Week 3b: Drug Classes

Question 1

7 Categories of Psychoactive Drugs

Answer 1

1. Narcotic Analgesics
2. Central Nervous System Depressants
3. Central Nervous System Stimulants
4. Hallucinogens
5. Cannabinoids
6. Inhalants
7. Phencyclidine (PCP)

Question 2

Narcotic Analgesics

Answer 2

• Also known as Opioids
• Opiate = Drug derived from poppy plant or can be manmade

• morphine •heroin • oxycotin, etc.

• Narcotic — from Greek narkosi;, to numb or be in stupor
  
  • ​morphine-like effects
  • not just any illegal drug
• Analgesia — to relieve pain, without producing unconsciousness

Hazards; risk of disease/infection from using/sharing dirty needles; drug may be impure; risk of overdose

Tolerance; develops rapidly, returns to normal after withdrawal

Withdrawal; symptoms include appetite suppression, nausea, diarrhea, dilated pupils, goose bumps, restlessness, irritability, rebound pain.

• Generally peaks at 48-72 hrs,
• gone in 7-10 days.
• not life-threatening but may need medical attention

Question 3

CNS Depressants

Answer 3

Sedative Hypnotics

• Alcohol
• Barbiturates
• Tranquilizers

Question 4

CNS Stimulants

Answer 4

• Amphetamines:
• Crystal Meth
• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• Cocaine
• Nicotine
• Caffeine

Question 5

Hallucinogens

Answer 5

Class: Hallucinogen: from Latin hallucinari; “to dream or wander in mind.” Produce perceptual and cognitive distortions that some people find novel, stimulating, or spiritually uplifting

• LSD
• mescaline
• psilocybin
• DMT DimethylTriptaline (synthetic)
• Salvia

​​Dependence: Hallucinogens do not have high abuse potential;

• no dependence/withdrawal symptoms from intermittent use
• not effective reinforcers
• dependence does occur in small # of users, especially if exposed at early age.
• Most hallucinogens (except DMT and salvinorin A) produce rapid tolerance with repeated use.
  
  • also cross-tolerance with other hallucinogens because of shared brain mechanisms
  • Serotonin (5-HT)

Question 6

Cannabinoids

Answer 6

Class: Cannabinoid

• Cannabis = any product of the plant Cannabis sativa
• Marijuana = the unprocessed, dried leaves, flowers & stems of the plant
  
  • Hashish a more potent product processed from resin of marijuana
• Marijuana contains over 80 unique compounds known as cannabinoids plus more than 400
• other identified compounds…
• The psychoactive compound (delta9) Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), accounts for use of cannabis as drug

Question 7

Inhalants

Answer 7

Inhalents: ​Abused inhalants often easily obstained in household items. They’re a volatile liquid or gas at room temperature; fumes are inhaled.

• Spray paint, paint
• Gasoline
• Hairsprays
• Glue

​________

• Inhalants reduce CNS excitability (depressant) in similar way to alcohol
• earlier used, more likely to become dependent/experience withdrawal
• They do not belong to another class of abused substances.
• some evidence for a withdrawal syndrome: irritability, etc.

​Reward and reinforcement

In a study, toluene vapours resulted in place conditioning in rats/mice - they will also self-administer

Question 8

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Answer 8

Class: Phencyclidine (PCP)

• Do not fit easy in other categories
• Developed 1950s anaesthetic / analgesic. Many adverse side effects
  
  • continued use by vets
• Mostly smoked, often with marijuana
• Effects vary widely by dose/expectations; sensory disturbances, deadened extremities, euphoria, paranoia, delusions
  
  • last ~3-8 hours
  • Violence with higher doses
• Tolerance develops. Withdrawal = long-term depression (up to 1 year)