PSY 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Solanaceae, Opioid Receptor, Drug Tolerance

• School: Tunxis Community College
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 111
• Professor: O'brien

Document Summary

A psychoactive drug is a chemical that changes our states of consciousness, and particularly our perceptions and moods. There are four primary classes of psychoactive drugs: synapses of the cns. Stimulants - block the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the. Depressants - reduce the activity of the cns. Opioids - increase activity in opioid receptor neurons in the brain and in the digestive system, producing euphoria, analgesia, slower breathing, and constipation. Drugs can be dangerous as well as useful. Hallucinogens - alter sensation and perception and that may create hallucinations. Drug tolerance is an increase in the dose required to produce the same effect, which makes it necessary for the user to increase the dosage or the number of times per day that the drug is taken. Drug dependence is defined as a need to use a drug or other substance regularly.