Chapter 10

Licit and Illicit Drug Use

Defining Addictions

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patterned use and dependency on mind or mood altering substances interferes with academic/work family interpersonal relationships social/economic functioning physical/mental health

The Physiology of Addiction -

mental, emotional, and Behavioural function occur due to biochemical reactions between nerve cells and the body

• • •

Neurotransmitters biochemical messengers that exert influence at specific receptor cites on nerve cells drugs can alter these cites change moods / fill insufficient amounts Tolerance - over time needing greater amounts of substance

The Addictive Process

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avoid unpleasant feeling or situation nurturing through avoidance coping skills not developed addiction increases relationships deteriorate

Signs of Addiction

Four Common Symptoms

Compulsion / Obsession

excessive preoccupation with the behaviour / overwhelming need to perform it

Loss of Control

- inability to predict consequences of behaviour as healthy or damaging

Negative Consequences -

physical damage, legal trouble, financial, academic failure

Denial

- inability to perceive behaviour is self-destructive

Types of Drugs

stimulate / depress / hallucinate • • • • •

prescription drugs OCT preparations recreational substances herbal preparations illicit drugs

•

Psychoactive drugs Mood / behaviour altering

Routes Of Administration of Drugs …

how the drug is taken into the body • Oral Injestion - mouth • Injection - hupodermic needle • Intravenous injection vein • Intramuscular injection - muscles • Subcutanious injection- fat below skin

Routes Of Administration of Drugs …

how the drug is taken into the body • • •

Inhalation - nostrils Suppositories inserted into anus or vagina - melt at body temp.

Inunction - through skin

Drug Use, Abuse, and Interactions

• drug misuse - using drug for other reasons than intended • drug abuse - excessive use • Environmental factors- main-effect & side-effect • Set and Setting

Individual Response to Psychoactive Drugs SET & SETTING

• •

Set

- how the person thinks……. Mindset - while under the influence • physical, emotional and social factors / work together or against to influence the drug’s effect

Setting

- external factors / drug taken in a quiet place vs. a loud party

Drug Interactions

• Polydrug use - multiple medication / illicit drugs simultaneously • Synergism - two or more drugs taken….produce different effect • Antagonism - two or more drugs working on same receptor site

Drug Interactions

• Inhibition - drugs compete for same receptor site / reduce effectiveness of each one • Intolerance - two or more drugs produce uncomfortable symptoms • Cross - tolerance developed tolerance to one drug that reduces effectiveness of similar drug

Prescription Drugs Types

• Antibiotics - fight bacteria / infections • Analgesics - pain relievers • Prostaglandin inhibitors inhibit production & release / associated with pain from arthritis+ menstruation • Sedatives - CNS - Induces sleep / reduces anxiety

Prescription Drugs Types!!!

• Tranquilizers - CNS depressants / relax body + calm anxiety • Antidepressants - used to treat clinically diagnosed depression • Amphetamines - stimulants / associated dangers • Rebound effects - withdrawal from stimulants / serious / depression, nausea, violence • Generic Drugs - chemical names not brand names

Over-the-Counter

(OCT) Drugs Nonprescription Drugs • self-diagnoses / self-treatment • Safe? Abuse? Harmful!!!!!!

Types: • Analgesic / pain killers / use common + wide spread • Cold, Cough, Allergy, and Asthma Relievers - Don’t cure / reduce symptoms • Stimulants - used to keep awake! All night paper writing - students

Over-the-Counter

(OTC) Drugs • Sleeping Aids and Relaxants - induce sleepy/ drowsy feeling • Dieting Aids “appetite suppressant” - a stimulant which can be dangerous • Sympathomimetics induce stress reaction

Over-the-Counter

(OCT) Drugs Laxatives - softens stool + relieves constipation • use for weight loss / ineffective Diuretics - promotes increased urination - for weight loss ineffective / water replenished and creates chemical imbalances

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • Although illegal widely used and remains a problem in Canada • Controlled Substances • Cocaine - powerful stimulant leaves from South American Shrub -3.8% casual use 1.4% regular in Canada • Effects…….

• Serious results to physical, mental and social health

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • Amphetamines - addictive stimulant that improve alertness, lessen fatigue and improve mood • Marijuana - chopped leaves + flowers from cannabis heightens reactions to environmental stimuli

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • Hashish - thick / sticky resin from cannabis plant • Marijuana and Medicine - used to reduce nausea in cancer patients and to reduce eye pressure for glaucoma

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • • • • •

opiates narcotics (Greek for Stupor) are derived from the parent drug opium opium - made from milky juice of poppy seeds morphine - pain reliever codeine - found in cough medicine and painkillers

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • •

Heroin - illegally manufactured from morphine / injected into blood stream Methadone Maintenance treatment for people addicted to opiates - synthetically produced

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell

Psychedelics - distort sensory information Reticular formation - relay information to other parts of the brain Synesthesia - sensory messages are misinterpreted Hallucinations - images perceived as real but are not

Illicit Drugs……

illegal to possess, produce or sell • • • •

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) - causes sensory disruptions - “ACID” Mescaline - hallucinogenic drug Peyote - cactus / has parts that create hallucinogenic effects Psilocybin - chemical in mushroom causes hallucinogenic effects

Designer Drugs -

Synthetically produced drug / Similar effects to Illicit Drugs

Manufactured by underground chemists Three types available analogues

• phencyclidine (PCP) • amphetamine • methamphetamine

Inhalants - sniffed or inhaled

Amyl Nitrate - “poppers or rush” • a vasodilator - used to enhance orgasm / fainting, dizziness, warmth, skin flushing Nitrous Oxide - “laughing gas” creates a state of euphoria / floating / illusions • overdose - unconsciousness, coma or death

Steroids -

artificial forms of testosterone / promotes muscle growth + strength • Ergogenic aid • Athletic performance • Recreational use widespread to look a certain way- BIG!

• Adverse effects - mood swings (“roid rage”), acne, liver tumors, higher cholesterol levels, hypertension,kidney disease, immune system weakening • HIV - shared needles!!!

Steroids -

artificial forms of testosterone / promotes muscle growth + strength •

Women - masculine traits / lowered voice, increased facial + body hair , male pattern baldness, enlarged clitoris, decreased breast size, changes to menstrual cycle

Steroids -

artificial forms of testosterone / promotes muscle growth + strength • • •

Men - shuts down body’s natural production of testosterone develop breasts testicles atrophy

•

Is it Worth it????

Drugs: Are They Worth IT?

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The impact to society is devastating!!!!!

Crime Relationships School / Work Lifestyle Health Fun Denial What is the REAL problem??