. Drugs 3 classes of psychoactive drugs -know how they act on the body and be ab
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. Drugs 3 classes of psychoactive drugs -know how they act on the body and be able to identify the major drugs from each class. Know the good side effects as well as the bad side effects of the major classes of drugs. For example, in what sense are psychedelics dangerous? o o Stimulants-cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, caffeine, nicotine, ecstasy Depressants -Ambien, alcohol, heroin, opiates Hallucinogens - marijuana, psychedelies-psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca, ecstasy . . o Withdrawal, dependence, tolerance o How is sugar like a drug?Explanation / Answer
There are certain drugs that alter moods, emotions, and perceptions, these drugs are called as the Psychoactive Drugs. Psychoactive drugs fall into three major categories; the Depressants, Stimulants and Hallucinogens. Depressants have the capability to reduce the activity of the central nervous system. It slows down reactions and reduces the strength of response. It can also cause drowsiness; sleep or it can even cause death depending on the dosage taken. Drugs such as barbiturates, narcotics, minor tranquilizers and alcohol fall in this category. There are serious social problems involving depressant drugs. These are the use of Alcohol and Heroin. The used of alcohol in beverages are widespread in our society. Many people are addicted to the point where these people suffer from actual physical reactions, sweating or tremors when deprived from using these drugs. Alcohol is a disinhibitor;Slow brain activity that controls judgment and inhibitions;Not a stimulant;The urges you feel if you are sober are the ones you will more likely act upon when intoxicated;Slowed neural processing: relax the drinker by slowing sympathetic nervous system activity, potential sedative;Memory disruption: disrupts memory formation, suppresses REM sleep, contributes to nerve cell death and reduces the birth of new nerve cells, impairing the growth of synaptic connections. Opiates-Opium and its derivatives such as morphine and heroin, depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety;Pupils constrict, breathing slows, lethargy sets in as blissful pleasure replaces pain and anxiety;Addiction high;Brain eventually stops producing natural endorphins;Lethal overdose high. Heroin is also a serious problem which causes misery, crime, and deaths from overdoses. This drug is used to relieve pain; it produces feeling of well-being and freedom from worry, exhilaration, and extreme physical pleasures. Stimulant drugs have the capability to improve performance on many tasks as well as in keeping someone awake in a period of time. Continued use in these drugs may lead to a cycle of arousal. It will be then followed by depressions in the time that the effect of the drugs wears off. There are cases that individuals who take these drugs will develop increase dependence on the drugs making larger and larger dosage or intake as necessary. Amphetamines: drugs that simulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes Nicotine: a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco, one of the most addictive substances Nicotine signals the central nervous system to release a flood of neurotransmitters: epinephrine and norepinephrine diminish appetite, boost alertness and mental efficiency Cocaine enters bloodstream quickly creating euphoria that depletes brain supply of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine (blocks reuptake by binding toreceptor sites);Crash of depression follows as the drug’s effect wears off;Easily addicted;Cocaine heightens aggression reactions;Emotional disturbances, suspiciousness, convulsions, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure. Hallucinogens have the capability to produce perpetual and temporal distortions. The tropical morning glory plant, the psilocybin mushroom and cannabis hemp, all contain substances of hallucinogens; others have been produced synthetically. These drugs affect the perception and thinking by producing distortions. The distortion that is produce might be pleasurable or it may be upsetting and frightening. Hallucinogens cause negative psychological effects and anti-social behavior. Users of these drugs also face legal consequences. The effects of hallucinogens can last several hours and vary considerably, depending on the specific type of hallucinogen. Some of the typical effects of hallucinogens are: feelings of euphoria; blurred vision; sense of relaxation and well-being; hallucinations and distorted perception, including visual, auditory, body, time and space; disorganised thoughts, confusion and difficulty concentrating, thinking or maintaining attention; anxiety, agitation, paranoia and feelings of panic; dizziness Some people may experience a drug induced psychosis after using hallucinogens. This can occur after a single dose or long-term use. The psychosis is usually characterised by hallucinations, delusions and bizarre behaviour and can last for several hours or longer for some people. PCP's effects are typically felt within minutes of ingestion and last for several hours, with some users reporting the drug's effects lasting for days. The effects of PCP are unpredictable: One drug-taking episode may produce feelings of detachment from reality, including distortions of space, time, and body image; another may produce hallucinations, panic and fear. Some users report feelings of invulnerability and exaggerated strength. PCP users may become severely disoriented, violent or suicidal. Classifying sugar as a drug becomes controversial because sugar is not acutely toxic. Instead, it’s safe to argue that sugar is chronically toxic. Research professionals have shown that food addictions are similar to drug addictions. This differs from behavioral addictions, like gambling, since food and sugar addictions affect neurochemical changes.The more sugar you eat, the more downregulated your dopamine receptors become.Besides, there are other neuronal changes including:changes in opioid receptor binding;dopamine and acetylcholine release in the nucleus accumbens etc. While it may not be as strong as cocaine when it comes to withdrawal symptoms or the acompanying high, it certainly has addictive and detrimental effects.
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