Transcript Drugs and Consciousness - Lincoln Park High School

Drugs and
Consciousness
Understanding different
types of drugs, how they
alter consciousness, and
lead to addiction.
Psychoactive Drugs
• Chemical substance that alters
perceptions and moods.
• Psychoactive drug use leads to a
buildup in tolerance, as well as
physical and psychological
dependencies.
• Not all psychoactive drugs are
illegal. Like…
Some misconceptions about
addiction
• Addictive drugs
quickly corrupt
everyone.
• Addictions require
therapy to
overcome.
• You can become
addicted to any
pleasure seeking
behavior.
• Use a drug (caffeine, to stay awake) →
Tolerance (no longer have same effects
from 1 cup of coffee) → drug abuse
(drinking 3 Red Bulls before noon) →
dependence (cannot stay awake without
the Red Bulls) = ADDICTION
Withdrawal
• A substance specific disorder when
an addict stops using a substance
• Can cause mood swings, physical
pain
• Intensity depends on the person and
the substance
Chemically - how do
drugs affect us?
How drugs “get in”
• Drugs interact with the brain (and “get in”) in
3 ways:
1. imitating neurotransmitters and preventing them from
working normally. “Fools brain” into thinking it’s real
» example: heroin and marijuana
2. telling brain to constantly release a neurotransmitter –
usually dopamine
» example: cocaine and meth
How drugs “get in” (cont’d)
• 3rd way – blocks neurotransmitter
from connecting to a neuron
– Example: curare, botulin causes
paralysis by blocking ACH
The normal neural exchange
Drugs and neurons
4 Classifications of Drugs
1. Depressants
2. Stimulants
3. Hallucinogens
4. Opiates
Depressants
• Calm neural
activity and slow
body functions.
• Alcohol,
barbituates,
opiates
Stimulants
• Speeds up heart
beat, breathing,
etc. Reduces
fatigue
temporarily.
• Elevates mood
• Caffeine,
Amphetamines,
ecstasy, cocaine,
nicotine.
Crystal Meth
• Excess of dopamine
= feelings of
euphoria
• Chemicals used in
making it eat at
bone tissue
(including teeth),
and destroy
neurons in the
frontal cortex
Meth Mouth
Hallucinogens
• Distort perceptions
and provide false
sensory images =
hallucinations.
• LSD, marijuana,
psychedelic
mushrooms
Opiates
• Relieve pain and produce feelings of
euphoria
• Include opium, morphine, codeine,
heroine, methadone
• Come from poppy seed
• If abused produces most serious
withdrawal symptoms
Heroin addiction
Heroin Addiction
• MOST difficult withdrawal
• Body organs will shut down
• Addicts need to be in detox – use
methadone