PS268 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Chemical Compound, Chemical Substance, Caffeine
Document Summary
Chemical compound that elicits some kind of psychoactive response. A chemical substance that, when taken into the body, alters the structure or functioning of the body in some way. Drugs do not include nutrients considered to be related to normal functioning. A drug that influences the functioning of the brain and hence our behaviour and experience. Drugs whose manufacture, sale or possession is legal 9e. g. alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, etc. Drugs whose manufacture, sale or possession is illegal (e. g. heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, mdma, lsd, ghb, etc. ) Survey questionnaires: door-to-door, phone surveys, classroom surveys. Drawbacks: bias in student population (e. g. dropouts not counted, potential inaccuracy of self-reports (among both users and non-users) Nicotine increases the likelihood of becoming addicted to other drugs. Males on average drink more than females. A person is taking a drug with a specific socially-approved goal in mind. A person is taking the drug for the sole purpose of experiencing its psychoactive properties.
