PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
Psychoactive drugs are substances
that can alter the consciousness,
mood, and thoughts of those who
use them.
Medications that affect people
psychologically are called
psychoactive drugs. They are often
helpful in treating depression,
anxiety, insomnia, and other
psychological complications that
may accompany HIV infection.
Historical
Background
There is archaeological evidence of the use of psychoactive substances
dating back at least 10,000 years;

Historical evidence of cultural use over the past 5,000 years;

The urge to alter one's consciousness is as primary as the drive to

satiate thirst, hunger or sexual desire;

The long history of drug use and even children's desire for spinning,
swinging, or sliding indicates that the drive to alter one's state of mind is
universal .
 Uses of psychoactive substances

1. Anesthesia
General Anesthesia are a class of
psychoactive drug used on patients to block
pain and other sensations. Most anesthetics
induce unconsciousness, which allows
patients to undergo medical procedures like
surgery without physical pain or emotional
trauma.
2. pain killers
Psychoactive drugs are often prescribed to
manage pain. As the subjective experience of
pain is regulated by endorphins pain can be
managed using psychoactives that operate on
this neurotransmitter system. This class of
drugs includes narcotics like morphine.
3. PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION
Psychiatric medications are prescribed for the
management of mental and emotional
disorders. There are 6 major classes of
psychiatric medications:

1. Antidepressants, which are used to treat disparate disorders

such as clinical depression, anxiety, eating disorders and
borderline personality disorder
2. Stimulants, which are used to treat disorders such as attention
deficit disorder and narcolepsy and to suppress the appetite.
3. Anti-psychotics, which are used to treat psychoses such as
schizophrenia and mania.
4. Mood stabilizers, which are used to treat bipolar disorder and
schizoaffective disorder.
5. Anxiolytics, which are used to treat anxiety disorders.
6. Depressants, which are used as hypnotics, sedatives, and
anesthetics.
3. RECREATIONAL DRUGS
Many psychoactive substances are used for their mood and perception altering
effects, including those with accepted uses in medicine and psychiatry. In many
cultures, possessing or having used recreational drugs is seen as a status symbol.
Recreational drugs, especially those known as club drugs , are seen as status
symbols at social events such as at nightclubs and parties. Classes of drugs
frequently used recreationally include:

1. Stimulants, which elevate the central nervous system. These are

used recreationally for their euphoric and performance-enhancing
effects.
2. Hallucinogens, which induce perceptual and cognitive distortions.
3. Hypnotics, which are used recreationally to because they induce
inebriation.
4. Analgesics, which are used recreationally because of their
euphoric effects.
Examples include caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, LSD, and cannabis.
 ADDICTION

2 TYPES OF ADDICTION
1. Psychological addiction, by which a user
feels compelled to use a drug despite
negative physical or societal
consequence.
2. Physical dependence, by which a user
must use a drug to avoid medically
harmful withdrawal.
 How Does Drug Addiction affect the

functioning of the brain?

A drug-dependent person may experience cravings for the
drug and difficulty in controlling its consumption, suffer
from withdrawal symptoms when use of the drug is reduced
or discontinued, and need increasing doses of the drug to
feel its effects (tolerance). The person may come to neglect
other pleasures or interests, spend more and more time
getting or using the drug or recovering from it, and persist
in using the drug despite clear evidence that it is causing
harm.
Psychoactive drugs affect communication between brain
cells in certain regions of the brain. For instance, some
drugs mimic and others block the effects of naturally
occurring molecules that carry specific messages from one
brain cell to another (neurotransmitters).
 How does drug addiction develop?
The development of drug addiction can be seen as a
learning process.
process A person takes a drug and experiences
the psychoactive effect, which is highly rewarding or
reinforcing, and which activates circuits in the brain that
will make it more likely that the person will repeat this
behavior. The brain responds as if taking the drug was
important for survival.

Studies show that the dependence on some drugs is significantly

heritable and develops due to the interaction of several genes with other
individual and environmental factors. Exposure to drugs could have a much
greater effect on somebody who carries a genetic vulnerability to drug
dependence than on someone who does not. Genetic differences may
influence how pleasurable a drug is for an individual, to what extent it harms
health, how strong the withdrawal symptoms and cravings are, and how the
person develops tolerance.
 What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction, also referred to as drug dependence, is a disorder of the brain brought
on by the use of psychoactive drugs.
People are diagnosed as drug dependent if they have shown or experienced three or
more of the following, at some time during the previous year:

1. A strong desire or sense of compulsion to take the drug.

2. Difficulty in controlling when they start or stop taking the drug and
how much they take.
3. Withdrawal , which refers to unpleasant physical and
psychological symptoms when the use of the drug is reduced or
discontinued.
4. Evidence of tolerance, such as needing increased doses of the
drug to achieve the effects originally produced by lower doses.
5. Progressive neglect of other pleasures or interests because of
drug use, increased amount of time spent getting or using the drug
or recovering from its use.
6. Persistence in using the drug despite clear evidence that it is
causing harm.
 Why do drug addiction and mental illness
often coexist?

Individuals often suffer from drug problems in combination

with depression.
Drug addiction is more common among people with mental disorders than
among the general population. For example, people with mental disorders are
more likely to be alcohol dependent at some stage in their lives than people
without a mental illness.
Conversely, drug-dependent people are more likely to suffer from mental
disorders than non-dependent people. For instance, people who are dependent on
alcohol, tobacco, or cocaine are more likely to suffer from depression than non-
dependent people.

Drug use may either bring about mental illness, or it may be a way of easing
some of the symptoms of a mental disorder or the side effects of medication.
Also, since many drugs produce effects typical of some mental illnesses, drug
dependence and mental illness may have the same neurobiological causes.
 How can addiction to psychoactive drugs be prevented and
treated?
Some medications used for the treatment of drug addiction
either block the effects of the drug or cause unpleasant
reactions. Other substances can be used as substitutes for a
drug, for instance methadone can replace heroin. Such
substitutes act like the drug in some ways without inducing
some of the more harmful effects.

Drug addiction can also be treated through various behavioral therapies that
try to replace the motivation to use drugs with the motivation to engage in
other behaviors. Such therapies aim to help people ‘unlearn’ their drug-
taking behavior, learn new ways to respond to cravings, and develop new
skills to remain drug-free.
 Harmful effects of psychoactive drugs?

Short-term Long-term
Deaths and injuries caused For alcohol this includes liver
Health by driving after drinking cirrhosis.
effects alcohol or after other drug For cigarette smoking this
use, includes lung cancer,
other accidents, suicide, emphysema and other
assaults (at least for chronic illnesses.
alcohol), overdose (for For heroin taken by injection
drugs such as opioids and and through the sharing of
alcohol). needles, this includes the
possibility of contracting HIV
or hepatitis B and C.

For example a sudden For example neglecting work

Social break in a relationship or and family duties.
problems an arrest.
 depressants

Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of

prolonged use
Ethanol Alters the effects of Develops due Withdrawal Changed brain
(alcohol) the to increased from long-term function and
neurotransmitters processing in use can include structure,
glutamate and the liver and shaking, reduced mental
GABA. Probably changes to sweating, capacity,
increases activity in receptors in the weakness, decreased brain
the dopamine brain. agitation,
volume
system involved in headache,
motivation and nausea,
vomiting,
learning
seizures, and
delirium
tremens.
Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of
prolonged use
Inhalants Like other sedatives Some tolerance Increased Changes in
(volatile and hypnotics, develops, but is susceptibility how dopamine
solvents) probably affect difficult to to seizures works in the
specific during body, problems
estimate.
transmitters. withdrawal in the nervous
Increases activity in system,
the dopamine reduced mental
system involved in capacity;
motivation and psychiatric
problems.
learning
 stimulants

Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of

prolonged use
Nicotine Activates specific Develops Irritability, It is difficult to
receptors. Increases through hostility, separate the
the production and metabolic anxiety, health effects
release of factors, as well unease, due to nicotine
as receptor discomfort, from the
dopamine.
depressed effects due to
changes.
mood, other
decreased heart components of
rate, increased
tobacco.
appetite.
Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of
prolonged use
Cocaine Prolongs the effects Perhaps short- There is not Abnormalities
of transmitters such term tolerance. much evidence in specific
of withdrawal. regions of the
as dopamine.
Depression is brain, loss of
common some mental
among capacity,
dependent problems with
people who movement,
stop using the decreased
reaction times.
drug
Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of
prolonged use
Amphetamines Increase the Develops Fatigue, Sleep
release and depression, disturbances,
quickly
prolong the anxiety and anxiety,
effects of intense craving decreased
dopamine and for the drug. appetite;
related changes in
transmitters. dopamine brain
receptors,
changes in
metabolism in
some parts of
the body,
reduction of
mental capacity
and
deterioration of
movement.
Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of
prolonged use
Ecstasy Increases the May develop in Depression and Damages some
release and some brain systems,
insomnia
prolongs the effects individuals. leads to
of the physical
neurotransmitter changes and to
serotonin. changes in
behaviour.
Long-term
psychiatric and
physical
problems such
as loss of
memory,
problems with
decision-
making and
self-control,
paranoia,
depression and
panic attacks.
 hallucinogens

Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of

prolonged use
Cannabis Activates specific Develops Withdrawal is Long-term
receptors. Affects quickly. rare perhaps exposure may
the dopamine because produce long-
system involved in cannabis lasting
motivation and remains in the reduction of
body for a long mental
learning.
time. capacity. May
make mental
illness worse.
Substance How it works Tolerance Withdrawal Effects of
prolonged use
Hallucinog Different Develops There is no Short or long
ens (such substances in this quickly. evidence of term disturbed
as LSD class act on withdrawal. mental state in
different brain which a person
and PCP)
receptors. experiences
hallucinations,
delusions,
personality
changes and
loss of contact
with reality.
Flashbacks or
re-experiencing
of drug effects,
long after drug
use.