Psychology 2220A/B Lecture 15: (15) Drugs and Addiction 2220B

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2220A/B
• Professor: Yves Bureau

Document Summary

15: drug addiction and the brain"s reward circuits. Psychoactive drugs: drugs that influence subjective experience and behaviour by acting on the ns. Drug administration: route of administration influences the rate at which and the degree to which the drug reaches its site of action. o. It also influences the amount a person may take; the faster you feel good after doing something, the more likely you are to repeatedly do it. It is the preferred method of medical practitioners b/c the effects are strong, fast and predictable: subcutaneously (sc): under the skin o. Intravenously (iv): into veins; drug delivered directly to brain (od is quite easy/likely) o. But its speed is also an issue; can"t counteract and od, allergic reaction or impurity. Also could lead to developing scar tissue or collapsed veins. Inhalation: tobacco and marijuana: absorbed through capillaries in lungs, disadvantages: hard to regulate the dose and it has adverse effects on the lungs.