Physiological/Psychological Effects of Drugs Flashcards
What is tolerance?
The adaptation of the body as a result of the repeated exposure to a drug. The person needs to use more of the drug to attain the desired effect.
What is withdrawal?
Refers to the physical impact of stopping the use of a drug. Functioning will overcompensate in the sudden absence of the drug.
What is physical dependence?
The adjustment of bodily tissues in response to the continued presence of a drug.
What is psychological dependence?
An emotional or mental drive to continue to take a drug because the user feels that he/she needs the drug to maintain a sense of well-being.
What is addiction?
Most experts feel that it is related to dependent patterns of drug use although there is much debate over a formal definition.
What are Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants?
Alcohol, barbiturates, inhalants/solvents, minor tranquilizers.
What are hallucinogens?
Cannabis, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, MDA, MDMA.
What are opiates?
Heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, oxycodone, percocet/percodan.
What are stimulants?
Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, amphetamines, khat, mephedrone.
What is marijuana?
Comes from the plant named Cannabis Sativa. The active ingriedient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
How is marijuana administered?
Smoking, eating, drinking, inhaling in a vaporizer.
What does the experience of marijuana depend on?
Experience of the user, amount of THC administered, expectations of the user, route of administration, environment.
What are some short term effects of marijuana?
May feel euphoric, excited or more relaxed. Increased heart rate and blood pressure. Impaired body movement. Dry mouth/throat/respiratory difficulty. Increased hunger, slowed reaction time. Difficulty with thinking/problem-solving.
What are some long-term effects of marijuana?
Additive features such as withdrawal issues are presented by psychological symptoms. Stacking effect (half life is 4 days), amotivational syndrome: impaired ability for sequencing, weakened immune system.
What are some factors to consider when thinking about side effects of alcohol?
How fast you drink, if you ate before/while drinking, your body size/build, male or female, what other drugs you have consumed.
What are some short term effects of alcohol?
More calm and relaxed, more talkative and less shy, warm, less co-ordinated.
What are some short term effects of alcohol when taken in higher amounts?
Blackouts, slurred speech, difficulty walking, feeling sleepy or loss of consciousness, more likely to have falls/other accidents.,
What are some long term effects of alcohol?
Brain and nerve damage, high blood pressure and strokes, liver disease, damage to the fetus for pregnant women, cancer, low sex hormones.