1. Four Principles 1. Drugs, per se, are not good or bad. 2. Every drug has multiple effects. 3. Both the size and quality of a drug’s effect depend on the amount the individual has taken. 4. The effect of any psychoactive drug depends on the individual's history and expectations.

2. Drugs, per se, are not good or bad The way that an individual uses the drug determines whether or not the drug is being used in a “good” or a “bad” way. For example, cocaine is used by hospital emergency room doctors to stop bad nose bleeds is “good.” Cocaine used by an addict just to get high is “bad.”

3. Every drug has multiple effects Every psychoactive drug act on many places in the brain. Virtually every drug that acts on the brain also effects the rest of the body. For example, aspirin dilates blood vessels in every part of the brain to help reduce headache pain. Aspirin also dilates vessels throughout the body.

4. Both the size and quality of a drug’s effect depend on the amount the individual has taken. Size: increase in dose = increase in effects that might be noticed in lower dosage Quality: increase in effects doesn’t always mean “more is BETTER” - it also can mean that “more is WORSE” For example, 2 aspirin usually takes away a headache after about 20 minutes; 4 aspirin will not take away a headache in 10 minutes; this could bring your headache back OR be an overdose for drug sensitive people.

5. The effect of any psychoactive drug depends on the individual's history and expectations. History - a person’s genetic make-up and past experience with a drug will affect the drug experience AND Expectations - [non-specific effect] these drugs can alter consciousness and thought processes, the expectation of what the drug is an can do will affect the drug experience For example, if you THINK you are smoking pot and know what the experience IS and you are really smoking oregano - you can get “high.”