Stimulants and alcohol

Question 1

What are the different types of psychoactive drugs?

Answer 1

Stimulants
Depressants
Hallucinogens
Narcotics
Psychotherapeutic drugs

Question 2

What is the difference between physical and psychological addictiveness?

Answer 2

Physical addictiveness: Dependence on the drug due to withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological addictiveness: Craving or desire to use the drug for emotional or mental satisfaction.

Question 3

How does cocaine act at monoaminergic synapses?

Answer 3

Blocks reuptake channels for dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin.
This increases the amount of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft.
Dopamine causes addiction, noradrenaline causes the “high”.

Question 4

What are the short-term effects of cocaine?

Answer 4

Euphoria
Increased energy
Confidence
Alertness
Talkativeness

Question 5

What are the long-term effects of cocaine?

Answer 5

Depression (due to monoamine depletion)
Schizophrenia-like symptoms
Sexual dysfunction
Destruction of the nasal septum

Question 6

How do amphetamines work at monoaminergic synapses?

Answer 6

Reverse reuptake channels
Push neurotransmitters out of the presynaptic terminal
Results in prolonged stimulation

Question 7

How does caffeine affect the brain?

Answer 7

Blocks adenosine receptors (inhibits sleepiness)
Increases dopamine and adrenaline release

Question 8

What are the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine?

Answer 8

Headaches
Sleepiness
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating

Question 10

What makes nicotine one of the most addictive drugs?

Answer 10

Rapid onset (7 seconds after inhalation)
High psychological dependence
Strong withdrawal symptoms

Question 12

How does alcohol act on the brain?

Answer 12

Agonist of GABA-A receptors (increases inhibition)
Antagonist of NMDA receptors (decreases excitation)
Increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

Question 13

What are the long-term effects of alcohol?

Answer 13

Cirrhosis of the liver
Brain damage
Foetal alcohol syndrome

Question 14

What is the biological half-life of nicotine in chronic smokers?

Answer 14

2 hours

Question 15

What is the main cause of cocaine addiction?

Answer 15

Direct activation of the dopamine reward pathway

Question 17

What is Ritalin, and how does it work?

Answer 17

Type of amphetamine
Used to treat ADHD.
Blocks monoamine reuptake channels like cocaine but releases dopamine more gradually.

Question 18

What are the short term effects of caffeine?

Answer 18

Increases alertness
Induces clear thinking
Restlessness
Increases cardiac contractions
Constricts blood vessels

Question 19

What are the side effects and long term effects of caffeine?

Answer 19

Side effects: anxiety, change in mood, insomnia, hypertension
Long term: mostly sleep deprivation

Question 20

Alcohol addictiveness

Answer 20

Physical dependence: tolerance induced even from one night of drinking, mild withdrawal symptoms (hangover), after chronic use there are strong withdrawal symptoms (can be fatal)
Psychological dependence: increases dopamine release in the n. Accumbens, strong heritable component

Question 21

What are the short-term effects of alcohol?

Answer 21

Low dose: mild euphoria, anxiolytic effect
Higher dose: slower reflexes, incoordination, sedation, memory problems, dilation of blood vessels (heat loss), diuretic (more urination)

Question 22

What are the long-term effects of nicotine?

Answer 22

Body easily develops tolerance
Possibly wears out the heart more quickly
Major problems are from other components of tobacco