drugs of abuse: stimulants

Earn CEUs at AllCEUs.com NBCC #6261, NAADAC #599

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StimulantsChapters 4, 12, 14



Objectives• To provide information about stimulants

• To assist students in understanding consequences of stimulant use

• To assist students in understanding drug interactions

• To educate students about the symptoms of toxicity, overdose and withdrawal

• To motivate students to make informed choices about stimulant use



Introduction

• Stimulants are drugs that act to “wake up” the fight or flight reaction from the sympathetic nervous system.

• Stimulants can be found in everything from food and drink to over the counter medication to prescriptions and illicit drugs.



Description/terms

• Amphetamines Stimulant Fact Sheet

• Caffeine Caffeine Facts

• Decongestants Overview of Decongestants (i.e. Sudafed)

• Methamphetamines Methamphetamine Online Reading

http://www.well.com/user/woa/fsstim.htm

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/facts-faits/caffeine_e.html

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/facts-faits/caffeine_e.html

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/decongestants.jsp

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Methamphetamine



Terms cont…

• Ritalin/Adderall

– Ritalin

– Ritalin Part II

– Adderall

• Cocaine: Cocaine Overview

http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Ritalin

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/Ritalin.html

http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/cocaine.html



Amphetamines

• Methamphetamine WebCast

• Methamphetamine Quick Reference

• Methamphetamine Technical Information

http://www.health.org/multimedia/webcasts/w.aspx?ID=102


http://www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/methamph/methamph.html



Cocaine

• Cocaine Overview

• Cocaine Technical Information

• Cocaine WebCast

http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/cocaine.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Cocaine/Cocaine.html





Metabolism/ Tolerance

• Regular use of amphetamines induces tolerance to some effects,

• The most common symptoms of withdrawal among heavy amphetamine users are fatigue, long but troubled sleep, irritability, intense hunger, and moderate to severe depression, fits of violence



Effects and Symptoms of Toxicity

• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism; feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental alertness /rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced appetite, weight loss, heart failure, nervousness, insomnia

• Also, for amphetamine—rapid breathing/ tremor, loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction, psychosis



Toxicity cont…

• For cocaine—increased temperature/chest pain, respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes, seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks

• For MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings/impaired memory and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal failure, liver toxicity

• For methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance, addiction



Issues in Pregnancy

• March of Dimes Report on Stimulants and Pregnancy

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp



Effects on Sports Performance

• Caffeine in Athletics by Jack Hartley

• Herbal Supplements and Sport Performance

• ESPN Drugs and Sports

• Drug Free Sport--NCAA

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/psychology/health_psychology/caffeine_sports.htm

http://www.gssiweb.com/reflib/refs/601/SSERT_50.cfm?pid=96

http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/coca.html

http://www.drugfreesport.com/choices/drugs/amphetamine.html



Rumors and Myths

MYTH:Stimulants are safe for anyone to take because they are a prescription medication.

FACT: Stimulant medications are only to be taken by the person to whom it was prescribed as prescribed by qualified healthcare professionals.

MYTH: Stimulants are addictive.

FACT: There is no evidence to suggest that people taking stimulant medications as prescribed become addicted to the medications



Additional Resources• Cocaine & the Concept of Addiction by S. Peele, Ph.D. & R.

J. DeGrandpre (Addiction Research in press)

• Jamaican Chocolate by Dr. R. J. Lancashire

• Researchers learn how Ritalin works to calm hyperactivity (CNN 1/14/99)

• Diagnosis and Evaluation of the Child With Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (American Academy of Pediatrics 5/2000)

• Evidence and belief in ADHD by M. Zwi, P. Ramchandani, & C. Joughin (BMJ 2000;321:975-976)

http://www.peele.net/lib/cocaine.html

http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/lectures/cocoa.html

http://cnn.com/HEALTH/9901/14/ritalin/

http://www.aap.org/policy/ac0002.html

http://www.aap.org/policy/ac0002.html

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7267/975



Resources cont…

• FDA Clears Use of Adderall for Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (Doctors Guide 2/21/96)

• Recreational Ritalin by N. Ziegler (AP 5/5/2000)

• NICE issues new guidelines on Ritalin by R. Dobson (BMJ 2000;321:1100)

• Study Suggests Tailoring ADHD Treatment (Science Daily Magazine 2/4/2000)

• US parents sue psychiatrists for promoting Ritalin by F. Charatan (BMJ 2000;321:723)



Summary

• Overview: Online Methamphetamine Reading

• Responsible use

– Do not mix decongestants with other stimulants including caffeine

– Drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration from decongestants

– Try non-drug alternatives first

– Take prescriptions as prescribed

http://www.nida.nih.gov/MOM/METH/MOMMETH1.html

drugs of abuse: stimulants

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