Tutorial 2. Flashcards
What is the definition of intoxication?
Alteration in brain function brought by DRUG use
What is the definition of withdrawal?
alteration in brain function about by the CESSATION of drug use
What is the definition of tolerance?
Need total more of a psychoactive drug in order to produce the same effect
What is the definition of Dependance/Addition?
Cluster of cognitive, behavioural and physiological symptoms that indicate severe impairment and distress due to the persons drug use
Important to consider addiction within a biopsychosocial context
Person needs drug to function normally
Includes psychologically, physiological and social components
What are stimulants?
Drugs that INCREASE arousal and speed up mental and physical activity
May cause euphoria (really happy)
Increased glutamate, decreased GABA
What are examples of stimulants?
Amphetamines Methamphetamines (P) MDMA (ecstacy) Cocaine Nicotine Caffeine (nodose)
What are depressants?
Drugs that reduce awareness of external stimuli and slow down bodily functions
Decreased Glutamate, Increased GABA
What are examples of depressants?
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines (e.g. valium)
Anxiety pills
Sleeping pills
Date rate drugs (issues with memory, lead to amnesia)
What are hallucinogens?
Drugs that alter the perceptions of the external and inner awareness (may produce hallucinations - usually visual)
What are examples of hallucinogens?
Cannabis/Marijuana (THC: Tetra Hydo Cannabinol)
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
What are Opiates?
Drugs that suppress physical sensation and response to stimulation
Ideal for pain relief
Prescription problems
Withdrawal cause, physical pain, insomnia
What are examples of Opiates?
Morphine
Heroin(highly addictive and people trying to withdraw experience harsh physical symptoms)
Homebake
Includes Prescription opiates which can also be abused - Uni settings Ritalin= prescription for ADHD
How do psychoactive drugs affect the brain?
Psychoactive drugs contain chemicals that affect brain activity and consciousness
Drug affect “pleasure centres” via reward pathway;
they activate areas in the forebrain that receive input from the limbic system relating to mood and emotion
Ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex (major structures in the reward pathway)
What are psychoactive drugs?
drugs are chemicals that affect mental processing and behaviour and temporarily changing conscious awareness
- once in the brain, the chemicals attach themselves to synaptic receptors and either block or stimulate certain reactions
- they affects perception, memory, mood and behaviour
What are the structures of reward pathways?
- Rewarding stimulus is administered
- Info travels to the Ventral Tegmental area (VTA)
- Nucleus Accumbent is affected
- Prefrontal cortex is stimulated (e.g. personality, decision making)
What affect does Ecstasy have?
Stimulant
-affects neurotransmitter SEROTONIN
May alter mood, memory, sleep
“Party drug” (joint effects with alcohol on the brain”
What affect does Cocaine have?
Stimulant
-affects neurotransmitter DOPAMINE
Contrast between Euphoric highs and very depressive lows
What is the Reward Pathway of cocaine?
Affects the Caudate Nucleus
Nucleus Accumbens
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
With continued use it becomes very difficult to activate the NE without cocaine (so natural rewards such as food, water, music, sex are no longer pleasurable)