Know Your Drugs
NeurotransmittersSynaptic Gap - a tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of an adjoining neron.
*Synapse - space between two neurons. *Neurotransmitter - a chemical messenger that travels across the synapse from one neuron to the next and influences whether a neuron will generat and action potential. Presynaptic neuron - the neuron that sends the signal across the gap. Postsynaptic neuron - a neuron on the receiving end of a synapse. Excitatory effect - a neurotransmitter effect that makes it more likely that the receiving neuron will generate an action potential. Inhibitory effect - a neurotransmitter effect that makes it less likely that the receiving neuron will generate an action potential(impulse). Synaptic buttons - a small structure like a sac that stores chemicals called neurotransmitters. *Acetylcholine - a neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contraction and affects learning and memory. *Norepinephrine - neurotransmitter that is involved in arousal and the fight-or-flight system (also mood, sleep, and learning). *Dopamine - neurotransmitter involved in regulating emotions, speficically rewarding sensations. Also involved in movement, with links to Parkinson's disease. *Seratonin - affects mood, hunger,sleep, and arousal. undersupply linked to depression. *Endorphins - neurotransmitters that give one a feeling of well-being, euphoria or eliminate pain. DrugsAmphetamines (speed) - synthetic stimulants, used by people seeking to stay awake and who think drugs can improve mental or physical performance
Methamphetamine (meth) - more potent variation of amphetamine, can be snorted, injected, or eaten Cocaine - powerful central nervous system stimulant extracted from the leaves of the coca plant, increases the chemical messengers dopamine and noradrenalin MDMA (ecstasy) - chemically similar to amphetamine, makes people feel closer to others and heightens sensory experiences Caffeine - stimulates the brain by blocking chemicals that normally inhibit or slow nerve activity, most frequently used psychoactive drug in North America Nicotine - natural stimulant found mainly in tobacco, very addictive Barbiturates - sedative drugs that depress brain activity, at mild doses they have an effect similar to alcohol intoxication GHB - central nervous system depressant that relaxes and sedates the body Tranquilizer - a drug that lowers anxiety and reduces tension Abuse amphetamines - can cause nausea, vomiting, extremely high blood pressure, fatal heart attacks, and disabling strokes, after a binge people suffer crippling fatigue, depression, confusion, uncontrolled irritability, and aggression Amphetamine psychosis - a loss of contact with reality Abuse cocaine - highly addictive, upset chemical balance in body and causes depression, fatigue, anziety, paranoia, boredom, and anhedonia during withdrawal Abuse MDMA - can cause elevated body temperature, severe liver damage, damages serotonergic brain cells Abuse caffeine - caffeinism, insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, chills, racing heart, and elevated body temperature Caffeinism - excessive consumption of caffeine, leading to dependence and a variety of physical and psychological complaints Abuse barbiturates - high dosages can cause severe mental confusion or even hallucinations, and loss of consciousness and death Abuse GHB - overdose causes coma, breathing failure, and death; withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, agitation, tremor, delirium, and hallucinations Abuse tranquilizers - can cause physical dependence, especially risky when combined with alcohol LSD and PCP - hallucinogens affect neurotransmitter systems that carry messages between brain cells Marijuana - derived from the hemp plant Abuse marijuana - at risk of becoming dependent, psychological dependence, lower IQ, many long term health risks Psychoactive drug - a substance capable of altering attention, memory, judgment, time sense, self-control, mood, or perception by directly influencing brain activity Stimulant (upper) - a substance that increases activity in the body and nervous system Depressant (downer) - a substance that decreases body activity in the body and nervous system Experimental drug use - short-term use based on curiosity Social recreational drug use - occasional social use for pleasure and relaxation Situational drug use - used to cope with a specific problem, such as needing to stay awake Intensive drug use - daily use with elements of dependence Compulsive drug use - intense use and extreme dependence Physical dependence (addiction) - physical addiction, as indicated by the presence of drug tolerance and withdrawal symptoms Withdrawal symptoms - physical illness and discomfort following the withdrawal of a drug Drug tolerance - a reduction in the body's response to a drug that causes the body to need more drugs to have the same effect Psychological dependence - drug dependence that is based primarily on emotional and psychological needs Anhedonia - an inability to feel pleasure Drug interaction - a combined effect of two drugs that exceeds the addition of one drug's effect on the other Alcohol myopia - shortsighted thinking and perception that occurs during alcohol intoxication Binge drinking - consuming five or more drinks in a short time (four or more for women) Detoxification - in the treatment of alcoholism, the withdrawal of the patient from alcohol Hallucinogen - a substance that alters or distorts sensory impression |
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