June 23, 2019 Flashcards
What is the definition of psychoactive drugs
- they are drugs that can alter our consciousness and perceptions
- > increase our mood, calm us down, make us feel more alert, etc
What are the three main categories of psychoactive drugs
1) Depressants
2) Stimulants
3) Hallucinogens
How do depressants affect your body’s basic functions? Focus on the body’s basic functions.
- they work to lover neural activity
- > specifically, lower the CNS activity
- > eg; decrease heart rate, decrease blood pressure, decreae reaction time/processing
-note that depressants vasodilate in low concentration but vasoconstrict at high concentrations
What are the three categories of depressants
1) Alcohol
2) Barbituates
3) Benzoddiazepenes
Describe the general characteristics of barbiturates
- they depress CNS activity
- > act as anesthesia or anticonvulsant
- not often prescribed due to negative side effects
- > eg; reduced memory, judgement and concentration
Describe the general characteristics of benzodiazepines
- same thing as barbiturates
- >aims to aid sleep or help with anxiety(anticonvulsant)
Through what mechanism does benzodiazepines work
- they enhance your brain’s response to GABA
- > they open up GABA activated chloride channels in your neurons
- > making the neurons more negatively charged
How do stimulants affect the body
- they work to excite your CNS
- > increase the heart rate and blood pressure
- > more awake, more alert
- note that nicotine, THC are also stimulant
- > THC can also be classified as a hallucinogen and or a depressant
-they are vasoconstrictors
What is the mechanism of cocaine
-it blocks dopamine reuptake
What is the mechanism of amphetamines
- block dopamine reuptake
- >stimulate presynaptic dopamine release as well
What is the mechanism of caffeine
-it works to inhibit the enzyme that breaks down cAMP
What is the mechanism of nicotine
- it acts on acetylcholine
- >it is an acetylcholine receptor agonist
What neurotransmitter does LSD modify
-it modifies the serotonin neurotransmitter
How are opioids similar to depressants
- they decrease CNS function, decrease heart rate and blood pressure
- > also cause relaxation and induce sleep
How do opiates relate to blood vessel activity and that of the pupils
-they constrict the pupils and are vasodilators
What class of drug is MDMA. Refer to the three classes discussed
-it can either be a stimulant or a hallucinogen
What are the effects of nicotine at high elevels
- at high levels, it can cause muscles to relax
- >also releases stress-reducing neurotransmitters
What are the results of cocaine in terms of the three neurotransmitters released
- it causes the brain to release so much more dopamine, serotonin and norepinepherines
- > this depletes the brain’s supply
Are dopamine and methamphetamine closely related
- yes
- > meth triggers the release of dopamine for up to 8 hours
- > it is highly addictive
What is the similarity between ecstacy/MDMAmolly
-they are all a synthetic drug between stimulants and hallucinogens
Are hallucinogens used for PTSD treatment?
-yes they are
Describe habituation in terms of when you take drugs
- for example
- > your brain might know that you take drugs in certain rooms
- > and if it is something like cocaine, it will immediately lower your heart rate before you take the drugs
What happens if you take a drug in a new location
- you might get an overdoes
- >this is because you are in a new location but your body has not prepared by reducing hesrt rate/metabolism
Name the different routes of entry by drugs
1) Oral
2) Inhalation
3) Injection
4) Transdermal(pretty slow because the drug is absorbed through the skin)
5) Intramuscular
How does the speed of drug entry relate to the addiction potential
-faster route of entry=more addictive potential
