Personal and Community Health Ch 10, 9, 11, 12Chapter 10—Drugs Patterns of Illicit Drug Use- Rates of illicit drug use vary by age, gender, race and ethnicity, education, employment status, and geographical region.- Americas 12+ , more than 47% have reported using an illicit drug in their lifetime- Most common in marijuana - College students who abuse prescription drugs increased a lot between 1993 and 2005o Pain relievers (OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet)o Stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall)o Tranquilizers (Xanax, Valium)o Sedatives (Nembutal, Seconal)What Is a Drug?- Drug: substance other than food that affects the structure or function of the body through its chemical action- Drug of abuse: Medical drug (or a drug that has no medical use) used for nonmedical purposes- Substance: drug of abuse, a medication, or a toxin- All drugs have the potential to be toxic, poisonous, dangerous, or deadlyTypes of Drugs- Legal drugs—medication prescribed by physicians, over the counter (OTC), herbal remedies- Illicit drugs—unlawful to possess, manufacture, sell, or use—considered wrong or unacceptable by social standards—or obtained from unregulated sourcesDrug Misuse and Abuse- Drug misuse: use of prescription drugs for purposes other than those for which they were prescribed or in greater amounts than prescribed - Drug abuse: use of a substance in amounts, situations, or a manner such that causes problems, or greatly increases the risk of problems, for the user or othersGeneral Concerns with Drug Use- Side Effects—all drugs have side effects- Disruption of internal balance—our body has built in, self-regulating mechanisms. Anytime we add a substance from the outside, our body will try to regain its present balance—filter systems (kidneys or liver)—metabolize the substance—output systems—body will change how it operates to compensate for the new chemistry- Individual differences of users—age, gender, body size, genetic make-up, diet, lifestyle- Hidden effects—there could be things going on in the body that you can’t see or feel- Latent effects—there may be changes happening in the body where you won’t see effects for many years - Drug quality—“off the street”…real?- DoseRoutes of Administration - Oral—most drugs(20-30min)- Injection—hypodermic syringe—intravenous injection(15-30 sec), intramuscular injection(3-5min), subcutaneous injection(5-7min)- Inhalation—smoking or huffing (7-10sec) - Snorting—mucus membrane(3-15min)- Application to skin(1-7days) Factors Influencing the Effects of Drugs- Characteristics of the drug—chemical properties and its actions - Characteristics of the person—age, gender, body weight and mass, physical condition, mood, tolerance, expectations- Characteristics of the situation—environmental experienceDrug Dependence- Dependence: a condition characterized by a strong craving for a drug and by compulsiveuse of the drug despite serous negative consequences - Dependence usually means that physiological changes have taken place in the brain and body chemistry - Forms of dependence o Addiction: physiological need for the drug, our body has come to expect the substance to function normallyo Habituation: psychological need for the drug, our way of living on a daily basis is wrapped tightly around the use of the substance- Issues associated with dependence o Tolerance: reduced sensitivity to the effects of the drug over timeo Withdrawal: (if you stop using the substance) symptoms are different for different drugs and often lead to unpleasant feelings Effects of Drugs on the Brain- Many addictive drugs act on neurons in three brain structures—midbrain, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex- Neurons in these structures form a pathway referred to as the pleasure and reward circuit- Addictive psychoactive drugs activate and cause a surge in levels of dopamine and associated feelings of pleasureDrugs of abuse- Stimulants- Depressants- Opioids- Hallucinogens- Inhalants- Marijuana Central Nervous System Stimulants - Drugs that speed up activity in the brain and sympathetic nervous system - Effects similar to the fight or flight reaction - Many stimulant movement, fidgeting, and talking; increase energy and mental focus; and produce intense feelings of euphoria and create a sense of well-being - After effects include depression, low energy, “rebound effect”- Exampleso Cocaine—boosts social confidence o Amphetamines- metho MDMA(ecstasy)o Caffeine o Bath salts Central Nervous System Depressants- Slows down activity in the brain and slows the sympathetic nervous system- Can be deadly is misused, especially when mixed with alcohol- CNS depressants carry a high risk of dependence - Examples o Anti-anxiety drugs o Rohypnolo GHBOpioids- Natural and Synthetic derivatives of opium - Long history of medical use for pain relief and treatment of diarrhea and dehydration- Currently prescribed as pain relievers, anesthetics, antidiarrheal agents, and cough suppressants- Produce feelings of pleasure and block sensation of pain by attaching to the brain’s natural receptors for endorphins - Exampleso Morphine o Heroino Vicodin- With low doses opioid users experience:o Euphoria o Drowsinesso Constriction of the pupilso Slurred speecho Slowed movemento Impaired coordination, attention, and memory - At high dosage users can experience depressed respiration, loss of consciousness, coma,and death- Opioids have a very high potential for dependence/addiction Hallucinogens- Also known as psychedelics- Alter perceptions and thinking in characteristic ways- Intensify and distort visual and auditory perceptions and produce hallucinations- No current medical uses- Ex. o LSD, PCP Inhalants- Breathable chemical vapors that alter consciousness, producing a state that resembles drunkenness- Widespread and long lasting brain damage - Ex.o Paint thinners, gasoline, glue Marijuana - Most widely used illicit drug in US- Derived from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa- The active ingredients is THC- Produces mild euphoria, sedation, lethargy, short term memory impairment, distorted sensory perceptions, distorted sense of time, impaired coordination, increases heart rate- Not always a positive high can cause anxiety, paranoia, depression- THC has variety of effects on the brain perhaps accounting for some impairments in problem solving and complex decision making- Frequent users: “Amotivational Syndrome” characterized by increase in apathy and decrease in