PSY 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Psychoactive Drug, Opiate, Pentobarbital
Document Summary
Psychoactive drug: a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods. Substance use disorder: continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk. a person may be diagnosed with substance use disorder when drug use continues despite significant life disruption. Resulting brain changes may persist after quitting use of the substance (thus leading to strong cravings when exposed to people and situations that trigger memories of drug use). The severity of substance use disorder varies from mild (two to three of these indicators) to moderate (four to five indicators) to severe (six or more indicators). A drug"s overall effect depends not only on its biological effects but also on the user"s expectations, which vary with social and cultural contexts. If one culture assumes that a particular drug produces euphoria (or aggression or sexual arousal) and another does not, each culture may find its expectations fulfilled.
