PSYC 1F90 Chapter Notes - Chapter 25: Osteoporosis, Alprazolam, Mescaline

• School: Brock University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1F90
• Professor: Kathryn Belicki

Document Summary

Psychoactive drug a substance capable of altering attention, memory, judgment, time sense, self-control, mood, or perception. Psychoactive drugs alter consciousness by directly influencing brain activity. Many psychoactive drugs can be placed on a scale ranging from stimulation to depression. Stimulant a substance that increases activity in the body and nervous system; also referred to as an. Depressant a substance that decreases activity in the body and nervous system; also referred to as a. People seek drug experiences for many reasons: Adolescents are more likely to use and abuse drugs if they believe that: Drug use by their peers is okay. Personality traits: maladjusted, alienated, impulsive, and emotionally distressed. Taking most psychoactive drugs tends to create dependencies. Drug dependence falls into two broad categories: Physical dependence (addiction) physical addiction, as indicated by the presence of drug tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Occurs most often with drugs that cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms physical illness and discomfort following the withdrawal of a drug.