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The Buzz on Stimulants. November 19, 2012 Linda M. Keegan Moraine Park Technical College. What are Stimulants?. You see them. everyday …. You can buy them in the store…. You can smoke or snort them…. They come in pills and capsules. They can help…. They can hurt…. “Stimulant”=.
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The Buzz on Stimulants November 19, 2012 Linda M. Keegan Moraine Park Technical College
You see them everyday…
“Stimulant”= Substances that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness.
“Stimulant”= Affects the Central Nervous System (CNS)… Releases dopamine…
Excessive Use= Restlessness, talkative, trouble sleeping…
High Doses Over a Long Period of Time= Personality changes Violent, dangerous, psychotic behavior
There are many different kinds of stimulants • Some=treat specific medical conditions • Some=require a prescription • Some=over-the-counter • Some=food products • Some=illict, such as “designer amphetamines” (MDMA/Ecstasy)
Types of Stimulants • Major Stimulants – Prominent role in current illicit and prescription drug abuse problems in the United States. • Minor Stimulants – Including caffeine (in coffee, tea and chocolate), as well as “over-the-counter” (OTC) sympathomimetics and “herbal highs.”
Did You Know? • All major stimulants increase alertness, excitation and euphoria. • Major stimulants are called “uppers.” • Schedule I – “Designer” Amphetamines • No medical use (illicit/illegal) • Schedule II – Amphetamine, Cocaine and Methylphenidate (Ritalin) • Controlled substances because of their abuse potential
Did You Know? • Approved uses for amphetamines: • Narcolepsy • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHA) -- Ritalin • Weight Reduction • Two principle side-effects: • Abuse • Cardiovascular toxicity (involves adrenal glands and sympathetic nervous system)
Did You Know…What “meth” can do?Click below to hear the NPR Podcast…
According to the NPR Podcast: No other drug has more consequences for the innocent than… methamphetamine
What is Methamphetamine – “Meth”? • Methamphetamine is structurally similar to amphetamine and the neurotransmitter dopamine. • It is quite different from cocaine. • Methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action and a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body.
“Street Names for Methamphetamine” • Meth • Speed • Chalk • Tina • Ice • Crystal • Crank • Glass • Fire • Go Fast • Crypto “Meth” can be smoked, snorted, injected and orally injested.
“Street Names for Cocaine” • Coke • C • Snow • Flake • Blow • Bump • Candy • Charlie • Rock • Toot • Crack “Crack” (the smokeable form of cocaine) got its name from the crackling sound made when it’s smoked.
“Street Names for Amphetamines” • Speed • Bennies • Black Beauties • Crosses • Hearts • LA turnaround • Truck drivers • Uppers Stimulants can be: • Swallowed in pill form • Snorted in powder form through the nostrils • Injected • Heated in crystal form and smoked
How “Meth” Affects the Brain… • Methamphetamine is in the brain longer, compared with cocaine. • This ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects. • Animal studies reveal much higher levels of dopamine following the administration of “meth,” because of the different mechanisms of action within nerve cells in response to these drugs.
How “Meth” Affects the Brain… • Cocaine prolongs dopamine actions in the brain by blocking dopamine re-uptake. • While at low doses, “meth” blocks dopamine re-uptake, it also increases the release of dopamine, leading to much higher concentrations in the synapse, which can lead to toxic nerve terminals.
Short-Term Effects of “Meth” May Include: • Increased attention and decreased fatigue • Increased activity and wakefulness • Decreased appetite • Euphoria and rush • Increased respiration • Rapid/irregular heartbeat • Hyperthermia
Long-Term Effects of “Meth” May Include • Addiction • Psychosis, including • Paranoia • Hallucinations • Repetitive motor activity • Changes in brain structure and function • Memory loss • Aggressive or violent behavior • Mood disturbances • Severe dental problems • Weight loss
Withdrawal Effects From “Meth” • With chronic abuse, tolerance to the drug’s pleasurable effects can develop. • In an effort to intensify the desired effects, abusers may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of drug intake. • Withdrawal occurs when a chronic abuser stops taking the drug. • Withdrawal symptoms include depression, anxiety, fatigue and an intense craving for the drug.
Overview:“Meth” versus “Coke” • Stimulant • Man-made • Smoking produces a long-lasting high • 50% of the drug is removed from the body in 12 hours • Increases dopamine release and blocks dopamine re-uptake • Limited medical use • Stimulant and local anesthetic • Plant-derived • Smoking produces a brief high • 50% of the drug is removed from the body in 1 hour • Blocks dopamine re-uptake • Limited use as a local anesthetic in some surgical procedures
Overview:“Meth” versus “Coke” • At this time, the most effective treatments for “meth” addicts are behavioral therapies. • There are currently no specific medications that counteract “meth” effects, or that prolong abstinence and/or reduce abuse. According to author Jeffrey Kluger in “New hope for an anti-cocaine vaccine” (January 5, 2011): Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City developed a vaccine that “will likely not require multiple, expensive infusions” and “that can move quickly into human trials.” But no “magic bullet” yet...
What About Ritalin? • Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is related to amphetamines, but is a relatively mild CNS stimulant, especially when used orally. • “Street names” include: • Rits • Vitamin R • West Coast • It is used to help calm children and adults with an ADHD diagnosis. • Adderall is also used to treat ADHD.
What About Ritalin? • High does of Ritalin can cause tremors, seizures, and strokes. • Ritalin has been classified as a Schedule II drug, like the other prescribed amphetamines. • Its principal mechanism of action is to block the reuptake of dopamine and noradrenaline into their respective neurons. • Its pharmacological action is more like cocaine than methamphetamine.
What About Ritalin? • The stimulant potency of Ritalin lies between that of caffeine and amphetamine. • There are increasing reports of high school and college students misusing the drug to “study better” or “party harder.” • There is no evidence that when used properly and taken orally this drug will cause serious dependence or addiction.
Did You Know? • Minor stimulant use, causing a mild lift in mood, is widespread in the United States and the rest of the world. • Minor stimulants include • Methylxanthines (“xanthines”), such as coffee • Ingredients in OTC medications (cold and hay fever products)
Did You Know? • Because of their frequent use, some dependence on these drugs can occur. • However, serious dysfunction due to dependence is infrequent. • Abuse of xanthines, such as caffeine, is not viewed as a major health problem by most health experts. • However, consult with your doctor about your specific consumption habits.
Did You Know? • A number of OTC products contain significant quantities of caffeine. • OTC analgesic products (Anacin, Excedrin) • “Stay-awake” (NoDoz) and “picker-upper” (Vivarin) products. • The use of caffeine in these OTC drugs is highly controversial and has been criticized by clinicians who are unconvinced of caffeine’s benefits. • Consult with your medical doctor.
BEWARE! • The xanthines significantly influence several important body functions. • Although the effects of these drugs are generally viewed as minor and short-term, when used in high doses or by people who have serious medical problems, these drugs can be dangerous (with cardiovascular and respiratory effects). • Caffeine intoxication and dependence can occur.
Caffeine Withdrawal Syndrome • Headache • Decreased alterness • Decreased vigor • Fatigue and lethargy • Nervousness
Did You Know? • Sympathomimetic decongestant drugs included in OTC products (cold, allergy and diet aid medications) have stimulant properties like those of caffeine. • For most people, the CNS impact of these drugs is minor, but for those people who are very sensitive to these drugs, they can cause jitters and interfere with sleep.
Common OTC Sympathomimetics • Ephedrine – Before removed, used as decongestant Currently used decongestants • Naphazoline • Oxymetazoline • Phenylephrine • Pseudoephedrine • Tetrahydrozoline
BEWARE! • Some OTC sympathomimetics occur naturally and are also found in herbal or dietary supplements. • These products are promoted as natural highs to be used as diet aids, energy boosters, or performance enhancers for athletics. • Excessive use of these products can cause seizures, heart attacks, and strokes…even death.
For specific conditions, check out the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/resources/spotlights/arthritis-video.htm Includes these links: • Arthritis Basics • Data and Statistics • Funded Science • State Programs • Publications • Interventions • Policy/Partnerships • Resources
Internet References • http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2011/0630/US-prisoners-sentenced-under-strict-crack-cocaine-laws-get-relief • http://www.sentencingproject.org/CRACKREFORM/ • http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10021&page=137 • http://www.ycsg.yale.edu/center/forms/public-health-impact73-84.pdf • http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/cocaine/cocaine_media10.shtml • http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/cocaine/cocaine_article2.shtml • http://www.erowid.org/psychoactives/humor/humor_joke8.shtml
Internet References • http://www.expert-reviews.com/doi/abs/10.1586/erv.10.102 • http://www.future-science.com/doi/pdf/10.4155/fmc.11.186 • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402752.html • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/health/04vaccine.html?pagewanted=all • http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/05/new-hope-for-an-anti-cocaine-vaccine/ • http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_stim1.php • http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/289007-overview • http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/prescription-stimulants
Internet References • http://www.theantidrug.com/drug-information/otc-prescription-drug-abuse/prescription-drug-rx-abuse/stimulant-abuse.aspx • http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-stimulant-therapy • http://psychology.about.com/od/psychoactivedrugs/a/stimulants.htm • http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/stimulants/ • http://www.well.com/user/woa/fsstim.htm • http://www.baltimorepsych.com/Stimulants.htm • http://www.psych.upenn.edu/~mfarah/pdfs/PsychBullProof.pdf
Internet References • http://www.addictionrecov.org/Addictions/?AID=32 • http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/stimulants.aspx • http://www.drugs.com/drug-class/cns-stimulants.html • http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/stimulants.html • http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/speed.html • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18174822 • http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/11/surprising-stimulants-help-people-be-more-focused/
Internet References • http://www.doxiderol.com/brain-stimulants/ • http://www.justthinktwice.com/drugs/bath_salts_or_designer_cathinones_synthetic_stimulants.html • http://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/pdf/PEERx_Toolkit_FactSheets_Stimulants.pdf • http://www.pai.wv.gov/programsanddepartments/DEC/Documents/stimulants_DrugDataSheet.pdf • http://www.dsamh.utah.gov/stimulants.htm • http://youthondrugs.com/drugs/stimulants • http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/cas/Documents/stimulants/ • http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/education/seeking-academic-edge-teenagers-abuse-stimulants.html?pagewanted=all
Internet References • http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/stimulant-adhd-medications-methylphenidate-amphetamines • https://www.madinamerica.com/2012/06/the-ny-times-when-stimulants-are-bad/ • http://www.journalsleep.org/Articles/270616.pdf • http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151034.htm • http://www.livestrong.com/article/131357-stimulants-depressants/ • http://www.globalrph.com/stimulants.htm • http://www.scholastic.com/smp/pdfs/nida/NIDA9-INS3_Stu%20Mag.pdf • http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/energy-shots-review