5.14 Abuse Of Drugs

These flashcards cover the effects and dangers of drug abuse, specifically stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, including their impact on neurotransmitters, tolerance, dependence, and cognitive functions.

Stimulants

Drugs that speed up the nervous system, enhancing wakefulness, alertness, and causing feelings of euphoria.

Euphoria

An elevated mood and sense of well-being often experienced with the abuse of drugs.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the experience of reward and pleasure, affected by stimulants.

Tolerance

A condition where a person needs an increasing dosage of a drug to achieve the same psychological effect.

Dependence

A state where a person is psychologically reliant on a drug, leading to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine

A highly addictive stimulant historically used as a cure-all, blocking dopamine reuptake.

Methamphetamine

A powerful and highly addictive stimulant, often leading to severe physical and cognitive deterioration.

Frontal Lobes

Brain regions important for executive functions such as reasoning, planning, and impulse inhibition.

Stroop Test

A psychological test used to measure a person's cognitive flexibility and inhibition, often showing impairment in meth users.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers in the brain that transmit signals across synapses, affected by various drugs.