Altered States of Consciousness

Drugs and Addiction

Definitions

• Drug: Any chemical substance that alters your perception, mood or behavior.

• Dependence: Mental need to take more of a drug after continued use

• What do Drugs Do?• Effect activity of the

brain cells• Imitate or alter

neurotransmitters• Can also increase or

decreased amount of neurotransmitters

Use of Drugs - Percentage

“This picture demonstrates the debilitating effects of drug use. You can clearly see the physical breakdown that occurs with the abuse of drugs. What you don't see but can imagine is the loss of jobs, relationships and family.” http://www.houstoncriminallawjournal.com/articles/drug-possession/

Concepts in drug use–Tolerance: The need to use more and more of

a drug to continue to get the same effects–Dependence• Physiological: Showing a withdrawal

syndrome once removed from the drug regimen• Psychological: An emotional need for the

drug• Co-dependence

–Withdrawal: A distinct set of physiological symptoms associated with the removal of the drug from the system

Classifications of Drugs

• Stimulants: Drugs that stimulate CNS activity– Examples - amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine

• Depressants: Drugs which decrease CNS activity – Examples - Alcohol, Barbiturates, Minor tranquilizers

• Hallucinogens: Drugs that change perception and self-awareness– Examples - LSD, PCP, marijuana

Stimulants

• Originally prescribed for weight loss

• Now only used to treat narcolepsy, childhood hyperactivity and OD’s of depressants

• Used to help people stay awake

• 60% higher addiction rate compared to depressants

Cocaine

• Stimulates the CNS• Gives feelings of

alertness• From 1886-1906 Coke a

Cola contained Cocaine (has been replaced with Caffeine)

• “hits” on last about 20 minutes

• One of the most dangerous drugs

• 1st time can cause heart attack strokes or convulsions

• Increases dopamine & adrenaline

• Extreme addiction – Cravings can last up to 5

years after addiction

Caffeine

• Most used psychoactive drug in North America

• Caffeine stimulates the brain by blocking chemicals that normally inhibit or slow nerve activity

Caffeine• Found in coffee, tea,

soda, chocolate, and cocoa

• More then 2000 nonprescription drugs contain caffeine

• You can be addicted

• Increases growth in breast cyst in women

• May contribute to bladder cancer, heart problems & high blood pressure

• Suspected link to birth defects

• Increase chance of miscarriage

• More then half of all caffeine uses show some dependence

Nicotine

• Second most used drug • Very potent drug &

addictive • Toxic (used to kill bugs)• In a nonsmoker 50-75

milligrams can kill

• Withdrawal is strong• Cravings last 2-6 weeks

during detox

Substance Examples of Street Names Medical Uses Route of Administration Period of Detection

(used one time)

Stimulants  

Amphetamine Biphetamine, Dexedrine; Black Beauties, Crosses, Hearts

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, narcolepsy

Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed

1-2 days

Cocaine Coke, Crack, Flake, Rocks, Snow

Local anesthetic, vasoconstrictor

Injected, smoked, sniffed

1-4 days

Methamphetamine Desoxyn; Crank, , Glass, Ice, Speed

ADHD, obesity, narcolepsy

Injected, oral, smoked, sniffed

1-2 days

Methylphenidate Ritalin ADHD, narcolepsy

Injected, oral 1-2 days

Nicotine Cigars, Cigarettes, Snuff, Spit Tobacco, etc.

Treatment for nicotine dependence

Smoked, sniffed, oral, transdermal

1-2 days

Hallucinogens

LSD (Acid)• Can cause PTSD

and schizophrenia.• Geometric

patterns

Hallucinogens

• Ecstasy is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen.

• It produces euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing neurons resulting in permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory.

Depressants

Alcohol• Slows down

sympathetic nervous system.

• Disrupts memory processing.

• Reduces self-awareness.• Involved in up to 60% of

all crimes.• The worst drug from a

macro perspective

Effects of Alcohol• Effects men and women

differently– Men effects sexually– Women absorbed faster

but metabolized slower – Women higher risk of

liver cancer, osteoporosis and depression

– As few as 3 drinks a week increases chance of breast cancer as much as 50%

• Over 25 million people have a drinking problem in North America

• Reaction time starts to slow at .01 % level

• Shuts down the judgment center of brain

Effects of Alcohol

• Binge drinking– 70 % of college students– 5 drinks in a short time 4

for girls

• Why so serious?– Teens who binge drink

may damage up to 10 % of the brain

– “Getting drunk is a slow way to get stupid”

How do to recognize a drinking problem

• Initial phase– Increasing consumption– Morning drinking– Regretted behavior– Blackouts

• Crucial phase– Can still control when and

where drinks are taken • Chronic phase

– Dependent– Rarely eat – Can become drunk on less

alcohol

• Treatment– Cut the supply

“detoxification”– Restore health – Use of antidepressants

or therapy

Depressants - Barbiturates

• Sedative drugs that depress brain activity – Small amounts

similar to alcohol– Medium amounts

severe mental confusion or hallucinations

– Large amounts • Coma or death

• Tranquilizers• Taken to sleep (but

reduce REM sleep).• Taken with other drugs-

you can get a synergistic effect.

Depressants

Opiates• Initially used as

medicine in the late 1800s

• Heroin and morphine• Addiction comes fast

and the withdrawal symptoms are bad

Depressants Nickname Medical Use Method Effect Time

Alcohol Beer, Wine, Liquor

Antidote for methanol poisoning

Oral 6-10 hours

Barbiturates Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital; Barbs

Anesthetic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative

Injected, oral 2-10 days

Benzodiazepines Activan, Halcion, Librium, Rohypnol, Valium; Roofies, Tranks, Xanax

Antianxiety, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative

Injected, oral 1-6 weeks

Methaqualone Quaalude, Ludes None Oral 2 weeks

Marijuana (Tetrahydrocannabinal)

• Driving while High on Marijuana is as dangerous as drinking and driving

• No overdose have been recorded

• THC accumulates in the body (mostly the brain)

• Can causes paranoia, hallucinations and dizziness

• Dependence is psychological not physical

• 24 hours after using attention, coordination and STM are impaired

• Frequent users show small declines in learning abilities & score 4 to 10 points lower on IQ test

Marijuana

• Health Risks– May increase lung cancer,

3 joints = 12 cigarettes – Temporary lowers sperm– Increases miscarriage

rates– Decreases immune

system– Slows the brain– Hurts memory

Marijuana• Can help with pain in SOME situations – Used with glaucoma – Extreme weight loss (gives you the munchies as a

side effect) – Cancer patients

• Medical use has been recommended in some situations – But usually not smoked !!! (inhalers)

• Is it addictive?

Hallucinogens and Other Compounds  

LSD Acid, Microdot Psychiatric Therapy

Oral 8 hours

Mescaline Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, Peyote

Psychiatric Therapy

Oral 2-3 days

Phencyclidine & Analogs PCP; Angel Dust, Boat, Hog, Love Boat

Anesthetic (veterinary)

Injected, oral, smoked 2-8 days

Psilocybin Magic Mushroom, Purple Passion, Shrooms

Psychiatric Therapy

Oral 8 hours

Amphetamine variants DOB, DOM, MDA, MDMA; Adam, Ecstasy, STP, XTC

Psychiatric Therapy

Oral 1-2 days

Marijuana Blunt, Grass, Herb, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Smoke, Weed

Many (appetite stimulant, anti-nausea, others)

Oral, smoked 1 day - 5 weeks

Hashish Hash Same As Marijuana

Oral, smoked 1 day - 5 weeks

Tetrahydrocannabinol Marinol, THC Antiemetic Oral, smoked 1 day - 5 weeks

Anabolic Steroids Testosterone (T/E ratio), Stanazolol, Nandrolene

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Oral, injected Oral: up to 3 weeks (for testosterone and others); Injected: up to 3 months (Nandrolene up to 9 months)

Methamphetamine

• Meth is cheap and deadly. It’s highly addictive and has serious side effects (death)

• The production of meth is also dangerous putting non-users at risk. – Contaminated homes must be stripped to wood to

get rid of traces of meth– Increased rates of cancer in narcotics officers– Mobile meth labs in vans, dangerous on road

Meth

Meth

Meth

Meth

Alcohol Faces

Cocaine

Dependence and Addiction

Small Large

Drug dose

Littleeffect

Bigeffect

Drugeffect

Response tofirst exposure

After repeatedexposure, moredrug is neededto produce same effect

Trends in Drug Use

1975 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99Year

80%

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

High schoolseniors

reportingdrug use

Alcohol

Marijuana/hashish

Cocaine

Perceived Marijuana Risk

‘75 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99Year

100%

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percentof

twelfthgraders

Perceived “great risk ofharm” in marijuana use

Used marijuana

Factors influencing drugs effects

• Tolerance• Weight• Physiology• Amount and

strength

• Mood • Personality • Age• Gender

Patterns of Abuse• All drugs are not

created equal along with all drug users

• Different types of abuse– Experimental– Social-recreational– Intensive– Compulsive

Influences on Drug UseUse of drugs is based on biological, psychological

and social-cultural influences.

Near-Death Experiences

• After a close brush with death many people report experiencing moving through a dark tunnel with light at the end.

• Under the influence of hallucinogens others report bright light at the center of their field of vision.

Mind-Body Problem

• Near-death experiences raise the mind-body issue. Can the mind survive the dying body?

1. Dualism: Dualists believe that mind (non-physical) and body (physical) are two distinct entities that interact.

2. Monism: Monists believe mind and body are different aspects of the same thing.