Transcript Hallucinogens (cont.)

7.3 Drugs and Consciousness
• Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that affect the
nervous system and result in altered
consciousness.
Drug Tolerance
• A person has
developed the
need to take
greater doses of
the drug to get
the same effect
initial doses had
Drug Dependency
• A person now
needs to take the
drug to prevent
withdrawal
symptoms of NS
Withdrawal
• Painful
physical and
psychological
symptoms that
occur after a
drugdependent
person stops
using the drug
Stimulants
Amphetamines
• Speed, crank, crystal, ice
• Methamphetamine (new
twist---not pill form, but
smoked or snorted, for a
faster high)
• Increase blood pressure,
heart rate, enhanced mood,
alertness, and energy
Stimulants cont.
Amphetamines (cont.)
• Leads to excessive restless
behavior, repetitive beh.,
depression, agitation,
insomnia, paranoia
• Brain damage, NS
destruction
Stimulants
Cocaine
• Horse, snow, crack
• Increased physiological and
psychological arousal (energy, alert)
• Appetite suppression, insomnia,
irritation, nose damage, hallucinations,
bugs---circle of depresssion, fatigue,
withdrawal, craving
Stimulants cont.
Cocaine (cont.)
• Usually only lasts 30
minutes or so
• Impaired decision-making,
analysis of self and abilities
• Brain damage, NS
destruction
Legal Stimulants
Caffeine
– Physiological arousal--hyper feeling, energy,
improved reaction time
– Psychological arousal--decreased feeling of
fatigue and drowsiness,
alertness, improved
mental reaction time
Legal Stimulants
Nicotine
– Physiological effects--lung cancer, heart and
vascular disease,
emphysema
– Psychological arousal--improves attention,
concentration, and shortterm memory in low doses
Opiates
• Opium, morphine, heroin
• Reduce pain, create
euphoria (like state
between waking and
sleeping), constipation
• One of the fastest
“tolerance” drugs
Opiates (cont.)
• Dependence leads to:
– Hot and cold flashes
– Sweating
– Muscle tremors
– Stomach cramps
• Overdose leads to:
– Respiratory failure
Hallucinogens
• Psychoactive drugs that
produce strange
perceptual, sensory, and
cognitive experiences
• The person sees or hears
things that he knows are
not realistic
• Cultural uses
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• LSD (lycergic acid diethylamide)
– Visual hallucinations,
perceptual distortions,
increased sensory awareness,
and intense psychological
feelings
– “Tripping” is dependent on
user’s state of mind
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• LSD dangers include:
– Psychotic paranoia (can
require hospitalization)
– Uncontrolled frightening
flashbacks of the trip
– Tolerance develops quickly,
but no reports of
dependence
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Psilocybin (mushrooms)
– Pleasant and relaxed state
(low dose) to perceptual
distortions in time and space
(med. dose) to
hallucinations, body image
distortions, etc.
– Tripping is like an “awake
dream”
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Psilocybin dangers
include:
– Psychotic states last long
and are unpredictable
– Accidental poisoning
from bad ‘shrooms
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Designer drugs
– Manufactured or synthetic
drugs designed to mimic
existing illegal psychoactive
drugs / effects
• Ecstasy (MDMA) is an
example
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Ecstasy (MDMA)
– Resembles both mescaline
(hallucinogen) and amphetamine
(upper)
– Increases emotional awareness
and intimacy, and alters visual
perceptions
– Lowers inhibitions (aphrodisiac)
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Ecstasy (MDMA) dangers
include:
– Jitteriness, anxiety, jaw clenching,
fear and insomnia (low doses)
– Panic, rapid heartbeat, paranoia, and
psychotic episodes (med. dose)
– Confusion, fatigue, depression,
severe nausea (high, prolonged dose)
Hallucinogens (cont.)
• Ecstasy (MDMA) dangers
include (cont):
– Physically damages neurons
over time which can lead to an
uncountable number of
neurological problems
Alcohol
• Psychoactive drug
• Depressant: depresses
CNS activity
• Seems like a stimulant
first, but later depresses
many physio / psycho
responses
Alcohol (cont.)
• Few drinks = friendliness and loss
of inhibitions
• Several drinks = interferes with
ability to understand events around
them
• Many drinks = Impairs motor
coord, cognitive abilities, decision
making, speech
Marijuana
• Psychoactive drug (THC in the
leaves creates the effect)
• One of the few drugs where no
deaths are caused by its direct
biological effects
• 5-10 minute effect after inhalation
• Dose indicates type of high
Marijuana (cont.)
• Low dose = mild euphoria
• Moderate dose = perceptual and
time distortion
• High dose = hallucinations,
delusions, and distortions of the
body image