Drugs

Chapter 5

What is a Drug?

• What makes a chemical a “drug”?

• Are drugs natural?

• Are they organic?

• What do we mean when we say “don’t do drugs”?

• What makes a drug dangerous?

• What makes a drug beneficial?

Types of Dependence

• Physical and psychological

• What is the difference?

• Can it be both?

• Is alcohol a drug?

• What type of dependence does it cause?

• Does its legality / social acceptance mean that it is “safe”?

Psychological Dependence

• Individuals have their reasons / excuses for use

• Common result is repeated use– DEPENDENCE– Is there a difference between a user and an

addict?

Physical Dependence

• Addiction– Changes occur in your body / brain

• Abstinence syndrome or withdraw sickness– Uncomfortable with not doing the drug– Can have withdraw symptoms continuously

• Heroin must be taken every 6 – 8 hours to avoid symptoms of withdraw

Narcotics

• Narcotic relieves pain and induces sleep– Analgesic – relieves pain

• Popular meaning is any drug with that is socially unacceptable

• Legally the definition is not consistent

Narcotics• Opiates

– From “poppy”– Morphine, heroin, codeine,

• Synthetic opiates– Methadone– Fentanyl (microgram active)– OxyContin

• similar to heroin• time release formula • Abused pharmaceutical

Commonly Used Drugs

Narcotics Psychological PhysicalMorphine High Yes

Heroin High Yes

Methadone High Yes

Codeine Low Yes

Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogens are drugs that cause marked changes in normal thought processes, perceptions and moods.

Marijuana• Cannabis Sativa

• THC – tetrahydocannabinol

• Heavy use associated with psychological dependence

• Synthetic Cannabinoids– Analogs created in labs.– Analogs are slightly modified structures

creating new names and slight changes to properties and functions.

– Many untested and unknown effects.

Other Hallucinogens• LSD – lysergic acid diethylamide

– Derived from fungus –ergot– Very potent, emotions affected

• Mescaline and psilocybins– Mushrooms and peyote (cactus)

• PCP – phencyclidine – angel dust– Can have schizophrenic behavior days after use

• Tryptamines – natural and synthetic

Commonly Used Drugs

Hallucinogens Psychological PhysicalMarijuana Low No

LSD Low No

PCP High No

Depressants

– Suppress brain’s control of thoughts and muscle coordination

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

• Low dose – inhibit mental process of judgment, memory and concentration.

• Moderate dose – reduces coordination substantially, inhibits orderly thought processes and speech patterns, and slows reaction time

• Higher Doses – highly irritable and emotional, displays of anger / crying not uncommon

• Extremely High Dose – lapse into unconsciousness, can lead to a fatal depression of circulatory and respiratory functions.

Barbiturates

• “Downers”

• Suppress the vital functions of central nervous system

• long acting – Phenobarbital (seizure or daytime sedative)

• Fast acting – Secobarbital (anesthesia)

Antianxiety (Benzodiazapine)

• Relax without affecting higher thinking capacity

• Valium (Diazapam)

• Xanax (Alprazolam)

• Klonipin (Clonazapam)

Huffing

• Solvents such as toluene, naphtha, methyl ethyl ketone, gasoline, trichoroehtylene

• Psychological issues

• Overdose can cause brain damage or death

Commonly Used Drugs

Depressants Psychological PhysicalBarbiturates (short) High Yes

Barbiturates (Long) Low Yes

Alcohol High Yes

Benzodiazapines Moderate Yes

Stimulants

• Speed up the central nervous system.

• Synthetic Cathinones – Natural in Middle Eastern “Khat” plants.

(chewed)– Synthesized analogs – some scheduled– Advertised as “Bath Salts” or “Plant Food”– Many untested and unknown effects.

Amphetamines

• Speed or uppers– Provide a feeling of well being and alertness,

followed by fatigue and loss of appetite. After use depression is a common side effect

• Methamphetamine – High purity – “ice”– Chronic users exhibit violent destructive

behavior and acute psychosis.– Strong physical dependence (sometimes after

one use!)

Cocaine

• Source of “exhilaration and lasting euphoria” – Sigmund Freud

• Central nervous system stimulant• Stimulates pleasure pathways far more than

they can be normally• Smokable form = crack

– Small percent of addicts are cured– Strongest psychological addiction of street drugs

• Euphoria fades – depression, anxious and pleasure less

Caffeine

• Stimulant and diuretic

• Found in 60 plants– Natural insecticide

• an ergogenic– increases capacity for

mental or physical labor.

Commonly Used Drugs

Stimulants Psychological Physical

AmphetaminesHigh Yes

Cocaine High No

Caffeine Low No

Nicotine HighYes

Club Drugs

• Ecstacy – MDMA - stimulant– Brain damage to hypothalmus

• GHB – gamma hydroxybutyrate

• Rohypnol – depressant (potent Benzo)– Date rape drug

• Ketamine – depressant (anesthetic)– Date rape drug

Anabolic Steroids

• Synthetic steroids (hormones) that resemble testosterone

• Androgenic effects – secondary male characteristics – hair, aggressive behavior

• Anabolic effects – accelerates muscle growth• Liver cancer and liver abnormalities• Masculinizing females, infertility• Reduced sex drive for males• Teenagers premature halting of bone growth,

mood effects including anger / depression / destructive behavior

Why does one person become an addict when another can be casual

user?

– Personal predispositions• Genetic• Psychological