Drugs2013

Drug Altered Consciousness

• Psychoactive Drug = alters sensation & perception: arousal, mood/emotion, attention, thinking, judgment, memory, time sense, self-control

Intensity depends on psychological & environmental factors…

• Personality characteristics• Mood• Expectations• Experience w/drug, alcohol• Setting• Full/empty stomach• Weight, age, gender• Racial/ethnic differences (may affect how drug is

metabolized as well)

Tolerance

• Continued use of a psychoactive drug produces tolerance.

• With repeated exposure to a drug, the drug’s effect lessens It takes greater quantities to get the desired effect

Dependence• Physical = to maintain bodily comfort.– Occurs with drugs that cause withdrawal – Alcohol, barbiturates, opiates, cocaine, codeine, tobacco, nicotine,

morphine, heroin.

– Flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sweating, cramps, • AND drug tolerance =Neuroadaptation

– Neuroadaptation refers to the process whereby the body compensates for the presence of a chemical in the body so that it can continue to function normally.

• Psychological = drug necessary to maintain emotional or psychological well-being. – Increase craving for drug, and its rewarding qualities.• Can be as powerful as physical!

Misconceptions about Addiction• Addictive drugs quickly corrupt.– After taking drugs only (perhaps) 10%

become addict

• Addiction cannot be overcome voluntarily.– It can be to a large extent.

• Addiction is no different than repetitive pleasure-seeking behaviors– Biological processes vs. social behaviors

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Addiction is a craving for a chemical substance, despite its adverse consequences (physical & psychological).

Patterns of Use

• Experimental = short term, curiosity.

• Social = pleasure or relaxation.

• Situational = cope with specific problem.

• Compulsive = intense use, extreme dependence.

Reason people use Drugs• People use drugs because of stress, conflict and

frustration.• User is trying to alter the world enough to make it

tolerable.• Peer Pressure• Hard to find scientific evidence on why people do

drugs because when surveyed, people lie about it.• Alcohol is considered a drug, works the same way

other drugs do.

To rank today’s commonly used drugs by their addictiveness, experts were asked to consider two questions: How easy it is to get hooked on these substances , and how hard it is to stop using them.

Categories of Drugs

StimulantsStimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and

speed up body functions.

1. Caffeine 4. Ectasy2. Nicotine 5. Amphetamines 3. Cocaine 6. Methamphetamines

Speed up heart rate and breathing rates, often used to keep awake, lose weight, or to boost moodAll stimulants can become highly addictive and often come with a “crash” when high is over with

Caffeine

• Stimulates by blocking chemicals• Psychological problems• If abused…caffeinism– Cysts in breasts, bladder cancer, heart problems,

high blood pressure.– Withdrawal…anxiety, depression, fatigue,

headache, flu-like.

Nicotine• Natural stimulant• Used as insecticide• Long term smoking leads to higher risk of heart and

lung disease.• Effects breathing and endurance.• Most smokers start before the age of 20.

Why Do People Smoke?

1. People smoke because it is socially rewarding.

2. Smoking is also a result of genetic factors.

Why Do People Smoke?

3. Nicotine takes away unpleasant cravings (negative reinforcement) by triggering epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and endorphins.

4. Nicotine itself is rewarding (positive reinforcement).

If you spend $10/day on cigarettes from the time you are 16 to 75 you would spend $215,530 over those 59 years. If instead you invested that money at the same rate with a modest 6% return

you would have 1,832,328,.17 in the same time frame…The choice is yours.

Amphetamines• Synthetic stimulants

• Aid weight loss, combat depression

• Legit medical use

• Rapidly produces a drug tolerance.

• Speeds up bodily resources

• Cause nausea, vomiting, high BP, fatal heart arrhythmias, strokes.

After affects• Dangerous and unpleasant • Fatigue, depression, terrifying nightmares, confusion,

uncontrolled irritability and aggression.• Self-starvation, sores, ulcers, brittle nails, chest infections,

liver disease, high BP, brain hemorrhage. • Psychosis– A loss of contact with reality that usually includes: – False beliefs about what is taking place or who one is (delusions) – Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)

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Methamphetamines

• Causes large increases in alertness and may cause increase in energy and produce a euphoria

• Often leads to extreme addiction, insomnia, nervousness, or even seizures

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Ecstasy

• Ecstasy or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen.

• It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory.

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• Rush of energy, feel closer to others, heightens sensory experiences.

• Problems…toxic, Parkinson’s, overheat, liver damage, impure

Cocaine

• Cocaine induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash.

• Powerful stimulant usually snorted or smoked that induces 15 to 30 minute “rush.”

• Drug depletes the brain’s supply of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine often causing depression. Also increases paranoia and increases risk of heart problems.

• May increase aggressive behaviors and causes extreme addiction.

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Once stop using…

• Crash of energy, and mood.• Anhedonia = unable to feel pleasure.• Intense cravings.

• Signs– Compulsive– Loss of control– Disregarding consequences

Depressants

Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions. Decrease CNS. They include:

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1. Alcohol 2. Barbiturates3. Opiates

Alcohol

1. Alcohol affects motor skills, judgment, and memory…and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness.

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Drinking and Driving

Alcohol (GABA)

• Reduces inhibitions• Slowed reaction time, poor coordination• Produce feelings of relaxation, euphoria.• Reduced ability to store new memories, or retrieve

old ones• Impairs sexual performance.• Myopia…worries and second thoughts gone.• Behaviors more extreme.• Most hit “rock bottom” before aware of problem.

Development of a problem…• Begin to feel guilty about drinking.• Drink more than used to, and gulp drinks.• Have extra drinks before or after being with others.• Drink at certain times, or to get through certain

situations.• Drink to relieve feelings of boredom, depression,

anxiety, or inadequacy.• Feel sensitive when others mention your drinking.• Memory black outs or passed out while drinking.

Signals not to be ignored!• At times you NEED a drink.• Drink in the morning to overcome hangover.• Promise to drink less, lie about drinking.• Often regret what you have said or done.• Drink alone.• Lost time at work or school because of drinking.• You are noticeably drunk on important occasions.• Relationships have changed.

Paced drinking

• Think before hand and plan how you will manage it.• Drink slowly, rotate w/ non alcohol drink, eat.• Limit drinking to first hour of social event.• Practice how you will politely & firmly refuse.• Learn to relax, meet people , and socialize with out

relying on alcohol.

Barbiturates2. Barbiturates: Drugs that depress the activity of

the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. – Effects: depressed brain activity, relaxation,

reduced inhinitions, mental confusion, depression, loss of coordination & mental functioning, unconscious, coma, death

• Sodium pentothal (a.k.a. “Truth Serum”) does NOT make people tell the truth—it just lowers their inhibitions and makes them more talkative

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Opiates3. Opiates: Opium and its derivatives (morphine and

heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive.

Opiates usually mimic endorphins; causes massive craving, withdrawal, and addiction because body stops producing its natural opiates

Wizard of Oz—Dorothy falls asleep in the poppy field because opiates are made from the opium of poppy plants

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Hallucinogens/Psychedelics

Hallucinogens are psychedelic (mind-

manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory

input.

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Ronald K. Siegel

Hallucinogens

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1. LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful hallucinogenic drug (ergot fungus) that is also known as acid.

2. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp plant) that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.1. Relaxes, disinhibits, and impairs motor

functions of individuals while at the same time amplifying sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes, and smells.

Hallucinogens

• In recent years, Marijuana has also been promoted for medical use.

• Advocates say that marijuana serves as relief for people suffering from intense pain, nausea, or that have trouble eating.• Although the medical community is split on issue, most recognize the toxicity of the smoke is a definite drawback to using the drug medically.• Marijuana also disrupts memory formation and may cause sexual dysfunctions.

Neurotransmitters & Drugs

Alters synaptic transmission of neurons…*increasing neurotransmitters *blocking*decreasing *mimicking*blocking *influencing

Figure 5.15 Cocaine euphoria and crash © 2011 by Worth Publishers

• Thinking critically about

Alcohol use has continued to decline among high school seniors with past-month use: 43.5% to 41.2% & alcohol binge drinking declining from

25.2% to 23.2%.

What does it say? seniors who have drunk in the past are slowing

down or stopping drinking High school seniors are drinking

What DOESN’T it say? Time period, season, holidays, break,

expectations Location? Type of student, ethnicity, race,

gender Socio economic status, population, sample size Who doing research? How? What about those starting drinking Involved College bound Parent adult trust Trusting relationship Who hanging out with Grades, job

Describe the impact of this commercial. Explain the mindset of one of the smokers before & after meeting the children. What could you say to someone to convince them to quit?

Why use drugs?

Curiosity Availability Belong to a group Social/cultural norms Peers / parents / role models do it Stressful life changes

– (occupational, social, academic probs) Escape feelings of inadequacy Delinquency, alienation, rebelliousness Social non conformity

Student Activity

• What?– Based on your research you should have a full

understanding of drugs and their effects• Mouse Party• Textbook• Internet findings

Student Activity

• So What?– In groups of 4– Determine what each perspective would say about the

following topics• Why does one start drugs in the first place?• Why does one continue using/abusing drugs?• How does one stop using?

– Each person in your group will be responsible for answering those questions from each perspective• Biological ▪ Psychoanalytic ▪ Humanistic ▪ Behavioral▪

Cognitive ▪ Socio-Cultural ▪ Evolutionary

Psychoanalytic

• Curiosity• Oral fixation pleasure seeking through mouth• Unconscious– Satisfying needs/desires– Filling a void (emptiness)

• Initial relationships • Early childhood experiences• Traumatic experience, self medicate

Behavioral

• Enduring habits• Environment & activities• Rewarding– Attention– Feeling accomplishment

• Association– Popular, cool, mature

• Rejection (ostracism)

Humanistic

• Reach or improve own potential– Artists/musicians/creativity

• Gain a sense of self-worth• Internal expectations• Maximize abilities

Cognitive

• Attitude (emotional, cognitive, behavioral)• Thinking/internal sentences– Not me

• Cognitive distortions (rationalize)

Bio-psychological

• Predisposition • Pain relief• Genetics• Pleasure center • Frontal lobe underdeveloped• Neurotransmitters– Block– Activated– Mimicked

Cross-cultural• Relationships• Ceremonial, traditional,

cultural • Peer pressure; conformity• Media• Norms (Social desirability)• Group expectations; group

think• Socio-economic-status

• Poor:– Environment provides little outlet for

entertainment & opportunity– So…turn to drug use

• as recreation• to mask emotional & psychological

pain

• Wealthy:– Too many options for

entertainment & opportunity– So…turn to drug use

• Can afford the recreation• to mask pressure or pain

Evolutionary

• Adapt to environment• Genetic characteristics• Survival of the fittest• Driven to do things that are pleasurable

Student Activity• Now What?– Using what you know from your research & discussion

of the multiple perspectives, how should drug use be prevented? Or how can drug abuse decrease?