Piasecki: Stimulants and Synthetics

Question 1

What do stimulants do to your pupils?

Answer 1

dilate!

**pinpoint pupils associated with opioids

Question 2

What do stimulants do to your eyes?

Answer 2

nystagmus

**jerking eyes: horizontal, vertical, rotary

Question 3

Natural rewards like food and sex elevate this small molecule in the nucleus accumbens

Answer 3

dopamine

**amphetamine > sex > food

Question 4

Which drug increases dopamine levels more so than food or sex?

Answer 4

amphetamine

Question 5

Structural changes that occur w methamphetamine?

Answer 5

decreased gray matter
decreased volume
increased white matter

Question 6

Brain changes w chronic methamphetamine use?

Answer 6

executive functioning takes a hit: memory, impulse control, information processing, motor skills, judgement

Question 7

What happens to dopamine and 5HT levels during cocaine withdrawal?

Answer 7

these levels drop below baseline

Question 8

Other related brain changes from chronic stimulant use?

Answer 8

mood

psychosis (paranoia)

Question 9

Regional brain dysfunction in meth users relates to (blank)

Answer 9

depression

Question 10

What are some clues to synthetic cannabinoid intoxication?

Answer 10

altered mental status (bizarre and agitated behavior)
vomiting
rapid heart rate
elevated blood glucose
elevated K+

Question 11

Why is it hard to screen for these drugs?

Answer 11

they are constantly changing; it’s expensive to do an all inclusive screen

Question 12

synthetic THC; a mixture of herbs or spices sprayed with synthetic chemicals similar to THC in marijuana but more potent; smoked

Answer 12

spice

Question 13

Our brain is full of these receptors

Answer 13

THC

Question 14

What are the effects of spice on the mind and body?

Answer 14

agitation
anxiety and panic attacks
depression
paranoia
hallucinations, both visual and auditory

increased blood pressure
increased heart rate
cardiac arrest
blood shot eyes
insomnia
vomiting
seizures

Question 15

So why is spice dangerous?

Answer 15

unregulated, untested, no medicinal use
no long term studies
never tested on humans
physically addicting

Question 16

Synthetic stimulants; not used for baths

Answer 16

bath salts

Question 17

How are bath salts used?

Answer 17

same as cocaine and methamphetamines: snorting, smoking, injection, swallowing in water

Question 18

Effects of bath salts?

Answer 18

insomnia
agitation, easily angered
extreme energy
extreme paranoia
hallucinations
high body temp
increased bp and heart rate

Question 19

How can you identify a bath salt from a real bath salt?!

Answer 19

the price!!

Question 20

T/F: Banning individual chemical compounds is not effective. Manufacturer’s switch to other chemical compounds not included in laws

Answer 20

True

**this makes it complicated to outlaw these drugs