PSY 1 Lecture 4: PSYCH1 L4 (1.25.18): Chapter 3 Pt 3
Document Summary
From dutch droog , coming from anglo-saxon term dryge (dry) Any substance used as or in a medicine . A narcotic, hallucinogenic, etc especially a habit-forming one . Drugs are simply chemicals that interact with and alter the body"s normal biological function. Use can be good/bad, wise/stupid, legal/illegal, but not the drugs themselves. Drug abuse: societal/legal term not a pharmacological or scientific term. Example: laudanum sold as family remedy for aches, pains, sleep, cold and flu. Has a shit ton of opium and alcohol. Example: coca-cola used to have cocaine in it (advertisement used) Takeaway: drugs were not regulated until the mid/late 20th century; before then, use and sale of them was permitted regardless of adverse effects. Drugs are capable of having such effects because they are chemically similar to naturally-occurring biological chemicals. If a drug"s effects occur in the brain, it is likely to have psychoactive properties.
