Two Minute Neuroscience: Amphetamine, Barbiturates, and Cannabis Pharmacology

Sedatives and Barbiturates

Sedatives aid sleep and reduce anxiety; they also lower inhibitions and can modulate side effects of some drug use. Street names include yellow jackets, downers, root balls, and reds. Barbiturates relax the brain and produce intoxication. Long-term exposure leads to dependence and addiction; detoxification can cause irritability.

Amphetamine Pharmacology

Amphetamine is a stimulant used mainly for ADHD (e.g., Adderall). It binds to monoamine transporters for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin and is taken up into neurons via these transporters. Inside the neuron, it disrupts monoamine storage by inhibiting VMAT2, increasing neurotransmitter levels. It also causes monoamine transporters to reverse, leading to increased release of dopamine and norepinephrine.

Dissociative Anesthetics in Surgery

Dissociative anesthetics provide anesthesia with different effects on vital signs; most anesthetics depress vital signs, whereas dissociatives can spare some of these effects, which is a consideration in surgical use.

Opioids: Morphine and Heroin

In analgesia, potency is measured against morphine. Heroin is roughly 2\text{ to }4\times stronger than morphine. The opioid crisis highlights addiction risks and the temptation to substitute one addiction for another. Policy debates include harm-reduction approaches such as injection facilities.

Cannabis and THC Ingestion Routes

As marijuana use rises, ingestion method affects THC exposure. A study found that baking (edibles) yielded higher blood THC than smoking, and vaping yielded even higher levels for the same amount of cannabis, indicating a more potent dose and stronger high.