NATURE OF DRUGS Flashcards
Working Definition of a Drug:
• Any substance that produces (?) change within a short period of time after ingestion of a specified dose
physiological or psychological
Nature of Drug Dependence:
• When an individual becomes (?) to a drug
strongly attached
Dependency is subdivided into two categories:
2a. Physiological Dependence
2b. Psychological Dependence
• The body continually needs to have the drug
Physiological Dependence
• A person experiences sickness if drug is discontinued
Physiological Dependence
• A person develops an uncontrollable “craving” (mental or emotional need) for a drug
Psychological Dependence:
• The craving is a desperate need to continue
Psychological Dependence:
Major Classes of Abused Drugs Six Categories:
- Narcotic Drugs
- Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
- Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers
- Club Drugs
- Performance Enhancing Drugs
- taken as painkillers (analgesic)
- Narcotic Drugs
Causes insensibility or numbness
- Narcotic Drugs
Usually OTC
- Narcotic Drugs
Ex. Paracetamol, Alaxan, Ibuprofen
- Narcotic Drugs
- taken to increase mental and physical energy
Stimulants
Aka “Speed”
Stimulants
Speeds up CNS / messaging process w/in the brain
Stimulants
Causes inc in heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure
Stimulants
Ex. Caffeine, Nicotine
Stimulants
- taken to change one’s mental state
Hallucinogens
Distorts sense of reality
Hallucinogens
Oldest Hallucinogens:
Marijuana (Canabis sativa)
- taken to dull one’s senses, to reduce anxiety, or induce sleep
Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers
Counterpart of stimulants
Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers
Aka “Slowers”
Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers
Ex. Alcohol
Depressants, Hypnotics, & Tranquilizers
- taken to enhance one’s enjoyment of a party or other social activities
Club Drugs
Ex. Ecstasy
Club Drugs
- taken to build muscles, endurance, or enhance athletic performance
Performance Enhancing Drugs
Ex. Anabolic steroid
Performance Enhancing Drugs
- the primary active drug in opium
Morphine
can be smoked directly or chemically processed to isolate pure morphine
Opium
All natural and drug compounds derived from opium are known as
opiates
• are psychologically addictive drugs: withdrawal causes severe physiological symptoms (aggitated)
Opiates
• - second most abundant component of opium
Codeine
•, a derivative of morphine (equally addictive)
Heroin
• Synthetic painkillers include
Darvon & Demerol
are taken to make one feel more energetic, strong, or awake
Stimulants
• Abused stimulants:
Amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine
• is the drug most commonly produced in clandestine labs
Methamphetamine
- very powerful stimulant; enormously psychologically addicting
• Cocaine
is usually inhaled through the nose
• Cocaine hydrochloride
Its free base form (“crack”) is vaporized by heat in a pipe and inhaled into the lungs
Cocaine hydrochloride
Cause a significantly altered mental state, often including hallucinations
Hallucinogens
Marijuana
Physiologically active ingredients:
Cannabinoids
found in the resinous leaf coating of Cannabis sativa
Cannabinoids
is one of the oldest Hallucinogens
Marijuana
The most active cannabinoid is
THC
Detectable in urine from 1 to 4 weeks after last use
THC
Metabolites of Marijuana:
• Delta-9-carboxy-THC
• 111-hydroxy-delta-9-THC
- more potent form of marijuana made from the flowering tops of the plant
• Hashish
: made by heating the plant material in a solvent, then evaporated leaving a thick oily material (almost pure resin)
• Hash oil