PSYC 2410 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Drug Injection, Drug Tolerance, Drug Withdrawal
19 Apr 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Psychoactive drugs act by influencing experience and behavior by acting on the nervous system. Oral, injection, inhalation and absorption through the mucous membranes. Oral- preferred route of admin, absorbed in the intestine-proceeds into the bloodstream. Some drugs such as alcohol pass through the stomach wall. Absorption into the blood stream can be influenced by the amount and type of food in the stomach. The main advantages are the ease and the safety. Drug injection- effects are strong fast and predictable, made subcutaneously intramuscularly or intravenously. Addicts prefer the intravenous route because it delivers the drug directly to the brain. After an injection there is little chance to counteract the effects of the drugs. Many addicts develop scar tissue infections and collapsed veins at the site of injection. Difficult to regulate the dose and many substances damage the lungs if they are inhaled chronically. Through the mucous membranes of the nose mouth and rectum.
