PCL201H1 : Mechanisms of Various Street Drugs
Document Summary
Heroin: before heroin enters the system, inhibitory neurotransmitters are active in the synapse. These neurotransmitters inhibit dopamine from being released: when the body"s natural opiates activate opiate receptors, the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters is shut down. Without inhibition, dopamine can be released: heroin mimics natural opiates and binds to opiate receptors, turning off dopamine inhibition. Dopamine is allowed to flood the synapse, producing immediate feelings of sedation and well-being: neurons with opiate receptors are in parts of the brain responsible for the transmission of pain signals, stress response, and emotional attachment. Our body"s opiates are natural painkillers, effective when we have sustained massive injury. This is why morphine, a drug related to heroin is used as a painkiller. Ecstasy: serotonin transporters are responsible for removing serotonin molecules from the synaptic cleft after they have done their job, ecstasy mimics serotonin and is taken up by serotonin transporters.
