States of consciousness; Drugs and addiction
- Heroin is the most dangerous, it has a fine line between a high and death.
Initial understanding of addiction- do a drug your hooked!
A full connected life, one with meaning, connection, and love. This is where the focus should
be.
Goal: increase rehabilitation, decrease relapse, opportunity, and goal setting.
The addict’s way of being in the world:
Overwhelming drive to be high and free of craving. When you want to use…need to get the
drug. To remove craving. Their project- one focus get the drug! Cannot control. They
abandon being with or their being with others for a world structured by I/It relations- people
become objects to be used. They are not people but a means to obtain access to the drug. No
regard for people. There are no limits. No morality.
Psychoactive drugs: Specific targeted way. Agonist vs. Antagonist. Either enhances or inhibits.
Alcohol- has a diffuse effect on neural membranes throughout nervous system. Floods the
system. Causes depression in long haul
Drug abuse: drug use that causes harm to himself/ others (emotional or physical)
Addiction: A broad term that describes condition in which body requires a drug or activity in
order to function without physical or psych reactions to its absence. Need for drug. Feeling
you have to do something. Outcome of tolerance and dependence
Dependence: psychological (mental desire or craving to achieve drug effect) or physical
dependence on a drug (need drug to function). Withdrawal symptoms reveal bodily addiction.
Physical dependence is more easily manageable than psychological. The psychological
component is what can draw someone back in to use, whereas once the body heals it does not
cause you to remember.
Withdrawal: when use stops physical discomfort and distress are apparent.
, Tolerance: body adjusts to the initial dose; increased doses will be needed in order to achieve
the same high.
Dopamine is related to addiction. Sugar, sex, most pleasurable things happen, and
dopamine is released. Motivation is affected by Dopamine.
Depressants: (Downers) over activates serotonin and dopamine. Body keeps trying to adapt.
Body will stop producing these neurotransmitters or have less response. Acts on CNS and
slows all bodily processes (HR, B/P, resp) Danger is mostly respiratory in nature. Mess with
GABA- Inhibitor……quiets brain/ body! Takes away edge.
Alcohol: removes inhibitions, low doses have stimulating effects. Increases Dopamine,
impacts Serotonin, increased GABA (inhibits)….decreases Glutamate(excites) body
adapts to increase Glutamate to counter act alcohol. When you stop
drinking….Glutamate is still high! Body running high. Changes brain structure and neural
pathways. Liver breaks down alcohol at 1oz/hr Number of drinks and speed of
consumption matters. Accidental deaths are substantial risk when drinking. Men’s
bodies are more efficient in breaking down alcohol. (Difference in size and muscle to fat
ration). Alcohol should not be combined with any other drug especially barbituates!
Most damaging drug to society- is legality a cause? Overestimate safety!! Underestimate
how destructive!! Societal pressure- 21st b-day woo hoo lets drink! Or use to bond with
others. Knowing limits is key.
Barbituates: (sedatives) more severe, more depressive, relaxes diaphragm muscles!!
(Fiorcet)
Benzodiazepines (anxiolytic): (Xanax/valium, Rohypnol: roofies, GHB; date rape rx,
Ketamine) Ketamine has been used recently to treat depression.
Opiates: (a sub class of depressants) (Fentanyl/ Norco) Made from Poppy Plant
Subcategory of depressants. Gets rid of pain- pain killers.
Codeine/ Hydrocodone (Vicodin)/ Oxycodone/ Morphine
Heroin (the worst drug! And the most dangerous! 1:5 (takes a dose 5x more than required to
get high to cause death) lethal dose ration. - comes from morphine/ (methadone-used to
wean from heroin) Post op addiction is prevalent! Mimics brain natural endorphins, numb pain
and elevate mood. Flood brain with artificial opiates your brain reduces or stops the
- Heroin is the most dangerous, it has a fine line between a high and death.
Initial understanding of addiction- do a drug your hooked!
A full connected life, one with meaning, connection, and love. This is where the focus should
be.
Goal: increase rehabilitation, decrease relapse, opportunity, and goal setting.
The addict’s way of being in the world:
Overwhelming drive to be high and free of craving. When you want to use…need to get the
drug. To remove craving. Their project- one focus get the drug! Cannot control. They
abandon being with or their being with others for a world structured by I/It relations- people
become objects to be used. They are not people but a means to obtain access to the drug. No
regard for people. There are no limits. No morality.
Psychoactive drugs: Specific targeted way. Agonist vs. Antagonist. Either enhances or inhibits.
Alcohol- has a diffuse effect on neural membranes throughout nervous system. Floods the
system. Causes depression in long haul
Drug abuse: drug use that causes harm to himself/ others (emotional or physical)
Addiction: A broad term that describes condition in which body requires a drug or activity in
order to function without physical or psych reactions to its absence. Need for drug. Feeling
you have to do something. Outcome of tolerance and dependence
Dependence: psychological (mental desire or craving to achieve drug effect) or physical
dependence on a drug (need drug to function). Withdrawal symptoms reveal bodily addiction.
Physical dependence is more easily manageable than psychological. The psychological
component is what can draw someone back in to use, whereas once the body heals it does not
cause you to remember.
Withdrawal: when use stops physical discomfort and distress are apparent.
, Tolerance: body adjusts to the initial dose; increased doses will be needed in order to achieve
the same high.
Dopamine is related to addiction. Sugar, sex, most pleasurable things happen, and
dopamine is released. Motivation is affected by Dopamine.
Depressants: (Downers) over activates serotonin and dopamine. Body keeps trying to adapt.
Body will stop producing these neurotransmitters or have less response. Acts on CNS and
slows all bodily processes (HR, B/P, resp) Danger is mostly respiratory in nature. Mess with
GABA- Inhibitor……quiets brain/ body! Takes away edge.
Alcohol: removes inhibitions, low doses have stimulating effects. Increases Dopamine,
impacts Serotonin, increased GABA (inhibits)….decreases Glutamate(excites) body
adapts to increase Glutamate to counter act alcohol. When you stop
drinking….Glutamate is still high! Body running high. Changes brain structure and neural
pathways. Liver breaks down alcohol at 1oz/hr Number of drinks and speed of
consumption matters. Accidental deaths are substantial risk when drinking. Men’s
bodies are more efficient in breaking down alcohol. (Difference in size and muscle to fat
ration). Alcohol should not be combined with any other drug especially barbituates!
Most damaging drug to society- is legality a cause? Overestimate safety!! Underestimate
how destructive!! Societal pressure- 21st b-day woo hoo lets drink! Or use to bond with
others. Knowing limits is key.
Barbituates: (sedatives) more severe, more depressive, relaxes diaphragm muscles!!
(Fiorcet)
Benzodiazepines (anxiolytic): (Xanax/valium, Rohypnol: roofies, GHB; date rape rx,
Ketamine) Ketamine has been used recently to treat depression.
Opiates: (a sub class of depressants) (Fentanyl/ Norco) Made from Poppy Plant
Subcategory of depressants. Gets rid of pain- pain killers.
Codeine/ Hydrocodone (Vicodin)/ Oxycodone/ Morphine
Heroin (the worst drug! And the most dangerous! 1:5 (takes a dose 5x more than required to
get high to cause death) lethal dose ration. - comes from morphine/ (methadone-used to
wean from heroin) Post op addiction is prevalent! Mimics brain natural endorphins, numb pain
and elevate mood. Flood brain with artificial opiates your brain reduces or stops the
