Classification of Drugs & Chemicals

For more information: www.nida.nih.gov

Central Nervous System Depressants:

• Act on CNS to slow down neural activity • Why would someone be motivated to use “downers”?

• Desire to move apart from the world • Desire to reduce stress and anxiety

“Downers” cont’d

• Low doses  calmness feelings of relaxation and • Mid-level doses  muscle relaxation, disinhibition, impairment in motor coordination, decrease in pulse rate and blood pressure • High doses  slurred speech, staggering, sleep and coma

“Downers” cont’d

• Chronic use  permanent memory loss, gastrisis and weakened heart muscles • Risk of O/D  inhibition of respiratory control leads to asphyxiation • Synergy = magnifying effects when used in combination

Types of “Downers”

• Alcohol  firing) GABA increases (inhibits neural • Barbiturates  sedative-hypnotics & anti spasmatics (sleep and seizures) – Seconal (red devils) – Nembutal (yellow jackets) – Amytol (blue heaven)

• • Non-barbiturate sedatives  calm nervousness & excitement – Doriden (goofballs) – Quaalude (ludes) Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers)  anti anxiety drugs – Valium – Librium – Ativan – Xanax

• OTC meds  cold, cough, and allergy containing antihistamines or alcohol • Rohypnol (roofies)  date rape drugs

Central Nervous System Stimulants

• Speed up neural activity • “stress state” (increasing respiration, heart rate, motor activity, alertness) • Increased energy and awareness • Why would someone be motivated to take stimulant drugs?

• Desire to be stronger, faster, more confident • Desire to be more attuned to the world

“Uppers” cont’d

• Low doses  increases alertness • Mid-level doses  agitation, euphoria, inflated self-confidence, tremors, sweating • High doses  anxiety, insomnia, paranoia, convulsions, (OD  heart attack, stroke) • Chronic use  risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems, depression, symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia, formication

Types of “uppers”

• Cocaine  increased dopamine leads to intense pleasure  sympathetic system excited • Amphetamines  used to treat narcolepsy, depression, asthma, obesity  increase dopamine and decrease re uptake – Methedrine (speed, crystal meth) – Benzedrine (bennies) – Dexedrine (peps)

• Ritalin (used for ADHD) & Preludin (obesity)  increase dopamine and norepinephrine (overall arousal) • Caffeine  inhibits adenosine (involved in sleepiness, dilation of blood vessels, and constriction of bronchial passageway) • Nicotine  mimics acetylcholine (involved in release of adrenalin, memory, inhibition of GI activity and muscle contraction)

OPIOIDS

• Natural & synthetic drugs commonly used for pain relief & cough-suppressing  often a sedating effect occurs • Also referred to as opiates and narcotics • High doses  slow breathing & decrease of blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature and reflexes • Fit into the receptor cites of endorphin (natural pain killer & works with dopamine to create a dream-like state of well being

Opioids include:

• Morphine, codeine  natural components extracted from dried juice of the opium poppy • Heroin  chemical derivative of morphine (3x more potent and more rapidly absorbed into the brain) • Percodan, Demerol, Darvon  most commonly prescribed analgesics • Methadone  synthetic opiate analgesic

HALLUCINOGENS

• Traditionally derived from natural sources • More recently appearing in synthetic forms which may not be pure and may be more potent • Produce an altered state of consciousness including altered sensory perceptions (visual, spatial, auditory, etc.) • May experience increased suggestibility, delusion, depersonalization and dissociation

• Physiologically, hallucinogens produce rise in pulse and blood pressure • Higher doses may lead to panic reactions, paranoid ideation, depression, and undesirable hallucinations • Insensitivity to pain may result in self inflicted injury • Chronic use may lead to psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety and paranoid psychosis

Hallucinogens include:

• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)  number & location of neural pathways triggered unknown  chemically similar to serotonin • Magic mushrooms (psilocybin)  chemically similar to serotonin • Ecstasy (MDMA)  chemically similar to amphetamine and mescaline  increases levels of serotonin

• Mescaline  derived from the peyote cactus  amphetamine-like stimulant • PCP (phencyclidine)  also known as the "miscellaneous" hallucinogen b/c it can act as depressant, stimulant, hallucinogen and analgesic  affects several major neurotransmitters at once • All hallucinogens increase level of norepinephrine (related to overall neural firing/opposite effect of GABA)

CANNABINOLS

• Any drugs with the main ingredient being THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) • Marijuana most commonly used in this category • Enhances sensory perception; aids in relaxation; increases appetite; slows down motor skills and reaction times • Some medicinal uses suggested (i.e. relieve nausea, stimulate appetite, relieve eye pressure (glaucoma)

• Chronic use associated with general feelings of apathy, impaired motor skills, decreased lung capacity, lowering of immune system, decreased sperm count in males, impairment in ovulation in females • Research suggests that THC fits into its “own” receptor cite – exact function unknown • Inhibits acetylcholine (which transfers impulses from one nerve cell to another when processing information)

Inhalants and Volatile Hydrocarbons

• Chemicals not intended for recreational or medical use • Reduce inhibition, produce euphoria, dizziness, slurred speech, unsteady gait and drowsiness • Nitrites used in some substances may alter consciousness and enhance sexual pleasure

• O/D may produce hallucinations, muscle spasms, headaches, loss of balance, irregular heartbeat and coma from lack of oxygen • Chronic use associated with respiratory arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, liver damage and damage to brains and lungs due to toxicity • Includes: Gasoline, kerosene, chloroform (used in refrigerants), glue, nail polish remover, lighter fluid, paint and paint thinner