Psychology and Sociology: Drugs

Question 1

Depressants

Answer 1

Reduce nervous system activity, resulting in a sense of relaxation and reduced anxiety

Question 2

Alcohol (depressant)

Answer 2

-increase activity of the GABA receptor; leads to brain inhibition
-Disinhibition: a lack of self-control; occurs because the centers of the brain that prevent inappropriate behavior are depressed
-increase dopamine levels
-Logical reasoning and motor skills are affected, may experience fatigue
-Alcohol myopia: a short-sighted view of the world due to an inability to recognize consequences of actions
-Cirrhosis, liver failure, pancreatic damage, gastric or duodenal ulcers, gastrointestinal cancer, and brain disorders
-Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: caused by a deficiency of thiamine and characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of motor skills

Question 3

Sedatives

Answer 3

-Tend to depress central nervous system activity, resulting in feelings of calm, relaxation, and drowsiness
-Barbiturates: historically used as anxiety-reducing and sleep medications
-Benzodiazepines: less prone to overdose so have replaced barbiturates
-Increase GABA activity, causing sense of relaxation
-Highly addictive

Question 4

Stimulants

Answer 4

Cause an increase in arousal in the nervous system

Question 5

Amphetamines (stimulant)

Answer 5

-Cause increased arousal by increasing release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin at the synapse and decreasing their reuptake
-Increases arousal and causes a reduction in appetite and decreased need for sleep
-Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
-Euphoria, hypervigilance, anxiety, delusions of grandeur, and paranoia

Question 6

Cocaine (stimulant)

Answer 6

Also acts on dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin shapes, but decreases reuptake of the neurotransmitters

Question 7

Ecstasy (stimulant)

Answer 7

-Acts as a hallucinogen combined with an amphetamine
-Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, blurry vision, sweating, nausea, and hyperthermia
-Feelings of euphoria, increased alertness, and an overwhelming sense of well-being and connectedness

Question 8

Opiates and Opioids

Answer 8

-types of narcotics
-Opiates: naturally occurring forms
-Opioids: semisynthetic derivatives
-Compounds bind to opioid receptors in the peripheral and central nervous system
-Act as endorphin agonists and cause decreased reaction to pain and a sense of euphoria
-Ex: heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone

Question 9

Hallucinogens

Answer 9

-Drugs that typically cause introspection, distortions of reality and fantasy, and enhancement of sensory experiences
-Increased heart rate and blood pressure, dilation of pupils, sweating, and increased body temperature
-Ex: lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mushrooms

Question 10

Marijuana

Answer 10

-Active chemical: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
-THC acts at cannabinoid receptors, glycine receptors, and opioid receptors
-Inhibits GABA activity and indirectly increases dopamine activity
-Eye redness, dry mouth, fatigue, impairment of short-term memory, increased heart rate, increased appetite, lowered blood pressure

Question 11

Drug addiction

Answer 11

-Highly related to the mesolimbic reward pathway, one of the four dopaminergic pathways in the brain
-Pathway includes the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and the medial forebrain bundle
-This addiction pathway is activated by all substances that produce psychological dependence