Drugs, Society and Human Behavior 1-9 Terms

Correlate

A variable that is statistically related to some other variable, such as drug use.

Antecedent

A variable that occurs before some event such as the initiation of drug use

longitudinal study

A study done over a period of time (months or years)

Gateway

One of the first drugs used by a typical drug user

Reinforcement

A procedure in which a behavioral event is followed by a consequent event such that the behavior is then more likely to be repeated.

Laissez-faire

A hands off approach to government

toxic

poisonous, dangerous

Behavioral toxicity

toxicity resulting from behavioral effects of a drug.

acute

referring to drugs, the short-term effects of a single dose

chronic

referring to drugs, the long term effects from repeated use.

drug recognition expert (DRE)

A police officer trained to examine intoxicated individuals to determine which of several classes of drugs caused the intoxication

DAWN

Drug Abuse Warning Network, System for collecting data on drug related deaths or emergency room visits.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

bath salts

Mephedrone or a related stimulant packaged as bath salts but intended for use as a psychoactive drug

Tolerance

reduced effect of a drug after repeated use.

Physical dependence

drug dependence defined by the presence of a withdrawal syndrome implying that the body has become adapted to the drug's presence.

withdrawal syndrome

a consistent set of symptoms that appears after discontinuing drug use.

psychological dependence

behavioral dependence; indicated by high rate of drug use, craving for the drug, and a tendency to relapse after stopping use.

Catheters

plastic or other tubing implanted into the body

AA

A world wide organization of self-help groups based on alcoholics helping each other achieve and maintain sobriety

biopsychosocial

A theory or perspective that relies on the interaction of biological, individual psychological, and social variables

morphine

A narcotic, the primary active chemical in opium. Heroin is made from morphine

Patent medicines

medicines sold directly to the public under various trademark names. Primarily associated wit the period before 1906.

Cocaine

A stimulant the primary active chemical in coca

FDA

The United States Food and Drug Administration

NDA

new drug application. Must be approved before a drug is sold

IND

application to investigate a new drug in human clinical trials

DEA

Drug Enforcement Administration a branch of the Department of Justice

Homeostasis

maintenance of an environment of body functions within a certain range.

Membrane

a thin, limiting covering of a cell

cell body

the central region of a neuron, which is the control center

dendrites

branchlike structures that extend from the cell body and specialize in receiving signals form other neurons

Axon

A thin tube that extends from the cell body and specializes in transmitting signals to other neurons

axon terminals

The end region of the axon

Receptors

recognition mechanisms that respond to specific chemical signals

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers released for axon terminals

synaptic vesicles

small bubbles of membrane that store neurotransmitters

myelin

a fatty white substance that is wrapped around portions of the axons

autoimmune disease

a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.

multiple sclerosis

An autoimmune illness caused by damage to the myelin sheath that wraps axons.

Blood-brain barrier

structure that prevents many drugs from entering the brain

semipermeable

allowing some, but not all, chemicals to pass

neurotransmission

the process of transferring information from one neuron to another at a synapse

action potential

the electrical signal transmitted along the axon when a neuron fires

ion channels

a protein in the cell membrane forms a pore that allows the passage of ions from one side of the membrane to the other

ion

an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge because of a difference in the number of electrons and protons

resting potential

the voltage maintained by a cell when it is not generating action potentials.

hyperpolarized

when the membrane potential is more negative

depolarized

when the membrane potential is less negative

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter found in the parasympathetic branch in the cerebral cortex

autonomic

the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions, such as heart rate.

sympathetic

the branch of the autonomic system involved in flight or fight reactions

parasympathetic

the branch of the automatic system that stimulates digestion, slows heart rate, and has other effects associated with a relaxed physiological state

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter that may be important for regulating waking and appetite

CNS

brain and spinal cord

nucleus accumbens

A collection of neurons in the forebrain that plays an important role in reward and emotional reactions to events

dopamine

neurotransmitter found in the basal ganglia and other regions

ventral tengmental area

a group of dopamine containing neurons located in the midbrain whose axons project to the forebrain, especially the nucleus accumbens and cortex

mesolimbic dopamine pathway

one of the two major dopamine pathways may be involved in psychotic reactions and in drug reward

schizophrenia

a mental disorder characterized by chronic psychosis

nigrostriatal dopamine pathway

one of two major dopamine pathways damaged in Parkinson's disease

substantia nigra

a dopamine-rich midbrain structure that projects to the striatum

hypothalamus

a structure found near the bottom of the forebrain. It participates in the regulation of hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and aggression

striatum

a term used to describe the caudate nucleus and putamen. Located in the forebrain, it is involved in the initiation of body movements and procedural memory

Parkinson disease

a movement disorder involving damage to and/or loss of dopamine pathway.

Precursors

chemicals that are acted on by enzymes to form neurotransmitters

nucleus basalis

a group of neurons of the basal forebrain that send projections throughout the cortex

cerebral cortex

the outermost layer of the brain

Alzheimer's disease

a progressive brain disease that destroys memory and thinking skills.

serotonin

neurotransmitter found in the raphe nuclei may be important for impulsivity depression

raphe nuclei

a group of serotonin-containing neurons found in the brain stem and project widely throughout the brain

GABA

inhibitory neurotransmitter found in most regions of the brain

glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter found in most regions of the brain

endorphin

opiate-like chemical that occurs naturally in the brain of humans and other animals

basal ganglia

subcortical brain structures controlling muscle tone.

uptake

energy-requiring mechanism by which selected molecules are take into cells

synthesis

the forming of a neurotransmitter by the action of enzymes on precursors

enzyme

large molecule that assists in either the synthesis or metabolism of another molecule

synapse

the space between neurons

transporter

mechanism in the nerve terminal membrane responsible for removing neurotransmitter molecules form the synapse by taking them back into the neuron

metabolize

to break down or inactivate a neurotransmitter (or a drug) through enzymatic action

agonist

a substance that facilitates or mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

antagonist

a substance that prevents the effects of a neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic cell

monoamine

a class of chemicals characterized by a single amine group; monoamine neurotransmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

generic

a name that specifies a particular chemical but not a particular brand

Provigil (modafinil)

a medication used to treat narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and daytime sleepiness associated with sleep apnea

Novigil (armodafinil)

a longer-lasting version of modafinil, approved

placebo

an inactive drug

double blind procedure

experiment in which neither the doctor nor the patient knows which drug is being used.

dose-response curve

a graph comparing the size of response to the amount of drug

ataxia

uncoordinated walking

comatose

unconscious and unable to be aroused

effect dose (ED 50)

effective dose for half of the animal tested

lethal dose (LD 50)

lethal does for half of the animals tested

therapeutic index (TI)

ratio of LD to ED

Safety margin

dosage difference between an acceptable level of effectiveness and the lowest toxic dose

side effects

unintended effects that accompany therapeutic effects

potency

measured by the amount of drug required to produce effect

time course

timing of the onset, duration, and termination of a drug's effect