stimulants and alcohol

Cocaine

Reaches peak in blood at 30-60 mins, easily penetrates blood barrier. Biological halftime of 30-90 mins

Cocaine short term effects

Euphoria, energy, confidence, alertness

Cocaine physiological action

Monoamines affected: serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline.

blocks reuptake

Cocaine long term effects

Depletion of monamines, destruction of nasal septum, schizophrenia like symptoms, sexual dysfunction

Cocaine additives

Strong psychological addictiveness, much less physical due to reward pathway

Amphetamines

Speed, extancy. Cross blood brain barrier easily

Amphetamine short term effects

Euphoria, confidence, alertness, energy, dehydration, muscle breakdown, overheating

Amphetamines physiological effect

Synthesising enzymes, block reuptake

Amphetamine additiveness

More psychosocial than physical

Caffeine

Coffee/soft drinks. Easily passes through blood brain barrier. Biological half life of 3.5-5 hours

Caffeine short term effects

Alertness/wakefuless, increase cardiac contractions, constricts blood vessels

Caffeine physiological action

Blocks adenosine receptor (involved in inducing sleep). Stimulates adrenaline release from adrenal medulla

Caffeine long term effects

Sleep deprivation

Caffeine additiveness

Physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms include headaches, irritability, difficulty concentrating. Psychological dependence: dopamine release in nucleus accumbens

Nicotine

From tobacco leaf, biological half life of 2 hours

Nicotine short term effects

Vomiting, increase blood pressure/heart rate

Nicotine physiological action

Bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, involved in stimulation of SNS. Nicotinic receptors also found in brain

Nicotine long term effects

Easily develops tolerance, wears out heart quicker, components of tobacco (cancer, cardiovascular disease)

Nicotine addictivess

Physical withdrawal (craving, irritability). Possibly most addictive drug from psychological pov.

Alcohol

Easily crosses blood brain barrier. Mostly eliminated through liver

Alcohol short term effects

Mild euphoria, lowers anxiety, slower reflexes, more urine, dilation of blood vessels

Alcohol physiological action

Agonist of GABA-A receptors (increases inhibitory processes)

Antagonist of NDMA receptors (suppresses excitatory)

Alcohol long term effects

Liver failure, brain damage

Alcohol addictive was

Physical dependence = hangover, worse after chronic use eg delirium tremendously

Psychological = nucleus accumbens, strong heritable component to alcoholism

Prefrontal cortex

Often disrupted by stimulants and alcohol meaning impaired decision making and impulse control

Ritalin (methylphenidate)

Stimulant drug used to treat ADHD by increasing dopamine and noradrenaline

d-amphetamine

Powerful stimulant boosting dopamine and noradrenaline to increase alertness and focus

Methamphetamine

Highly addictive stimulant dramatically increase dopamine levels causing long term brain changes

Vasoconstriction

Narrowing of blood vessels, often caused by stimulants and linked to increased blood pressure

Vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels, often triggered by alcohol and associated with flushing or warmth

Korsakoff’s syndrome

Memory disorder caused by chronic alcoholism use

Delirium tremens

Severe withdrawal symptom of alcoholism involving confusion, tremors and hallucinations

What are the monoamines

Dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin

What does activity at the noradrenergic synapse stimulate

The seeker side of the sleep wake flip flop

And orgasm