Drugs
Drugs
n
Psychoactive drugs are chemicals that change conscious awareness or perception.
n
Stimulants
speed up the nervous system.
n
Depressants
slow down the nervous system.
n
Opiates
relieve pain.
n
Hallucinogens alter sensory perception.
Stimulants
n
Drugs that
act on the brain & nervous system to ↑ their overall activity & general
responsiveness.
n
n
n
n
Stimulants
n
↑ HR & BP
n
Euphoria
n
↑
physical and mental energy
n
Perceptions of power
n
Sociability
n
↓
appetite
n
Hallucinations, paranoia
n
Irritability
n
Anxiety
n
↓ Fatigue
n
Depression
n
Intense
craving for drug
n
Cocaine
is a local anesthetic
Depressants
n
Depress the
central nervous system or slow bodily responses & reduce overall responsiveness.
n
n
n
Depressants
n
Tension/anxiety reduction
n
Relaxation
n
Euphoria
n
Disinhibition
n
Drowsiness
n
Impaired
memory
n
Impaired
motor function
n
Anxiety
n
Nausea
n
Disorientation
n
Loss of
Consciousness
n
Convulsions
n
Coma
n
Death
Opiates
“Narcotics”
n
Mimic
endorphins
n
n
n
Opiates
“Narcotics”
n
Euphoria
“rush”
n
Pain relief
(Analgesia)
n
Constipation
n
Shallow
respiration
n
Nausea
n
Vomiting
n
Hot/Cold
Flashes
n
Tension
n
Pain
n
Tremors
Hallucinogens
n
Cannabis
n
“Club Drugs”
n
MDMA-
n
Drug Use & Abuse
n
Drug
abuse: Drug use that causes emotional or physical harm to the user.
n
Addiction
results from repeated drug use (overused term is problematic).
n
Drug
dependence can be:
n
Psychological:
n
Physical:
n
Tolerance:
Why Start?
Factors that Lead to Drug Abuse
•
Positive
associations:
the drug is portrayed in a positive fashion in the media.
•
Biological factors:
the drug induces a pleasurable state
•
Prevention of withdrawal:
person continues to take the drug to avoid withdrawal effects.
•
Conditioning of drug craving:
cues associated with drug use can elicit craving for the drug.
Cross Cultural Drug Use
n
Legalization?
America’s “War on Drugs”
D.A.R.E.
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)