Psychology 3.2

How do stimulants increase alertness, energy, and activity?

It increases dopamine receptors

List examples of stimulants

Amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, Adderal, Ritalin, and caffeine

Risks/physical effects of stimulants

- Confusion, impaired attention, and impulses (high doses)
- Blocks pre-synaptic neuron from reuptaking
- Increases heart rates
- Increases respiratory rates
- Increases blood pressure
- Increases temperature
- Convulsion
- Liver damage
- Increased heart attack (MI)

How can stimulants be beneficial?

Increase energy, alertness, and activity as well as enhancing attention (given low doses)

How do hallucinogens work?

They induce sensory distortions (hallucinations) by acting at the serotonin synapse

Risks/physical effects of hallucinogens

- Emotional changes
- Dream like state/mystical experience
- Increase risk for abuse
- Anxiety
- Increase heart rate
- Increase blood pressure
- Increase body temperature
- Increase respiratory rate
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Diarrhea
- Intensive vomiting
- Death
- Skin peeling
- Coma

How do depressants work?

Increases GABA transmission at inhibitory synapses

Risks/physical effects of depressants

- Increase risk taking
- Increase aggression
- Poor decision
- Suppression of fear
- Decrease heart rate
- Organ damage
- Memory loss
- Coma
- Death
- Vomit
- Drowsiness
- Clumsiness
- Wernicke korsikorfs dementia
- High risk pregnancy
- Vomit

Benefits of depressants

Decrease anxiety and helps relax

What are 3 examples of narcotics

- Morphine
- Heroine
- Codeine

How does narcotics work?

Binds to endorphin receptors in the brain to block pain

What's the difference between THC and CBD regarding marijuana?

CBD doesn't get you high and not a psychoactive while THC gets you high and is a psychoactive

Examples of when dopamine is stimulated naturally

- Sex
- Certain foods
- Gambling
- Music
- Video games
- Shopping

What do inhibitions do for us?

Allow people to make the right decisions in a situation because they know the consequence of that action. (ex. taking drugs or smoking)

How can drugs affect "normal" behavior?

They take away our inhibitions which prevents us from making logical and right decisions in certain situations.

Why are teenagers more susceptible to drugs?

The brain is not fully developed yet and drugs can affect the growth and development of the brain in the long run