drugs and behavior study guide

13. What is the Marijuana Tax Act?

1937: Followed the regulation-by-taxation theme of the 1914 Harrison Act Grower, distributor, seller, and buyer were taxed Result: administratively almost impossible to deal in Cannabis

what is the active ingredient in marijuana

(delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol) THC *most pharmacologically active cannabinoid

sedative

A drug used to relax, tranquilize, or calm a person, reducing stress and excitement.

barbiturates

A major class of sedative- hypnotic drugs, including amobarbital and sodium pentothal

What are the adverse effects associated with amphetamine abuse?

Acute behavioral toxicity a. Increases in feelings of power, suspicion, paranoia In animals, very high doses may destroy catecholamine neurons Paranoid psychosis following binge use Possible reasons for psychosis include: Heavy methamphetamine users may have schizoid personalities Primarily due to sleep deprivation Can produce psychological dependence in some individuals As defined by DSM criteria A potent reinforcer in animals and humans; most likely dose dependent

how does marijuana affect the brain?

CB1 receptors a. Found primarily in the brain but also throughout the body b. High density in specific brain regions c. Basal ganglia and cerebellum (movement coordination) d. Hippocampus (memory storage) e. Cerebral cortex (higher cognitive functions) f. Nucleus accumbens (reward) CB2 receptors g. Found mainly outside the brain in immune cells h. Potential role of cannabinoids in the modulation of the immune system Euphoria, "high," mellowness, hunger, and stimulation

How do amphetamines work on the brain?

Chemical structure of amphetamine is similar to the catecholamine neurotransmitters Causes increased activity of monoamine neurotransmitters by stimulating their release dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin Ephedrine similar chemical synthesized *methamphetamine: The structure of methamphetamine allows it to easily cross the blood-brain barrier Ephedrine is less able to cross the barrier Thus, produces more peripheral and fewer central nervous system effects

how does cocaine affect the brain?

Cocaine blocks reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine: this floods the brain with these chemicals and causes a strong reaction

a. Valium

Diazepam, used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures

22. How are the barbiturates organized/grouped

Grouped based on the time of onset and duration of activity a. Short-acting and rapid onset: used to induce sleep and often prescribed in high doses b. Long-acting and delayed onset: used to reduce anxiety and often prescribed in low doses

medical uses (past and present) for cocaine

Local anesthesia: Used medically since 1884 Early applications were eye surgery and dentistry Synthesized drugs with few CNS effects have largely replaced cocaine Cocaine remains in use for surgery in the nasal, laryngeal, and esophageal regions

a. LSD

Modification of perception i. Visual images: Users see shapes and patterns, usually with intense colors and brightness ii. Users report an altered sense of time, changes in the perception of their own bodies, and alterations of auditory input iii. Synesthesia ("mixing of senses") iv. Example: sounds may appear as visual images v. Enhanced emotionality vi. Images may be perceived as beautiful and awe-inspiring or as intensely sad or frightening

e. DMT

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT or N,N-DMT) is a psychedelic compound of the tryptamine family. It is a structural analog ofserotonin and melatonin and a functional analog of other psychedelic tryptamines such as 4-AcO-DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, 5-HO-DMT,psilocybin (4-PO-DMT), and psilocin (4-HO-DMT).

21. List and describe the potential adverse effects of barbiturate abuse

Overdose deaths a. Intentional and accidental b. Caused by respiratory depression Abuse and dependence c. Reinforcing effects of a drug are related to the rapidity of onset of effects d. Short-acting drugs are more likely to lead to psychological dependence

d. Mescaline

Psychological and behavioral effects i. Low dose effects are primarily euphoric ii. Higher doses cause the full set of hallucinogenic effects iii. Similar effects to LSD but much lower dose

hypnotics

Sleep-inducing. For drugs, refers to sleeping preparations.

20. What are the accepted medical uses for barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Sleeping pills, anxiety meds: diazepam

benzodiazepines

The group of drugs that includes Valium (diazepam) and Librium (chlordiazepoxide). They are used as anxiolytics or sedatives, and some types are used as sleeping pills.

16. What are anticholinergic drugs?

This group contains both naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals a. Naturally occurring chemicals come from the potato family b. Physiological effects c. Blocks production of mucus in the nose and throat d. Prevents salivation e. Mouth becomes dry and perspiration stops f. Temperature can increase to fever levels g. Heart rate increases h. Eyes dilate, resulting in an inability to focus on nearby objects i. Behavioral effects j. At high doses, behavior pattern resembles toxic psychosis (delirium, mental confusion, loss of attention, drowsiness, loss of memory for recent events) k. Sick feeling, delerius, nightshade is one of them

15. List and describe the adverse effects of LSD abuse.

Tolerance develops rapidly Impossible to determine true incidence of adverse reactions For example, some bad reactions may be due to drug impurities Flashbacks DSM-5: Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder Recurrence of symptoms weeks or months after an individual has taken LSD Relative rare in occurrence Panic reactions Relatively more common in occurrence

medical uses (past and present) for amphetamines

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 Early medical uses: Asthma Narcolepsy Hyperactivity in children Appetite suppressant Stimulant Depression Treatment of choice during the 1950s-60s Now used as an adjunctive therapy Major advantage = antidepressant effects occur relatively rapidly Weight control In the 1960s, widely used to reduce food intake and body weight for short periods of time Methamphetamine currently FDA-approved

28. Describe the hallucinogenic drug use of the Yanomama/Yanomami

Tribes of south America that used the drug to get in touch with the spirits for religious purposes

Indole hallucinogens

a. Drugs that have the same basic indole structure of the neurotransmitter serotonin b. Examples: LSD, psilocybin part of the phantastica sub group

marijuana medical uses

a. Glaucoma b. Cancer treatment-related nausea c. Symptoms will be relieved by a rapid onset d. Treatment is under medical supervision e. Oversight strategy for dispensation f. Legal medical use as of early 2014: g. 23 states and DC have legislation allowing medical use

17. List and describe the short-term physiological effects of marijuana.

a. Marijuana and oral THC significantly increase total daily calorie intake Reddening of the eyes Dryness of the mouth and throat Pulmonary effects Acute: Few effects on breathing Chronic: Heavy marijuana smoking over a long period could lead to clinically significant impairment of pulmonary function

Animism

a. Objects attain certain characteristics because of spirits b. If a plant contains a spirit, then eating the plant transfers this spirit to the person who consumes it

What adverse effects are associated with cocaine abuse?

a. Profound CNS stimulation i. which can lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest No evidence that occasional use of small amounts is detrimental to health Risks of binge use Increasing irritability, restlessness, paranoia Can result in paranoid psychosis Most seem to recover once the drug leaves the system Increased risk of miscarriage and torn placenta, however "crack baby" overplayed Withdrawal: Cocaine craving, irritability, anxiety, depressed mood, increased appetite, fatigue Animal and human studies have shown that cocaine is a powerfully reinforcing drug

What did Freud think about cocaine use?

a. Sigmund Freud studied use of cocaine as a treatment for depression and morphine dependence b. Later opposed use of the drug after nursing a friend through cocaine psychosis

14. How long does it take for the active ingredient in marijuana to be eliminated from the body?

a. THC has a half-life of 19 hours b. Complete elimination of THC and its metabolites may take 2-3 weeks

b. Xanax

alprazolam treats anxiety, panic disorders, seizures

f. Quaalude

anxiety, sedative

g. Paraldehyde

barbiturate used to sedate patients, used in mental hospitals in 1950

d. Seconal

barbiturate, sedative, insomnia

c. Butisol

butabarbisol, sedative

Phantastica

c. Drugs that create a world of fantasy

Psychedelic

d. "Mind-viewing" e. Implies a beneficial, visionary type of effect

e. Rohypnol

date rape drug

b. MDMA

ecstasy i. Increased heart rate and blood pressure ii. Increased euphoria and sociability iii. Heightened sense of "closeness" with others

Psychotomimetic

f. "Mimicking psychosis" g. Produces hallucinations and altered reality, a state similar to psychosis

Entheogen

h. Substances that create spiritual or religious experiences

a. Phantastica

i. Alter perceptions while allowing the user to remain in communication with the present world

b. Nitrites

i. Isoamyl, isobutyl ii. "Locker room," "Rush," "poppers"

Gaseous Anesthetics

i. Nitrous oxide, ether ii. Current and former medical anesthetics

volatile solvents

i. Petroleum, acetone, toluene ii. Paint, paint thinner and remover, nail polish remover, correction fluid, glues

deliriants

i. Produce more mental confusion, greater clouding of consciousness, and a loss of touch with reality ex: pcp, iii. Anticholinergic hallucianagens

Entactogen

i. Substances that enhance feelings of empathy

hallucinogens

j. A drug that produces profound alterations in perception, including unusual visual sensations and often changes in the perception of one's own body

c. PCP

licensed for use as an animal anesthetic; deleriant: causes loss of touch with reality

18. List and describe possible adverse effects associated with chronic marijuana abuse.

low sperm count in males, low T -marijuana use by pregnant women does not appear to be associated with negative birth outcomes -can impair pulmonary functions -reversible changes in the hippocampus -lung issues: when smoking the drug

f. Psilocybin

magic mushrooms": Psilocybin dose-dependently induces intense changes in mood, perception, and thought i. Most individuals describe the effects as pleasurable ii. At high doses, can cause anxiety

Catechol hallucinogens

part of the phantastica sub-group c. Drugs that have the same basic catechol structure of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine d. Examples: mescaline, MDMA (Ecstasy or molly)

27. What drug was described as "momma's little helper"?

valium (diazepam)