Drugs and consciousness
Drugs and consciousness is an important topic. Drug use and addiction are complex issues that impact individuals, families, and society as a whole. From the daily struggles of a person battling addiction to the science behind tolerance and dependence, understanding the effects of various substances is crucial. In this section, we will explore the realities of addiction, including how different drugs affect the body and mind.
By the end of this section, you will be able to know about:
- A Day in the legal life of a drug addict
- Tolerance and addiction
- Improving understanding of addiction
- Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates
- Stimulants: Caffeine, nicotine, and two other drugs
- Drug Types and Effects
- Influences on Drug Use
Let’s take a closer look at them!
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A Day in the legal life of a drug addict
Consider the day-to-day routine of a regular user of legal drugs. The day starts with a wake-up latte, followed by more cigarettes to soothe frayed nerves. Going to the plastic surgeon for Botox prevents wrinkles and weakens appetite before dinner. The effects of the drug can be partially counteracted by taking a glass of wine or two Advil PMs later in the evening. Includes beta blockers for impeding performance of public speakers or actors, Viagra for middle-aged men, libido patches for women, and Adderall for students seeking better concentration. This episode shows how legal drugs include everyday life, often with the goal of improving physique, focus and general well-being.
Tolerance and addiction
Although many people can use prescribed medications normally without significant side effects, a number of medication compliance problems do occur. These disorders include abuse of psychotropic substances, mood- and mood-altering substances. It is influenced not only by the biological effects of a drug, but also by the expectations of the user, which are determined by sociocultural factors. For example, in some cultures a drug is expected to produce euphoria, while in others it has no such effect. The American Psychiatric Association states that if a person continues to use drugs despite a difficult life, they can be diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Substance use disorders can vary in severity from mild to severe depending on factors such as craving, discounting, risky use, and symptom various withdrawal symptoms
The concept of tolerance refers to the need to increase the amount of a substance to achieve the same effect. With alcohol and other drugs, tolerance builds over time as the brain adjusts to the presence of the substance. This neuroadaptation process can eventually lead to addiction, where the person craves the drug and continues to use it despite negative consequences. The World Health Organization estimates that 90 million people worldwide suffer from alcohol and other drug use disorders. However, addiction does not always last a lifetime, and many people are able to overcome their addiction without the intervention of medication.
Substance Use Disorder: A condition characterized by the repeated and harmful use of psychoactive substances, leading to negative effects on an individual’s health, relationships, and functioning. It may include physical dependence and a strong desire to continue using despite adverse consequences.
Psychoactive Drug: A substance that alters perception, mood, consciousness, or behavior by affecting the brain and nervous system. Examples include alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, and hallucinogens.
Tolerance: A physiological process in which, over time, a person needs increasingly larger doses of a drug to achieve the same effect due to the body’s adaptation to the substance.
Addiction: A chronic, compulsive need to seek and use a substance, even when it interferes with daily life and causes harm. Addiction often involves changes in the brain’s reward system.
Withdrawal: A group of symptoms that occur when a person who is dependent on a substance reduces or stops using it. Symptoms can range from mild (e.g., anxiety) to severe (e.g., seizures, nausea) depending on the substance.
Improving understanding of addiction
Over time, the definition of addiction has expanded beyond drugs, to sometimes include behaviors such as overeating, gambling, even work that were previously considered mere habits The uncontrollable illness concept of addiction has been challenged, some critics argue that viewing such an addiction can damage a person’s confidence. But debate continues over whether addiction is truly unstoppable, especially for behaviors like gambling or video games that can be compulsive and ineffective Behavioral addiction new addiction categories, such as “gambling disorder” and “internet gaming disorder” have appeared in the psychiatric literature on disorders Effective in treating a variety of addictions.
Classes of psychotropic drugs: antidepressants, stimulants, and antidepressants. Psychotropic drugs can be divided into three main groups: hallucinogens, stimulants, and depressants. These chemicals affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, stimulating, inhibiting, or mimicking their effects.
Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates
Depressants slow nerve function and body function. For example, alcohol is often mistakenly thought of as a stimulant for a small number of people, but in reality, it acts as an inhibitor of brain activity, slows down brain function and impairs judgment. This can have positive effects like life internal relationships, or negative outcomes such as sexual violence or risky behavior. Alcohol can impair memory, especially in heavy drinkers, and cause blackouts. In addition, alcohol is a powerful sedative, and especially when combined with sleep deprivation, can contribute to further decline in mood over time
Barbiturates such as Nembutal and Seconal also cause nerve irritation and are prescribed to treat anxiety or sleep disorders. But when combined with alcohol, it can be deadly. Opiates like heroin and morphine similarly slow down nerve activity and the more powerful ones can cause cravings, addiction and overdose. Long-term use of opiates can cause the brain to block natural painkillers, making it more sensitive to withdrawal symptoms.
Depressants: Drugs that reduce neural activity, leading to a calming or sedative effect. These substances slow down bodily functions and impair cognitive and motor skills. Examples include alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates.
Alcohol Use Disorder: A chronic disorder characterized by excessive and harmful drinking, leading to physical, emotional, and social problems. Symptoms include craving alcohol, loss of control, and withdrawal symptoms.
Barbiturates: A class of depressant drugs that were once widely used for anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizures but have largely been replaced due to their high potential for addiction and overdose.
Opiates: A group of powerful depressant drugs derived from the opium poppy, used for pain relief. These include heroin, morphine, and codeine. Opiates can lead to addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms.
Stimulants: Drugs that increase neural activity and elevate bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. These substances create feelings of alertness, energy, and euphoria. Examples include amphetamines, nicotine, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Amphetamines: A group of stimulant drugs that increase the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to increased energy, alertness, and focus. They can be addictive and lead to psychological or physical problems when abused.
Stimulants: Caffeine, nicotine, and two other drugs
Stimulants stimulate muscle activity and increase bodily functions such as heart rate and respiration. These include substances such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstasy. Stimulants are often used to enhance energy, mood, or performance. However, they can be very addictive. The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products is particularly addictive and causes millions of deaths worldwide each year. Despite the well-known health risks, heavy smokers find it difficult to quit because of the alert and anxiety-relieving effects of nicotine.
Caffeine is another common stimulant, found in coffee, tea and energy drinks. Although the side effects are milder than nicotine or cocaine, regular caffeine users can develop a dependency, experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, irritability.
Drugs and consciousness: Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that provides rapid euphoria, but its effects can quickly lead to depression and aggression. Coca-Cola originally added an extract from the coca tree, which served as a tired old man, making it the “real thing” from 1896 to 1905. Modern cocaine is often snorted, injected , or smoking, which enters the bloodstream and reduces dopamine, serotonin, and other pleasure neurons Acceleration norepinephrine. Subsequent accidents can lead to compulsive depression. Cocaine increases aggression, and studies have shown increased responses to its effects in laboratory rats and humans. Long-term use can cause mood swings, seizures, and cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. U.S. 3% of senior secondary school students and 6% of Britons aged 18-24 say they have tried cocaine, including crack cocaine, the more potent form, and is particularly popular. The psychological effects of cocaine get the quantity, style, context of the user, expectations and personality .
Drugs and consciousness: Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, a more potent form of amphetamine, stimulates dopamine release, producing intense energy and hours of euphoria. However, side effects can include irritability, insomnia, high blood pressure, seizures and even violent outbursts. Over time, the drug reduces baseline dopamine levels, leading to persistent depressive symptoms and adverse psychological effects. Long-term meth use can also cause severe nerve damage.
Drugs and consciousness: Ecstasy (MDMA)
The stimulants of ecstasy or MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) are mild and hallucinogenic. It releases dopamine and serotonin, giving users pleasure and mood boosts thanks to the latter. The drug is commonly used in social settings, especially nightclubs and all-night parties. However, great interest for dehydration, excessive heat and high blood pressure. Long-term use can cause permanent damage to neurons that produce serotonin, memory, emotional regulation and sleep. In addition, it can suppress immune function and disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to long-term health issues.
Drugs and consciousness: Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelics, distort perception and trigger sensory experience without external stimulation. These experiences typically begin with geometric patterns, then progress to more complex patterns, memories, or sensory reconstructions. Some hallucinogens, such as LSD and MDMA, are synthetic, while others, such as marijuana, are natural. Experiences induced by hallucinogenic substances may lead to a sense of detachment from the body or a series of vivid dream-like events that can be frightening or harmful if not attended to use These substances can cause dramatic changes in his or her mood, the effects on the brain are similar to experiences seen during near-death or severe psychological stress.
Drugs and consciousness: LSD
Discovered by Albert Hofmann in 1938, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a powerful hallucinogen that produces vivid experiences, often in the form of kaleidoscopic visual Emotional responses in the case of LSD has a profound effect on the user’s current mood and anticipation, ranging from excitement to fear. Often the result is heightened emotional sensitivity and altered reality, with users often feeling more connected to their surroundings or experiencing deeper emotional release tough
Drugs and consciousness: Marijuana
When derived from the marijuana plant, marijuana contains THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) as the primary psychoactive ingredient. Whether smoked or ingested, THC causes a variety of side effects, including altered sensory perception, relaxation, and mild confusion. Although marijuana is less physically addictive than alcohol, it also impairs the body’s energy, reaction time, and judgment. Long-term use, especially during adolescence, can lead to cognitive decline, memory loss, and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Despite the risks, marijuana has been legalized in some areas for medical use to relieve pain and nausea in patients such as AIDS and cancer.
Cocaine: A powerful stimulant drug derived from the coca plant that produces intense euphoria and energy. It can cause severe cardiovascular stress, paranoia, and a depressive crash after the high.
Nicotine: A stimulant found in tobacco products that creates feelings of alertness and relaxation. Long-term use can lead to addiction and serious health issues, including heart disease and cancer.
Methamphetamine: A potent stimulant drug that increases dopamine levels, creating intense feelings of euphoria, alertness, and energy. Methamphetamine abuse can lead to severe health consequences, including addiction, cognitive decline, and physical damage.
Ecstasy (MDMA): A stimulant and mild hallucinogen that increases energy, emotional warmth, and disinhibition. It can also cause dehydration, overheating, and cognitive impairments in the long term.
Hallucinogens: A class of drugs that alter perception, mood, and thought, often causing sensory distortions and vivid images. These include LSD and Ecstasy (MDMA).
Near-Death Experience: A profound psychological experience reported by some people who have come close to death, often involving a sense of floating outside the body, moving through a tunnel, or experiencing a sense of peace or spiritual transcendence.
LSD: A powerful hallucinogenic drug known for its ability to induce visual and sensory distortions, often referred to as a “trip.” LSD can lead to psychological distress, including paranoia or panic.
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): The main psychoactive compound in marijuana that produces altered sensory perception, relaxation, and mood enhancement. It can impair short-term memory and cognitive functioning.
Drug Types and Effects
Influences on Drug Use
Drugs and consciousness: Biological Influences
Genetic factors can make individuals more susceptible to addiction. For instance, those with a family history of addiction are more likely to develop substance use issues. Certain genes and brain chemicals, such as dopamine, can increase vulnerability. Studies show that individuals with certain genetic traits (like impulsivity or low dopamine production) may be more likely to use drugs, especially alcohol or nicotine.
Drugs and consciousness: Psychological Influences
Many drugs’ users report using substances to cope with negative emotions like depression, anxiety, or stress. For some, drugs temporarily alleviate feelings of meaninglessness, emotional pain, or frustration. Adolescents, in particular, are influenced by peer pressure, societal stressors, and emotional struggles. The desire to fit in or gain social approval can prompt drug use.
Drugs and consciousness: Social-Cultural Influences
Peer groups play a crucial role in initiating and maintaining drug use. Adolescents and young adults, especially, are influenced by friends or social circles who engage in drug-related activities. Cultural and societal norms can affect drug use. For example, regions with higher levels of peer drug use tend to have higher rates of adolescent drug consumption. Family dynamics also matter. Young people from families with low parental supervision or those who experience neglect or abuse may be at higher risk for drug use.
Drugs and consciousness: Prevention and Treatment Strategies
Effective prevention and treatment programs aim to:
Educate people, especially the youth, about the risks and long-term consequences of drug use.
Build self-esteem and provide individuals with positive alternatives to drug use.
Strengthen peer resistance skills by teaching individuals how to refuse drugs in social situations, helping them avoid environments that encourage drug use.