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Drugs and Consciousness

Drugs and Consciousness. Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that alters one’s perceptions and mood. Drugs Prevent Proper Reuptake. Agonist Molecule Mimics . Drugs and Consciousness. Continued use of psychoactive drugs can lead to tolerance

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Drugs and Consciousness

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  1. Drugs and Consciousness • Psychoactive Drugs: chemicals that alters one’s perceptions and mood Drugs Prevent Proper Reuptake Agonist Molecule Mimics

  2. Drugs and Consciousness • Continued use of psychoactive drugs can lead to tolerance • Diminishing effect with regular use of the same drug requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

  3. Drugs and Consciousness • Side effects of tolerance • Lead to withdrawal • Discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug • Withdrawal can cause physical pain- WHY? Write it down! • Physical dependence • Psychological dependence

  4. Drugs and Consciousness • Misconceptions about addictions • Addictive drugs quickly corrupt • Addictions can’t be overcome voluntarily; therapy is a must • We can extend the concept of addiction to cover not just drug dependencies but a whole spectrum of repetitive pleasure seeking behavior… but should we? • Shopping Addiction? • Work Addict?

  5. Drugs and Consciousness • Three types of psychoactive drugs • Depressants • Stimulants • Hallucinogens

  6. Drugs and Consciousness • Depressants: drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

  7. Drugs and Consciousness • Alcohol • Lowers inhibitions and judgment • A person’s various attributes become stronger • Helpful person= more helpful • Aggressive person= more aggressive

  8. Drugs and Consciousness • Dosage: • Lower doses relax the drinker by slowing the sympathetic nervous system • Reaction speed slows, speech slurs, skill performance is altered • Larger doses can become problematic • Denton & Krebs Study • As blood-alcohol level increases, moral judgments falter. • Conclusion: Virtually all will drive home from a bar, even if given a breathalyzer test and told they are intoxicated.

  9. Drugs and Consciousness • Side effects of alcohol: • Effects memory • Disrupts the processing of recent experiences into long-term memories • Studies also show problems transferring memories from intoxicated mind to the sober mind • Suppresses REM sleep • Reduces self awareness • Focus on immediate situation without looking at the future • 50% of rapists acknowledge drinking prior to committing the crime

  10. Drugs and Consciousness • Barbiturates • Tranquillizers that mimic alcohol • Can be used to induce sleep or lower anxiety • Opiates • Opium, Morphine, and Heroin • Depress neural functions and communications • Long term withdrawal • Symptoms • Body stops producing endorphins • Feeling lethargic • Respiratory Failure

  11. Drugs and Consciousness • Stimulants • Caffeine (most used drug), nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine are all examples • Speed up body functions • Used to stay awake, lose weight, boost mood • Can be addictive • Can lead to “crash”

  12. Methamphetamine • Triggers the release of dopamine which stimulates brain cells that enhance mood and energy. • Over time will reduce dopamine levels • Causes depressed functioning • Highly addictive • Aftereffects • Irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures, depression, violent outbursts.

  13. Drugs and Consciousness • Cocaine • 3% of the population have admitted to using cocaine • Rush depletes serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine which leads to the “crash” • Studies show cocaine leaves the neural reward switch in the on position • May lead to emotional disturbance, suspiciousness, convulsion, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure.

  14. Drugs and Consciousness • Hallucinogens • Distort perception and evoke images • LSD • Created in 1943 by Albert Hoffmann ( a chemist) • “…perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors” • Phases of hallucination • Geometrical shapes meaningful images dreamlike scenes

  15. Drugs and Consciousness • Marijuana • Leaves and flowers of the hemp plant (cultivated for 5,000 years for its fiber) • THC is the active ingredient • Smoking marijuana gets THC to brain in 7 seconds • Effects of marijuana • Relaxes and produces euphoric high in subject taking marijuana • Mild hallucinations occur • Amplified sensitivity to color, sound, tastes, and smells

  16. Drugs and Consciousness • Side effects of marijuana • Impairs motor coordination, perceptual skills, reaction time • Disrupts memory formation and recall abilities • Depresses sex hormones in males and lowers sperm levels • More lung damage than cigarette smoking

  17. Drugs and Consciousness • Study followed 654 junior high students into their 20’s • Found heavy users developed more health problems and family problems than their counterparts • Example of a longitudinal study

  18. Longitudinal study • Scientific study that follows a group of people throughout a period of time • Typically used to study developmental trends • Cross-sectional study • Scientific study in which data are collected from groups of participants of different ages and compared so that conclusions can be drawn about differences due to age

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