CHAPTER 3: Major Substances of Abuse and the Body

1. CHAPTER 3:Major Substances of Abuse and the Body Substance Abuse Counseling: Theory and Practice Fifth Edition Patricia Stevens Robert L. Smith Prepared by: Dr. Susan Rose, University of the Cumberlands

2. Chapter Overview • The Brain • Controlled Substance Schedules • Depressants • Stimulants • Hallucinogens • A Further Look at Club Drugs • Volatile Substances or Inhalants • Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

3. The Structure of the Brain: Hemispheres • Corpus Callossum: communication between the left and right sides of the brain • Left Hemisphere: controls right side of body; concerned with thinking and intellectual functioning • Site of logic and verbal ability, producing and understanding language • Uses Words • Right Hemisphere: Controls left side of body; considered to be creative side involving intuitive and creative processes • Involved with temporal and spatial relationships, analysis of nonverbal information and communicating emotion • Uses pictures

4. The Structure of the Brain: Three Basic Parts • Hindbrain: contains the cerebellum and lower brain stem • Midbrain: houses relay areas from the upper brain stem • Forebrain: includes the cerebral hemisphere and the rind of outer covering called the cortex. • Most higher states of consciousness take place in the cortex • Thought • Perception • Motor Function, sensory data processing • Vision • Houses the mechanisms that most often interact with substances that can cross the blood-brain barrier.

5. The Structure of the Brain • Limbic System: lies just below and connects with the cortical area • Involved in emotional behavior and long-term memory • Diencephalon: Contains the thalamus and hypothalamus • Hypothalumus regulates more basic functions • Thirst • Hunger • Temperature • Sex Drive • Sleep • Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers • Drugs interact with these neurotransmitters thus altering the function of the brain • Table 3.1 (Page 56)

6. Psychoactive Substances and the Brain • Substances are considered psychoactive when they can cross the blood-brain carrier and create changes in the brain and, therefore, in the mind and behavior. • Primary use of psychoactive substances is to change the neurochemistry of the brain and alter one’s consciousness. • Specific sites demonstrate a possible neurochemical basis for the ongoing use of substances: • Medial Forebrain Bundle • Ventral Tegmental Area • Nucleus Accumbens • Hypothalamus • Locus Coeruleus • Plasticity: the ability of brain cells to remember • Long-Term Potential • Excitotoxicity

7. Controlled Substances Schedules

8. Depressants • Alcohol • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Toxic and Lethal Effects • Gender Differences • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

9. Depressants • Benzodiazepines: Most widely prescribed group of drugs in the treatment of anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Gender Differences • Withdrawal

10. Depressants • Barbituates: Until recently considered drug of abuse by “street people” • Replaced on the street with benzodiazepines • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Nonbarbiturate Sedative-Hypnotics • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal

11. Depressants • GHB (Identified as a Club Drug) • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance, Dependence and Withdrawal • Toxic and Lethal Effects • Opiates (Prescription Drugs Often Abused) • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Overdose

12. Stimulants • Cocaine • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Effects on the Fetus

13. Stimulants • Amphetamines: Psychomotor stimulants that were first proposed as a treatmetn for asthma; Major Medical use is for treatment of ADHD children, but frequently abused • Incidence • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Overdose

14. Stimulants • Minor Stimulant: Nicotine • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Overdose • Minor Stimulant: Caffeine • Incidence • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Overdose

15. Stimulants • Cannabis: the hemp plant that produces marijuana and hashish • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence • Withdrawal • Medical Use

16. Hallucinogens • Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Tolerance and Dependency • Phencyclidine (PCP) • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Tolerance and Dependence • Ketamine (Targeted as a Club Drug) • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body

17. A Further Look at Club Drugs • Includes most hallucinogens and are grouped by use not by effect • MDMA • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Effects on the Body • Tolerance and Dependence

18. Volatile Substances or Inhalants • This group contains several chemicals that can be “sniffed”, “snorted”, “huffed”, “bagged”, or inhaled. • Incidence • Psychoactive Effects • Toxicity

19. Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids • The abuse of steroids can lead to serious health problems including risk of liver and heart disease, stroke, hepatitis and infections from contaminated needles. • Incidence • Effects on the Body

20. Discussion • As we’ve just discussed, research has shown that drug use affects the brain and that long term abuse of drugs can destroy brain cells. Specifically, how does drug use and abuse affect the brain? • Either from your own experiences, from observing others, or from readings, what trends in drug use and abuse including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and steroids have you noticed?