medicines mind-altering drugs. l ysergic acid diethylamide (lsd), mescaline, psilocybin ...
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medicinesmind-altering drugs
mind-altering drugs
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),
mescaline,
psilocybin
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (found in cannabis/marijuana)
Effects of LSD, mescaline, psilocybin
All three cause hallucinations (distortions in hearing and visual perception) i.e. hearing of voices and seeing of images which appear realistic but do not exist. This is because they disrupt the activity
of the brain transmitter serotonin which is involved in the processing of hearing and sight.
In addition, each hallucinogenic also causes their own effects.
differences
LSD mescaline psilocybin•Psychological dependence•Effects of LSD may be experienced a year or more later after last use i.e. “flashbacks”.
•Nausea•Trembling•Liver damage•Reduced appetite•insomnia
•Feelings of relaxation•Develop tolerance•Sense of well-being
similarities in structure
All three contain
benzene ring
amine group
similarities in structure
Indole Ring
LSD indole ring = a benzene ring to which is attached (fused) a five-membered ring with a nitrogen atom and a double carbon-carbon bond
amide
2 alkene - double bonds
2 amine groups: a secondary amine and a tertiary amine
psilocybin indole ring
secondary amine
has an ionic end/tertiary amine ion
a phosphate group
mescaline no indole ring
primary amine
ether
(3 groups)
effects of cannabis The active ingredient in cannabis is
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and this has the following effects:
loss of sense of time
confusion
light-headedness
sense of floating
loss of inhibitions
euphoria
mental relaxation
tetrahydrocannabinol phenol group,
ether
double carbon-carbon bond
legalizeyes no
•no more or less damaging than other ‘legal’ drugs e.g. alcohol, tobacco
•offers pain relief from certain diseases such as AIDS and cancer
•relieves nausea in chemotherapy
•relieves tension and anxiety in terminally ill patients
•helps decrease pressure inside eyeball in patients suffering from glaucoma
•better control of quality of cannabis
•reduction of crime – police freed up to investigate other crimes
•Individual freedom argument
•reduces ability to drive
•causes dependence
•the possibility of cannabis users moving on to harder drugs – is a gateway drug
•harmful effects:Increased heart disease and cancer, may suppress immune system, respiratory ailments
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