EXAM 3 Flashcards
types of cocaine + their administrations
snorting: insufficient absorption, vasoconstrictor, only get 20% of cocaine, 30-60 mins to peak, 10-15 mins to feel effects, longer effects (6 hrs)
smoking: mostly crack through pipes, very rapid absorption into lungs, peaks in 5 minutes, drops quickly (30-60 mins), stronger withdrawal bc of quickness
injection: direct introduction to bloodstream, bypasses absorption, 30-60 seconds to feel, lasts for 30 mins
is cocaine natural?
yes, comes from coca plant/leaves
contains erythroxylon coca
crack cocaine vs freebase cocaine
freebase: complicated, high concentration, can be smoked (stable in heat), strips salt from molecule leaving just “base”
crack cocaine: easier, baking soda (safer, extracts salt), cracking sound when smoked –> “crack” cocaine
historical cocaine use
1860s: medical uses, numbing agent, from leaves, weight control, toothache drops, wine +coca cola
1884: Freud, depression, addicting
1800s-early 1900s: lots of imports
1914: Harrison narcotic Act restricted access
1980s: blew up again due to crack cocaine
metabolization of cocaine
mostly broken down in liver, also in bloodstream (6 hrs)
benzoylecgonine (inactive), drug test (2-3 days single user, 2 weeks chronic user, 90 day hair)
cocaethylene –> cocaine and alcohol, worse for body, higher rates of cocaine dependency
neurotransmitters and cocaine
psychostimulant- easily addictive
agonist for dopamine (reinforced reward- feels good do it again), norepinephrine (feel awake/excited), serotonin (regulates feelings of happiness and anxiety)
3 primary actions of cocaine
vasoconstriction: blood vessels constricting–> increase in blood pressure, risk of heart attack and strokes
stimulates central nervous system: increases levels of dopamine, fight/flight response (blood to muscles)
anesthetic: numbing effect on surface tissues (gums), blocks nerve impulses
speedball
cocaine (stimulant) + heroine (sedative)
injected into veins, very deadly
cocaine dependence + withdrawal
Ritalin- anti-withdrawal agent (chemically does the same things as cocaine)
anti-craving: Zofran (anti-nausea, affects serotonin)
cocaine crash + mood
on cocaine mood improves, once stopped they feel sad/depressed again, so tend to use more to get rid of those feelings
once stop, sad feelings worsen (the crash)= promotes future use
how was amphetamine discovered/made?
human made (not natural), meant the mimic naturally occurring ephedrine in Ma Huang
forms of amphetamines
pill versions: used to treat ADHD (dextroamphetamine- high potential for abuse; levoamphetamine- weaker/less potential for abuse)
methamphetamine hydrochloride (pill or powder), easier to get into blood-brain barrier–> methyl group faster than amphetamine
crystal meth: drug abuse only, salt version to snort and smokable version (also injected)
amphetamine vs methamphetamine + BBB
methyl group helps get it across blood brain barrier faster than amphetamine (structural difference)
amphetamine routes of administration
oral: slower onset of effects (15-30 mins), longer duration (4-6 hours)
snorting: quicker onset of effects, damaging to nasal passages
smoking: delivers rapidly to brain (lungs), quick/intense high –> high potential for addiction
injection: intense effects, quick rush but wears off quickly –> people take more of it
metabolization of amphetamines
largely not affected by metabolism, 70% of amphetamine will be excreted as amphetamine
urine analysis: 48 hrs (up to 4 days), hair 90 days, false positive (afrin, aspirin, adderall, etc)
