Ch. 8 Drugs

Question 1

Barbiturates

Answer 1

1. 1 % of adult Americans develop an abuse disorder for barbiturates, sleep medication or antianxiety agents
2. Medical Uses: easing anxiety and tension; dulling pain; treating epilepsy and high blood pressure
3. Combined with alcohol, 4x as a strong
4. Withdrawal needs to be done carefully: can produce states of delirium involving hallucinations, even resulting in epileptic seizures or death with untreated, abrupt withdrawal

Question 2

Opioids

Answer 2

1. Classified as narcotics (strongly addictive that have pain-relieving and sleep-inducing properties
2. Naturally occurring and synthetic (demerol, vicodin)
3. Produce a rush, intense feelings of pleasure – stimulate brain’s pleasure circuits (similar to sex and eating)
4. Dull awareness

Question 3

Heroin

Answer 3

1. 1.6% of Americans aged 12 and older use heroin in their life
2. .2% used in the past year
3. Developed in 1875

Question 4

Opiate-like substances produced by the Brain

Answer 4

1. Opiates fit perfectly in the receptor sites of brain neurons
2. Endorphins help regulate natural states of pleasure and pain

Question 5

Opioid Withdrawal

Answer 5

1. Symptoms begin 4-6 hrs after last dose
2. Flu-like symptoms
3. Unlike barbiturates, withdrawal rarely results in death

Question 6

Amphetamines

Answer 6

1. 5% of Americans 12 or older used meth at some point (more than 12 million)
2. Physiological dependence can develop
3. Psychological dependence as well

Question 7

Meth Abuse

Answer 7

1. Cause brain damage, learning and memory deficits
2. Increased depression, aggressive behavior, and social isolation
3. Impulsive acts of violence may occur
4. Hallucinations and delusions of amphetamine psychosis mimic those of paranoid schizophrenia

Question 8

Ecstasy

Answer 8

1. Designer drug, chemical structure is similar to amphetamine
2. Produces mild euphoria and hallucinations
3. Teen use has dropped significantly in early years of millennium, rose, and then declined again in 2012

Question 9

Ecstasy effects

Answer 9

1. Adverse psychological effects: depression, anxiety, insomnia, and even paranoia and psychosis
2. Kills or damages dopamine and serotonin producing neurons.
3. Higher heart rate and blood pressure, tense or chattering jaw, and body warmth and/or chills
4. Can be lethal when taken in high doses

Question 10

Cocaine

Answer 10

1. Coca-Cola originally contained a cocaine extract (withdrew it in 1906)
2. Long believed to not be physically addicting
3. Next to marijuana, most widely used illicit drug in U.S. (15% of Americans 12 and older have used it, 2% in the past year)

Question 11

Effects of Cocaine

Answer 11

1. Stimulates reward or pleasure circuits
2. Repeated and high-dose use leads to depression and anxiety
3. Experience of crashing (feelings of depression after a binge)
4. Can produce psychotic behaviors including visual and auditory hallucinations an delusions of persecution

Question 12

Nicotine Health/Death Stats

Answer 12

1. Nearly 450,000 smoking related deaths/year in U.S.
2. Leading health risk in U.S.
3. Shaves 10 years of life
4. Accounts for 1 in 5 deaths and doubles risk for dying before 79

Question 13

Nicotine Prevalence

Answer 13

1. One billion worldwide smoke

2. More than 3 million die each year