Drugs and Addiction

Warm-up Do not put your name on this. On the piece of paper I give you, answer the following: 1. Do you personally know anyone with an addiction? 2. Have you ever used a drug (legal or illegal)? 3. Have you ever seen someone use an illegal drug? 4. If a loved one had an addiction would you be able to completely cut them off until they received help?

Use of Drugs - Percentage

Trends in Drug Use 1975 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99 Year 80% High school seniors reporting drug use Alcohol Marijuana/ hashish Cocaine

Perceived Marijuana Risk ‘75 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99 Year 100% Percent of twelfth graders Perceived “great risk of harm” in marijuana use Used marijuana

Psychoactive drugs Chemicals that change moods and perceptions IE: Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens

Addictions Tolerance- The diminishing effects with regular use to drugs requiring larger consumptions to experience the same effects Neuroadaptation- Brain adapts its chemistry to offset drug’s effect Small Large Drug dose Little effect Big effect Drug effect Response to first exposure After repeated exposure, more drug is needed to produce same effect

Withdrawal Withdrawal- Discomfort and distress that comes with discontinuing use of an addictive drug Physical Dependence- Painful symptoms associated with withdrawal (nausea, body aches, fever, etc… Psychological Dependence- cravings, mental need to be “normal”, compulsions, and obsessions – Mood altering drugs= need it for the desired mood (learned behaviors or conditioned responses)

Drug as a disease Misleading to addicts “Can not fix disease” “No hope” Excuse, “it’s a disease”

Drug BTW’s 10-30% become addicted (80-70% do not)

Some drugs block the Reuptake or absorption of excess NT’s which leads to a greater feeling of high

Agonists and Antagonists Some drugs act as Agonist which mimic the effects of naturally occurring NT’s

The Big Picture Drugs increase or mimic the production of naturally occurring NT’s So the brain reduces or stops producing the NT naturally When the drug is gone so are the natural NT’s This results in a crash, withdrawal and a depression of a normal NT baseline So when not on the drug, the brain and body aren’t functioning normally (according to the depleted NT)

“This picture demonstrates the debilitating effects of drug use. You can clearly see the physical breakdown that occurs with the abuse of drugs. What you don't see but can imagine is the loss of jobs, relationships and family.”

Psychoactive Classifications Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens

Depressants Alcohol, barbiturates, Opiates

Alcohol Is the Most Widely Abused Drug Expectations – alcohol reduces anxiety – alcohol increases social skills, sexual pleasure, confidence, power Reality – large doses of alcohol result in negative moods and focus on problems and anxieties – Alcohol impairs motor processes, information processing, mood, sexual performance – Learned beliefs about intoxication influence behavior

Alcohol Is the Most Widely Abused Drug Gender Differences in Alcohol Consumption Across Cultures – men twice as likely to report binge drinking, chronic drinking, recent alcohol intoxication – Four key factors: 1.Power 2.Sex 3.Risks 4.Responsibilities

Depressants- Alcohol Increases: Aggression, impairs judgments, Decrease: moral control, memory, cognitive functions, inhibitions, control of urges and desires, self-awareness Focuses on immediate situation not long term consequences

Depressants- Alcohol Physiological effects- relaxes sympathetic nervous system – Reduces REM sleep – Shrinks brain

Depressants- Alcohol Psychological effects- – Associate consumption with certain behaviors= Learned responses to consumption – Increased, sexuality, strength, humorous, outgoing – Cultural differences – But it is a depressant

Depressants- Barbiturates Tranquilizers and medical sedation pills Depress nervous system Can cause nervous system to shut down GABA inhibitor

Depressants- Opiates Opium, heroin, morphine Depress neural functioning Pleasure replace anxiety and pain Brain stops producing endorphins= brain lacks natural pain killers (week long withdrawal)

Stimulants Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, speed Increases: energy, athletic performance, weight lose, heart rate, breathing, mood, self- confidence Decreases: appetite Amphetamines, methamphetamines 8 hour high leads to dopamine deficiency and a severe crash (headaches, irritability, depression)

Stimulants-Cocaine -Enters blood stream quickly -Rush uses up brain’s dopamine, serotonin, and blocks reuptake of norepinehrine= crash and depression -Leads to suspicion, convulsions, depression, heart attack, respiratory failure Monkeys will push button 12,000 times for one injection

Stimulants- Ecstasy MDMA Stimulant and mild hallucinogen Elevated mood (increased dopamine and serotonin, blocks reuptake) Leads to a lower baseline of neurotransmitters= depression Depression, dehydration, overheating, increased heart rate, suppression of immune system, circadian cycle is interfered with, impairs memory and cognitive function

Hallucinogens Distorted perception Sensory illusions LSD, Marijuana, MDMA Chemical Compounds

Hallucinogens- LSD Crated in 1943 Euphoria and detachment to pain Chemically similar to serotonin

Hallucinogens- Marijuana THC is active ingredient Relaxes Inhibits: decisions and motor skills, perception, and reaction time, recall and memory decline Euphoric with mild hallucinations due to amplified stimulation Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia Possible medical or therapeutic uses Brain has THC receptors so the THC binds to these possibly reducing pain

High concentrations of cannabinoid receptors exist in the hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia. The hippocampus is located within the temporal lobe and is important for short-term memory. When the THC binds with the cannabinoid receptors inside the hippocampus, it interferes with the recollection of recent events. THC also affects coordination, which is controlled by the cerebellum. The basal ganglia controls unconscious muscle movements, which is another reason why motor coordination is impaired when under the influence of marijuana.

Susceptibility to Addiction 1. Nature- Genetics, addiction genes, anxiety, depression 2. Environmental- Trauma, abuse, neighborhood, social interactions, home live 3. Social- Enjoyment, learned, observed behaviors, mimicking

Psychoactive Drugs

Closure

Explain how people become addicted to drugs?

Activity Your friend/family member has an addiction: 1. Decide what their addiction is. 2. How did they become addicted? 3. Explain 2 destructive behaviors they exhibit and how they impact others? 4. What is the unconscious issue causing this addiction? Explain how this started. 5. What steps will you take to end this addiction? (BE SPECIFIC) Yes, you will present this!