1. Drugs and Consciousness
Lesson 7-3

2. Psychoactive Drugs Starts at a young age is a psychoactive drug
drug that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness
can affect mood, perception, behavior

3. Psychoactive Drugs
Range from stimulants in cola to depressants like alcohol to hallucinogens like marijuana and lsd

4. How Drugs Work
Drugs are carried in the blood and taken to other tissues in the body
they then attach onto the ends of nerve cells (neurons) and sent out their own messages (neurotransmitters)
may tell a nerve cell not to fire (coma) or have them fire all at once (hallucinations)

5. Marijuana
Dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant that causes an altered state of consciousness when smoked or ingested.
Also called cannabis

6. Marijuana Legal and accepted in some cultures
Abundant in U.S. in 1960’s
made by drying the plant to form hashish, a gummy powder
can be cooked and eaten

7. Marijuana Affects vary from person to person
Affects can vary based on on the setting in which drug taken and user’s past experience
music sounds fuller, colors look brighter, may feel elated

8. Marijuana
Is not physically addictive but can become psychologically addictive
Can heighten unpleasant experiences

9. Marijuana More damaging to the lungs than cigarettes
no link to cancer
Disrupts memory formation
Adults using marijuana scored lower than equal-IQ nonusers on a 12th grade achievement test

10. Hallucinations Perceptions that have no direct external cause
seeing, hearing, tasting things that aren’t there
Can happen when a person is deprived of sleep
truck drivers swerve to avoid cars that aren’t there

11. Hallucinations Usually involve color
Caused when entire nervous system becomes aroused

12. Hallucinogens Substances that cause hallucinations
Also called psychedelic because they create a loss of contact with reality
LSD is one of the most powerful hallucinogens
Does not take much to produce a trip

13. Hallucinogens Often dissolved into strips of paper or sugar cubes
a person experiences many mood states and they are often quite intense
sometimes it can be terrifying
wall may pulsate or breath

14. Hallucinogens Sounds are seen and visuals are heard
Single stimulus can become the focus of attention for hours
LSD impairs thinking
panic reactions are the most common side effect

15. Hallucinogens Flashbacks- can occur months after taking LSD
PCP- also called angel dust
also very unpredictable

16. Opiates Usually called narcotics opium, morphine and heroin
Used as analgesics- reduce pain
can produce euphoria- pleasurable state somewhere between sleep and awake

17. Opiates Can lead to physical addiction
overdose results in loss of breathing
heroine is so powerful it is illegal for Dr.’s to use

18. Alcohol Most widely used and abused drug
it is encouraged by advertisements and social expectations
causes a general loosing of inhibitions
depressant that inhibits brain function

19. Alcohol Can cause people to act without restraint
Affects depend on the amount and frequency of drinking
Also varies by body size and what you have eaten

20. Alcohol Slurred speech, blurred vision, impairment in judgement
big factor in accidents, divorces, and loss of jobs
Permanent damage to brain and liver

21. Tranquilizers Calm anxieties and tensions
perceive anxiety producing events, but remain detached from them
can be dangerous if used for long periods of time

22. Stimulants Stimulate the central nervous system
increase arousal and alertness
caffeine, amphetamines (speed) cocaine
users feel energized and invincible
can cause heart failure and death

23. Drug Abuse and Treatment
When does use become abuse?
Drug abusers are people who regularly use illegal drugs or excessively use legal drugs

24. Drug Abuse and Treatment
Why do people abuse drugs?
Avoid boredom
pressure from peers
gain self-confidence
forget about problems
feel good

25. Drug Abuse and Treatment
Why should people not abuse drugs?
Danger of death or injury
overdose or accident
Can turn into an addiction
overwhelming desire to obtain the drugs
legal consequences
destructive behavior

26. Treatment First- must admit they have a problem
Enter treatment program or get therapy
Must remain drug free
Some join support groups to help with this