PSYA02H3 Chapter : Ch16 Psychology Notes.docx
52
PSYA02H3 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
52 documents
Document Summary
To abuse a substance means to use it in a way that poses a threat to the safety & well-being of the user/society/both. Alcoholism = an addiction to ethanol, the psychoactive agent in alcoholic beverages: psychoactive substance = any substance that affects the brain & cns functioning. 5:1 ratio of men to women of alcohol consumption. Strong correlation w/ alcohol consumption & violent relationships. Neuronal activity of the brain becomes suppressed & reduces inhibitory controls on beh when moderate to heavy lvls of alcohol is consumed, individuals become: more relaxed & outgoing, difficulty thinking clearly. Even more alcohol is consumer: producing distortions in perception, slurred speech, memory loss, poor control of movement. Alcohol (b/c small fat & water soluble molecules) is rapidly absorbed from stomach to intestinal tract & is quickly n evenly distributed throughout the body via the circulatory system. Blood alcohol lvls are affected by body mass and muscularity larger person = more alcohol.
