Psychopharmacology, Recreational Drugs, Tolerance, and Sensitization

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts in psychopharmacology, including definitions and important ideas related to recreational drugs, drug effects, routes of administration, and tolerance.

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals that affect the nervous system, cognition, mood, perception, consciousness, or behavior.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body affects the drugs, including metabolism, distribution, and elimination.

Pharmacodynamics

How the drugs affect the body, including their affinity and efficacy.

Routes of Administration

Methods of delivering drugs, such as oral, injection, inhalation, and insufflation.

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

A barrier that prevents most substances, including drugs, from entering the brain via the bloodstream.

Agonist

A substance that helps a neurotransmitter's action either by directly binding to receptors or indirectly influencing neurotransmitter activity.

Antagonist

A substance that hinders a neurotransmitter's action by blocking its effects.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A disorder characterized by uncontrollable use of a substance, causing harm to personal health and relationships.

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS)

Severe and potentially lethal symptoms that occur upon withdrawal from alcohol use disorder.

Metabolic Tolerance

An increase in the number of enzymes that metabolize a drug, leading to faster drug breakdown.

Sensitization

An increased responsiveness to successive equal doses of a drug, often related to intermittent use.

Endogenous Opioid System

System of three opioid receptors involved in pain reduction and affecting dopamine levels in the brain.

Hallucinogens

Substances that affect consciousness and perception, leading to auditory and visual hallucinations.

Cannabinoids (CBD)

Non-psychoactive compounds in cannabis that may have therapeutic benefits without producing a high.

Psychostimulants

Drugs that increase arousal, euphoria, and energy levels, such as cocaine and amphetamines.

Conditioned Compensatory Response (CCR)

A physiological response that prepares the body for the effects of a drug based on environmental cues.