Recreational Drug Use Steven Orr What is a drug a substance used in medication or in the preparation of medication something and often an illegal substance that causes addiction habituation or a marked change in consciousness Merriam Webster Online What is a drug 1 Pharmacology a chemical substance used in the treatment cure prevention or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well being 2 in federal law a any substance recognized in the official pharmacopoeia or formulary of the nation b any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease in humans or other animals c any article other than food intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or other animals d any substance intended for use as a component of such a drug but not a device or a part of a device 3 a habit forming medicinal or illicit substance esp a narcotic Dictionary com Commonly Abused Controlled Substances Marijuana Cocaine Methamphetamine Speed LSD Acid Psychedelics MDMA Ecstacy Heroin Painkillers and Other Prescribed Drugs Marijuana Derived from Cannabis sativa Smoked or ingested Active chemical is THC delta 9tetrahydrocannabinol Marijuana and the brain THC mimics anandamide a neurotransmitter that activates cannabinoid receptors Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in the hippocampus cerebellum and basal ganglia THC s effects on the Hippocampus impaired short term memory Cerebellum and basal ganglia coordination Additional information http www rism org isg dlp ganja analyses Marijuana 20and 20Medicine 202a html Marijuana Other factors to consider Harmful effects Smoking marijuana produces many of the health problems related to smoking tobacco Marijuana may be physically addictive and users may experience withdrawal symptoms that affect mood appetite and sleep patterns Potential Medicinal Uses Suppresses nausea and increases appetite Relieves eye pressure Decreases muscle spasms convulsions menstrual cramps Marijuana cultural attitudes Positive Makes people happy mellow Enhances creativity Negative Causes paranoia violence and leads to depraved behavior Reefer Madness Leads to laziness and apathy Cocaine Derived from the leaves of Erhthroxylon coca bush Pure chemical is cocaine hydrochloride salt that is snorted or dissolved in water and injected Crack is cocaine that has not been neutralized by an acid and is usually heated and smoked Cocaine and the brain Cocaine inhibits reabsorption of dopamine which gives the user a feeling of euphoria Cocaine is highly addictive Users develop a tolerance to the high of cocaine but a sensitivity to its anesthetic and convulsant effects Heavy cocaine use can cause paranoid psychosis Others of uses of cocaine Coca leaves chewed in precolumbian South America used as stimulant Cocaine used as stimulant in tonics in early 20th century Still used as anesthetic during some surgeries Methamphetamine Speed Powerful stimulant Raises body temperature Increass wakefulness and decreases appetite Highly addictive Users develop tolerance Psychological withdrawal symptoms High comes from release of dopamine into brain s pleasure centers Release of dopamine damages dopamine and serotonin containing cells Methamphetamine Medical Uses Narcolepsy ADD Obesity Stimulants and Society Adderall amphetamine dextroamphetamine Habit forming and overdose can be fatal Used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD Also used recreationally as a party drug Caffeine Too much can impair heart function disrupt sleep and cause headaches Heavy users experience withdrawal symptoms May improve memory retention in older women by reducing Alheimer s causing beta amyloid protein LSD Acid Compound of lysergic acid Experience varies based on user and setting User may experience synesthesia delusions and hallucinations May lead to schizophrenia or severe depression Flashbacks recurrence of trip experience after use of LSD has ceased Not addictive but users develop a tolerance No known medical uses Other Hallucinogens Mushrooms Psilocybin Mescaline Peyote Nutmeg Some Hallucinogens are used in Religious Rituals Should this be stopped MDMA Ecstacy 3 4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine Similar to methamphetamine and mescaline Has stimulant and hallucinogenic properties Inhibition euphoria enhanced sensation especially tactile Same physical dangers as stimulants Can cause depression and inability to concentrate Damages neurons involved in mood serotonin thinking and judgement Often mixed with other stimulants such as caffeine Heroin Opiate extracted from morphine of poppy seed pods Used as a painkiller around the turn of the century Often mixed with other substances so strength is variable Euphoria Highly addictive tolerance develops Extremely toxic to the body and additives may be even worse Causes respiratory depression Withdrawal symptoms are potentially fatal for heavy users Prescription Painkillers OxyContin Active indregient is oxycodone a narcotic analgesic Closely related to heroin with similar side effects 10mg of oxycodone 10mg morphine Respiratory depression can be fatal Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms occur When taken as directed it helps users manage pain Prescription Painkillers Hydrocodone Analgesic and antitussive Structurally similar to codeine but with effects similar to morphine Often mixed with acetaminophen tylenol Vicoden Lortab Lorcet Overdose causes potentially fatal liver damage due to acetaminophen Users experience dependence and withdrawal symptoms Acetaminophen Tylenol Potentially fatal if abused The leading cause of liver failure At least 42 of cases at liver centers About 50 unintentional 50 suicide Aspirin and ibuprophen Advil are also dangerous at high doses causing bleeding and ulcers Alcohol Short term effects Blackouts and Memory Lapses Impaired judgement coordination reaction time Alcohol poisoning Long term effects Brain damage Brain shrinkage in alcoholics May be caused by alcohol directly or indirectly Wernicke Korsafoff Syndrome Liver damage Chocolate Users may experience cravings May affect mood Contains cannabinoid like fatty acids and may mimic effects of marijuana The Ethics of Recreational Drug Use Are there any desirable side effects of drugs Do these ever outweigh the bad effects Prescription drugs Does a doctor know best Potential for abuse Illegal Drugs Law Enforcement DEA and Drug Traffickers Targeting Demographics Impaired Mental Capacity Okay in some settings Potential for overdose