PS268 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Psychoactive Drug, Cirrhosis
LECTURE NOTES CHAP 2/3:
-basically every psychoactive drug is regulated or prohibited by the government
-toxicity is the major reason drug regulations were deemed necessary
Laissez Faire
-in early days, governments took hands off approach with drugs
-people were free to make their own decisions
-this approach of government non-intervention is called laissez faire
-current government approach is quite different
Toxicity:
-the potential harms associated with the drug
-acute: immediate harmful effects, death by suffocation due to alcohol intoxication
-chronic: harmful effects that occur after repeated use, cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol
-physiological effects: effects on body processes essential to support life
-behavioural effects: render person incapable of responding to surroundings, poor decision
making
Comparing Drug Toxicity:
-430k people a year in North America die from tobacco-related deaths but 1 death per 138
users/year
-125k die from alcohol but 1 death per 1680 users/year
-8100 die from cocaine but 1 death per 370 users/year
Document Summary
Basically every psychoactive drug is regulated or prohibited by the government. Toxicity is the major reason drug regulations were deemed necessary. In early days, governments took hands off approach with drugs. People were free to make their own decisions. This approach of government non-intervention is called laissez faire. Acute: immediate harmful effects, death by suffocation due to alcohol intoxication. Chronic: harmful effects that occur after repeated use, cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol. Physiological effects: effects on body processes essential to support life. Behavioural effects: render person incapable of responding to surroundings, poor decision making. 430k people a year in north america die from tobacco-related deaths but 1 death per 138 users/year. 125k die from alcohol but 1 death per 1680 users/year. 8100 die from cocaine but 1 death per 370 users/year. 6500 die from opiates but 1 death per 28 users/year.
