Recreational drugs Flashcards
What are recreational drugs?
Drugs that are taken for pleasure
Have an effect on CNS + are called psychoactive substances because they alter brain function, which can change mood, perception, + conscious experiences
What are examples of recreational drugs?
- Stimulants = Cocaine, MDMA, nicotine, caffeine
- Depressants = Alcohol
- Hallucinogens = LSD, blocks release of serotonin
- Opioids = Heroin
What is the reward pathway in our brains?
We work to get rewards because of the pleasure we get in the reward pathway
What is an example of a reward pathway and what does it do?
Mesolimbic pathway, releases more dopamine
This pathway contains neurons with dopamine receptors, dopaminergic neurons (D1+ D2)
What do amphetamines do?
Stimulates CNS, + speeds up body processes such as heart + breathing rate
What is the main impact of amphetamines on the brain?
Increases concentration of dopamine in the synaptic gap
What are the consequences of using amphetamines?
- Cause increased release of dopamine from axon terminal
- Block dopamine re-uptake
- Inhibit storage of dopamine in vesicles
- Inhibit destruction of dopamine by enzymes in synapse
How does amphetamines lead to addiction?
Dopamine receptors become damaged because of overstimulation
Leads to addiction because more dopamine will be required to stimulate neuron to normal level
How does cocaine affect the transmission process in CNS?
Blocks the binding site of reuptake receptors + stops reuptake of dopamine into presynaptic neuron
This increases dopamine conc in synapses
What is the effect of heroin on the CNS?
Acts as opioid receptors sites in brain, releasing abnormal amount of dopamine
Shuts down inhibitory neurotransmitters (GABA), + without inhibition dopamine is released
How do amphetamines affect the CNS?
Shaped like dopamine + bind to dopamine receptors, imitating it in the neuron
More dopamine left out of cell + binds to receptors more often due to amphetamines being repackaged instead
