroin)
• opiates depress neural activity, temporarily
  lessen pain and anxiety

• Amphetamines
• drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing
• speeded-up body functions and associated
• energy and mood changes

6
Cocaine Euphoria and Crash
7
Trends in Drug Use
8
Perceived Marijuana Risk