Transcript Chapter 8: Stimulants

Chapter 8: Stimulants
Their Effects & Common Types
NEONS
Names of Team Members
April 6, 2005
Goals and Purpose
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
To inform class about Stimulants and their
effects on the body
To inform specifically about 3 common forms
of Stimulants
- structure, sources, negative effects
Stimulants
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What is a stimulant?
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
Any substance that increases our level of
alertness and speed of our mental processes
What does a stimulant do?
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Enhances brain activity
Improves mood
Decreases fatigue and our appetite
Increases blood pressure, heart rate, and
respiration
Stimulants
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History
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Used to treat asthma, obesity, neurological
disorders
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Found to have potential for addiction
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Still used to treat narcolepsy, attention-deficit
disorder, and depression
Stimulants
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Consequences of Addiction
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Irregular heartbeat
High body temperature
Cardiovascular failure
No evident cure
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Detoxification
Stimulants
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Three commons examples of stimulants:
Caffeine
Nicotine
Amphetamines
Caffeine C8H10N4O2
Caffeine
Common Sources:
- Coffee
Tea
- Cola Drinks
- Over the counter Drugs (No-Doz)
- Pure form = white crystalline powder
-
Caffeine
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Uses:
- Medically as a cardiac stimulant or a mild
diuretic
- Recreationally as an energy boost
- blocks adenosine reception
- injects andrenaline into system
- manipulates dopamine production
Caffeine
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Negative effects:
- Can interrupt sleep patterns
- If relied on too much, once use is stopped it
can cause tiredness, depression &
headaches
Caffeine
- Broken down in the liver
-Lethal dose= 10 g (100 cups of coffee)
- Half-life: 6 hours
- America’s most popular drug, 90% of people
consume it every day
Nicotine C10H14N2
Nicotine
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Alkaloid
- organic compound made out of carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen & sometimes oxygen
- colorless, oily fluid with little odor, sharp
burning taste
Common Source:
- occurs naturally in leaves of tobacco plants
- inhaled cigarette smoke
Nicotine
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Negative effects:
- blocks the release of the hormone insulin,
causing hyperglycemic (too much sugar than
usual in blood)
- can increase the level of the “bad”
cholesterol LDL
- damages your arteries
- increase risk of heart attack or stroke
- withdrawal symptoms
Nicotine
Half-life:
1 hour
Amphetamines C9H13N
Amphetamines
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Amphetamine Relatives:
- Dextroamphetamine
- Methamphetamine (Speed or Meth)
- Ecstasy
- Phenylethylamine
Amphetamines
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Uses:
- Medically:
- WWII soldiers were given amphetamines to
stay awake
- Medically dexadrine and methadrine are
prescribed for people suffering from
narcolepsy and children who have
ADHD
- Found in weight loss pills (now regulated by
the FDA)
- Recreationally:
- abused as street drugs
Amphetamines
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When a methyl group (CH3) is added, it
becomes Methamphetamines:
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Need psuedoephedrine to be processed
Found in white powder, clear chunky crystals,
brightly colored tablets (Yaba)
Produced most widely in western, southwestern,
Midwestern U.S. and Mexico
Half-life: 12 hours
Amphetamines
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Methamphetamine Negative effects:
- psychotic behavior ( anxiety & paranoia)
- brain damage
- linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
Lasting Effects
Hours
12
10
8
6
Half-Life
4
2
0
Meth.
Caffeine
Nicotine
Stimulants
Pros
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Increases energy
Used medically to
regulate disorders
Cognitive enhancement
Cons
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Addiction
Harmful to the body if
not used in moderation
Withdrawal symptoms
References
“Amphetamines”. www.Recovery.org.uk/druginfo/index.html.
(accessed Feb. 2005)
“Stimulants”. www.drug-addiction.com/stimulants.htm (accessed
Feb. 2005)
Baird, C.; Gloffke, W. Condensation Polymers and Drugs-Especially Those
Containing Nitrogen. Chemistry In Your Life; W.H. Freeman and Co.: New York,
2003; pp295-321
Brain, Marshall, “How Caffeine Works” .
http://home.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm/printable (accessed Feb.2005).
Meeker-O’Connell, Ann, “How Nicotine Works”.
http://sciences.howstuffworks.com/nicotine.htm/printable (accessed Feb. 2005).
Drugs Information Online, Amphetamine Drug Information.
http:www.drugs.com/amphetamine.html (accessed Feb. 2005)
Erowid, Psychoactive Chemistry.
http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/chemistry/chemistry.shtml (accessed Mar.
2005)