drug & beh txt 10-13

Nicotine

A central nervous system stimulant found in tobacco, highly addictive due to its effects on neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Caffeine

A mild stimulant found in coffee, tea, and other products, primarily affecting the central nervous system by blocking adenosine receptors.

THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)

The main psychoactive compound in cannabis, responsible for its euphoric and mind-altering effects.

Cannabinoids

Chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant, with THC being the most well-known.

CB1 Receptors

Cannabinoid receptors primarily located in the brain and central nervous system, which are activated by THC and affect movement, memory, and cognition.

CB2 Receptors

Cannabinoid receptors mainly located in immune cells, suggesting a role in modulating immune response.

Secondhand Smoke

Smoke inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others, posing significant health risks to nonsmokers.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Methods such as nicotine gum or patches used to help smokers quit by providing nicotine without harmful substances.

Caffeinism

Excessive caffeine consumption leading to symptoms such as nervousness, irritability, and insomnia.

Anandamide

A naturally occurring cannabinoid-like substance in the brain that binds to cannabinoid receptors.

NAPRA Drug Schedules

A system in Canada that classifies drugs into different schedules based on their accessibility, ranging from prescription-only (Schedule I) to over-the-counter (Schedule III).

OTC Drugs

Over-the-counter medications that can be purchased without a prescription, often used for self-treatment of common ailments.

Blood-brain barrier

A semipermeable membrane that separates circulating blood from brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system.

Endocannabinoid System

A complex cell-signaling system that regulates a wide range of functions, including mood, appetite, sleep and more.

Vasoconstriction

The constriction of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure.

Hypertensive

Abnormally high blood pressure.

Diuretics

Substances that promote increased urination.

Analgesic

A medicine used to relieve pain.

Antipyretic

A medicine used to reduce fever.

Anti-inflammatory

A medicine used to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Addiction

A state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences.

Tolerance

The state when a person no longer responds to a drug in the way they did at first, requiring a higher dose to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal

Symptoms that can occur after reducing or stopping use of a substance after a period of prolonged use.

Psychosis

A severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.

Anxiolytic

A drug used to relieve anxiety.

Neuroprotective

Protecting nerve cells against damage.

Hypersensitivity

An exaggerated or inappropriate response to a stimulus, such as a drug.

Neurotoxicity

The damaging or destruction of nerve tissue.

Leukoplakia

White patches in the mouth, often precancerous, associated with smokeless tobacco use.

Carboxyhemoglobin

Formed when carbon monoxide (CO) binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)

An enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Nucleus Accumbens

A brain region associated with reward and pleasure, where dopamine release reinforces addictive behaviors.

Shisha

Flavored tobacco smoked through a hookah, often falsely believed to be safer than cigarettes.

Diterpines

Natural compounds found in coffee that can potentially raise cholesterol levels.

Hyperinsulinemia

A condition in which there are excessively high levels of insulin circulating in the blood.

Inverse Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and produces an effect opposite to that of an agonist.

Placebo

A substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value.

Guarana

A natural stimulant often added to energy drinks for its caffeine content.

Taurine

An amino acid often added to energy drinks, believed to enhance cognitive performance when combined with caffeine and glucose.

Methylxanthines

A class of chemical compounds, including caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine, known for their stimulant effects.

Fair Trade

A social movement aimed at helping producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainability.

Organic

Food produced using environmentally and animal-friendly farming methods.

Sinsemilla

A preparation of cannabis made from the unpollinated flowering tops of female plants, bred for high THC content.

Hashish

A cannabis concentrate made from compressed or purified preparations of resinous material from the plant.

Cachexia

Weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.

Spasticity

A condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A progressive nervous system disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control.

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder marked by recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Intraocular Pressure (IOP)

The fluid pressure inside the eye.

Bronchospasm

Contraction of the muscles lining the bronchioles, the small airways in the lungs.

Agonist

A chemical or drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Amotivational Syndrome

A controversial concept suggesting that long-term cannabis use leads to lack of motivation and poor performance.

Teratogen

An agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo.