Recreational Drugs

Question 1

what are recreational drugs

Answer 1

stimulants
sedatives
hallucinagenics
opiods

Question 2

how do recreational drugs work

Answer 2

altering neurotransmitter availability at the synapse

Question 3

4 main functions of amphetamines

Answer 3

cause an increased release of dopamine from axon terminal

block dopamine re uptake - causes additional binding of the dopamine to the receptors

inhibit the storage of dopamine in the vesicles

inhibit the destruction of dopamine by enzymes in the synapse

Question 4

short term effects of amphetamines

Answer 4

increased heart rate and blood pressure
decreased appetite
dilated pupils
feelings of happiness
reduced fatigue

Question 5

long term effects of amphetamines

Answer 5

insomnia
psychosis
violent and aggressive behaviour
weight loss

Question 6

what forms do amphetamines come in

Answer 6

white, pink, grey or yellowish powder

as a pill or paste

Question 7

how are amphetamines taken

Answer 7

snorted, mixed with a drink or injected

Question 8

what were amphetamines first used for

Answer 8

treating asthma

treating sleep disorders

given to soldiers in WW2 to combat fatigue and keep them alert

dates back to around 1920

Question 9

which chemical are amphetamines similar to

Answer 9

dopamine

Question 10

what does amphetamines having a similar structure to dopamine mean

Answer 10

it is able to enter the terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron via dopamine transporters

Question 11

what is addiction characterised by

Answer 11

compulsive drug seeking and use

Question 12

what does an organism do when something is addictive

Answer 12

organism will act in order to stimulate the reward pathway

Question 13

what parts of the body does the nicotine affect

Answer 13

CNS and PNS

Question 14

what does the reward pathway/ pleasure centre in the brain cause humans to do

Answer 14

we work to receive rewards due to the pleasure we receive

Question 15

which pathway does nicotine work on

Answer 15

mesolimbic pathway - affects dopamine receptors in this pathway

Question 16

function of dopamine

Answer 16

neurotransmitter responsible for carrying messages about pleasurable feelings

stimulates the reward system causing feelings of pleasure

Question 17

desensitisation

Answer 17

when more of a substance is required to achieve the same response/ stimulation - which can lead to addiciton

Question 18

what does the binding of nicotine to dopamine receptors do over time

Answer 18

affects the receptors and causes a decrease in the dopamine receptors which can lead to desensitisation