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Drugs and Consciousness

Module 17

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States of Consciousness Overview

Drugs and Consciousness Dependence and Addiction Psychoactive Drugs Influences on Drug Use

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Dependence & AddictionContinued use of a psychoactive drug

produces tolerance.

With repeated exposure to a drug,

the drug’s effect lessens. Thus it takes greater

quantities to get the desired effect.

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Withdrawal & Dependence

1. Withdrawal: Upon stopping use of a drug users may experience undesirable side effects.

2. Dependence: Absence of a drug may lead to a feeling of physical pain, intense cravings (physical dependence), and negative emotions (psychological dependence).

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Misconceptions About Addiction

1. Addictive drugs quickly corrupt.

2. Addiction cannot be overcome voluntarily.

3. Addiction is no different than repetitive pleasure-seeking behaviors.

Addiction is a craving for a chemical substance, despite its adverse physical &

psychological consequences.

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Drugs and Consciousness

Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance

that alters perceptions and mood (affects consciousness).

Link Psychedelic Science 47:50

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Psychoactive Drugs

Psychoactive drugs are divided into three groups.

1. Depressants 2. Stimulants3. Hallucinogens

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Depressants

Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions. They include:

1. Alcohol 2. Barbiturat

es3. Opiates

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Depressants1. Alcohol affects motor skills, judgment, and

memory…and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness.

Daniel H

omm

er, NIA

AA

, NIH

, HH

S

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Depressants

2. Barbiturates: Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples.

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Depressants3. Opiates: Opium and

its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive. Heroin Crisis at Nat Geo 45:46

http://opioids.com/tim

eline

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StimulantsStimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions. Examples of stimulants are:

1. Caffeine 2. Nicotine3. Cocaine4. Ecstasy5. Amphetamines6. Methamphetamine (speed/crack)

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Caffeine & Nicotine

Caffeine and nicotine increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic

functions to provide energy. Link 2yo smoker

http://ww

w.tech-res-intl.com

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Why Do People Smoke?

People smoke because it is socially rewarding.

Russel E

inhorn/ The G

amm

a Liason N

etwork

Link We love Cigarettes 49:17

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Why Do People Smoke?

Nicotine takes away unpleasant cravings (negative reinforcement) by triggering epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, and endorphins.

Nicotine itself is rewarding (positive reinforcement).

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CocaineCocaine induces immediate euphoria

followed by a crash.

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EcstasyEcstasy or

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a

stimulant and mild hallucinogen.

It produces a euphoric high and can damage serotonin-producing

neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of

memory. (Croft 2001)

Greg S

mith/ A

P P

hotos

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Methamphetamine• Methamphetamine increases the release,

and blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine, leading to high levels of the chemical in the brain.

34Link Drug toxicity 6:06

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Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens are psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs

that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the

absence of sensory input.

Housewife on Acid on CNN 5:01

Another person on Acid 8:46

Leary and kids who dropped acid…creepy 1:14

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Hallucinogens1. LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide)

powerful hallucinogenic drug that is also known as acid. Inside LSD 45:24

2. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the major active ingredient in marijuana that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations. Marijuana at National Geographic 45:11

http

://static.h

ow

stuffw

orks.co

m

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After a close brush with death, many people report an

experience of moving through a dark tunnel with a light at the end. Under the influence of hallucinogens, others report bright lights at

the center of their field of vision.

Near-Death Experiences

(From “H

allucinations” by R.K

. Siegel. Copyright

© 1977 Scientific A

merican, Inc. A

ll rights reserved.)

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Influences on Drug Use

The graph below shows the percentage of US high- school seniors reporting their use of alcohol,

marijuana, and cocaine from the 70s to the late 90s.

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Marijuana Use

The use of marijuana in teenagers is directly related to the “perceived risk” involved with the drug.

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Influences on Drug UseThe use of drugs is based on biological,

psychological, and social-cultural influences.

End

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Sacks on Hallucinations

• Link short 1.17

• http://www.ted.com/talks/

oliver_sacks_what_hallucination_reveals_about_our_minds.html

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