8.5.2 Psychoactive Drugs

• What are psychoactive drugs and what do they affect?

  They affect the brain
• Psychoactive drugs alter mood, perception, thinking, or behavior
• Psychoactive drugs influence neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
• What are the three main categories of psychoactive drugs based on their effects?

  Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens
• Match the category of psychoactive drugs with its effect:

  Stimulants ↔️ Increase alertness and energy

  Depressants ↔️ Slow down brain activity

  Hallucinogens ↔️ Alter perception and reality
• Caffeine is an example of a stimulant
• What is an example of a depressant drug?

  Alcohol
• LSD is a hallucinogen.
• The categories of psychoactive drugs are based on their influence on neurotransmitter systems
• Steps in the mechanism of action of stimulants:

  1️⃣ Stimulants block reuptake of neurotransmitters

  2️⃣ Stimulants stimulate release of neurotransmitters

  3️⃣ Stimulants inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO)
• Which neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine?

  Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin
• Alcohol slows down brain activity by increasing the effects of GABA.
• What neurotransmitter do depressants often increase the effects of?

  GABA
• Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
• How do stimulants primarily affect neurotransmitter activity?

  Increase their activity
• Cocaine and methylphenidate block the reuptake of neurotransmitters, prolonging their presence in the synapse
• Amphetamines stimulate the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic vesicles.
• Which enzyme is inhibited by some stimulants to reduce neurotransmitter degradation?

  Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
• What are the three neurotransmitters primarily affected by stimulants?

  Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
• Depressants enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA, reducing neuronal excitability
• How does alcohol affect neurotransmitter systems in the brain?

  Increases GABA, reduces glutamate
• Benzodiazepines produce sedative and anti-anxiety effects by enhancing GABA receptor activity.
• Which neurotransmitter is primarily affected by benzodiazepines?

  GABA
• What are the two primary neurotransmitter systems affected by depressants?

  GABA and glutamate
• Alcohol enhances GABA and reduces glutamate activity, leading to relaxation and impaired cognition
• Match the depressant with its primary mechanism of action:

  Alcohol ↔️ Enhances GABA, reduces glutamate

  Benzodiazepines ↔️ Enhances GABA receptors
• How do hallucinogens primarily affect perception and thought processes?

  Disrupt neurotransmitter systems
• LSD and psilocybin bind to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, disrupting their normal function.
• LSD and psilocybin affect the neurotransmitter serotonin
• Which two neurotransmitters are affected by MDMA?

  Serotonin and dopamine
• Classify psychoactive drugs based on their effects into three categories:

  1️⃣ Stimulants

  2️⃣ Depressants

  3️⃣ Hallucinogens
• Match the psychoactive drug category with its effect and example:

  Stimulants ↔️ Increase alertness, caffeine

  Depressants ↔️ Slow brain activity, alcohol

  Hallucinogens ↔️ Alter perception, LSD
• What are the three mechanisms of action by which stimulants increase neurotransmitter activity?

  Blocking reuptake, stimulating release, inhibiting MAO
• How do depressants affect the glutamate neurotransmitter system?

  Reduce its excitatory effects
• Which two neurotransmitters are affected by alcohol?

  GABA and glutamate
• MDMA increases serotonin and dopamine release.
• What are the four key effects of psychoactive drugs on neurotransmitters?

  Mood, perception, thinking, behavior
• Long-term use of psychoactive drugs can lead to tolerance, dependence, and unpleasant symptoms upon cessation
• Match the long-term effect with its description:

  Tolerance ↔️ Requires higher doses

  Dependence ↔️ Physiological need for drug

  Withdrawal ↔️ Symptoms upon cessation
• What is the primary action of psychoactive drugs on the brain?

  Alter neurotransmitter systems