Drug-Altered Consciousness

Some Early Definitions

Consciousness: mental awareness of sensations, perceptions, memories, and feelings
* Waking Consciousness: normal, clear, organized, alert awareness
Altered State of Consciousness (ASC): a condition of awareness distinctly different in quality or pattern from waking consciousness
consciousness is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon -- it exists in a continuum

Meditation

Meditation: a mental exercise for producing relaxation or heightened awareness
* Concentrative Meditation: mental exercise based on attending to a single object or thought
* Mindfulness Meditation: mental exercise based on widening attention to become aware of everything experienced to any given moment
Mantra: word(s) or sound(s) repeated silently during concentrative meditation
Relaxation Response: the pattern of internal bodily changes that occurs at times of relaxation
* physical benefits include lowered heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and other signs of stress as well as immune system activity

Sensory Deprivation

Sensory Deprivation: a major reduction in the amount or variety of sensory stimulation
* can help people quit smoking, lose weight, and reduce their use of alcohol and drugs
Sensory Isolation Chamber: small floatation tanks like the one pictured have been used by psychologists to study the effects of mild sensory deprivation
  * subjects float in darkness and silence
  * shallow body temperature water contains hundreds of pounds of Epsom salt, so that subjects float near the surface
  * mild sensory deprivation produces deep relaxation

Drugs and Altered States of Consciousness

Psychoactive Drug: a substance capable of altering attention, memory, judgment, time sense, self-control, mood, or perception
* Stimulant: a substance that increases activity in the body and nervous system
* Depressant: a substance that decreases activity in the body and nervous system
Physical Dependence: physical addiction as indicated by the presence of drug tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
Drug Tolerance: a reduction the body’s response to a drug
Withdrawal Symptoms: physical illness and discomfort following the withdrawal of a drug
Psychological Dependence: drug dependence that is primarily on emotional or psychological needs

Why do young people do drugs?

conforming to peer pressure
use to escape conflicts, frustrations, and failures
imitating behavior of role models
they have personality traits that are predisposed to addiction
they are curious
they think they are invulnerable
because it is against the rules
to challenge the authority of their parents
because they like the feeling of escaping reality

Uppers

Amphetamines

Amphetamine: synthetic stimulants that excite nervous system (“speed”, “bennies”, “dex”, “go”, “uppers”)
Metamphetamine: (“crack”, “speed”, “meth”, “crystal”)
* a more potent variation that is snorted, injected, or eaten
can be made cheaply in backyard laboratories
produces drug tolerance, with users switching to injecting directly to the bloodstream
large doses can cause nausea, vomiting, extremely high blood pressure, fatal heart attacks, and disabling strokes
speeds up the use of body resources -- causing fatigue, depression, confusion, uncontrolled irritability, and aggression
can cause ^^amphetamine psychosis^^ -- a loss of contact with reality

Cocaine

Cocaine: powerful stimulant extracted from the leaves of the coca plant
from 1886 to 19076, Coca-Cola did have a 9mL cocaine per serving in it
produces feelings of alertness, euphoria, well-being, power, boundless energy, and pleasure
effects lasts only from 15 to 30 minutes
increases neurotransmitters dopamine (produces “rush of pleasure”) and noradrenaline (arouses the brain)
even casual or first time users risk having convulsions, a heart attack, or a stroke
highly addictive and quitting is extremely difficult
* Anhedonia: the inability to feel pleasure that is common after cocaine withdrawal
^^Cocaine^^ induces immediate euphoria followed by a crash. ^^Crack^^, a form of cocaine, can be smoked. Other forms of cocaine can be sniffed or injected.

MDMA (“Ecstasy”)

^^MDMA or “Ecstasy”^^ is a designer drug -- chemically engineered version of an existing drug; made to skirt drug laws
chemically similar to amphetamine; effects include dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, jaw clenching, loss of appetite, and elevated body temperature
diminishes sexual performance, impairing erection in 40% of men, and retarding orgasm in both men and women
MDMA related deaths result from fatal heat exhaustion, even when drinking water to cool down
damages the liver, which can be fatal
repeated use damages serotonergic brain cells, lasting for years
^^Ecstasy or methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)^^ is a stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can damage ^^serotonin^^ - producing neurons, which results in a permanent deflation of mood and impairment of memory

Caffeine

most widely used psychoactive drug especially in North America; found in coffee, teas, colas, chocolate, and cocoa
stimulates the brain by blocking chemicals that normally inhibit or slow nerve activity
causes hand tremors, sweating, talkativeness, tinnitus, suppresses fatigue or sleepiness, increases alertness
Caffeinism: physiological dependence on caffeine; symptoms include insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, chills, racing heart, elevated body temperature
encourages the growth of breast cysts in women, may contribute to bladder cancer, heart problems, and high blood pressure
pregnant women who consume as little as 2 cups of coffee a day increase the risk of having a miscarriage

Nicotine

a potent drug sometimes used to kill insects
in large amounts, causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, cold sweats, dizziness, confusion, and muscle tremors
in very large doses, may cause convulsions, respiratory failure, and death
Very Addictive: 60% among regular workers who are 15-24 years old are addicted
withdrawal symptoms include headaches, sweating, cramps, insomnia, digestive upset, irritability, and a sharp craving for cigarettes
reduces the life expectancy of the average smoker by 10-15 years

Downers

Barbiturates

barbiturates are sedative drugs that depress brain activity
common barbiturates include amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital, and tuinal
street names include “downers”, “blue heavens”, “yellow jackets”, “purple hearts”, “goof balls”, “reds”, “pink ladies”, “rainbows”, or “tooies”
medically used to calm patients or to induce sleep
Mild Doses: similar effects to alcohol intoxication
Higher Doses: severe mental confusion or even hallucinations
overdoses first causes loss of consciousness
results in death after severely depressing brain centers that control heartbeat and breathing

GHB

^^Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)^^ is a mixture of degreasing solvent and drain cleaner that has been used as a central nervous system depressant that relaxes and sedates the body; street names include “goop”, “scoop”, “max”, “Georgia Home Boy”
inhibits gag reflex, so some choke to death on their own vomit
produces euphoria, a desire to socialize, and a mild loss of inhibitions
intoxicating effects typically last 3-4 years
overdoses happen when combined with alcohol: coma, breathing failure, and death
withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, agitation, tremor, delirium, and hallucinations

Tranquilizers

drugs that lowers anxiety and reduces tension
benzodiazepine tranquilizers are prescribed by doctors to alleviate nervousness and stress
valium is the best known; others include Xanax, Halcion, and Librium
Normal Dosages: can cause drowsiness, shakiness, and confusion
High Doses: strong addictive potential
Rohypnol is cheaper and 10 times more potent. Large doses causes amnesia and sleep.
Drug Interaction: a combined effect of 2 drugs that exceeds the addiction of one drug’s effects
depressants mixed with alcohol can be deadly

Opiates

opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
pupils constrict, breathing slows, and lethargy sets in, as blissful pleasure replaces pain and anxiety
a gnawing craving for another fix follows, a need for progressively larger doses, and the extreme discomfort of withdrawal
when repeatedly flooded with an artificial opiate, the brain eventually stops producing its own opiates, the endorphins -- the brain lacks the normal level of these painkilling neurotransmitters
those who cannot or choose not to tolerate this state may pay an ultimate price -- death by overdose

Alcohol

Ethyl Alcohol: intoxicating element in fermented and distilled liquors
contrary to popular beliefs, alcohol is not a stimulant but a depressant
small amounts of alcohol reduces inhibitions and produce feelings of euphoria
Not an Aphrodisiac: impairs performance, especially in males
larger amounts cause ever-greater impairment of the brain until the drinker lose consciousness
Binge Drinking: consuming 5 or more drinks in a short time. Responsible for the deaths of 1,400 college students each year and thousands of trips to the ER
reduction in brain power, especially memory capacity by as much as 10%
alcohol affects motor skills, judgment, and memory… and increases aggressiveness while reducing self-awareness

Treatment for Alcoholism

Detoxification: treating the alcoholism with the withdrawal of the patient from alcohol (cutting off the supply)
* literally means “to remove poison”; the symptoms can be extremely unpleasant
* next step is to restore the person’s health -- heavy abuse of alcohol usually causes severe damage to body organs and the nervous system
Mutual Help Approach: The Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) takes a spiritual approach while acting on the premise that it takes a former alcoholic to understand and help a current alcoholic
* participants at AA meetings admit that they have a problem, share feelings, and resolve to stay “dry” one day at a time

Hallucinogens

LSD

Hallucinogens: psychedelic (“mind'-manifesting”) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD): a powerful hallucinogenic drug that when taken even in small amounts can produce psychotic-like disturbances in thinking and perception
emotions of an LSD trip vary from euphoria to detachment to panic
as the hallucination peaks, people frequently feel separated from their bodies and experience dreamlike scenes so real that they may become panic-stricken or harm themselves
these drug-induced hallucinations are similar to near-death experience, an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest)
2 other common hallucinogens are mescaline (peyote) and psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”). Both can have the effects of insightful experiences, exhilaration, distortion of senses and can intensify psychosis, panic reactions
incidentally, the anesthetic PCP (phenylcyclidine or “angel dust”) can have hallucinogenic effects such as euphoria
long term symptoms include unpredictable behavior, suspicion, hostility, and psychosis

Marijuana

Marijuana and Hashish: derived form the hemp plant cannabis sativa
Marijuana: (“pot”, “herb”, “weed”)
* consists of the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant
Hashish: the resinous material scraped from the leaves
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): the major active ingredient in marijuana
psychological effects include a sense of euphoria, relaxation, altered time sense, and perceptual distortions
High Doses: paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions
for about a day after a person smokes marijuana, attention, coordination, and short-term memory becomes impaired; results to decline in learning, memory, attention, and thinking abilities

Talampunay

Endemic in the Philippines, ^^Brugsmansia (“trompeta”)^^ and ^^Datura (“talampunay”)^^ are general of flowering plants in the Solanaceae family commonly known as ^^Angel’s Trumpet and Devil’s Trumpet^^ plants, respectively, due to their large trumpet-shaped flowers.
While still not illegal in the country as well as internationally, PDEA noted these alkoloids are reported to ^^induce total delirium, dreadful and realistic hallucinations^^ even when consumed at fairly small amounts.