recreational drugs Flashcards
what does cocaine usage do
increases stamina, relieves fatigue and hunger, feeling alert
what happens when cocaine is taken
it blocks the dopamine transporters, leaving dopamine to linger in the synaptic cleft, increasing dopamine concentration which leads to enhanced dopaminergic effects
how long do the effects of cocaine last
15-30 minutes
what happens when the effects of cocaine wear off
there is a crash which makes it highly addictive
what is the mesolimbic system
reward system associated with pleasurable desires
what happens when someone take too much of a drug
we become desensitized to the effects of it which leads to a higher intake of the drug due to the reduced dopamine receptor activity, which forms an addiction
what happens when someone stops taking cocaine
dopamine levels return to normal but there are fewer dopamine receptors which reduces the brains sensitivity to dopamine
what withdrawal symptoms can someone experience
depression, cravings
how does cocaine affect the reward system
it disrupts normal dopamine signalling in the reward circuit and the brain craves the heightened dopamine response
what type of drug is PCP classed as
a disassociative drug
what does PCP do to the senses
distorts sights, colours and sounds
causes hallucinations
what does PCP uptake
dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine
how does PCP affect the NMDA receptors
it blocks them which results in disruptions in cognition, perception and emotional processing
what does low usage of PCP cause
euphoria, relaxation, confusion, detachment, high energy
what does medium dosage of PCP cause
feeling invulnerable, delusions, excessive salivation, paranoia, aggression
