Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders Exam Ch 1 & 2

Dr. William D. Silkworth in the A.A. Big Book

"addiction is a combination of an allergy/illness of the body and an obsession of the mind. The inability to stop is the essence of addiction"

Middle Ages (400-1400)

"hexing herbs"(belladonna and mandrake) were used by witches and shaman for healing and spiritual purposes. Ergot mold poisoning- LSD like psychedelic effects Any psychedelic substance can be medicine, a drug, and a poison, depending on the dose distilled alcohol, coffee, and tea were discovered

Inhalants

(deliriants) include organic solvents, volatile nitrates, and nitrous oxide and can induce the full range of upper, downer, and all arounder effects

The Neolithic Period 8500-4000 B.C.

4,000 plants yield psychoactive substances, discovered accidentally, repeated/cultivated purposely Shamans were key figures in the exploitation of psychoactive substances.

Compulsive behaviors

food disorders, compulsive gambling, sexual compulsion, internet addiction and compulsive shopping, affect many of the same areas of the brain that are influenced by psychoactive drugs

How are drugs absorbed?

inhalation, injection, mucous membrane absorption, oral ingestion, and contact absorption

How are Drugs Metabloized?

principally by the liver.

Psychoactive drugs and the blood/brain barrier

they travel through the bloodstream, cross the blood-brain barrier, and infuse the CNS. they can also cross the blood-cerebral spinal fluid and placental barriers

How are Drugs Eliminated by the body?

through the kidneys, sweat glands, and lungs

Five Historical Themes of Drug use

1. human beings have a basic need to cope with their environment and enhance their existence through the use of psychoactive drugs and behaviors. 2. Human brain chemistry can be affected by psychoactive drugs, behavioral addictions, and mental illness in ways that will induce an altered state of consciousness. 3. historically, the ruling classes, govts., and industry, along with criminal organizations, have been involved in growing, manufacturing, distributing, taxing, and prohibiting drugs 4. Technological advances in refining, synthesizing, and manufacturing drugs have increased the potency of these substances 5. The development of faster and more-efficient methods of delivering drugs into the body has intensified the effects

How are Psychoactive Drugs Identified?

Chemical name, Trade name, or Street name

Which is more effective, demand reduction or supply reduction?

Demand Reduction

Downers

Major depressants include opiates/opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and alcohol Minor Depressants include antihistamines, skeletal muscle relaxants, and OTC depressants. They depress various systems, control pain, reduce anxiety, promote sleep, and lower inhibitions. They can also induce euphoria

All Arounders

Psychadelics (weed, LSD, MDMA, synthetic MJ-k2 or silver spice), alter sensory input and can cause synesthsia, illusions, delusions, and hallucinations; physically they can cause some stimulation, some depression, or a dissociation of normal brain pathways.

Uppers

Stimulants such as cocaine, methamphetmines, designer stimulants(bath salts), diet pills, and ADHD meds; plant stimulants, such as betel nuts, khat, caffeine, and nicotine; and psycho-stimulants force the release of extra energy chemicals. The strongest stimulants: coke, methanphetamines, and bath salts, can produce an intense rush.

Ancient Civilizations (4000 BC-AD400)

Sumerian, egyptian, indian, chinese, and south american ancient cultures cultivate wheat and barley for bread and alcohol. Alcohol was considered a gift from the gods Opium was used as medicine Marijuana: oil, fiber, edible seeds, medicine, and psychedelic effects Other early psychedelics: mescal bean, San pedro and peyote cacti, shrooms, tobacco, and cocoa leaves

How Drugs Get to the brain

absorbed into the body's cirulatory system and distributed via the blood to other tissues, organs and the brain.

The renaissance and the age of discovery (1400-1700)

alcohol, cocoa, tobacco, coffee, tea, and opium use spread along trade routes-Ruling class controlled trade resurgence of use of opium in medicine

Performance Enhancing Drugs

anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, are used to increase endurance, muscle size, and aggression. New non-detectable PEDS are synthesized every month to avoid drug screenings.

Psychiatric Medications

antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antianxiety drugs. They are prescribed to rebalance the brain chemistry. Generally most are non-addictive.. MAJOR EXCEPTION BENZOS

Psychoactive Drug

any substance that directly alters the functioning of the CNS

The addiction pathway

contains a survival/reinforcement ciruit with a go switch and a control circuit with a stop switch. drug use and addictive behaviors hijack the "go" switch and send a distorted message that the substance is necessary for survival. Drug use damages the stop switch drugs affect breathing, circulation, so overuse for the mental effect can impair heart function and respiration

Neuroanatomy

druges affect the nerve cells and alter the ways messages are received, processed and transmitted. excessive drug use can cause someone to produce fewer neurotransmitters or decrease the number of receptors for drugs to activate.

The age of enlightenment and the early industrial revolution (1700-1900)

new refinement techniques(coca-cocaine), new methods of use(hypodermic needle), and new manufacturing techniques(cigarette roller), increased use, abuse, and addiction liability Ether and Nitrus Oxide are discovered as anesthetics and recreational uses Temperance and prohibition movements spread Patented meds contain psychoactive drugs

The evolutionary perspective

states that in drug users the cravings caused by psychoactive drugs hijack normal survival mechanisms in the old brain and, as a result, will override the common sense and the reasoning of the new brain. memories exist as dendritic spines, which can trigger euphoric recall of drug use and false survival impulses caused by addictive drug activities, causing a person to keep using.

Today and Tomorrow

the club and party scene still has traditional drugs like ecstasy, nitrous oxide, and weed, but it also has bath salts, synthetic weed, krokodil, and kratom medical marijuana is legal in 21+ states Recreational marijuana use is legal in 2 Marijuana is more potent-causing more dependence. Tobacco use in the U.S. has decreased resurgence in uppers Social networking addiction better brain imaging and genetic research has broadened our understanding of addiction and expanded effective treatment Alcohol has the greatest social impact still addiction is a mental illness behavioral addictions are viewed as actual addictions

The 20th Century

tobacco use thru automation, milder leaves, and widespread advertising increased smoking to the point where millions die prematurely worldwide every year. Drug regulation starts with Pure food and Drug act (1906) Alcohol prohibition and repeal lead to more criminal involvement in drug and alcohol trade Marijuana use became illegal (1936) Amphetamines were widely used in wartime Cheating in sports with PEDS was fueled by the cold war antidepressants expand the prescription drug market psychedelics, designer drugs, crack cocaine, and synthetic versions of regular drugs flood illegal drug market U.S. War on Drugs has used demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction to stem the flood of drugs