Chapter 1. Psychoactive Drugs

Learning Objectives

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter involved in arousal and mood

perception

organizing and interpreting information from the senses to understand its meaning

psychological disorder

a disturbance in a person’s thinking, behavior, or emotions serious enough to cause distress

psychoactive drugs

chemicals that influence brain activity, leading to changes in emotions or thinking

schizophrenia

a psychological disorder characterized by disturbed, irrational thinking and inappropriate emotional behavior

serotonin

neurotransmitter involved in mood and sleep

stimulants

psychoactive drugs that speed up neural activity and body functions

tolerance

change in response to a drug after repeated use; a higher drug dose is needed to produce an effect

antidepressant drugs

drugs that boost mood by increasing the availability of neurotransmitters serotonin or norepinephrine

antipsychotic drugs

drugs that reduce schizophrenic symptoms by blocking the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine

dependence

a physical need for a drug that can develop after repeated use as the body adapts to the presence of the drug

depressants

psychoactive drugs that slow down neural activity and body functions

dopamine

neurotransmitter involved in movement and motivation

hallucinations

false sensory experiences or distortions in perception

hallucinogens

psychoactive drugs that distort perception and may create hallucinations; also called psychedelic drugs

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers released by the axon terminal into the synaptic gap between neurons

Psychoactive Drugs

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Learning Objectives:

Identify the three major categories, or types, of psychoactive drugs.

Contrast the effects of the three major types of psychoactive drugs.

Review

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1. Psychoactive drugs alter the functioning of the brain by enhancing or inhibiting the normal activity of neurotransmitters, the brain's chemical messengers.

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2. Stimulants (such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines) excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

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3. Depressants (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

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4. Hallucinogens (such as LSD, PCP, and marijuana) distort perceptions and may produce hallucinations.

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5. In addition, other psychoactive drugs are used to treat specific psychological disorders. For example, antidepressant drugs boost a person's mood, usually by increasing the availability of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine.

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6. Antipsychotic drugs suppress some of the bizarre behaviors of schizophrenia, such as hearing imaginary voices. These drugs typically work by blocking the effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

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7. Continued use of any psychoactive drug produces tolerance (requiring larger doses to produce the same effects), and may lead to dependence on the drug.

Practice : Types of Psychoactive Drugs

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Practice: Types of Psychoactive Drugs

Roll over each term to view a brief definition of that type of drug.

Three words appear on the screen: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. When depressants is selected, a frowning face appears above the word. When stimulants is selected, a smiling face appears above the word. When hallucinogens is selected, a confused face appears with various images around it, including a horse, a bird, and a mermaid

depressants

stimulants

hallucinogens

Psychoactive drugs that slow down neural activity and body functions.
Examples: alcohol, barbiturates, opiates such as morphine, heroin, or oxycontin.

Psychoactive drugs that speed up neural activity and body functions.
Examples: caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines.

Psychoactive drugs that distort perception and may create hallucinations (false sensory experiences); also called psychedelic drugs.
Examples: LSD, marijuana (THC), mescaline.

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Drag each drug type to the gray area in front of the appropriate description. When all the drug types have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

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Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.

stimulants

depressants

hallucinogens

drugs that speed up neural activity and body functions

drugs that slow down neural activity and body functions

drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Match the drug types to their scenarios by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review types of psychoactive drugs.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.

depressants

stimulants

hallucinogens

Mel tried LSD with no bad effects, but on his second "trip" he began screaming that spiders had covered his body.

When Maria feels tired and listless, she pours herself a big dose of caffeine before going back to work.

Minh has a serious insomnia problem, and is taking prescription barbiturates as a sleeping medication.

Conclusion

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