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way drugs reach the brain fastest to slowest
inhaling, injecting, snorting, oral ingestion, transdermal
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cocaine vs crack
- crack-smoked, high comes quick and leaves quick, higher addiction potential(sec)
- cocaine-snorted, dissolved, and injected, takes ~10 mins to get high
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how does cocaine work in the brain
it blocks dopamine transporters that take away excess dopamine, as a result dopamine signal is kept on. Mainly in the VTA
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example of amphetamines
meth, adderal, vyvansem, amphetamine congeners
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meth vs cocaine
- cocaine-brief rush
- amphetamines- last longer, less toxic, less expensive, similar mech of action but phetamines also metabolize neuros
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Cocaine/meth undesired effects
- acute psychosis-hallucinations/delusions
- serious crash
- severe depression
- associated w/ property crime and violence
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cocaine/meth medical effects
infectious disease, mal nutrition, heart uscle damage, unexpected heart failure, deformations, sores, nasal septum, teeth
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neurocognitive enhancement of stimulants
executive function enhancement (pre-frontal cortex), memory enhancement
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what type of chemical is caffeine
xanthines
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whats the most widely used psychoactive drug in the US
caffeine 85%
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caffeine pharmacology
- rapid absorption if taken orally
- peak levels at 30 mins.
- half-life 3 hours
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concerns with caffeine
- you can overdose (toxicity is pretty low)
- caffeinism (excessive use of caffeine)
- can cause unpleasant symptoms
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whats the leading cause of preventable death
smoking tobacco
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what is nicotine and dependence
- a naturally occurring liquid alkaloid that is colorless and volatile
- tolerance and dependence develop quickly
- highly toxic
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physiological effects of nicotine
- resembles that of acetylcholine
- first stimulates than blocks receptor sites
- causes release of adrenaline
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general effects of psychedelics
- alters cognition and perception
- acute awareness of all sensations
- delusions, hallucinations, and illusions
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desired effects of psychedelics
- visual effects, synesthesia-"seeing sound"
- introspection, spiritual experiences, mystical states
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undesired effects of psychedelics
- impaired reasoning, judgement, and memory
- effects are state-dependent
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LSD
- lysergic acid diethylamide
- synthesized from alkaloids found in a fungus
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LSD pharmacology
- colorless, odorless, tasteless, very potent
- no known overdoses
- absorbed rapidly through the GI tract
- half life 3 hours
- tolerance develops rapidly
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psilocybin
psychedelic found in mushoom plant
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