Psychoactive drugs Flashcards
Two charachteristics of psychoactive drugs
change mood, change perception of external and internal environment
What are depressants
inhibit neural function
What are stimulants
excite neural functions
Define halucinogens
distort perception, evoked sensory images
Define neuroadaptation (one word)
tolerance
Define physical addiction
upon withdrawal, physical pain and craving
Define psychological dependence
craving
What is negative tolerance?
a part of the body may become more sensitive to the drug
What does alcohol do to your body?
always depresses neural activity regardless of dosage
reduced sympathetic nervous system response
Depresses frontal lobe
Decreases exchange of short term to long term memory (less REM sleep)
Opiates: how addictive?
Highly addictive
Where are the opiates derived from?
Opium poppy
High doses of opiates produces
euphoria
What do the chemical structure of opiate imitate?
neurotransmitters
What is the most commonly used hallucinogen?
Cannabis
What is the active ingredient in cannabis?
THC
Is there any evidence of marijuana being physically addictive?
No
When do we experience serotonin?
During REM sleep, inREM sleep
addiction for hallucinogens?
Little evidence of addiction
Has punishment been effective in limiting the amounts of drug use in the US?
NO
What has portugal shown when they legalized all drugs?
Crime rates decreased, usage decrease, drug related deaths decreased.
How are the danger of drugs classified?
Usually classified on the basis of the harm they cause. The degree of risk determines the seriousness of the crime
What is the drug harm scale?
Measures physical, dependence related, and social implications
