PSYCH 2NF3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Psychoactive Drug, Psychopharmacology, Amnesia
7 Jan 2019
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Some effects of alcohol include: loss of coordination and judgment, enhanced sexuality, memory loss and stupor, increased hostility / aggression. After caffeine, is the most commonly used psychoactive drug in america. Most cultures / people accept its use (even though it has bad side effects: many don"t consider it to be a drug". Frequently, people"s beliefs about alcohol are misconceptions based on myth / common" wisdom. Use in america began with 1st immigrants but history is longer. 8000 bc: mead brewed from fermented honey. 1700 bc: first traces of wine in babylonia. Romans: alcohol may have contributed to fall of empire, mental instability (some of it invoked by alcohol consumption with a high lead content) of the romans, many exhibited signs of confusion / dementia. Gin: produced by the dutch, credited with start of serious alcohol abuse, common method of dealing with poor living conditions became associated with lower class while middle class drank beer.
