Drugs— Test 4

Question 1

Psychoactive Drugs

Answer 1

Chemical substances that cross the blood-brain barrier, and act to alter brain functioning.

The effects of a particular drug depend on which neurotransmitter system it activates

Question 2

Depressants

Answer 2

Decrease state of mind (Pain killers, heroin, alcohol, sleeping pills)

Question 3

Stimulant

Answer 3

Increase state of mind (Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Ritalin, MDMA, DXM, Caffeine, Tobacco)

Question 4

Hallucinogen

Answer 4

Alter state of mind (LSD, Salvia, Psilocybin, PCP)

Question 5

Drug use most prevalent ages _

Answer 5

18-20

Question 6

Drug addiction

Answer 6

Drug use that remains compulsive despite its negative consequences.

Question 7

Dependence involves _

Answer 7

Tolerance and Withdrawal

Question 8

Tolerance

Answer 8

Increasing amounts of a drug needed to attain intended effect

Question 9

Withdrawal

Answer 9

Psychological state characterized by feelings of anxiety, tension, and cravings for the addictive substance

Question 10

Caffeine definition

Answer 10

A stimulant that increases alertness, and is viewed by some as a potential cognitive enhancer (used by 90% of population)

Question 11

Caffeine effects

Answer 11

Adenosine: A neurotransmitter that slows down neural activity, causing ‘sleepiness’. Caffeine binds to these adenosine receptors, w/o decreasing neural activity.

Triggers pituitary gland to secrete adrenalin, which also increases ‘alertness’

Withdrawal symptoms include headache, irritability, inability to concentrate, and are the result of the body generating even more adenosine receptors

Cognitive enhancer: Some evidence suggests it can improve vigilance, attention, and memory

No evidence of long-term cognitive impairment (some evidence that it protects from Parkinson’s Disease)

Question 12

Ethanol definition

Answer 12

Ethanol is the main psychoactive ingredient in alcoholic beverages. A depressant that has a complex range of effects on the brain.

Question 13

Ethanol effects

Answer 13

Decreases neural activity by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA

Decreases neural activity by inhibiting the processing of the excitatory neurotransmitter, Glutamate

Increases dopamine levels, which can contribute to alcohol addiction

Impairments in motor control, perception, executive functioning & memory.

Large amounts of alcohol consumption leads to cognitive decline

Question 14

Korsakoff’s syndrome

Answer 14

A neurological disease associated with neuronal degeneration, due to a deficiency in Vitamin B, with severe memory impairments. Often arises due to alcoholism.

Question 15

THC

Answer 15

The active ingredient in marijuana. Not easily categorized as a stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogen

Question 16

THC effects

Answer 16

Cannaboid receptors are responsible for regulating mood, memory, appetite, pain & emotions

Anandamide: A neurotransmitter that binds to cannabinoid receptors. THC acts to mimic anandamide, binding to its intended receptors, which in turn decreases neural activity.

THC also increases dopamine levels (causing pleasure)

Young and adolescent use of marijuana has been shown to lead to deficits in memory, along with changes in subcortical brain structure, including the hippocampus.

Question 17

LSD / Psilocybin definition

Answer 17

Lysergic acid diethyl amide (LSD) & Psilocybin (‘Shrooms’) are popular hallucinogens, with similar subjective effects

Both drugs work by mimicking serotonin, yet does a better job activating those serotonin receptors (also directly increases serotonin levels)

Question 18

LSD / Psilocybin effects

Answer 18

Increase in neural signal strength due to LSD also boosts ‘noise’ levels as well, which partially explains hallucinations

Strong perceptual effects:
Auditory and visual hallucinations. ‘Walls and floor breathing’, synesthesia-like effects, appearance of moving geometric patterns, ‘tracers’ with moving stimuli

Psychoemotional effects:
Some report life-changing positive effects of these hallucinogenic, and feelings of ‘transcendence’.

Question 19

MDMA definition

Answer 19

3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA):

The active ingredient in the stimulant, Ecstasy (aka Molly)

Question 20

MDMA effects

Answer 20

Primarily acts by stimulating release of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine…

Also blocks serotonin reuptake, further increasing serotonin levels

MDMA increases sense of well-being and euphoria. Increased sociability, and mild hallucinations (particularly sensitive to touch)

This excessive use of serotonin in the brain can lead to a deficit soon afterwards, often leading to a depressed mood for days after coming down

Question 21

Cocaine definition

Answer 21

A potent natural stimulant, derived from the cocoa plant (crack is simply a less-pure cocaine, mixed typically w/ baking soda)

Question 22

Cocaine effects

Answer 22

Acts by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

Cocaine high yields a temporary increase in energy and alertness, elevated mood, sociability and boosted self esteem (typically 5-30 min)

Highly psychologically addictive:
Dopamine increases substantially in the brain’s pleasure-reward circuit

Cognitive decline in attention and memory

Question 23

Opiates definition

Answer 23

A class of depressants that originates from the poppy (include heroin & morphine)

Question 24

Opiates effects

Answer 24

Opiates are structurally similar to endorphins, and thus readily bind to endorphin receptors.
—Endorphins decrease pain: naturally associated w/ runner’s high, childbirth, sexual activity & excitement

Opiates are physiologically addictive:
Excess use of heroin sends a signal to brain to decrease endorphin production, thereby eventually causing a physiological dependence

Opiates have been shown to decrease neurogenesis in the rat Hippocampus