4. Psychoactive Drugs
A psychoactive drug or psychotropic
substance is a chemical substance that
acts primarily upon the central nervous
system where it alters brain function,
resulting in temporary changes in
perception, mood, consciousness and
behavior.
6. What are some of the most
common psychoactive
drugs?
Sedative hypnotics and anxiolytics
(anti-anxiety drugs)
Stimulants
7. Sedative hypnotics and
anxiolytic
This is also known as mild tranquilizers.
Sedative drugs which produce sedation,
calm and quietness in the patient.
Hypnotics drugs which produce sleep
that resembles normal sleep.
Anxiolytic drugs which reduce anxiety
and cause calm and quietness in the
patient.
8.
9. Stages from anxiety to death
Anxiety→ Drowsiness→ Hypnosis→ Anaesthesia→ Coma→ Death
The most common drugs of sedative hypotics
and anxiolytic are:
Alcohol
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
10. Alcohol
The drug alcohol, to be specific ethanol,
is a central nervous system
depressant with a range of adverse
effect.
Alcohol starts to affect the brain within
five minutes of being consumed.
The BAC peaks about 30-45 minutes
after one standard drink is consumed.
11. The effects of alcohol vary
depending on a number of
factors including:
type and quantity of alcohol consumed
age, weight and gender
body chemistry
food in the stomach
drinking experience
situation in which drinking occurs
mental health status
other health conditions made worse by
alcohol.
12.
13. Effect on Behavior
Stages BAC Likely Effects
Feeling of well-being Up to .05 g% •Talkative
•Relaxed
•More confident
Some raised risk .05-.08 g% •Talkative
•Acts and feels self-
•Confident
•Judgment andmovement
impaired
•Inhibitions reduced
Moderately raised state .08-.15 g% •Speech slurred
•Balance and coordination
impaired
•Reflexes slowed
•Visual attention impaired
•Unstable emotions
•Nausea, vomiting
14. Stages BAC Likely Effects
Very elevated risk 15-.30 g% •Unable to walk
without help
•Apathetic, sleepy
•Laboured breathing
•Unable to remember
events
•Loss of bladder
control
•Possible loss of
consciousness
Death Over .30 g% •Coma
•Death
15. Barbiturate
Barbiturates are a class of drugs derived
from barbituric acid that act as depressants
to the central nervous system. These drugs
are frequently used for medical reasons as
sedatives or anesthetics.
These drugs also affect the CNS in several
different ways and can produce effects
ranging from mild sedation to a coma
depending upon the dosage.
Low doses of barbiturates can lower anxiety
levels and relieve tension, while higher
doses can decrease the heart rate and blood
pressure.
18. Benzodiazepines
This medication is used to relieve
nervousness and tension or
improve sleep disturbances. It is also
used to relieve symptoms of alcohol
withdrawal.
Take with food or milk if stomach upset
occurs. Take exactly as prescribed. Do
not increase your dose or take more
often than prescribed.
19. Stimulants
Stimulants are psychoactive drug
which induce temporary improvements
in either mental or physical functions or
both.
Examples of these kinds of effects may
include enhanced alertness,
wakefulness, and locomotion, among
others.
20. Stimulants are used both individually
and clinically for therapeutic purpose.
Examples include cocaine,
methamphetamine, amphetamines,
methylphenidate, nicotine, and MDMA
(3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine),
better known as “Ecstasy.”
21. Cocaine
Cocaine comes in two forms. Powder
cocaine is a hydrochloride salt, made
from the leaf of the coca plant.
“Crack” is a smoke able form of cocaine
that is processed with ammonia or
baking soda and water, and heated to
remove the hydrochloride.
22. In 1800s, psychoanalyst
Sigmund Freud advocated the use of
cocaine as a therapeutic treatment for
psychological disorders, but after
realized the addictive properties of the
drug.
During the early 1900s, cocaine was
legal in the U.S. and could be found in
many over-the-counter medications.
23. Caffeine
Caffeine is the most widely used
psychoactive drug in the world, found in
coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate candy, and
soft drinks.
Caffeine has several positive effects such
as increasing energy and mental alertness,
heavy use can cause symptoms such as
anxiety and insomnia.
Caffeine is physically addictive, and
withdrawal symptoms can include
headaches, fatigue, and irritability.
24. Amphetamines
The name amphetamine comes from the
chemical name alpha-methylphenethylamine.
Amphetamines are drugs which stimulate the
CNS (central nervous system) - they are
psychostimulant drugs.
when overused they can be psychologically
and physically addictive. As well as giving the
user an enhanced feeling of wakefulness and
focus, they also reduce appetite.
25. Immediate effects
Depending on how amphetamines are
taken, the effects may be felt
immediately (through injecting or
smoking) or within 30 minutes (if snorted
or swallowed).
26.
27. Amphetamines can also be abused—that is,
used in a way or for a purpose other than as
prescribed (e.g., crushed and snorted, "to get
high") or used by someone without a
prescription.
28. Nicotine
Nicotine is considered one of the three most
widely used psychoactive drugs in the world.
During the early to mid-twentieth century,
smoking was considered fashionable.
Reports of the adverse health consequences
have led to cigarette use being increasingly
shunned.
However, the Substance Abuse And Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
reports that approximately 66.5 million
Americans over the age of 12 (or 29 percent of
the population) used a nicotine containing
product in 2001.
29. Addictive Drugs
Drug addiction is a dependence on an illegal
drug or a medication. When you're addicted,
you may not be able to control your drug use
and you may continue using the drug
despite the harm it causes.
Drug addiction can cause an intense
craving for the drug. You may want to quit,
but most people find they can't do it on their
own.
31. By addictive drugs user may
dependent.
Physiological dependence
Psychological dependence
32. Physiological dependency
Physical dependence refers to a state
resulting from chronic use of a drug that has
produced tolerance and where negative
physical symptoms of withdrawal result from
abrupt discontinuation or dosage reduction.
Physical dependence can develop from low-
dose therapeutic use of certain medications
such as benzodiazepines, opioids,
antiepileptics and antidepressants, as well as
misuse of recreational drugs such as alcohol,
opioids and benzodiazepines.
33.
34. Psychological dependency
Psychological dependence is a "need"
for a particular substance because of
the mental and psychological affects it
produces.
There is the relief of anxiety, the seeking
of elation, the avoidance of depression,
and the relief of pain.