Psychoactive Drugs

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

-A measure of how much alcohol is in a person's bloodstream. -BAC of .08 considered legal intoxication in most states.

Euphoric Affects of Alcohol

-Alcohol impairs the parts of the brain responsible for controlling inhibitions and making judgments.

Ecstasy

-Also called MDMA, this hallucinogenic stimulant produces lower inhibitions, pleasant feelings, and greater acceptance of others. -Even moderate users may experience permanent brain damage.

Psychoactive Drug

-Chemical substance that alters perceptions, mood, or behavior. -Three common psychoactive drugs: *Caffeine *Alcohol *Nicotine -Induce an altered state of consciousness.

Types of Psychoactive Drugs

-Depressants -Stimulants -Hallucinogens -Marijuna

Withdrawal

-Discomfort and distress that follow when a person who is dependent on a drug discontinues the use of that drug. -Withdrawal symptoms are usually the reverse of the drug's effects.

Depressants

-Drugs (such as alcohol and sedatives) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

Stimulants

-Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines and cocaine) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Amphetamines

-Drugs that stimulate neural activity, speeding up body functions. -Include increased energy and mood changes. -Includes: speed, uppers, and methamphetamines. -Mimic adrenaline. -Can cause irreversible changes in mood.

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

-Found in beer, wine, and liquor. -The second most used psychoactive drug (caffeine first). -Slows thinking, and impairs physical activity.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

-Powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid. -The effects vary from person to person. -Users can be dangerous to themselves and others.

Hallucinogens

-Psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Tolerance

-Reduced responsiveness to a drug, prompting the user to larger dosages to achieve the same pleasurable effects previously obtained by smaller doses.

Dependence

-State of physiological or psychological need (or combined need) to take more of a drug after continued use. -Withdrawal follows if the drug is discontinued.

Cocaine

-Stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant. -Crack ~ cocaine crystals. -Blocks the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters. -Dependency is quick and severe; places extreme strain on cardiovascular system.

Caffeine

-Stimulant found in coffee, chocolate, tea, and some soft drinks. -Provides user with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced wakefulness. -Blocks neurological receptor sites that, if activated, sedate the central nervous system.

Nicotine

-Stimulant found in tobacco. -Effects similar to those of caffeine. -Very addictive and does not stay in the body very long.

Alcohol, Memory, and Sleep

-Studies have shown that alcohol impairs memory by suppressing the processing of events into long term memory. -Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further disrupting memory storage.