Overview of Psychoactive Drugs

Drug Dependence Overview of Psychoactive Drugs: Psychoactive drugs are drugs that can alter our consciousness; they can alter our perceptions, influence moods, make us feel more alert, etc. We classify these drugs based on their actions and effects they have on our bodies 1. Depressants: depress CNS function by decreasing level of arousal and stimulation in different areas of our brain (decrease HR, BP, breathing). Most importantly, they lower our processing speed a. Barbiturates (Tranquilizers): sometimes prescribed to people in order to help them sleep or calm down (decrease anxiety). Also used as general anesthesia or as an anticonvulsant. Aren’t prescribed very often because of their likelihood to lead to addiction b. Benzodiazepines: do a lot of similar things to barbiturates c. Alcohol: 2. Stimulants: increase CNS function (increase HR, BP, breathing) and even increase alertness. Can make people feel nervous and/or jittery/unable to sit still a. Caffeine, Amphetamines (adderall), Methamphetamines, MDMA (ecstasy/molly), cocaine, and nicotine 3. Hallucinogens: often referred to a psychedelics and cause individuals to have distorted perceptions of reality and even heighten everyday sensations a. LSD (AKA acid), Psilocybin (active ingredient in shrooms), and PCP 4. Opiates: can depress CNS function (decrease HR, BP) and can cause relaxation and induce sleep. They are also analgesics (reduce the perception of pain) a. Morphine, codeine, heroin, oxycodone, and phycodon b. The term opiates typically describes “natural” versions while opioids typically describes synthetic versions Quick note, even though stimulants and depressants do largely opposing things, they work on different parts of the brain and they therefore can’t cancel each other out Not all drugs fit neatly into one category or another (some of these drugs labeled above can be in different categories Psychoactive Drugs: Depressants & Opiates: Alcohol is a depressant and specifically slows SANS down, which usually helps you respond to dangerous situations. It can also affect REM sleep, therefore reducing your ability to form new memories and new synapses Benzodiazepines (Benzo) is the most commonly prescribed depressant drug. This enhances the brain's response to GABA (the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter). Specifically it opens Cl- channels in the axons, making the neuron more negative and less likely to be stimulated Opiates are used for pain because they activate the body’s receptor sites to endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain reducers Therefore, this is why opiates and depressants are different classes, one works on endorphin receptors while the other works on GABA receptors respectively Psychoactive Drugs: Hallucinogens: Hallucinogens have a wide variety of effects and can vary from person to person. Some even have medicinal effects that are important in treating certain conditions Drug Dependence & Homeostasis: External cues often induce your body to counteract whatever drug you are about to take (since it’s lowkey smart). The more you do it, the more your body starts this counteraction, and if you don’t get the drug to induce the high, then you will “crash” or feel symptoms of withdrawal A lot of times, individual’s bodies don’t adjust if in a new location and this is why a lot of people often overdose (OD) when in a new location Routes of Drug Entry: 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. The most common routes of entry are: Injection: typically injected intravenously (fastest of all and can go into effect within seconds). This methods is particularly dangerous because you can possibly inject bacteria or other toxins along with the drugs Oral: swallow something, such as a pill or alcohol (one of the slowest routes of entry) Inhalation: when you snort or inhale a drug (faster than oral, can take about 10 or less seconds) Two less common routes are: Transfermal: the drug is absorbed through the skin, such as a nicotine patch (must be pretty potent patch) and can take several hours to get into the bloodstream Intramuscular: is when the drug is stuck directly into a muscle and can be quick or gradual. A quick method is an epi-pen and vaccines can also be intramuscular People are also more likely to become addicted to drugs that come into effect more quickly Reward Pathway in the Brain: When you experience pleasure and/or happiness, your brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine which is primarily produced in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA). The VTA sends dopamine to the amygdala, the nucleus accumbens (controls body’s motor functions), prefrontal cortex (helps focus attention and planning), and the hippocampus (responsible for the formation of memories) The mesolimbic pathway (includes the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus) is a large part of the reward circuit within the brain As dopamine goes up, serotonin goes down (which often is associated with the feeling of satiation, or “having had enough”) Tolerance & Withdrawal: Tolerance has to do with the idea that you get used to the same drug and need more of it in order to get the same effect Since dopamine receptors have become so overloaded that some even shut down, you can get withdrawals when you don’t get constant stimulation from the drug and can lead to feelings of depression from the lack of dopamine reception This can cause you to do crazy things in order to obtain the drug and you’re not even seeking the high at that point, you’re just seeking to feel normal Substance Use Disorders: Substance Induced Disorders are conditions caused by substances and they can be mood-disorders, anxiety, sleep, sexual function, psychosis (loss of reality, where you hear voices/see things, or even become paranoid). These disorders are those that impact an individual’s everyday life, such as with school, work, or home Treatments & Triggers for Drug Dependence: Most treatments for drug addiction are a combination of physiological and psychological components (such as a medication and behavioral therapy)