Drugs & Human Behavior History of Drugs

Thinking Critically About Drugs -- What Are Drugs -- History of Drug Classification

Drug

A chemical substance that alters the functions of the body or mind

Psychoactive Drug

Any chemical that alters behavior, cognition, or emotion

• the most addictive drugs

Illicit Drug

Drugs that are currently illegal or heavily regulated including heroin, cocaine, marijuana; the illegal use of a legal drug.

Licit Drug

Drugs that can be purchased legally w/o many restrictions

• Alcohol (over 21)

• Caffeine

• Nicotine (over 18)

Pharmacology

The study of the effects of drugs on living systems

Psychopharamcology

The study of effects of drugs on behavior

Drug Misuse

Shamanism

• Trance (often helped along by hallucinogenic drugs) is a key component

• Shaman — exalted within society —> religious leader in the tribes of some religions

• Found all over the world

Placebo Effect

When receive effects of a treatment because we believe it is doing something good

Narcotic

Drugs that are opium derivatives and bind to opiate receptors; relieve pain.

Analgesic

Substances that relieves pain

• Tylnole

• Ibuprofen

Dissociative

Drugs that produce feelings of dissociation

• PCP

• Ketamine

• Salvia

Psychedlic

Drugs that alter cognition and perception

• LSD

• Psilocybin

Deliriant

Drugs that cause confusion and disorientation

• High doses of diphenhydramine

• Mandark

Drugs Schedules

The Controlled Substances Act classifies drugs into 5 categories based on:

• potential for abuse

• medical benefits (if any)

• likelihood for producing physical or psychological dependence

Schedule 1

• No accepted medical use in the US

• Lack of safety with medical supervision

• High risk for abuse; the most dangerous

• There is lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision

• Drugs: LSD,, heroin, marijuana, MDMD, peyote, GHB

Schedule 2

Can treat medical conditions in the correct circumstances, but have a high risk of abuse that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

• Drugs: cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, oxycodone, Adderall

Schedule 3

• Potential risk for abuse

• Can lead to low or moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence

• Some opioids

• Drugs: Anabolic steroids, narcotic solutions, vicodin, ketamine, long-acting barbituates

Schedule 4

• Low risk for abuse of substances in Schedule 3

• The drug or other substance has currently accepted medical use in the US

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule 3

• Drugs: most benzodiazephines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan) and prescription sleep aids, rohyphnol

Schedule 5

• Low risk of abuse in substances in schedule 4

• Limited amount of certain narcotics

• May lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule 4

Ebers Papyrus

• Egyptian scroll detailing pharmacological treatments

• Castor Oil & Opium were common ingredients

Cannabinoids

• Marijuana

  • Complex behavioral effects

  • Main effect is on cannabinoid neurotransmitter system

Depressants

Depresses CNS activity leading to decreased physiological activity and sedation

• Alcohol

• Barbiturates — amobarbital, batabarbial

• Benzodiazepines

• Sleep aids

Stimulants

Stimulate CNS leading to increases in physiological processes and motor behavior

• Cocaine

• Amphetamine

• Caffeine

• Nicotine

Hallucinogenes

Substance that alter perception and consciousness

• tends to not be addictive

Endogenous Substance

Produced and secreted within the bod

• Endorphins

• Anadomide

Chemical Name for Drugs

Describes the molecular structure of the drug

Generic Name for Drugs

official, nonproprietary, designations

• not captitalized

Brand/Trade Name for Drugs

Proprietary. Chosen by the company that manufactures the drug.

• Capitalized

Naturally-occurring Drugs

Drugs that come from plants, bacteria, fungi, or animals

• Ex. Marijauna, pencilliin

• Often, after the active substance in a plant has been identified, it is purified & synthesized in a lab

  • Ex. cocaine and morephine

Synthetic Drugs

Drugs made in a lab

• Ex. Heroin, MDMA (Ectasy)

Natural Opioids

Derived from the poppy papaver

• Heroin, morephine, codeine

Semi-Synthetic Opioids

Synthesized from naturally occurring opium products

• Oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone

Synthetic Opioids

Made entirely in a lab

• Methodone, trad, fent