Drugs & Consciousness Make a window shutter SEDATIVES STIMULANTS PSYCHEDELICSMISCELLANEOUS When you see this, it means write this down.

On inside/middle start at top (will need some room later) Psychoactive Drugs – chemical compound that produces a change in conscious experience by altering brain’s normal activity Why study in Psychology? Help understand consciousness 1)Way drugs alter normal waking consciousness 2)Electrical & chemical events *Many effects are not known because studies are still new & ongoing Analgesic – produces insensitivity to pain w/o loss of consciousness

How drugs work Drugs work at brain’s synapses by – Stimulating – InhibitingNeurotransmitters – Mimicking Cross blood-brain barrier Like a lock & key system Tap into brain’s communication system & interfere w/ the way nerve cells normally work Brain is efficient & will quit producing

How drugs work Tolerance – Larger & larger doses needed to achieve same effect – Body and organs suffer damage – Brain stops producing own Withdrawal – Physical pain & cravings – Ray, Walk the Line movies Dependence – Physical – Psychological

Facts About Drugs Drug use increased in 1970’s in US, then decreased during 80’s (Just Say No) Since 1990’s has been rebounding Cigarette smoking had decreased, but now rebounding with teens Peer culture is major influence 42% of drop outs compared to 15% of college grads smoke Studies show people tend to overestimate how many people are using

Sedatives Decrease activity levels, produce sleep & calmness Ex. Alcohol (since 6400 BC), barbiturates, Valium, tranquilizers Medical – tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anesthetic Overdose problem

Stimulants Increase activity levels, enhance positive feelings, increase alertness, minute rush Ex. Caffeine, cocaine, nicotine, amphetamines – Interesting fact: can possibly immunize people against cocaine (it works in mice!) Effects – euphoria, increase alertness by masking fatigue, increase attention, blood sugar increases (thus diminishes appetite) Medical – weight-loss, ADHD, anesthetic Problems – anxiety, insomnia, headaches, irregular heartbeat, stomach irritation, short-term high in exchange for low, addiction

Psychedelics Alter perception, thought, and imagination Ex. Hallucinogens, LSD Effects – unlock thoughts and feelings, change perception, some pleasant, some frightening

Miscellaneous Mixture of effects, distortions Ex. Marijuana, PCP (angel dust), Ecstasy (MDMA) Abuse is serious Opiates – heroin, morphine

Back to the middle Normal Relief from anxiety Disinhibition Sedation Sleep Anesthesia Coma Death Can move quickly! People tend to think more people are using than actually are!!!