Stimulants. Chapter 6. Stimulants. History of Cocaine

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Stimulants. Chapter 6. Stimulants. History of Cocaine"

Jordan Jordan
6 years ago
Views:

Chapter 6 Stimulants Stimulants Stimulants are

and physically Cocaine and amphetamine are

readily available stimulants History of Cocaine

produces cocaine Coca has been harvested for

1 Chapter 6 Stimulants Stimulants Stimulants are substances that keep a person going mentally and physically Cocaine and amphetamine are restricted stimulants Caffeine and nicotine are readily available stimulants History of Cocaine Coca is a bush that grows in the Andes and produces cocaine Coca has been harvested for thousands of years and actively cultivated for over 800 years 1

History of Cocaine Natives of the Andes chewed coca leaves to give them greater

in religious ceremonies and as currency Coca leaf market History of Cocaine

lozenges, tea, and, especially, wine History of Cocaine Coca extract was later

2 History of Cocaine Natives of the Andes chewed coca leaves to give them greater strength and endurance The coca leaf was an important part of Inca culture Used in religious ceremonies and as currency Coca leaf market History of Cocaine Coca wine: Angelo Mariani Used coca leaf extract in many products including lozenges, tea, and, especially, wine History of Cocaine Coca extract was later used in the United States in early versions of Coca-Cola and in many patent medicines 2

yields 1 kilogram of cocaine Drying coca leaves History of Cocaine Early psychiatric uses: Sigmund Freud Studied use of cocaine as a treatment for depression and morphine dependence Later opposed use

3 History of Cocaine Local anesthesia: Dr. W. S. Halsted Experimented with ability of cocaine to produce local anesthesia Delivered via newly developed hypodermic syringe Cocaine was isolated before 1860 Processing 500 kilograms of coca leaves yields 1 kilogram of cocaine Drying coca leaves History of Cocaine Early psychiatric uses: Sigmund Freud Studied use of cocaine as a treatment for depression and morphine dependence Later opposed use of the drug after nursing a friend through cocaine psychosis Early Legal Control 46 states passed laws to regulate cocaine between 1887 and 1914 Press and politicians made unsubstantiated claims about cocaine use among southern blacks: Widespread Associated with increased violent crime Negative publicity about cocaine influenced the passage of the 1914 Harrison Act 3

Forms of Cocaine Coca paste Crude extract created during the manufacture of cocaine Can be mixed with tobacco and smoked Cocaine

heated and the vapors inhaled Crack or rock Lumps of dried, smokable cocaine Prepared by mixing cocaine with water and baking soda

drug available was cocaine hydrochloride, which was snorted Cocaine was relatively expensive and its use was associated with status,

4 Forms of Cocaine Coca paste Crude extract created during the manufacture of cocaine Can be mixed with tobacco and smoked Cocaine hydrochloride Most common form of pure cocaine Stable water-soluble salt Forms of Cocaine Freebase Prepared as a chemical base Can be heated and the vapors inhaled Crack or rock Lumps of dried, smokable cocaine Prepared by mixing cocaine with water and baking soda Contemporary Legal Controls on Cocaine Cocaine use began to increase again at the end of the 1960s Prior to 1985, the major form of the drug available was cocaine hydrochloride, which was snorted Cocaine was relatively expensive and its use was associated with status, wealth, and fame Then an inexpensive ($5 to $10 a hit) form of smokable cocaine became available crack Smoked cocaine has a greater abuse potential than snorted cocaine 4

Contemporary Legal Controls on Cocaine Media and politicians focused on crack use among urban blacks Associated with violence and dependency Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and 1988 Penalties for sale

5 Contemporary Legal Controls on Cocaine Media and politicians focused on crack use among urban blacks Associated with violence and dependency Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and 1988 Penalties for sale of crack cocaine significantly more severe than penalties associated with powder cocaine Tougher penalties for first-time users of crack Concerns about federal cocaine sentencing policy Does it overstate the seriousness of most crack cocaine offenses? Does it disproportionately affect the black community? Mechanism of Action Chemical structure does not tell us how or why cocaine affects the brain Cocaine blocks reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine Cocaine Administration Chewing or sucking coca leaves Slow absorption and onset of effects Snorting through nasal mucous membranes Rapid absorption and onset of effects Injected intravenously Rapid and brief effects Smoked Rapid and brief effects 5

6 Cocaine Elimination Cocaine is metabolized by enzymes in the blood and liver Cocaine has a half-life of about one hour Major metabolites (detected by drug screens) have a half-life of eight hours Potential Beneficial Uses Local anesthetic properties of cocaine were discovered in 1860, but the drug was not used medically until 1884 Synthesized drugs have largely replaced cocaine for medical use Cocaine remains in use for surgery in the nasal, laryngeal, and esophageal regions Causes for Concern: Acute Toxicity Acute cocaine toxicity causes profound CNS stimulation, which can lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest Significant individual variation in the uptake and metabolism of cocaine Difficult to estimate the size of a lethal dose Rare, severe, and unpredictable reactions can cause cardiac failure Cocaine combined with alcohol can cause the formation of the toxic chemical cocaethylene 6

Causes for Concern: Chronic Toxicity Risks of regularly snorting cocaine Damage to the nasal septum Paranoid psychosis Damage to the heart muscle Causes for Concern: Chronic Toxicity Dependence

7 Causes for Concern: Chronic Toxicity Risks of regularly snorting cocaine Damage to the nasal septum Paranoid psychosis Damage to the heart muscle Causes for Concern: Chronic Toxicity Dependence occurs in some users Animal and human studies have shown that cocaine is a powerfully reinforcing drug Some people experience withdrawal symptoms Causes for Concern Cocaine use during pregnancy Increased risk of miscarriage and torn placenta Long-term effects of prenatal cocaine exposure still under study Infant exposed to cocaine being monitored in ICU 7

Supply of Illicit Cocaine Readily available in all major U.S. cities Street cocaine averages about 50-75 percent pure Most illicit cocaine

Mexican drug cartels have increased violence in recent years to protect their business turf.

4 billion annually 35,000 people have died in the violence over last 5 years (5 people every day).

8 Supply of Illicit Cocaine Readily available in all major U.S. cities Street cocaine averages about percent pure Most illicit cocaine comes from Peru, Bolivia, and Columbia Seized cocaine The War on Drugs: Cocaine The U.S.-Mexico border is where the majority of cocaine enters America. Mexican drug cartels have increased violence in recent years to protect their business turf. Analysts estimate that wholesale earnings from illicit drug sales range from $13.6 billion to $49.4 billion annually 35,000 people have died in the violence over last 5 years (5 people every day). Cocaine: Current Use and Future Trends 2006 surveys indicate that about 2 percent of American adults currently use cocaine Down from a high of 7 to 9 percent in the 1980s Usage rates of cocaine and amphetamine tend to cycle in opposition to each other 8

Amphetamines: History The Chinese used a medicinal tea made from ma huang (Ephedra) Active ingredient = ephedrine Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug Stimulates the sympathetic branch of the

in children Appetite suppressant Stimulant Amphetamines: History Use by soldiers in World War II to fight fatigue 1960s Amphetamine + heroin injected together = speedball Most street amphetamines

9 Amphetamines: History The Chinese used a medicinal tea made from ma huang (Ephedra) Active ingredient = ephedrine Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug Stimulates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system Amphetamines: History New synthesized chemical similar to ephedrine, called amphetamine, was patented in 1932 Amphetamine was used medically Asthma Narcolepsy Hyperactivity in children Appetite suppressant Stimulant Amphetamines: History Use by soldiers in World War II to fight fatigue 1960s Amphetamine + heroin injected together = speedball Most street amphetamines came from prescriptions Speed scene = a time and place in which people used and became dependent on intravenous amphetamine Amphetamines became more tightly controlled Many look-alikes appeared Some users switched back to cocaine Illicit manufacture of methamphetamine grew 9

Amphetamines: History Limited amphetamine availability increased the number of illicit laboratories making methamphetamine Manufacture

Methamphetamine hydrochloride crystals Ice or crystal meth Smokable Methamphetamine abuse began in the western United States and then

containing substituted cathinones Go by street names such as "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," Vanilla Sky," and "Bliss DEA has made illegal

10 Amphetamines: History Limited amphetamine availability increased the number of illicit laboratories making methamphetamine Manufacture of methamphetamine is dangerous and associated with toxic fumes and residue Materials from a garage meth lab Amphetamines: History Methamphetamine hydrochloride crystals Ice or crystal meth Smokable Methamphetamine abuse began in the western United States and then spread east; it is also now considered a club drug The Drug du Jour Bath Salts Bath Salts Designer drugs similar to amphetamines often containing substituted cathinones Go by street names such as "Ivory Wave," "Purple Wave," Vanilla Sky," and "Bliss DEA has made illegal the possession and sale of three of the chemicals commonly used to make bath salts the synthetic stimulants mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone. 10

Amphetamine Pharmacology Chemical structure of amphetamine is similar to the catecholamine neurotransmitters The structure of methamphetamine allows it to more easily cross the blood-brain barrier

11 Amphetamine Pharmacology Chemical structure of amphetamine is similar to the catecholamine neurotransmitters The structure of methamphetamine allows it to more easily cross the blood-brain barrier Ephedrine and PPA are less able to cross the barrier and so produce more peripheral than central nervous system effects Causes increased activity of monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) by stimulating their release Molecular Structure Amphetamine Absorption and Elimination Peak effects 1.5 hours after oral ingestion 5-20 minutes after intranasal administration 5-10 minutes following intravenous injection or smoking Half-life 5-12 hours Rapid tolerance (tachyphylaxis) can occur after high doses 11

12 Beneficial Uses Previous use for depression to temporarily elevate mood Adjunctive therapy- a treatment used together with primary treatment. The benefit of amphetamines is that their effects occur rapidly compared with standard antidepressant medications. Beneficial Uses Weight control Widely use to reduce food intake and body weight Effect is real but small Combination of fenfluramine and phentermine was associated with heart valve damage and lung disease in some people Beneficial Uses Narcolepsy (uncontrolled daytime episodes of muscular weakness and falling asleep) Stimulants used to keep patients awake during the day Newer drug modafinil (Provigil) promotes wakefulness by increasing the activity of norepinephrine and dopamine Low abuse potential Doesn t induce tolerance 12

Beneficial Uses Treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Characterized by problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity Stimulant

being studied Beneficial Uses Smart pills At a low level of arousal, may improve performance At a high level of arousal, may decrease performance, especially on complex

13 Beneficial Uses Treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Characterized by problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity Stimulant medications can reverse catecholamine-associated deficits that may underlie ADHD Due to side effects and concerns about the risk of abuse, other treatments for ADHD are being studied Beneficial Uses Smart pills At a low level of arousal, may improve performance At a high level of arousal, may decrease performance, especially on complex or difficult tasks that require concentration Athletics Under some circumstances, may produce slight improvements in athletic performance Effects of Stimulants on Performance 13

14 Acute Toxicity Acute behavioral toxicity Increases in feelings of power, suspicion, paranoia Potential risk of violent behavior Very high doses may destroy catecholamine neurons Contaminants formed during the manufacture of illicit methamphetamine may have toxic effects on brain cells Chronic Toxicity from High-Dose Use Paranoid psychosis Two possible reasons for the psychosis Heavy methamphetamine users have schizoid personalities. Caused by sleep deprevation. Higher risk among those who inject the drug Dependence Potential of Amphetamines Often no obvious withdrawal symptoms Produce psychological dependence Capable of producing dependence as defined by DSM criteria A potent reinforcer 14

Drugs, Society and Behavior

SOCI 270 Drugs, Society and Behavior Spring 2016 Professor Kurt Reymers, Ph.D. Chapter 6 Stimulants: Cocaine Stimulants Stimulants, sometimes called uppers, are substances that keep a person going mentally