PSYC 2000 Chapter : Consciousness Ch 4 Pt B
Document Summary
#1 cause of preventable death in us. Easiest substance to become addicted to and most difficult to quit: amphetamine and methamphetamine. Trend for stimulant use (like ritalin) in college kids: cocaine. From coca plant: depressants, depressants decrease the functioning of the nervous systems, alcohol. It depresses the areas that control judgement and inhibition. Develop tolerance quickly: narcotics, drugs which come from opium and suppress pain, narcotics (opium, heroin, morphine) Afghanistan largest producer of opium: hallucinogens, lsd (lysergic acid diethylamide) Used only as an animal tranquilizer: mdma (ecstasy) Entactogen increase emotional openness and empathy. Studies suggest permanent serotonogic pathway damage, cognitive deficits and decreased performance on memory tasks: mescaline. Used by native americans, from peyote cactus: psilocybin. Today"s marijuana has 4 times content of thc than in 1970"s! Mimics endocannibinoids: what makes a drug illegal, schedule of controlled substances made 30 yrs ago and based on scientific knowledge at that time and political considerations.
