Drugs And Consciousness

Question 0

Depressants

Answer 0

Drugs that decrease nervous system and neural activity while also slowing bodily functions, like alcohol, tranquilizers, sedatives, and opiates.

Question 1

Psychoactive Drugs

Answer 1

A chemical substance that crosses the blood brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system which affect brain function, perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior

Question 2

Alcohol

Answer 2

Increases activity of GABA, decreases activity of glutamate. Central nervous system get depressed, lowering inhibition and increasing sexual arousal and ability to be social. Impairs sympathetic nervous system, slowing reaction times, slurring speech, impairing motor skills, and reducing coordination

Question 3

Opiates

Answer 3

Derived from morphine, include heroin, codeine, OxyContin. Bind to endorphin receptor which floods the system with endorphins and dopamine, blocking pain and producing euphoria. Includes severe withdrawal symptoms.

Question 4

Sedatives

Answer 4

More extreme version of alcohols effects, highly addictive. Includes barbiturates, ketamine, roofies. Impairs sympathetic nervous system/motor skills/coordination, slows reaction times, slurs speech,

Question 5

Stimulants

Answer 5

Drugs that excite neural activity, arouse the nervous system, and speed up body functions, including caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, and ecstasy

Question 6

Cocaine

Answer 6

Increases activity of norepinephrine and dopamine by blocking reputake. Chronic misuse increase risk of cognitive impairment and brain damage. Too much dopamine can retard movement (retardive disconesia) which causes uncontrollable mouth movements

Question 7

Amphetamine

Answer 7

Increases dopamine and norepinephrine activity, causing sped up body functions, increased energy, mood changes by stimulating the central nervous system. Continuous heavy use can produce amphetamine psychosis, which may cause hallucinations or delusions and lower natural dopamine levels

Question 8

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Answer 8

Produced feelings of pleasure, elation, empathy, and warmth, interferes with serotonin reuptake. Negative effects may include depression, sluggishness, poor memory, sleep difficulties, and less sexual pleasure

Question 9

Hallucinogens

Answer 9

Psychedelic drugs that distort or intensify perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Natural: mescaline (peyote), psylocibin (mushrooms), salvia

Synthetic: LSD, PCP

Question 10

Marijuana

Answer 10

Hallucinogen that increases GABA and dopamine activity. Major ingredient is THC, which may trigger mild hallucinations. Users become unmotivated, apathetic, stop seeing dangers if MJ, 6x less fertile, can serve as a gateway drug.

Question 11

Blood Brain Barrier

Answer 11

A feature of blood vessels in the brain that prevents some substances from entering the brain tissue, can be subverted by methods like direct injection.

Question 12

Receptor Antagonist

Answer 12

A drug that binds to the neurotransmitter receptor and DOES NOT activate it/elicit a response, merely interrupting the natural processes

Question 13

Receptor Agonist

Answer 13

A chemical (drug) which binds to a receptor to produce a biological response, causing an action in the brain

Question 14

Tolerance

Answer 14

A systematic decrease in the drug’s effect, forcing increasing dosages to produce the desired effect. Cussed by the body’s attempts to maintain homeostasis

Question 15

Withdrawal

Answer 15

After developing a physical or mental dependence on a drug, either abruptly ceasing or reducing usage of the drug will result in adverse side effects

Question 16

Dose, Set, and Setting

Answer 16

The three factors which affect psychedelic drug experiences.

Dose is the amount of the drug being used
Set is mental state, thoughts, mood, and expectation of the user
Setting is the physical and social environment

Changing any of these may result in a “bad trip” or even serious injury, up to and including death

Question 17

Dissociative Psychotic

Answer 17

Dissociates conscious experience from unconscious experience, trapping you inside your mind and making you hyper aware of your inner mind.