Drugs

Influences on Drug Use Biological – heredity Psychological Identical twins Adoption studies Boys at age 6 excitable, fearless, impulsive (genetic traits) are more likely to take drugs NPY – brain chemical more sensitive to alcohol Gene identified to predispose people to alcohol dependence Psychological Lacking sense of purpose Stress Depression Social-cultural Urban enviro Cultural attitude toward drugs Peer influences Adoptive individuals are more suseptible to alcohol dependence if one or more biological parents have a history of it Having an identical twin with alcoholism puts one at an increased risk for alcohol problems Must look at other psychological and social cultural influence on alcohol use = biopsychosocial approach Psychological – feeling that one’s life is meaningless is an important factor contributing to drug use Urban enviro – readily available drugs The best predictor of an adolescent's pattern of drug usage is whether the adolescent has friends who are drug users

Drugs Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier. The drugs that are small enough to pass through are called psychoactive drugs.

Psychoactive Drugs Chemicals that alter moods and perceptions through actions on neural synapses Altered state (altered moods and perceptions)associated with changes in brain activity Examples: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine (depressants, hallucinogens, stimulants) Alter moods and perception, both associated with altered states (awareness of ourselves and our environment is altered to a different mental state with Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and a variety of chemical agents that alter moods and perceptions are called psychoactive drugs

Dependence and Addiction Addiction – compulsive craving for a drug despite adverse consequences Tolerance – need to take larger and larger doses to experience the same effects Neuroadaptation - change in brain chemistry that offsets the effects of a psychoactive drug Withdrawal – discomfort and distress that follow the discontinued use of certain drugs (aches, nausea, distress) Physical dependence – physiological need for a drug indicated by withdrawal symptoms Psychological dependence – psychological need to use a drug Physical dependence = drug addiction Addiction – adverse consequences = legal problems, loss of job, loss of family Many people are able to stop using addictive drugs without professional help

Drugs are either…. Agonists – mimics neurotransmitters Opiates (heroine, morphine) mimic endorphins Antagonists – block neurotransmitters LSD – blocks serotonin Reuptake inhibitors Cocaine – blocks reuptake of dopamine, Ecstasy blocks reuptake of serotonin

Depressants Slows down body processes and calms neural activity. Breathing slows, pupils constrict, anxiety replaced by pleasure Alcohol Barbiturates/ tranquilizers Opiates (morphine, heroine)

Alcohol More than 86 billion dollars are spent annually on alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is involved in 60% of ALL crimes. Alcohol is involved in over 70% of sexually related crimes. Is it worth the cost?

Opiates Agonist for endorphins. Morphine, heroin, methadone and codeine. Pupils constrict, breathing slows, lethargy, blissful pleasure replaces pain and anxiety Highly addictive Brain stops producing own opiates (endorphins) brain will lack painkilling neurotransmitters after withdrawal

Stimulants Excite neural activity and speed up body processes. Increased heart and breathing rates, pupils dilate, appetite diminishes, energy increases More powerful ones (like cocaine) give people feelings of invincibility. Amphetamines Methamphetamines Caffeine Nicotine Cocaine Ecstasy

Hallucinogens Psychedelics Causes changes in perceptions of reality LSD, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. Reverse tolerance or synergistic effect