Hallucinogens, Steroids, and Psychotherapeutic Drugs

Vocabulary flashcards for review.

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Also known as 'angel dust,' it is rapidly absorbed via smoking, oral ingestion, snorting, or injection and is highly lipophilic, quickly crossing the BBB.

Ketamine

Used medically and recreationally, it is rapidly absorbed via IV, nasal, or oral routes and quickly reaches the brain and spinal cord, producing general anesthesia.

Nystagmus

Rapid jerky eye movements, often a side effect of dissociative anesthetics like Ketamine and PCP.

NDMA-type glutamate receptors

Specific site where Ketamine and PCP bind, acting as antagonists to prevent channel opening and inhibit neuroplasticity.

GHB (Gamma Hydroxybutyrate)

Acts on GABA(B) metabotropic receptors, causing muscle relaxation and sedation, with a high OD risk and narrow therapeutic window.

Salvia

Naturally occurring plant consumed by smoking or sublingually, causing intense trance-like states and visual hallucinations by acting on kappa opioid receptors.

Inhalants

Breathable chemicals that produce psychoactive vapors, typically organic compounds that easily evaporate at room temperature; examples include glue, aerosols, and cleaning agents.

Hormone

A chemical made by one part of the body that affects another part, traveling through the bloodstream to reach its target.

Anabolic Steroids

Man-made versions of testosterone used medically for delayed puberty and muscle loss, but often abused by athletes to build muscle and improve performance.

Psychotherapeutic Drugs

Medications that affect the mind or mental functioning for therapeutic purposes, used to treat disorders like psychosis and neurosis.

First Generation Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics that block D2 dopamine receptors, reducing overactivity, decreasing emotion, and reducing alertness, but can cause Parkinson-like motor issues.

Second Generation Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics with less dopamine blockade and more serotonin effects, leading to better quality of life but with side effects like weight gain and infection risk.

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a type of antidepressant that increases brain plasticity and is commonly used and well-tolerated.

Mood stabilizers

Medications, like lithium, used in bipolar disorder to reduce the duration and severity of manic/depressive episodes.

Physical Dependence

A state characterized by tolerance (needing more of the drug for the same effect) and withdrawal (physical symptoms when stopping use).

Psychological Dependence

Mental attachment to a substance or behavior, often more difficult to treat than physical dependence.

Abstinence

Total avoidance of a substance, a primary focus in many addiction recovery programs like AA.

Moderation

A harm reduction approach that allows for controlled use of a substance, contrasting with total abstinence.

Primary Prevention

Goal to stop problems before they start. Focus on education and awareness to the general population.

Secondary Prevention

Goal of early detection and intervention, targeting at-risk individuals or early users to prevent progression to more serious issues.

Tertiary Prevention

Goal to reduce harm and manage long-term problems, targeting individuals already struggling with dependence or addiction through treatment, recovery, and relapse prevention.