1.3C Psychoactive Drugs

FLASHCARD CONTENT:

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals altering consciousness, perceptions, and moods by influencing neurotransmitter function in central nervous system, changing mental states.

Substance Use Disorder

Pattern where drug use becomes uncontrollable and interferes with daily life, relationships, and mental health despite harmful consequences.

Antagonist

Drug occupying receptor sites but blocking activation, decreasing neurotransmitter effects rather than promoting neural firing or responses.

Stimulants

Psychoactive drugs accelerating body functions and neural activity by boosting dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, creating heightened alertness and energy.

Caffeine

World's most widely used stimulant increasing arousal and motor activity by releasing dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine while reducing fatigue.

Cocaine

Powerful natural stimulant blocking dopamine reuptake, causing intense euphoric high by repeatedly stimulating reward pathway receptors in brain.

Methamphetamines (Meth, Crystal Meth)

Powerful laboratory-manufactured amphetamine producing prolonged heightened energy and euphoria lasting hours by increasing dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine activity.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

Stimulant drug boosting serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, producing feelings of energy, emotional warmth, and sensory enhancement.

Opioids (Opiates)

Drugs derived from opium including morphine, heroin, and codeine that depress central nervous system by mimicking endorphins at receptor sites.

Heroin

Opioid drug acting as endorphin agonist, producing intense euphoric high and pain relief by causing massive dopamine surge in reward pathway.

Addiction

Compulsive craving for substance despite harmful consequences, caused by changes in brain's reward system particularly involving dopamine pathways.

Agonist

Drug occupying receptor sites and activating them to enhance neurotransmitter action, mimicking or amplifying natural chemical messenger effects.

Reuptake Inhibitor

Drug preventing neurotransmitter reabsorption into presynaptic neuron, increasing chemical activity in synapse by prolonging signal duration and intensity.

Depressants

Psychoactive drugs slowing body functions and reducing neural activity by enhancing GABA effects, impairing motor skills while reducing anxiety.

Barbiturates (Major Tranquilizers)

Addictive sedative-hypnotic depressants reducing excitement by enhancing GABA activity at neurons, used for anxiety reduction and sleep induction.

Alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol)

Depressant beverage binding to GABA receptors while blocking glutamate, impairing judgment, inhibition, and motor coordination by slowing brain activity.

Hallucinogens

Psychoactive drugs altering perception and causing visual or auditory distortions by affecting serotonin or endocannabinoid systems, producing reality distortions.

Near-Death Experience (NDE)

Profound psychological events with transcendental mystical elements occurring during life-threatening situations or altered consciousness states, sometimes including out-of-body sensations.

Marijuana (Cannabis)

Hallucinogenic drug from hemp plant producing mixed depressant, stimulant, and perceptual effects by mimicking anandamide at cannabinoid receptors.

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Acid)

Powerful synthetic hallucinogen altering perception by binding to serotonin receptors, changing neurotransmitter activity and producing distorted sensory experiences.

Tolerance

Physiological adaptation requiring progressively larger drug doses to achieve same effects as brain adjusts by downregulating receptors and reducing sensitivity.

Withdrawal

Physical and psychological symptoms occurring when drug use stops, including anxiety, nausea, tremors, or cravings as body readjusts.