ESS 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Paracetamol, Aspirin, Acetaldehyde
Document Summary
Allostatic state: altered state of balance that maintains the stability of biological systems by continued exposure to drugs. Resets normal homeostatic levels & homeostatic mechanisms to withstand chemical stressors. Sometimes the tissues & organs become dependent on the drug to stay functional. The first sign of tissue dependence is withdrawal when the drug is removed. Withdrawal symptoms show opposite effects (dysphoria for euphoria, pain for numbness) A tissue dependence on one drug creates a dependence on other drugs. Ex: heroin & methadone, vicodin & all other opioids. Users rely on the drugs emotionally as well as physically. Drugs alter consciousness, distort perceptions & change emotions. The person becomes hypnotized & brain becomes hijacked. Drug automatism: drugs can induce aimless, unconscious, repetitive drug taking behavior, zoning out . When a user has stopped taking a drug that has created tolerance & tissue dependence. & the body is left with altered chemistry.
