psych 1.3b

Substance Abuse Disorder

continued use despite disruption or danger; interferes with life responsibilities.

Diminished control

unable to regulate use; cravings/overuse.

Diminished social functioning

drug interferes with school, work, or relationships.

Hazardous use

using despite physical or psychological risks.

Drug action

experience tolerance and withdrawal.

Tolerance

need increasing amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal

physical or emotional distress after stopping drug use.

Physical dependence

body requires the drug for normal function.

Psychological dependence

brain craves the drug to feel good or normal.

Blood-brain barrier

protective barrier around the brain; some drugs can cross and affect brain function.

Synergistic effect

combined drugs produce effects stronger than their sum; increases overdose risk.

Alcohol

slows CNS activity; impairs judgment and memory.

Barbiturates

CNS depressants; reduce anxiety and promote sleep; risk of overdose when combined with alcohol.

Opioids

pain relief and euphoria; highly addictive (e.g., morphine, heroin). Can cause drowsiness, nausea, respiratory depression.

Anxiolytics

reduce anxiety without strong sedation; habit-forming with long-term use (e.g., Valium, Xanax, ketamine).

Caffeine

increases alertness and wakefulness; can cause irritability or insomnia in high doses.

Nicotine

highly addictive; stimulates acetylcholine, boosts alertness; found in tobacco.

Cocaine

blocks dopamine reuptake; intense euphoria followed by crash; highly addictive.

Amphetamines

stimulate neural activity, energy, and mood; reduce baseline dopamine; can cause motor issues at high doses.

Methamphetamine

extreme stimulant; dopamine agonist, highly addictive; increases energy, alertness, libido; risks: heart palpitations, skin problems, diarrhea.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

stimulant + mild hallucinogen; increases serotonin → euphoria and social connectedness; risks: dehydration, cognitive impairment, possible heart problems. (grind teeth and slowsw down the world, lights) long term

Near-death experience

altered state of consciousness, similar to psychedelic trip; can affect perception of reality.

Peyote

hallucinogenic cactus used in Native American rituals; can induce visions and spiritual experiences.

Psilocybin mushrooms (shrooms)

hallucinogenic fungi; distort perception, time, and colors; can produce spiritual or mystical experiences.

LSD

powerful hallucinogen; vivid images, altered self-identity, sensory synesthesia; even small doses are potent; risk of 'bad trips.' (bug under skin, very real hallucinogens)

Marijuana (THC)

mild hallucinogen; relaxes, amplifies senses, distorts time; impairs memory and cognitive function; may trigger schizophrenia in predisposed users. (compared pilots normal and marijuana pilots, marijuana pilots failed more/ think you are better than you are)

Agonistic drug

mimics neurotransmitters and activates receptors (e.g., opioids).

Antagonistic drug

blocks neurotransmitter activity or reuptake.

Depressants

class of drugs that slow CNS activity and neural processing; include alcohol, barbiturates, opioids, anxiolytics.

Psychoactive Drug

Chemical substance that change the brain function resulting in alter actions in perceptions

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distorts perceptions that creats csensory, experience without real inputs, ex: (peyote, spear quests, bears or deers be spirit guides)