Drugs and consciousness

Addiction A compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance After a while the body craves it just to feel normal Alcohol, nicotine, and many other drugs are addictive People can become psychologically dependent on drugs. The body doesn’t crave it, but the person depends on it to feel normal

Depressants Drugs that slow the activity of the nervous system. Give people a sense of relaxation.

Alcohol and Narcotics Alcohol is the most widely used drug in the US Alcohol intoxicates, aka makes you drunk, which slurs speech, blurs vision, makes it difficult to concentrate, effects judgement When drunk, people pay less attention to the consequences of behavior Narcotics are addictive depressants that have been used to relieve pain and induce sleep Include morphine, heroin, and codeine and are from the opium poppy plant Morphine was given to soldiers from the Civil War for wounds; Soldiers’ disease Heroin was introduced as a cure for morphine addiction (old medicine is wild)

Stimulants Increase the activity of the nervous system. Speed up the heart and breathing rate.

Nicotine Is the drug found in tobacco leaves Releases adrenaline, which causes the heart rate to increase and make people feel more alert, but research shows it doesn’t actually do so Cigarettes have a warning on packaging, but still 400,000 people die from smoking related diseases. This is more than the number who die from car accidents, all other drug abuse, suicide, homicide, and AIDS combined Smokers are 12-20 more times to develop cancer than non smokers and even secondhand smoke can lead to lung cancer

Amphetamines A type of stimulant often used to stay awake or to reduce appetite First used by soldiers during WWII to help them remain awake and alert Can be pills or injected Large doses = a big high, but the come down can be a very hard crash (depression) Can lead to hallucinations (bugs crawling all over them) Latest problem amphetamine is more commonly known as meth Amphetamines are extremely addictive

Cocaine A stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant Produces feelings of pleasure, deadens pain, and boosts confidence Been used as a painkiller since the 1800s Sigmund Freud was a user A very harmful form of cocaine is known as crack

Hallucinogens Is a drug that produces hallucinations. Cause relaxation or feelings of pleasure

Marijuana Produced from the leaves of the cannabis sativa plant Produces feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinations Impairs perception, coordination, memory, and learning Increases heart rate and raises blood pressure Effects consciousness; time moves slower, visual hallucinations can be common, and even anxiety

Other Hallucinogens LSD (acid) Mushrooms Peyote Ecstasy

Treatments Treatments vary depending on the drug Detoxification- the removal of the harmful substance from the body, weans addicts to restore health; used for alcohol and narcotics Maintenance Programs- controlled amount of drugs given to participants Counseling- group or individual sessions Support Groups- people with similar problems share common experiences

Questions What are the symptoms of intoxication? What are some of the effects of cocaine? What are some of the effects of nicotine? Do you think people use drugs to heighten consciousness or to escape from it? Describe some of the effects of depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens on consciousness. Why and how do you think the use of morphine became widespread?