Drugs

Question 1

What are the effects of nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide in various tobacco products?

Answer 1

-Nicotine
Highly addictive, psychoactive substance
CNS stimulant
-Tar and carbon monoxide
Tar is carcinogenic particulate matter (nicotine paralyzes lung cilia, so they can’t clear it out)
Carbon monoxide is deadly gas that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells

Question 2

What is a major cause of death due to tobacco use?

Answer 2

• stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death in the United States.
• Cardiovascular disease

Question 3

What are the similarities/differences between drug and behavior addictions?

Answer 3

• All addictive drugs (and behaviors) activate this reward/pleasure circuit (mesolimbic dopamine circuit)
• both share similar changes to the neural pathway of the reward system in the brain.

Question 4

tolerance?

Answer 4

need for increased amounts to achieve desired effect

Question 5

withdrawal?

Answer 5

temporary physical and psychological symptoms when use stops

Question 6

synergism?

Answer 6

-Effects of both drugs are multiplied beyond the effects of each on its own (2+2 = 10)
E.g. caffeine plus herbal stimulants (ephedra)

Question 7

inhibition?

Answer 7

Effects of one drug are reduced or eliminated by the presence of another
E.g. St. John’s Wort makes birth control and HIV inhibitors less effective

Question 8

antagonism

Answer 8

Drugs work at same receptor site so that one drug blocks the action of another
E.g. Naltrexone and heroin/opioids

Question 9

What are the proven medicinal uses for marijuana? What are the long-term health risks of marijuana use?

Answer 9

-May cause euphoria and sense of relaxation
May heighten sensory perceptions (colors/sounds)
May alter perception of time/speed
Increases appetite
-cause long-term and possibly permanent changes in the brain!
-Problems with learning and memory