Psychoactive Drugs & Behavior

Addiction to drugs Depends

1. Nature of the drug 2. Psychological Factors (stress & depression) 3. Social Influences (peers & environment) 4. Biological factors- Genetic component

Psychoactive drug

Alters state of conscious

Classes of Drugs

Depressants, Stimulates or CNS Hallucinogens

Addiction depends

Nature of drug, Biological, Psychological and Social influences

Why are most drugs addicting?

Release of Dopamine

Social Factors

Take drug to escape, peer pressure & enhance performance

Stimulants of Nervous System (CNS)

Tobacco: •Psychoactive agent- nicotine •Behavioral- Affects memory & alertness • Facilitates- Dopamine & serotonin neurons •Complications: Emphysema & Lung cancer •Treatment: Nicotine patch & Zyban

Other Depressants of CNS

Valium- (benzodiazepines) Xanax a. Antianxiety medication Addictive- rebound effect GHB-illegal like Rohypnol (date rape drug) ** All of these drugs work by increasing GABA

What are psychoactive drugs?

• Any drug that alters one's State of consciousness -Nicotine, Caffeine, alcohol •Are all psychoactive drugs illegal? NO

What Brain areas are affected by drugs ?

•"Drugs have a global affect on the brain" • Pons & medulla & Cerebellum •Alcohol* & Depressants of CNS •Hypothalamus-All Drugs •Dopamine System "reward circuit in the brain"

Depressants of the Nervous system

•Alcohol & Alcoholism • Genetic component-Evidence •Parent Alcoholic-20% children •Father to son-30% increase •Facilitates GABA & Dopamine

Other Stimulants

•Caffeine: Arousal •Amphetamines: •Psychoactive - Euphoria •Uses: Asthma, appetite suppressant, ADHD •Action- Dopamine & Norepinephrine release •Overdose- Psychosis*, paranoid, cardiac arrest • Methamphetamine- high on drug for 10 hrs

Other Stimulants

•Cocaine •Psychoactive- Euphoria/rush •Uses: Local anesthetic (lidocaine) •Withdraw- Depression •Action- Increases serotonin & dopamine • Overdose- seizures, cardiac arrest •Cerebral hemorrhage •Crack-freebase form & smoked

Problems With Alcohol

•Complications: Due to alcoholism •Korsakoff's Syndrome-Loss of memory •Cirrhosis of liver •Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) -If a woman drinks while pregnant •Treatment: Antabuse & AA

Effects of Drugs on the CNS

•Depressants of CNS: Slows breathing Alcohol, Valium, Opiates (heroin, vicodin) •Stimulants of the CNS: increases Arousal Caffeine, Amphetamines, Cocaine, Meth. •Hallucinogens: LSD, Marijuana,

Positive reinforcement:

•Drug ingestion-- euphoria or alter states Stimulates reinforcing brain areas "hypothalamus"

Hallucinogens

•LSD- •Psychoactive: Vivid hallucinations •Physiological-Increases heart rate •Serotonin agonist (acts on serotonin receptors)

Opiates- Depressant of CNS

•Pain relief medication • Codeine, morphine, vicodin, fentanyl •Heroin* (illegal) smoked or injected •Psychoactive Euphoria •Action Opiate receptors in the brain/ like Endorphins •Withdrawal symptoms-Pain & flu L •*Treatment: Methadone/ rapid detox-Narcan

Marijuana

•Psychoactive ingredient THC •Mechanism of action- dopamine • Complications: •Interferes with memory formation •Medical uses: AIDS & cancer patients •Increases appetite

Ecstasy

•Psychoactive: Euphoria •History: used therapy & weight loss •Action: Releases serotonin in CNS •Withdraw- Depression •Complications: dehydration, fever •Similar to taking a stimulant and mild hallucinogen

Evolution

•Seek to alter our state of consciousness: •Evidence: animals ingest plants that alter their behavior (catnip) •Horses (locoweed) •Raccoons (alcohol)

Why do people use Psychoactive drugs?

•Self-Medicate to feel normal: •Do Clinical depressed people use Stimulants? •A person suffering from mood swings: •Polydrug users (stimulants & depressants) •Evidence: Psychological disorders & drug abuse have a Genetic component •Children of Alcoholics 20% chance •Dual-diagnosis patient 80% drug users psychological disorder

Negative Reinforcement:

•Take drug to decrease something negative (Aspirin--Headache: codeine--Pain) Increases drug taking behavior-difficult to extinguish