Drug- any substance natural or artificial other than food that alters structure or function in a living
organism
- Categorized in depressants, opiates, stimulants, and hallucinogens.
- major misuse of drugs imitate the structure of neurotransmitters or chemicals in brain that gives
pleasure.
Depressants
- alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers
- Can be natural, Semi-synthetic, Synthetic
- Depresses CNS, reduces anxiety in low dosage. can induce anesthesia and death in high doses, lowers
bp, & pain relief
- Natural: opium derivative: morphine Codeine
- Semi synthetic: heroin
- Synthetic: morphine & demerol
Alcohol
- Diff levels of intoxication observed w/different individuals @ different time points
- Dom violence, rape, & other crimes (including driving), serious illness,
& accidents requiring hospitalization can be linked to alcohol misuse
-Highest level of use is among 21year olds. Alcohol leading risk factor in 3 lead causes of death in youth
- # of death by alcohol in health conditions: pancreatitis, liver disease, & alcohol poisoning is considerable
Tolerance, withdrawal, Blackouts
- behavioral tolerance: adapt one's behavior to presence of drug
- Tolerance reversal: aging process, liver Cant handle alcohol → decreased tolerance
- Cross tolerance: tolerance 4 1 drug in 1 class creates tolerance for another drug in the same class.
alcohol tolerance → barbiturate tolerance
-Withdrawal: Maladaptive behavior Change, Prolonged use ends opposite effect of drug when removed
- Blackout: total inability to recall events when drunk, but person seemed coherent @ time. not fully
understood, youth most likely to experience, stronger when combined with sleeping, relaxant pills Opiates
or Narcotics
-Opiats are naturally occuring (opium poppy derivatives) & Similar synthetic drugs
Commonly prescribed to prevent pain
-Opiate users inject, smoke, or snort
- "Speed balling" - mix of heroin & Cocaine and shooting it
- Opiates produce powerful rush & feelings of contentment
- heroin is synthetic derivative of morphine, developed to treat opium morphine addiction
-Morphine & heroin rapidly metabolized by liver & exerted by kidneys, disappears in body in 4-5 hours
- best treatment 4 opioid addiction is methadone - bloc
Oxycontin: Fentanyl
- Was painkiller for terminally ill cancer patients
- big demand in underground market
- Numerous deaths in KY & OH from od
- tablets crushed to remove time-releasing seal, Snorted or injected 4 high
- Fentanyl is patch form, dispenses slowly through skin
- addicts bite or chew patch or inject gel inhalants
- children & teens, nervous system depressant, like alcohol intoxication with headache
- high levels cause permanent damage to CNS & PNS, od leads to coma and heart failure
Stimulants
- Stimulate CNS, relieving fatigue & increase alert
-mild stimulants: Caffeine & nicotine. Powerful: Coccine, methamphetamines