8.5.2 Psychoactive Drugs

• What are psychoactive drugs defined as?

  Substances that affect the brain
• Psychoactive drugs act by influencing neurotransmitter systems, leading to changes in neurotransmission.
• Psychoactive drugs are classified into three main categories based on their effects: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens.
• Match the category of psychoactive drug with its effect:

  Stimulants ↔️ Increase alertness and energy

  Depressants ↔️ Slow down brain activity

  Hallucinogens ↔️ Alter perception and reality
• What are examples of stimulants?

  Caffeine, Amphetamines
• Depressants often work by increasing the effects of GABA.
• What are examples of hallucinogens?

  LSD, Psilocybin
• Stimulants increase neurotransmitter activity by blocking reuptake, stimulating release, and inhibiting MAO.
• Match the stimulant with its mechanism of action:

  Cocaine ↔️ Blocks reuptake

  Amphetamines ↔️ Stimulates release, inhibits MAO
• Which neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine?

  Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin
• Methylphenidate blocks the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine
• Amphetamines stimulate neurotransmitter release and inhibit MAO.
• What is the mechanism of action of stimulants like cocaine and methylphenidate?

  Blocking reuptake
• Amphetamines stimulate the release of neurotransmitters from presynaptic vesicles
• Inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO) reduces neurotransmitter degradation.
• Which neurotransmitters are affected by cocaine?

  Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin
• Amphetamines stimulate release and inhibit MAO
• Alcohol reduces glutamate activity.
• What is the primary neurotransmitter affected by benzodiazepines?

  GABA
• Alcohol enhances GABA and reduces glutamate activity.
• Psychoactive drugs influence neurotransmitter systems in the brain.
• Psychoactive drugs can be classified into stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens.
• Stimulants increase neurotransmitter activity by blocking reuptake, stimulating release, or inhibiting MAO.
• Cocaine blocks reuptake transporters, prolonging the presence of neurotransmitters in the synapse.
• Match the depressant with its neurotransmitter effect:

  Alcohol ↔️ Enhances GABA, reduces glutamate

  Benzodiazepines ↔️ Enhances GABA receptor activity
• Which neurotransmitters are primarily affected by hallucinogens?

  Serotonin and Glutamate
• LSD binds to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.
• Hallucinogens like LSD disrupt synaptic transmission by altering glutamate release.
• Match the long-term effect with its cause:

  Tolerance ↔️ Reduced drug sensitivity

  Dependence ↔️ Need for continued use

  Addiction ↔️ Compulsive drug-seeking
• Which neurotransmitter does psilocybin bind to?

  Serotonin
• MDMA increases the release of serotonin and dopamine
• Match the hallucinogen with its primary neurotransmitter affected:

  LSD ↔️ Serotonin

  MDMA ↔️ Serotonin, Dopamine
• The interactions of psychoactive drugs with neurotransmitters result in diverse physiological and psychological effects.
• Psychoactive drug use can lead to liver damage, heart problems, and mood disorders
• Dependence on a psychoactive drug is a physiological need for the drug to function.
• What is tolerance in the context of psychoactive drug use?

  Higher doses required
• Dependence on psychoactive drugs leads to both physical and psychological discomfort
• Arrange the following withdrawal symptoms in a typical sequence:

  1️⃣ Nausea

  2️⃣ Anxiety

  3️⃣ Seizures
• What is the definition of psychoactive drugs?

  Chemical substances affecting the brain
• Psychoactive drugs can be classified into stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens