Drugs and Drugs and ConsciousnesConsciousnesss

Drugs and ConsciousnessDrugs and Consciousness

Many of us take drugs on a pretty regular basis.  Some for medical reasons (painkillers),(painkillers), some for

recreational reasons (alcohol)(alcohol) and some just to get up in the morning (caffeinated sodas).(caffeinated sodas).  Although the drug business is very complex and there are literally tens of thousand of drugs out there today; for the most part they all have one thing in common- they manipulate they manipulate

our neurotransmittersour neurotransmitters..

Almost everything a drug does it does by tricking our neurons into firing or firing or not firingnot firing neurotransmitters.  If you

think about it, every feeling that drugs give us, is really our natural neurotransmitters in overdrive.  If

you had REALLYREALLY good control over your own body you could up your own dopamine levels and feel like

you are on Crack without ever taking the actual drug (actually, its not (actually, its not

possible and probably would not possible and probably would not be healthy).be healthy).

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Psychoactive DrugsPsychoactive Drugs

• Chemicals that have Chemicals that have psychological effectspsychological effects

– meaning that they change meaning that they change perceptions, moods, thinking, perceptions, moods, thinking, and behaviorand behavior

– Sometimes called Sometimes called recreational drugsrecreational drugs, though , though some may have legitimate some may have legitimate medical usesmedical uses

Types of Psychoactive Types of Psychoactive DrugsDrugs

•Depressants

•Narcotics

•Stimulants

•Hallucinogens

Depressants – sedativesDepressants – sedatives

• Calm neural activity and slow Calm neural activity and slow body functions body functions – Downers – Downers – induces relaxationinduces relaxation

• Alcohol, inhalants, barbiturates , inhalants, barbiturates (tranquilizers)(tranquilizers)

• Effects – relaxation, less anxietyEffects – relaxation, less anxiety• Negative Effects – impaired Negative Effects – impaired

coordination (messes with coordination (messes with cerebellum) judgment and cerebellum) judgment and memory, depression, mood memory, depression, mood swings, drowsinessswings, drowsiness

StimulantsStimulants

• Temporarily excite neural activity Temporarily excite neural activity and arouse body functions – Uppers and arouse body functions – Uppers

• Amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine, Amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, and cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamine (speed)methamphetamine (speed)

• Effects – excitation, confidence, Effects – excitation, confidence, increased alertnessincreased alertness

• Neg. Effects – anxiety, restlessness, Neg. Effects – anxiety, restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, increased irritability, sleeplessness, increased aggressiveness, feelings of panic, aggressiveness, feelings of panic, paranoia (schizophrenia like paranoia (schizophrenia like symptoms), even death from symptoms), even death from overdose, extensive brain damage overdose, extensive brain damage and tissue lossand tissue loss

Effects of Stimulants

Stimulants

Caffiene

Smoking

Narcotics (Opiates)Narcotics (Opiates)• Pain reducers (analgesics) • Depress the central nervous

system

• Mimic endorphins• Codeine, heroin, morphine,

opium• People take narcotics to

induce feelings of euphoria, relieve pain, and induce sleep

• Very addictive and produce terrible withdrawalwithdrawal

You on Drugs

Hallucinogens - Hallucinogens - psychedelicspsychedelics

• Distort perceptions and evoke Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory images in the absence of sensory input sensory input – sights, sounds, and tastes that sights, sounds, and tastes that

aren’t actually therearen’t actually there

• LSD, PCP, marijuana, ecstasyLSD, PCP, marijuana, ecstasy• Effects – changed perceptions, Effects – changed perceptions,

hallucinations, euphoria, hallucinations, euphoria, relaxation, increased awarenessrelaxation, increased awareness

• Neg. Effects – nausea, paranoia, Neg. Effects – nausea, paranoia, anxiety, mood swings, impaired anxiety, mood swings, impaired judgment, jumbled thoughts, judgment, jumbled thoughts, impaired memory, sluggishnessimpaired memory, sluggishness

LSD PSA

What can influence the What can influence the effects of Psychoactive effects of Psychoactive Drugs??Drugs??The amount and potency of the drugThe amount and potency of the drugHow the drug is administeredHow the drug is administeredHow much previous experience a How much previous experience a

user has with the druguser has with the drugThe user’s age and body weightThe user’s age and body weightThe user’s mood, personality, and The user’s mood, personality, and

motivationmotivationThe environment in which the drug The environment in which the drug

is usedis usedThe user’s expectations about the The user’s expectations about the

drug’s effectsdrug’s effects

How Psychoactive Drugs How Psychoactive Drugs WorkWork

• Psychoactive drugs work by Psychoactive drugs work by affecting neurotransmitter affecting neurotransmitter functionfunction– Drugs can cause Drugs can cause more or more or

lessless of a neurotransmitter to of a neurotransmitter to be released into synapses be released into synapses • (agonist)(agonist)

– Drugs can stimulate or block Drugs can stimulate or block receptors receptors • (antagonist)(antagonist)

– Drugs can block the reuptake Drugs can block the reuptake of a neurotransmitter of a neurotransmitter • (reuptake inhibitor)(reuptake inhibitor)

The Blood Brain Barrier ("Keep Out")

• Protects the brain from "foreign Protects the brain from "foreign substances" in the blood that may substances" in the blood that may injure the braininjure the brain – prevents materials from the blood

from entering the brain – it allows some materials to cross, but

prevents others from crossing – allows the entrance of essential

nutrients• The concept of the blood brain

barrier was first introduced by Paul EhrlichPaul Ehrlich – He found that intravenous injection of

dyes into the bloodstream stained all the tissues in most organs except the brain.

Chronic Use of Psychoactive Chronic Use of Psychoactive DrugsDrugs

•ToleranceTolerance – with repeated exposure to a with repeated exposure to a

psychoactive drug, the drug’s effect psychoactive drug, the drug’s effect lessons lessons

– thus it takes bigger doses to get the thus it takes bigger doses to get the desired effectdesired effect

• the user experiences the user experiences

neuroadaptationneuroadaptation – the brain adapts its chemistry to the brain adapts its chemistry to

offset the drug effectoffset the drug effect

Chronic Use of Psychoactive Chronic Use of Psychoactive DrugsDrugs

• Withdrawal Withdrawal – what people experience when what people experience when

they stop using a drug after a they stop using a drug after a long period of regular uselong period of regular use

– the discomfort and distress that the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drugaddictive drug

• Different drugs produce Different drugs produce different kinds of withdrawal different kinds of withdrawal symptomssymptoms

Withdrawal

Chronic Use of Psychoactive Chronic Use of Psychoactive DrugsDrugs

Physical vs. Psychological Physical vs. Psychological DependenceDependence

• Physical Dependence Physical Dependence – the body responds to the drugs absence and the body responds to the drugs absence and

the user may feel physical pain and intense the user may feel physical pain and intense cravingscravings

• Psychological dependence Psychological dependence – a psychological need to use a drug, such as to a psychological need to use a drug, such as to

relieve negative emotionsrelieve negative emotions

• Addiction Addiction – a craving for a substance despite adverse a craving for a substance despite adverse

consequences and often with physical consequences and often with physical symptoms such as aches and nauseasymptoms such as aches and nausea

Heroin Addicts

Drug Use Influences

So why take drugs So why take drugs in the first in the first

place??place??

Influence on Drug UseInfluence on Drug Use

• BiologicalBiological – genetic tendenciesgenetic tendencies– dopamine reward circuit dopamine reward circuit

• a brain pleasure pathwaya brain pleasure pathway

Influence on Drug UseInfluence on Drug Use

• PsychologicalPsychological – Lacking sense of purposeLacking sense of purpose– Significant stressSignificant stress– Psychological disorders Psychological disorders

such as depressionsuch as depression

Influence on Drug UseInfluence on Drug Use

• Social-culturaSocial-cultural l – Urban environmentUrban environment– Belonging to a drug using Belonging to a drug using

cultural groupcultural group– Peer influences Peer influences

Alcoholism is Not a Disease

Don’t Do Drugs!!! Don’t Do Drugs!!!

Anti Drug Commercials