Drugs Flashcards
Drugs
alters our sense perceptions
changes how you think about drugs
making informed choices
Psychoactive
alters brains chemical messaging systems
change awareness, mood, perception
alters nervous system
mechanism of influence via the effect on neurotransmitters (agonists ^^ and antagonists w)
Why do people take drugs? (Szazs)
feel better, awake, asleep, ceremony, religious, enhance abilities, conviviality, culture
Drug Use and Abuse
physically addictive
mentally addictive
physio-psychology - body affects the mind
pyscho-psychology - mind affects the body
Drug Tolerance (physiological) (not just biological response)
a mix of physical and mental
overdose deaths occur when too much/too strong
taken in a different setting (ritual around it)
compensatory responses
- ok my body knows what’s coming for it
- change in neural chemistry
Classification of drugs
classified by effects on physiology
hallucinogens, narcotics, stimulants, depressants
cannabis
Depressants i
reduce the activity of CNS
Stimulants i
enhance activity of CNS
Narcotics i
reduce pain induce calm
Hallucinogens i
alter perceptions of reality
Cannabis i
class all on it’s own
Depressants ii
reduce the activity of CNS via effects of GABA
calming, reduce stress. counteracts stimulus
high doses = sleep (= death)
ex: alcohol
Alcohol as a depressant
different effects on different people
expectancy theory - the effect you expect it to have
alcohol myopia - respond with simplistic choices without consideration of other options - can =agression
FASD
Father’s drinking has pre-conception effects
an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, higher odds of the baby having microcephaly (brain not developing properly) = seizures, motor incapabilities.
