AP Psych Midterm 1.3 - Psychoactive Drugs

Alcohol

a depressant

• acts as a disinhibitor, slows brain activity that controls judgement and inhibits actions

• shrinks the brain and premature death

• slows sympathetic nervous system

• is a sedative

• impairs growth of synaptic connections

Barbiturates

depressant

• impaired judgement and memory

• can lead to overdose when paired with another depressant

Opioids

depressant

• prescription pain reliever

• pleasure replaces pain and anxiety

• lethargy + constricted pupils

• tolerance easily develops

brain can eventually stop producing its own natural opioids (endorphins)

Nicotine

stimulant

• life expectancy is 10x shorter

• highest addictive substance

• releases epinephrine and norepinephrine

  • reduces appetite and boosts alertness

• releases dopamine and opioids to calm anxiety

cocaine

stimulant

• enters the bloodstream producing neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine

• triggers aggression

• emotional disturbances, cardiac arrest, or respiratory failure

• stimulates reward pathways

methamphetamine

stimulant

• body functions speed up

• releases dopamine which enhances energy and mood

• after-effects are irritability, insomnia, seizures, and depression

• can leave user with depressed functioning (reduces baseline dopamine levels)

Ecstasy

stimulant

• triggers dopamine release but also releases serotonin and blocks its reuptake

• mdma

• dehydration

• can lead to permanently depressed mood

• suppresses the immune system, impairs memory, and affects circadian rhythm

LSD

hallucinogens

created by chemist Albert Hofmann

• panic, detachment, or euphoria

Marijuana

Hallucinogens

• can produce hallucinations, delusions, and anxiety

• amplify sensitivity to senses

• relaxes, disinhibits, and induces sleep

• impairs motor coordination

• easy to develop a tolerance

• can be used medically