1. Psychoactive Drugs

4. States of Consciousness 2-4%
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• Describe various states of consciousness and their impact on behavior.
• Discuss aspects of sleep and dreaming:
— stages and characteristics of the sleep cycle;
— theories of sleep and dreaming;
— symptoms and treatments of sleep disorders.
• Describe historic and contemporary uses of hypnosis (e.g., pain control,
psychotherapy).
• Explain hypnotic phenomena (e.g., suggestibility, dissociation).
• Identify the major psychoactive drug categories (e.g., depressants, stimulants) and classify specific drugs, including their psychological and physiological
effects.
• Discuss drug dependence, addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal.
• Identify the major figures in consciousness research (e.g., William James,
Sigmund Freud, Ernest Hilgard).

5. Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioral functioning
Our book categorizes these drugs into six categories, but they are more commonly just categorized under three

6. categories

7. 3 common categories -
Depressant
Stimulant
Hallucinogen

8. Narcotics (opiates)
Drugs derived from opium that are capable of relieving pain
Heroin and morphine
Falls under “depressant” as well

9. Depressants
Drugs and opiates that calm the body and slow body functioning
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Opiates

10. Alcohol
Disinhibitor- slows brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions
Slows neural processing
Memory disruption- nerve cell death, reduces the birth of new nerve cells, impairs growth of new nerve cells, blackouts (suppresses REM)
Alcohol use disorder- alcoholism
Reduced self awareness and self control
Expectancy effects

11. Barbiturates Tranquilizers Depress nervous system activity
Induce sleep, reduce anxiety
In larger doses can impair memory and judgment
Combined w/alcohol can be lethal

12. Opiates Opium and its derivatives Depress neural functioning
Heroin, codeine, and morphine
Pupil constriction, breathing slows, lethargy sets in
When you use all the time, the body stops producing endorphins on its own

13. stimulants
Drugs that tend to increase central nervous system activation and behavioral activity
Range from mild to stronger, readily available to carefully regulated ones (caffeine to cocaine)
Amphetamines- drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated mood changes

14. Nicotine Cigarettes/tobacco products Quickly addictive
Difficult to quit within even the first few weeks

15. Cocaine
Powerful and addictive stimulant, derived from the coca plant, producing temporarily increased alertness and euphoria
Snort, inject, smoke, etc
Enters bloodstream, euphoria depletes the brain’s supply of the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
Crack* faster working crystallized form of cocaine that produces a briefer, but more intense high

16. Methamphetamine
Powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with speeded-up body processes and associated energy and mood change; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels

17. Ecstacy Synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen.
Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin producing neurons and to mood and cognition

18. Hallucinogens
Psychedelic drugs that have powerful effects on mental and emotional functioning, marked most prominently by distortions in sensory and perceptual experiences

19. Marijuana
THC- major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations
Lingers in the system for up to a week
Disrupts memory formation, interferes with immediate recall
Heavy use over 20 years leads to shrinkage of brain areas associated with memory and emotion
Prenatal exposure impairs brain development

20. LSD Powerful hallucinogenic drug, also known as acid
Emotions range from euphoria to detachment to panic
“near death experience” an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death, often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

21. Factors influencing drug effects

22. Drugs effects from person to person
Multifactoral causation
Subjectivity of experience

23. Factors Influencing Drug Effects
Tolerance: a progressive decrease in a person’s responsiveness to a drug
People consume larger and larger amounts of the drugs in order to attain the effect they desire
Slow vs. quick development

24. Mechanisms of drug action
Amphetamines- increase the release of neurotransmitters at DA (dopamine) and NE (norepinephrine) transmitters
Amphetamines also interfere with the reuptake of neurotransmitter molecules at DA and NE synapses
THUS- they produce stimulant effects
BUT- more time for enzymes to swoop in and get rid of them crash
Cocaine- interferes with reuptake at DE, NE, and serotonin synapses

26. Drug Dependence
Physical Dependence: a person must continue to take the drug to avoid withdrawal illness
Fever, chills, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, aches, pains, depression, and feelings of disorientation

27. Drug Dependence
Psychological Dependence: exists when a person must continue to take a drug to satisfy intense mental and emotional cravings for a drug

28. Drugs and Health Overdose
Respiratory systems grind to a halt, comas, brain damage, heart attack, stroke, seizures, and even DEATH.

29. Direct effects Snorting- tissue damage, nasal membranes
Respiratory problems
Liver damage
Ulcers
Hypertension
Stroke
Heart disease
Cancer

30. Indirect effects Impairment of motor coordination
Infectious diseases (needles)
AIDS

31. Drug Chart Activity
Get with your assigned group at one of the stations.
Complete the chart as you move about each station(approx. 5 minutes at each station).
Complete using the sheets provided, but also use your phones to look up miscellaneous data and stats to add to your chart
Think legality, dependency speed, news, etc.
If you finish early, continue to look up miscellaneous information and data- we will discuss it all tomorrow!