1. Lesson 3
Psychoactive Drugs

2. Psychoactive Drugs
Chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain
Psychoactive drugs change the functioning of the central nervous system
Some have medical value
Lead to addiction, health problems
Four main groups
Stimulants
Depressants
Opiates
Hallucinogens

3. Club Drugs
Drugs found at concerts, dance clubs, drug parties known as raves
Designer drugs
Synthetic drugs that are made to imitate the effects of other drugs
Several times stronger than the drug they are meant to imitate
Disguised in foods or slipped into drinks
Club Drugs include:
Ecstasy, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, LSD

4. Ecstasy MDMA Both stimulant and hallucinogenic effects Hallucinogens
Drugs that alter moods, thoughts, and sense perceptions, including vision, hearing, smell, and touch
Gives a short-term euphoria
A feeling of intense well-being or elation

5. Rohypnol Roofies Depressants “date-rape” drug
Sedatives that are colorless, odorless, and tasteless
Depressants
Drugs that tend to slow the central nervous system
“date-rape” drug
Criminal offense

6. GHB Gamma hydroxybutyric acid CNS depressent
Clear liquid, white powder
Tablets or capsules
Also a date-rape drug

7. Ketamine Anesthetic used to treat animals
Causes hallucinations and may result in respiratory failure
Date-rape drug

8. Methamphetamine “Meth” Stimulant
Drugs that speed up the central nervous system
White, odorless powder that easily dissolves in alcohol or water
Readily available because it can be made in makeshift labs
Short term feeling of euphoria
Causes depression, paranoia, delusions

9. LSD Acid, or lysergic acid diethylamide
Causes hallucinations severely distorted perceptions of sound and color
Flashbacks
States in which the drug user experiences the emotional effects of a drug long after its actual use
Emotional experience
Ranges from extreme euphoria, to panic, to terror or deep depression

10. Stimulants Speed up the CNS Nicotine in tobacco
Caffeine in coffee, tea, cola, and power drinks
“energy” or “power” drinks contain 4 to 10 times the amount of caffeine as a regular sized cola
Other dangerous stimulants:
Cocaine, crack, amphetamines, methamphetamines

11. Cocaine Rapidly acting, powerful, highly addictive Stimulant
White powder extracted from the leaves of a coca plant
High gives s sense of confidence and euphoria
Let down can lead to depression, fatigue, paranoia, physiological dependence
Malnutrition and cardiac problems

12. Crack Even more dangerous form of cocaine
Also called rock or freebase rock
Reaches the brain seconds after being smoked or injected
Causes blood pressure and heart rate to soar
Death may be the result from cardiac or respiratory failure
Mixing with alcohol can be deadly because both substances together can cause liver failure

13. Amphetamines Highly addictive Stimulant
People will use them to stay alert, improve athletic performance, or to lose weight
Easy to gain a tolerance for them
Regular use can result in an irregular heartbeat, paranoia, aggressive behavior, and heart failure

14. Depressants Slow the CNS Slow heart rate Lower blood pressure
Most commonly used = alcohol
Combination of depressants can cause shallow breathing, weak or rapid pulse, coma, and death
Barbiturates, Tranquilizers, GHB, Rohypnol

15. Barbiturates Sedatives Rarely used for medical purposes
Using them causes:
Mood changes, excessive sleepiness, and coma
Similar to intoxication
Stronger than a tranquilizer and combing them with alcohol can be fatal
People who use them will become dependent on what they do the body

16. Tranquilizers
Relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, sleeplessness, and nervousness
When they are overused they can cause physiological and psychological dependence, coma, and death
Illegal tranquilizer is Rohypnol

17. Hallucinogens Overload the brain’s sensory controls
Cause serious mental/emotional and physical consequences
Alter mood, impair judgment, thoughts, and sense perception
Example: the person may believe they are invincible
Increase heart rate and respiratory rates, which can lead to heart and respiratory failure
The altered mental state can last for several hours or several days
Experience flashbacks
Examples are:
Ecstasy, ketamine, acid (LSD), phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust), Dextromethorphan (DXM), psilocybin (mushrooms), & mescaline (peyote)

18. PCP Angel dust Effects vary from user to user
Creates a distorted sense of time, increased muscle strength, increased feelings of violence, and the inability to feel pain
Many deaths have occurred from the use of PCP not necessarily the overuse

19. DXM
Tussin
Cough suppressant sold as an over-the-counter medicine
The recommended dosage is not dangerous
Overuse or misuse can cause hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, seizures, and addiction

20. Mushrooms and Peyote Psilocybin (mushrooms Mescaline (peyote cactus)
Hallucinogens found in nature as a fungus and a plant
Can also cause nausea and flashbacks
Possible death do to dealers harvesting toxic species

21. Opiates Highly addictive Cause confusion and dull senses
Drugs such as those derived from the opium plant that obtainable only by prescription and are used to relieve pain
Pain reliever provided by a physician and pharmacists record all sales
Abusing them can cause drowsiness, constipation, slow and shallow breathing, convulsions, coma and death
Examples are:
Morphine, oxycodone, & codeine

22. Codeine Highly addictive ingredient in some cough medicines Can cause:
Dizziness, labored breathing, low blood pressure, seizures, and respiratory arrest
CDC has issued a warning against giving medications with codeine to infants and small children because it has been linked to death

23. Morphine Much stronger than codeine
Prescribed for severe pain and is generally only used for a short period of time
Side effects include:
Fast or slow heartbeat, seizures, hallucinations, blurred vision, rashes, and difficulty swallowing

24. Heroin Processed form of morphine
It can be injected, snorted, or smoked
Comes in many forms:
A white or brownish powder, and a black sticky tar
Dealers might mix heroin with other medicines or household substances to create “cheese” or “cheese heroin”
Slows breathing and pulse rate
Can cause infection of the heart lining and valves, as well as liver disease
Large doses can cause coma and adeath

25. Oxycodone
A prescription drug that helps to relieve moderate to severe chronic pain
Contains a strong opiate and is often referred to as the brand name OxyContin
Side effect is:
Suppression of the respiratory system
Cause death from respiratory failure