AP Psychology - Psychoactive Drugs

Depressants

Depressants

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)

• Second most used psychoactive drug

• Slows thinking and impairs physical activity (depressant)

  • Impairs the parts of the brain responsible for controlling inhibitions and making judgments

• Impairs memory by suppressing the processing of events into long-term memory

  • Impairs REM sleep (which helps with long-term memory processing and storage) → further impaired memory storage

• Pleasurable Effects: Initial high followed by relaxation and disinhibition

• Adverse Effects: Depression, memory loss, organ damage, and impaired reactions

Heroin

• Both an opioid and depressant

• Pleasurable Effects: Rush of euphoria and relief from pain

• Adverse Effects: Depressed physiology and agonizing withdrawal

Stimulants

Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Caffeine

• First most common psychoactive drug

• Provides user with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced wakefulness (stimulant)

• Blocks neurological receptor sites that, if activated, sedate the CNS

• Pleasurable Effects: Increased alertness and wakefulness

• Adverse Effects: Anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia in high doses; uncomfortable withdrawal

Nicotine

• Third most common psychoactive drug

• Found in tobacco

• Effects similar to those of caffeine (stimulant)

• Highly addictive and does not stay in the body very long

  • Makes it easier to build tolerance

• Pleasurable Effects: Arousal and relaxation; sense of well-being

• Adverse Effects: Heart disease and cancer

Cocaine

• A stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca plant

• Blocks the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters

• Dependency is quick and severe

• Places extreme strain on the cardiovascular

• Pleasurable Effects: Rush of euphoria, confidence, and energy

• Adverse Effects: Cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, and depressive crash

Crack

• Cocaine crystal (a type of cocaine)

• Faster-acting euphoric effects

Amphetamines

• Drugs that stimulate neural activity, speeding up body functions (stimulant)

• Includes: Speed, uppers, and methamphetamines

• Mimics adrenaline

• Increased energy and mood changes

  • Can cause irreversible changes in mood if overused

• Pleasurable Effects: Euphoria, alertness, and energy

• Adverse Effects: Irritability, insomnia, hypertension, and seizures

Ecstasy (MDMA)

• A hallucinogenic stimulant that produces lowered inhibitions, pleasure feelings, and greater acceptance of others

• Very dangerous

  • Even moderate users may experience permanent brain damage

• Pleasurable Effects: Euphoria and disinhibition

• Adverse Effects: Brain damage, depression, and fatigue

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)/Acid

• A powerful hallucinogenic drug

• Effects vary from person to person

• User can become dangerous to themselves and others

Opioids

• Painkillers that are highly addictive

  • Reduce the brain’s perception of pain

• Can be ingested legally through prescription pills and illegally through heroin use

• Includes oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, heroin, and fentanyl

Marijuana

• Includes leaves, stems, resin, and flowers from the hemp plant

  • THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient

    • Results in heightened sensitivity to tastes, smells, and sounds

    • Repeated use can result in reverse tolerance effect as THC remains in the body for months

• Lowers inhibitions and produces feelings of relaxation and mild euphoria

• Disrupts memory and causes lung damage from smoke

• Long-Term Effects

  • High risk for depression and possible schizophrenia

  • Lung damage

  • Loss of brain cells

  • Memory effects

  • Suppressed immune system

• Withdrawal Symptoms

  • Depression

  • Insomnia

  • Nausea

  • Cramping

  • Irritability

• Pleasurable Effects: Enhanced sensation, relief of pain, distortion of time, and relaxation

• Adverse Effects: Disrupted memory and lung damage from smoke