Chapter 9 Understanding Drugs and Medicines

Drugs of abuse – ( for example: cocaine, nicotine, alcohol and marijuana) change the way the brain works in ways that are not healthy. When these drugs are taken for no medical reason they are called “drugs of abuse”

Medicine – any drug that is used to cure, prevent or treat illness or discomfort. To be a good medicine, a drug should be  Effective  Safe  and have minor side effects

Types of medicines – OTC (over the counter) and Prescription Prescription medications – instructions on the following:  Dose or dosage  When you should take the medicine  How often you should take it  The length of time you should take it

Misuse of medications – taking any medication in the wrong dosage or for the wrong reason. This can be intentional or unintentional. This is a less serious term than abuse. Misuse of medication can result in overdose and death. Misuse applies to OTC drugs and prescription medications.

Abuse - someone else taking a prescription other than the person on the label, or intentionally taking the medication in the wrong amount or when it is not needed. Abuse can also mean taking more than one drug at the same time without a medical reason. Use of any illegal drug is considered to be “drug abuse”

Psychoactive medicines and drugs are ones that change the way we think, feel, and perceive things and are more likely to be misused or abused. What are mind altering substances? Marijuana, alcohol, LSD, and Ecstasy are a few

Drug interaction – when two or more drugs or medicines are combined the effect can be dangerous. The combined effect can be more than double, or one drug’s effects can knock out another drug’s effects. (i.e., sedatives and alcohol, antibiotics and birth control)

Drugs and the Brain - some drugs, like antidepressants, make changes to the brain that are positive and beneficial, allowing people who are depressed to return to a more balanced level of emotions. These drugs work by increasing the levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in nerve synapses.

Remember - epinephrine (adrenaline) is also a neurotransmitter and exercise or stress can increase that level as well) Drugs of abuse like cocaine, ecstasy, nicotine and marijuana can interrupt normal brain activity and serotonin levels. This creates long-term problems for habitual users – changes in motivation, emotions, depression.

Drug users who develop habits begin to rely on the feelings these drugs create (even coffee junkies like me) and need more of their drug to produce the same feelings over time… What is this condition called?

Drug tolerance – needing more of a drug to produce the same/desired effect. After drug use, drug tolerance is the next step in the process of addiction.

Dependence – the user relies on the effects of the drug to feel comfortable in many situations, like using alcohol at a party or “needing” to be drunk or high in order to enjoy a social event or another person’s company.

Some drugs will cause a person to develop a physical or psychological dependence toward the drug. Physical dependence means a person needs the drug just to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependence includes cravings and the need to use the drug in order to feel “normal”.

Addiction – a person is both physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. Obtaining and taking the drug becomes more important than any other aspect of the user’s life. Withdrawal – symptoms include shakes, tremors, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, cravings, sweating.

Recovery is a term used to describe the process of becoming physically and psychologically clean from the drug. The psychological cravings and memories of good feelings no longer associated with the drug are what makes recovering addicts return to their drug – also the inability to cope with stress and pain.