PSYC 1013 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Constipation, Anxiolytic, Club Drug
5 Nov 2016
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How drugs work: biological side: normal neurotransmitter activation drug mimics neurotransmitter. How drugs work: psychological variables: personality/mood of user, setting (context) E. g. , presence of other people: how drug is used. Recreational vs. treatment: expectations can influence drug"s effects. Decreased responsiveness to drug with repeated use: withdrawl. Upon discontinuation, users experience symptoms that are opposite to that of the drug. For example, heroin causes calmness and constipation, and when the patient stops using, they will likely experience agitation and diarrhea: disruption to everyday life. Relationships with family and friends are impacted. Categories of psychoactive drugs: depressants: decrease in cns activity, mechanism. High doses = incoordination, sedation: long term use. For example, having trouble forming memories and losing memories from the past. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (ghb: naturally occurring substance similar to gaba, causes relaxation, euphoria, loss of inhibition and an increased sex drive, laboratory-manufactured version of ghb has become popular as a club drug ( liquid ecstasy )
