Drug And The Central Nervous System .2

3. 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. These drugs affect some of the
normal processes in the brain related to perception,
emotion, and motivation, thus affecting behaviour and
thoughts.
 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:

4.  Psychoactive drugs are those that work on the brain to
alter mood, behavior, thinking, and perception. Using
these drugs is probably the most common way
individuals alter their states of consciousness. There
are four major classifications of psychoactive drugs:
depressants, hallucinogens, opiates, and stimulants.
Let's take a closer look at each of these and their
effects on the individual.

6. Example Of Psychoactive Drugs

11. How do psychoactive drugs affect
health?

12.  First, stimuli from the external or internal
environment are received by the appropriate sensory
receptor such as the eyes or the ears. Once sensed,
these stimuli are converted into electrical impulses.
these impulses are then directed along the neuron’s
dendrite, through the cell body, and along the axon
toward the synaptic junction near an adjacent neuron.

13.  Upon arrival at the synapse, the electrical impulses
stimulate the production and release of chemical
messages called neurotransmitters. The
neurotransmitters transmit the electrical impulses
from one neuron to the dendrites of adjoining
neurons. The neurons function in a coordinated
fashion to send information to the brain for
interpretation and to relay appropriate response
commands outward to the tissues of the body.

14.  The role of the neurotransmitters is critically
important to relay of information within the system. A
substance that has ability to alter some aspects to
transmitter function has the potential to seriously
disrupt the otherwise normally functioning system.
Psychoactive drugs are capable of exerting these
disruptive influences on the neurotransmitters.

15.  It is truly viral to understand the body’s reactions to
psychoactive drugs. Many of us Filipinos would deny
it but the truth is we really are a drug-oriented people.
We may not be aware of it but the fact that we take
pills for an ordinary headache, muscle pains, colds and
cough is a very clear manifestation. Many of our
elderly are also alarmed when adolescents use street-
drugs but never did they acknowledge their own
consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.

16. Stimulants
 Stimulants are the opposite of depressants. They speed
up the activity in the central nervous system.
Stimulants include, but are not limited to, cocaine,
methamphetamine hydrochloride (speed), and
amphetamines (uppers). Because they speed up
mental and physical activity, they often create a feeling
of excitement, higher energy levels, and confidence.
However, large doses can create anxiety and
hallucinations, and can even cause convulsions and
death.

17.  The major dangers of drugs are associated with their
classification. The following descriptions will gave you
a short background:

22. Stimulants Effect’s

25.  Side Effects of Stimulants
 When used in conservative doses, stimulants do not usually cause significant
side effects in children. However, clinicians and parents should be alert for the
following potential negative effects. Side effects rarely are sufficiently severe to
require discontinuation of medications; many are alleviated by changes in
time of administration or dosage reduction.
 Common side-effects
 Appetite suppression is the most common side effect, affecting 50-60% of
children. Although minor in most cases, growth should be monitored at least
every 3 months early in treatment. Significant decreases in weight gain can
often be managed by giving medications with or after meals and by
maximizing caloric intake when children are "off" meds (e.g., breakfast, supper
and bedtime snack).
 Sleep disturbances may occur in a small percentage of children, but are
typically transient. Sometimes children actually sleep better on treatment, for
they can finally "turn off the off-switch and go to sleep." If parents give the
medication too late in the day, surely the stimulant effect will keep the child
from going to sleep, but this is not really 'insomnia as a side effect."
 Abdominal pain is reported in 30-40% of children; it seems more common in
children who take the medications on empty stomachs and may improve with
changes in time of administration relative to meals.
 Headache has been reported in 20-40%; as with abdominal pain, this may
improve when medication are given after meals rather than before.

26. Depressants
 Sometimes called “downers,” these drugs come in
multicolored tablets and capsules or in liquid form.
Some drugs in this category, such as Zyprexa, Seroquel
and Haldol, are known as “major tranquilizers” or
“antipsychotics,” as they are supposed to reduce the
symptoms of mental illness. Depressants such as
Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion and Librium are often
referred to as “benzos” (short for benzodiazepines1).
Other depressants, such as Amytal, Numbutal and
Seconal, are classed as barbiturates—drugs that are
used as sedatives and sleeping pills. Some of the well-
known brand and street names can be found

29. as Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol

33. Depressants Long-TermEffects
 Tolerance to many depressants can develop rapidly, with larger doses needed to
achieve the same effect. The user, trying to reach the same high, may raise the
dose to a level that results in coma or death by overdose.
 Long-term use of depressants can produce depression, chronic fatigue,
breathing difficulties, sexual problems and sleep problems. As a dependency
on the drug increases, cravings, anxiety or panic are common if the user is
unable to get more.
 Withdrawal symptoms include insomnia, weakness and nausea. For continual
and high-dose users, agitation, high body temperature, delirium,
hallucinations and convulsions can occur. Unlike withdrawal from most drugs,
withdrawal from depressants can be life-threatening.
 These drugs can also increase the risk of high blood sugar, diabetes, and weight
gain (instances of up to 100 pounds have been reported).
 In a study conducted by USA Today, based on Food and Drug Administration
data over a four-year period, antipsychotics (a type of depressant) were the
prime suspects in forty-five deaths caused by heart problems, choking, liver
failure and suicide.
 “I have overdosed twice off of prescription pills (Zyprexa) and had a close friend
die of the same drug....There is no worse feeling than knowing that your friend is
dead because you gave him pills you knew relatively little about.” —Linda

34. Depressants Short-Term Effects
 Slow brain function
 Slowed pulse and breathing
 Lowered blood pressure
 Poor concentration
 Confusion
 Fatigue2
 Dizziness
 Slurred speech
 Fever
 Sluggishness
 Visual disturbances
 Dilated pupils
 Disorientation, lack of coordination
 Depression
 Difficulty or inability to urinate
 Addiction

35. Hallucinogens
 Hallucinogens interfere with your normal thought
processes, altering your perceptions and affecting your
senses. Popular hallucinogens include lysergic acid
diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin (mushrooms), and
mescaline (peyote). The effects of hallucinogens vary from
person to person, and also vary with each use. When a
person uses hallucinogens, he is often said to be “tripping.”
This trip could range anywhere from a pleasant period of
enlightenment to the most hellish of nightmares.
Hallucinogens can cause sensory hallucinations (hence the
name), the most common being visual hallucinations.

37. Inhalants
 “Inhalants” refers to the vapors from toxic substances which are inhaled to reach a quick
high. Of more than 1,000 household and other common products that could be abused as
inhalants, most often used are shoe polish, glue, toluene,1 gasoline, lighter fluid, nitrous
oxide2 or “whippets,” spray paint, correction fluid, cleaning fluid, amyl nitrite3 or
“poppers,” locker room deodorizers or “rush,” and lacquer thinner or other paint solvents.
 Most of these produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow down the body’s
functions. After an initial high and loss of inhibition comes drowsiness, light-headedness
and agitation.
 The chemicals are rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and quickly
reach the brain and other organs, sometimes causing irreversible physical and mental
damage.
 Users inhale the chemical vapors directly from open containers (“sniffing”) or breathe the
fumes from rags soaked in chemicals (“huffing”). Some spray the substance directly into
the nose or mouth, or pour it onto their collar, sleeves or cuffs and sniff them periodically.
In “bagging,” the user may inhale fumes from substances inside a paper or plastic bag.
Bagging in a closed area greatly increases the chances of suffocation.
 “Poppers” and “whippets,” sold at concerts and dance clubs, are composed of poisonous
chemicals that can permanently damage the body and brain.

39. HOW DO INHALANTS AFFECT YOUR
BODY?
 Inhalants starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to
beat irregularly and more rapidly.

Users can experience nausea and nosebleeds and lose their
sense of hearing or smell. Chronic use can lead to muscle
wasting and reduced muscle tone, and the poisonous
chemicals gradually damage the lungs and the immune
system.

An inhalant user risks Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.
Death can occur the first time or the hundredth time an
inhalant is used.

40. INHALANTS’ EFFECTS
 Most inhalants act directly on the nervous system to produce mind-
altering effects. Within seconds, the user experiences intoxication and
other effects similar to those from alcohol. There are a variety of effects
that may be experienced during or shortly after use, including:
 Slurred speech
 Drunk, dizzy or dazed appearance
 Inability to coordinate movement
 Hallucinations and delusions
 Hostility
 Apathy
 Impaired judgment
 Unconsciousness
 Severe headaches

41. Drug Misuse
 The term misuse in this document refers to the illegal or illicit drug taking or
alcohol consumption which leads a person to experience social, psychological,
physical or legal problems related to intoxication or regular excessive
consumption and/or dependence.
 Drug misuse is therefore drug taking which causes harm to the individual,
their significant others or the wider community. By definition those requiring
drug treatment are drug misusers.
Drug misuse is defined as the use of a substance for a purpose not consistent
with legal or medical guidelines (WHO, 2006). It has a negative impact on
health or functioning and may take the form of drug dependence, or be part of
a wider spectrum of problematic or harmful behaviour (DH, 2006b). In the UK,
the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) characterises problem
drug use as a condition that may cause an individual to experience social,
psychological, physical or legal problems related to intoxication and/or regular
excessive consumption, and/or dependence (ACMD, 1998).

45. Drugs of abuse alter the way people think,
feel, and behave by disrupting
neurotransmission, the process of
communication between brain cells. Over
the past few decades, studies have
established that drug dependence and
addiction are features of an organic brain
disease caused by drugs' cumulative impacts
on neurotransmission. Scientists continue to
build on this essential understanding with
experiments to further elucidate the
physiological bases for drug abuse
vulnerability as well as the full dimensions
and progression of the disease. The findings
provide powerful leads to new medications
and behavioral treatments.

46. Drug Misuse Effects