unit vii: states of consciousness: psychoactive drugs

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

BackgroundPsychoactive drugs categorized:• Medically• Specifically, how they effect the CNS

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

BackgroundFive Major categories 1.Depressants2.Stimulants3.Opioids / Opiates 4.Hallucinogens/psychedelic

drugs 5.Marijuana

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

Psychoactive drugsMy suggestion, make yourself a chart of

the five categories of drugs to help you keep the information in order, like what’s on page 301

For example:• Category• What they do• Effects• Examples

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsWhat they do • Slows (depresses) neural

activity • Mostly effects:–Frontal lobe–Hindbrain

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on the nervous system &

bodyAfferent & efferent neurons, motor cortex all affected (slowed)• Slows reaction time

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on the nervous system &

bodyAssociation areas in frontal lobe depressed • Impairs judgment• Impairs long-term planning• Lessens inhibitions• Reduces self-awareness

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on the nervous system &

bodyBroca’s area affected• Slurring of speech

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on the nervous system &

bodyEffects cerebellum• Overconsumption -> balance, coordination problems

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on the nervous system &

bodyEffects brainstem (Medulla oblongata) • Depresses automatic functions,

could stop if too much consumed• Heartbeat, breathing, ability to

vomit

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on memory• No effect on short-term recall or existing long-term memories• However, difficult to create long-term memories

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsEffects on memory• Also, state dependant memory• Memories made while intoxicated are hard to remember when sober.• Able to remember next time in that state (drunk)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsMajor depressants • Alcohol• Barbiturates–Anesthesia–Sleeping pills –Also known as “Downers”

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

1) DepressantsMajor depressants, continued • Tranquilizers–AKA: Sedatives –Treat anxiety–Examples: Valium & Xanax

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsWhat they do • Increase activity of the CNS

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsEffects on the nervous system &

body• Heighten alertness• Increase energy• Speed up bodily functions

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsEffects on the nervous system &

body• Speeds up CNS/automatic functions (respiratory, cardiac)• Can overtax/permanently damage these parts of the body

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsEffects on the nervous system &

body• Many mimic effects of neurotransmitters• Highly physically addictive• Tolerance built up quickly • Makes withdrawal difficult

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants • Amphetamines–Synthetic stimulant–“Speed”

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants • Cocaine–Derived from leaves of coca plant–Crack: concentrated form

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants • Ecstasy –Methyenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

• Anything in large enough amounts is a hallucinogen (i.e., stimulant)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants • Caffeine –Most popular drug in the world–Found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, etc.

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants • Nicotine–Highly addictive–Found in tobacco

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsMajor stimulants• Nicotine, continued –Mimics neurotransmitters:•Acetylcholine•Dopamine•Vasopressin: causes high blood pressure

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsHow cocaine works: 1/3• Agonist – blocks reuptake of:–Dopamine–Serotonin–Norepinephrine

• More of them bind to neuroreceptor site than usually do

• Excess of neurotransmitters causes euphoric rush

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsHow cocaine works: 2/3• Stop use of cocaine • Natural neurotransmitters used

up quicker than usually • Body producing at same rate

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsHow cocaine works: 3/3• Body crashes because lacks

these neurotransmitters• Leads to agitation (lack of

dopamine) depression (lack of serotonin & norepinephrine)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

2) StimulantsHow ecstasy works: • Dopamine & Serotonin Agonist–Vesicle release excess of both –Blocks reuptake of both

• More of them bind to neuroreceptor site than usually do• Causes good feeling (Serotonin),

want to keep taking it (Dopamine)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates What they are • Derived from alkaloids of resin of opium plant• Can be natural, synthetic, partially synthetic

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates What they are • Used as pain relief• Decreases perception & reaction to pain

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates What they are •Agonist•Mimics endorphins (body’s natural pain block)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates What they are/effects • Sometimes (incorrectly) put into the depressant category• Can depress bodily functions (respiratory functions, etc) • Different method than depressants

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates What they are/effects • Depressants slow hindbrain• Opioids depress respiratory function itself • Causes drowsiness

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates Effects on the nervous system &

body• Intense feeling of euphoria• Highly physically addictive• Tolerance builds up very quickly• More and more needed to

prevent withdrawal• No longer produces euphoria,

just maintaining level to function

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

3) Opiods/Opiates Major opiods• Opium (natural)• Morphine (natural)• Codeine (natural)• Diacetylmorphine (heroin) (semi-synthetic)• Methadone (fully synthetic)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

What they are• Distort perceptions• Cause heightened sensory alertness (colors seem brighter, sounds clearer, etc.) • Cause hallucinations

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

Addiction• Not physically addicting• Strongly psychologicallyTypes• Natural substances• Synthetic

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

Natural• Mesculine: peyote cactus• Psilocybin: certain types of

mushrooms

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

Natural• Mesculine: peyote cactus• Psilocybin: certain types of

mushroomsSynthetic

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

Natural• Mesculine: peyote cactus• Psilocybin: certain types of

mushroomsSynthetic • Phencyclidine: PCP or angel

dust• Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): acid

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

4) Hallucinogens/psychedelic drugs

Effects•How alter perceptions still unclear• Serotonin receptors?• Effects people differently in different situations (why is unclear)

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaBackground• Sometimes put into one of the other categories• Or, considered its its own category

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaBackgroundDepressants• Depresses the neural system• Depresses inhibitions, judgment, etc

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaBackgroundHallucinogenic• Causes (usually mild) hallucinations

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaBackgroundOpioids• Feeling of euphoria• Drowsiness• However, not derived from opium poppy

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaBackgroundStimulant• Can stimulate mood• Intensifies mood of user

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaWhat it is• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

(THC)• Active ingredient of marijuana • Found in leaves, flowering top of

hemp plant Cannabis• Hashish: cooked down, mashed

into a paste

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaEffects on the nervous system &

body• How THC effects brain largely unknown• THC neuroreceptors found in:–Frontal lobe–Limbic system–Motor cortex

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaEffects on the nervous system &

body• Because THC neuroreceptor

found, neurotransmitter in the body apparently• Haven’t found it & don’t know

what it does• Have found similar

neurotransmitters, just not for THC

Unit VII: States of Consciousness: Psychoactive drugs

5) MarijuanaEffects on the nervous system &

body• Low physically addictive • High psychologically addictive• THC lingers in body for a month

or so• Body does not build up a

tolerance• Small dose needed to produce

desired effect