Stimulant Drugs: Cocaine & Amphetamines – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, mechanisms, history, and effects related to cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine covered in the lecture notes.

High-efficacy stimulant

A powerful psychostimulant such as amphetamine or cocaine that produces strong physiological and psychological effects.

Low-efficacy stimulant

A milder psychostimulant like nicotine or caffeine with comparatively weaker effects and abuse potential.

Cocaine hydrochloride

Purified, crystalline salt form of cocaine that is commonly snorted or dissolved for injection.

Crack cocaine

Freebase form of cocaine produced with baking soda; smoked for a rapid, intense high.

Freebasing

Process of converting cocaine HCl to its freebase form, increasing volatility and bioavailability for smoking.

Cocaethylene

Potent, long-lasting metabolite formed when cocaine and alcohol are consumed together.

Mesolimbic dopamine pathway

Brain circuit from the ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens critical for cocaine’s rewarding effects.

Dopamine transporter (DAT)

Protein that re-uptakes dopamine; primary target blocked by cocaine and reversed by amphetamine.

Reverse tolerance (sensitization)

Enhanced responsiveness to a drug following repeated use—more pronounced with amphetamine than cocaine.

Acute tolerance

Rapid, short-lived tolerance that develops during a single binge session of stimulant use.

Schedule I drug

Substance classified as having high abuse potential and no accepted medical use (e.g., recreational cocaine in Canada).

Sympathomimetic

Drug that mimics activation of the sympathetic nervous system, causing effects like vasoconstriction and hyperthermia.

Delusional parasitosis (formication)

Sensation or belief that insects are crawling on the skin, sometimes experienced during cocaine intoxication.

High cocaine responder (HCR)

Animal (or person) that shows strong behavioural activation to cocaine, often linked to lower DAT numbers.

Low cocaine responder (LCR)

Animal (or person) with blunted reaction to cocaine, associated with higher baseline DAT expression.

D1 dopamine receptor

Dopamine receptor subtype essential for cocaine self-administration; knockout animals do not self-administer cocaine.

Cocaine paste (cocaine sulfate)

Crude, smokable intermediate product of cocaine extraction with high abuse potential in producing countries.

Half-life of cocaine

Time for plasma levels to drop by half—approximately 0.5–1.5 hours.

Half-life of amphetamine

Duration for plasma levels to reduce by half—roughly 12 hours (much longer than cocaine).

Amphetamine

Synthetic psychostimulant that increases dopamine and norepinephrine release and blocks their re-uptake.

Methamphetamine

Methylated amphetamine derivative that crosses the blood–brain barrier more readily and has prolonged effects.

D-amphetamine

Right-handed isomer of amphetamine; more potent CNS stimulant used in medications like Dexedrine.

L-amphetamine

Left-handed isomer of amphetamine; weaker CNS effects, stronger peripheral actions.

Adderall

Prescription blend of D- and L-amphetamine used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.

Methylphenidate

Stimulant medication (e.g., Ritalin) that blocks DAT and NET; treats ADHD with slightly different mechanism than amphetamine.

Indirect catecholamine agonist

Drug that enhances catecholamine signalling by promoting release or inhibiting re-uptake (e.g., amphetamine).

Pep pills

Nickname for amphetamine tablets given to WWII soldiers to combat fatigue.

Binge–crash pattern

Cycle of intense stimulant use (binge) followed by depressive withdrawal state (crash).

Meth mouth

Severe dental decay and gum disease associated with chronic methamphetamine use.

Formication

Tactile hallucination of crawling bugs, common in high-dose stimulant intoxication.

Psychostimulant

Drug class that elevates mood, increases alertness, and stimulates the central nervous system.

Tolerance

Reduced response to a drug after repeated exposure, requiring higher doses for the same effect.

Psychological dependence

Compelling craving and emotional need to use a substance despite adverse consequences.

Physical dependence

Physiological adaptation leading to withdrawal symptoms when drug use stops; moderate with cocaine/amphetamine.

Cocaine nasal damage

Erosion of nasal septum and cavities due to chronic insufflation of cocaine powder.

Cocaine schedule (Canada)

Classified under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act—non-medical possession is illegal.

3-year decriminalization pilot

Policy allowing possession of small amounts of illegal drugs (including cocaine) without criminal charges in certain Canadian regions.

Cytochrome P450

Liver enzyme family responsible for metabolizing cocaine and many other drugs.

DAT occupancy

Percentage of dopamine transporters blocked by a drug; higher and faster occupancy correlates with stronger cocaine high.

Local anaesthetic

Drug that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels to prevent nerve conduction; cocaine was the prototype.

Procaine

Synthetic local anaesthetic developed to mimic cocaine’s numbing effect without strong CNS stimulation.

Lidocaine

Widely used local anaesthetic derivative of cocaine with minimal abuse potential.

Sensitization persistence

Long-lasting increased responsiveness to a drug that can outlast tolerance after abstinence.

Amphetamine crash

Post-binge phase marked by depression, fatigue, and craving due to dopamine depletion.

Neurotoxicity

Damage to neural tissue; chronic methamphetamine use can harm dopamine neurons and elevate Parkinson’s risk.

Cardiovascular complications

Serious heart and blood-vessel issues (e.g., arrhythmias, hypertension) arising from long-term stimulant use.

Schedule II medical use (US)

Regulatory category allowing limited medical prescriptions for amphetamines but recognizing high abuse potential.

Indirect agonist reversal of DAT

Amphetamine-induced reversal of dopamine transporter function, pumping dopamine out of neurons into the synapse.

Smart pills

Slang for diverted prescription stimulants (often amphetamine-based) used non-medically for cognitive enhancement.