Module 10: Drugs and Consciousness. Topics to digest, to expand our consciousness 3/23/16. Altering Consciousness: Drugs

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1 Module 10: Drugs and Consciousness Topics to digest, to expand our consciousness When Drugs are a problem: Criteria for Tolerance and Addic:on Types of Psychoac:ve Drugs: Depressants S:mulants Hallucinogens Biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences on drug use Altering Consciousness: Drugs Addic<on Psychoac<ve drugs: are chemicals introduced into the body which alter percep:ons, mood, and other elements of conscious experience. Psychoac:ve drugs: Can be harmful to the en:re body Are dangerous when a person develops an addic:on to the substance. Factors related to addic:on: o tolerance o withdrawal o impact on daily life 1

2 Tolerance Tolerance of a drug: refers to the diminished psychoac<ve effects aier repeated use. Tolerance feeds addic<on: because users take increasing amounts of a drug to get the desired effect. Withdrawal Symptoms of Withdrawal: o Withdrawal: painful symptoms of the body readjus:ng to the absence of the drug experienced by drug users. o When Withdrawal happens the benefits of a substance wears off, especially aier tolerance has developed o Withdrawal worsens addic:on because users want to resume taking the drug to end withdrawal symptoms. Addic<on: On a substance (or ac4vity?) ADDICTION: o Tolerance: the need to use more to receive the desired effect o Withdrawal: the distress experienced when the high subsides o Using more than intended including craving or strong desire to use o Persistent, failed akempts to regulate use o Much <me spent preoccupied with the substance, obtaining it, and recovering o Important ac<vi<es reduced because of use o Con:nued use despite aversive consequences 2

3 Depressants Depressants: are chemicals that reduce neural ac<vity and other body func:ons. Examples: alcohol barbiturates opiates Depressants: Effects of Alcohol Use Impact on func<oning Slow neural processing: o Reduced sympathe:c nervous system ac:vity, and slower thought and physical reac:on Reduced memory forma<on: o Caused by disrupted REM sleep and reduced synapse forma:on Impaired self-control: o Impaired judgment, self-monitoring, and inhibi:on; increased accidents and aggression Chronic Use: Brain damage Depressants: Barbiturates Barbiturates: are tranquilizers-drugs that depress central nervous system ac:vity. o Examples: Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal o Effects: reducing anxiety and inducing sleep o Problems: reducing memory, judgment, and concentra:on; can lead to death if combined with alcohol 3

4 Highly Addic4ve Depressants: Opiates Opiates: chemicals that are made from the opium poppy. o morphine o heroin o Opiates depress nervous system ac<vity; this reduces anxiety, and especially reduces pain. o High doses of opiates produce euphoria. o Opiates work at receptor sites for the body s natural pain reducers (endorphins). S<mulants S<mulants are drugs which intensify neural ac<vity and bodily func:ons. Examples of s<mulants: Caffeine Nico:ne Amphetamines, Methamphetamine Cocaine Ecstasy Some physical effects of s<mulants: o dilated pupils o increased breathing o increased heart rate o increased blood sugar o decreased appe:te S<mulants: Caffeine o Adds energy o Disrupts sleep for 3-4 hours o Can lead to withdrawal symptoms if used daily: headaches irritability fa:gue difficulty concentra:ng depression 4

5 3/23/16 S<mulants: Nico<ne The main effect of nico4ne use is ADDICTION. Why do people smoke? Star<ng to smoke: invited by peers, influenced by culture and media Con<nuing: posi:vely reinforced by physically s:mula:ng effects Not stopping: aier regular use, smokers have difficulty stopping because of withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, distrac:bility, and irritability S<mulant: Cocaine Cocaine blocks reuptake which increases levels at the synapse of: o dopamine (feels rewarding). o serotonin (liis mood). o norepinephrine (provides energy). Effect on consciousness: o Euphoria!!! At least for 45 minutes What happens next? o Euphoria crashes into a state worse than before taking the drug, with agita:on, depression, and pain. o Users develop tolerance; over :me, withdrawal symptoms of cocaine use get worse, and users take more just to feel normal. o Cycles of overdose and withdrawal can some:mes bring convulsions, violence, heart aback, and death. 5

6 S<mulant: Methamphetamine o Methamphetamine triggers the sustained release of dopamine, some:mes leading to eight hours of euphoria and energy. o What happens next: irritability, insomnia, seizures, violence, hypertension, depression o Meth addic:on can become all-consuming. From 1998 to 2002: Extreme Makeover, Meth Edi<on Ecstasy/MDMA (MethyleneDioxyMethAmphetamine) o Ecstasy is a synthe:c s:mulant that increases dopamine and greatly increases serotonin. o Effects on consciousness: euphoria, CNS s:mula:on, hallucina:ons, and ar:ficial feeling of social connectedness and in:macy What Happens Next? o In the short run, regrebed behavior, dehydra:on, overhea:ng, and high blood pressure. o Make it past that, and you might have: o damaged serotonin-producing neurons, causing permanently depressed mood o disrupted sleep and circadian rhythm o impaired memory and slowed thinking o suppressed immune system Hallucinogens LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) o LSD and similar drugs interfere with serotonin transmission. o This causes hallucina<ons-images and other sensa:ons that didn t come in through the senses. Marijuana/THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) o Marijuana binds with brain cannabinoid receptors. o Effect on consciousness: o amplifies sensa:ons o disinhibits impulses o euphoric mood o lack of ability to sense sa:ety Marijuana/THC: What Happens Next? Impaired: o Motor coordina:on o Perceptual ability, and reac:on :me THC accumulates in the body, increasing the effects of next use o Over :me, the brain shrinks in areas where processing memory and emo:on happen o Smoke inhala:on damage 6

7 Summary: Desired Effects of Drugs Summary: Aversive Effects of Drugs Prevalence of Drug Use in the United States Nico<ne Use as of 2011: 26 percent of high school dropouts smoke; 6 percent of people with graduate degrees smoke 7

8 What influences can lead to drug use? What can turn drug use into addic<on? Biological factors: addic:on in rela:ves, thrill-seeking in childhood, genes related to alcohol sensi:vity and misuse, and easily disrupted dopamine reward system Psychological factors: seeking gra:fica:on, depression, problems forming iden:ty, problems assessing risks and costs Social influences: media glorifica:on, observing peers Controversies Related to Addic:on Are substances inherently addic<ve and should they be avoided at all cost? Is the concept addic<on applicable to repeated behaviors that do not involve inges<ng chemicals? 10 to 16% of people who try most drugs, even morphine and cocaine, become addicted. Does recovery require therapy, or require a 12- step group? Recovery rates do not seem to differ much from people quiing on their own compare to therapy programs. Labeling it this way may be seen as making excuses for: Misbehavior such as gambling or sexual affairs. Yet, many of the addic:on criteria are oien met, and there may be a dopamine-based chemical process underlying some addic:ve behavior paberns. 8