1. Chapter 5 (C): Drugs and Consciousness
Ms. Saint-Paul
A.P. Psychology

2. Psychoactive Drugs Psychoactive Drug:
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods

3. Dependence and Addiction
Tolerance:
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug
Requires the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

4. Dependence and Addiction
Withdrawal:
The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug
Dependence:
The need for a drug to relieve physical pain or discomfort (physical dependence) or negative thoughts and emotions (psychological dependence)

5. Dependence and Addiction
Compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

6. How Likely is Addiction?
The likelihood of becoming addicted varies among different drugs:
Marijuana: 9%
Alcohol:
15%
Heroin:
23%
Tobacco:
32%

7. Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive drugs are divided into three main groups:
Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens

8. Depressants Depressants:
Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
Types of depressants:
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Opiates

9. What are some factors that influence people to abuse alcohol?
Depressants: Alcohol
What are
some factors
that influence people
to abuse alcohol?

10. Stimulants Stimulants:
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Types of stimulants:
Caffeine
Nicotine
Cocaine
Ecstasy (MDMA)
Amphetamines
Methamphetamines

11. What are some factors that influence people to smoke cigarettes?
Stimulants: Nicotine
What are
some factors
that influence people
to smoke cigarettes?

12. Why Do People Smoke? People smoke because it is socially rewarding.
Smoking is also a result of genetic factors.

13. Why Do People Smoke?
Nicotine takes away unpleasant cravings (negative reinforcement) by triggering epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and endorphins.
Nicotine itself is rewarding (positive reinforcement).

14. Stimulants: The Effects of Methamphetamines

15. Hallucinogens Hallucinogens:
Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
Types of hallucinogens:
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
THC (Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)

16. Near-Death Experiences
Hallucinogens often produce a bright light in the center of the field of vision
People who have near-death experiences often report similar perceptions

17. Types of Psychoactive Drugs

18. Influences on Drug Use
The graph below shows the percentage of US high- school seniors reporting their use of alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine from the 70s to the late 90s.

19. Influences on Drug Use
The use of drugs is based on biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences.

20. Experience with Addiction
Do you know of anyone who was able to overcome an addiction?
What steps did they take to overcome this?

21. Key Principles of Change
1. The belief that one can change
2. Type of treatment is not as important as one’s commitment to change
3. Duration of treatment is not as important as one’s focus and continued efforts to change
4. Life skills can be instrumental in overcoming addiction
5. Repeated efforts to change
6. Improvement without abstinence counts; all movement in the “right direction” should be accepted and rewarded

22. Do Now What is a psychoactive drug?
What does it mean to develop tolerance to a drug?
Differentiate between physical dependence and psychological dependence of a drug.
Discuss the characteristics of the following types of drugs:
Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens