Study Guide: Chapter 1 Drug Abuse

Question 1

How does a psychoactive drug exert their influence on drug users?

Answer 1

Through their actions in the nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord.

Question 2

2. What are the four main categories of psychoactive drugs based on their effects on the central nervous system? Provide examples of drugs belonging to each category

Answer 2

1. Depressants: Slows down function of central nervous system
2. Hallucinogens: Senses; the way you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel things.
3. Stimulants: Speeds up the function of the nervous system.

Question 3

What are some examples of drugs that belong to the depressants category of psychoactive drugs

Answer 3

Alcohol, xanax, cannabis, opioids

Question 4

What are some examples of drugs that belong to the hallucinogens category?

Answer 4

LSD, Psyllocibin, PCP, cannabis, ketamine.

Question 5

Name some examples of drugs that belong to the stimulant category?

Answer 5

Amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, MDMA, nicotine.

Question 6

Why is the age group of 18-25 particularly vulnerable to illicit drug use? Explain from both societal and biological perspectives.

Answer 6

Societal: Not easy/feasible to use drugs out in the real world. Peer influence
Biological: Brain is wired to experience positive effects more than the negative ones. Brian is less sensitive to aversive effects

Question 7

REVISIT4. How does the concept of conditioned place preference help researchers study the rewarding effects of drugs in animals?

Answer 7

It measures the rewarding/aversive effects of the drug. Cocaine conditioned place preference is more sensitive in adolescent rats.

Question 8

Differentiate between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. How do these concepts contribute to our understanding of drug effects?

Answer 8

Pharmacokinetics (drug action)
▪ Study how a drug moves through the body, including process of absorption,
metabolism, distribution to tissues, and elimination.
Pharmacodynamics (drug effect)
▪ Study of the ways in which a drug affects the living organism and the organs of
the body

Question 9

Pharmacokinetics. How does the route affect the psychoactive experience?

Answer 9

Faster delivery creates greater euphoric effect. EX: Intravenous, intranasal, oral. Rate of absorption is affected.
Must be absorbed into the blood stream to the target site to produce effects

Question 10

How are drugs absorbed?

Answer 10

Through the skin and or mucous membranes

Question 11

7. Why is the blood-brain barrier crucial in determining whether a drug will produce psychoactive effects

Answer 11

If it is too large it will not pass and it will not produce a psychoactive effect. It has to reach its target to have an effect.

Question 12

8. What is a drug’s half-life, and why is it an important consideration in understanding the duration of drug effects?

Answer 12

The amount of time required for the body to metabolize half the amount of the drug. The longer the half-life, the longer the dug will continue to have a physiological effect.

Question 13

9. Describe the mechanisms of action of agonists and antagonists in relation to neurotransmitter receptors.

Answer 13

An agonist is a drug that mimics a neurotransmitter or enhances synaptic neurotransmission.

An antagonist is a drug that blocks a neurotransmitter or inhibits synaptic transmission.

A drug may alter the postsynaptic systems that respond to the released transmitter.

Question 14

What is the role of antagonists in neurosynaptic transmission?

Answer 14

It blocks postsynaptic receptors from bein activated by their neurotransmitter. ( Selective receptor agonists.)

Question 15

What is the role of agonists in synaptic neurotransmission?

Answer 15

Agonists bind to receptors and activate them, mimicking the natural neurotransmitter.

Question 16

How can drugs influence both presynaptic and postsynaptic processes to modulate synaptic transmission? Drugs work by enhancing or inhibiting these processes.

Answer 16

Postsynaptic : selective receptor antagonists & selective receptor agonists.

Drugs can alter intracellular postsynaptic processes, such as number of receptors and second-messenger systems

Presynaptic neuron:
1. Transmitter production: Block synthesis enzymes, axonal transport, ability to store transmitter.
2. Transmitter release: block action potentials
3. Autoreceptors: Monitor amount of release and give feedback
4. Transmitter Clearance: Reuptake inhibitors.