Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines, and Caffeine Chapter 11 Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines, and Caffeine

COCAINE NATURALLY OCCURRING DRUG WITH LOCAL ANESTHETIC PROPERTIES COMES FROM THE LEAVES OF THE COCA BUSH ADMINISTRATION: SNORTING

Cocaine: Historical Perspectives Chewing Coca leaves was popular among Inca Civilizations Ancient Inca records indicate that coca chewing was appreciated for increased strength and stamina to workers Coca was used to measure time and distance (mouthfuls of coca leaves)

Cocaine: Historical Perspectives 1859’s - German chemist, Alfred Nieman isolated cocaine 1863 - Vin Mariani (wine with cocaine)

Cocaine: Historical Perspectives 1884 - Freud used cocaine to “cure” morphine addiction - Freud himself became dependent upon cocaine 1885 - John Pemberton took out alcohol added soda water, syrup from kola nut, and caffeine to produce Coca-cola

Cocaine: Historical Perspectives Late 1800’s negative public reaction to cocaine 1914 Harrison Narcotic Act was enacted and non-medical use of cocaine drecreased 1970’s – recreational use of cocaine again became popular

LOW DOSES INCREASED HEART RATE INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE DECREASE IN FATIGUE INCREASE IN MENTAL ALERTNESS INCREASED SOCIABILITY

HIGH DOSES NERVOUSNESS DIZZINESS, BLURRED VISION VOMITING, TREMORS REPRESSION OF HEART ENZYMES CONVULSIONS DEATH

COCAINE EUPHORIA SHORT-LIVED EUPHORIA 15-30 MINUTE “HIGH” “CRASHING”

LONG TERM USE INFECTIONS OF THE NASAL SEPTUM COCAINE PSYCHOSIS FORMICATION (COCAINE BUGS)

FREEBASE FORMS PURIFIED FORMS OF COCAINE “FREEBASING” CRACK

CRACK IMPURITIES FROM COCAINE REMOVED SOLD IN TINY CHIPS AND SMOKED HAS 10 TIMES THE IMPACT OF COCAINE

EFFECTS OF CRACK 15-30 MINUTE HIGH WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF ADMINISTRATION CRASHING INCLUDES PROFOUND DEPRESSION AND NAUSEA UP AND DOWN CYCLE REINFORCES CRAVING

AMPHETAMINES POWERFUL SYNTHETIC STIMULANT FIRST SYNTHESIZED IN LATE 1800’s USED MEDICALLY IN 1930’s for RAISING BLOOD PRESSURE AND ASTHMA ALSO USED IN WW2 BY JAPAN AND GERMANY

Amphetamines are similar to the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine

Effects Psychological -euphoria -restlessness -agitation -confusion -paranoia -hallucinations

Physical Effects Dry mouth High blood pressure Tremors Tinnitus Convulsions Cardiac arrest

The physical and psychological effects of amphetamines can last for hours and the “crashing” can also last for hours

Medical Uses for Amphetamines Narcolepsy Depression Weight Loss ADHD

Ritalin Americans consume over 90% of the world’s Ritalin More than 4 million American children take Ritalin Ritalin has a high safety record

Ritalin Dosage A low dosage of Ritalin helps the child’s cognitive processing Enhances functioning of the RAS

Problems with Ritalin Adverse effects include Insomnia Weight loss Headahces Irritability Nausea Dizziness

Diversion of Ritalin Ritalin is an amphetamine cogener so it can produce a powerful stimulant effect for someone using it recreationally Ritalin is a popular stimulant that is diverted from medical to recreational use

Xanthines XANTHINES ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING STIMULANTS AND INCLUDE CAFFEINE THEOPHYLLINE THEOBROMINE

Coffee is the major source for caffeine Tea is a the major source for theophylline Chocolate is the major source for theobromine

Caffeine Caffeine is the world’s most frequently consumed stimulant The effects at moderate levels are cerebral stimulation, increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, and decreased appetite

LONG-TERM EFFECTS NO SERIOUS EFFECTS CONTRAINDICATED WITH PREGNANCY, HEADACHES, DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS, PANIC DISORDERS

CAFFEINISM DEFINED: ACUTE OR CHRONIC OVERUSE OF CAFFEINE RESULTING IN DEPENDENCE AND/OR STIMULANT USE SYMPTOMS

CAFFEINISM SYMPTOMS RESTLESSNESS NERVOUSNESS EXCITEMENT INSOMNIA EXCESSIVE DIURESIS GI COMPLAINTS

CAFFEINISM SYMPTOMS MUSCLE TWITCHING RAMBLING FLOW OF THOUGHT/SPEECH CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA

Summary Cocaine is a naturally occurring drug with local anesthetic properties High does of cocaine can result in death Long term use of cocaine has negative medical consequences Crack is a freebase form of cocaine

Amphetamines are powerful prescription stimulants, commonly referred to as “speed” Ritalin is an amphetamine used in treating ADHD Caffeine is a cerebral stimulant Caffeinism results from an overdose of caffeine