Lesson #1

Question 1

6 ways of classifying drugs

Answer 1

1) By Origin (opiates from opium)
2) By Therapeutic Use (opiate as narcotic as anesthetic)
3) By Site of Action (shutting down nervous system)
4) Chemical Structure
5) Mechanisms of Action (hallucinogens cause hallucinations)
6) Street Names

Question 2

Cocaine is a narcotic (T / F)

Answer 2

False! Cocaine is a stimulant. Opiates are narcotics (stupor-inducing)

Question 3

Cannabis is a depressant (T / F)

Answer 3

False! Sort of. It’s … complicated. Different effects depending on a variety of factors.

Question 4

Drug

Answer 4

Any chemical substance taken not required for basic normal functioning.

Question 5

Pharmacology

Answer 5

The scientific study of drugs (including effects it has on body)

Question 6

Psychopharmacology

Answer 6

The scientific study of psychoactive drugs

Question 7

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 7

Any chemical substance that acts on the central nervous system and affects behaviour, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions

Question 8

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 8

Any chemical substance that acts on the central nervous system and affects behaviour, feelings, thoughts, and perceptions

Question 9

Licit drugs

Answer 9

Legal drugs

Question 10

Illicit drugs

Answer 10

Illegal drugs

Question 11

Polydrug use

Answer 11

Using multiple drugs at once

Question 12

Tolerance

Answer 12

Building up a resistance to a drug (biological, physiological)

Question 13

Therapeutic Index

Answer 13

TI = lethal dosage / effective dosage.

Lethal dosage never changes, effective dosage (amount required to have an effect) increases due to tolerance.

Question 14

Withdrawal

Answer 14

Opposite effects of the drug, the effects from decreased or stopped drug use

Question 15

4 Principles

Answer 15

1) The drug itself is neither good nor bad, but how it is used
2) One drug has multiple effects
3) The effect of any drug is dose dependent
4) The effect of any drug is also affected by other factors

Question 16

Addiction

Answer 16

The persistent and repetitive enactment of a behaviour pattern in which one or more of the following is observed :

• preoccupation
• perceived loss of control
• loss of abilities
• progression (gets worse and worse)
• negative long term consequences