Stimulants and Alcohol

Question 1

How to take cocaine

Answer 1

Typically snorted in powder form or smoked in its free-base form (crack)

Question 2

Cocaine in blood and half life

Answer 2

Reaches peak in blood at 30-60 minutes
Easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier
Biological Half Life: 30-90 minutes

Question 3

Cocaine Short Term Effects

Answer 3

1. Euphoria
2. Energy
3. Confidence
4. Talkativeness
5. Activity
6. Alertness
7. Attention

Question 4

Neurons with cocaine

Answer 4

Cocaine acts on mono-aminergic synapses in the brain (serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenalin)
Cocaine blocks the reuptake channel of the mono-aminergic synapses, making the synapse effect stronger.
Also associated with the wake side of the sleep wake cycle - why people on cocaine can’t sleep.

Question 5

Cocaine Long Term Effects - Depression

Answer 5

Lack of reuptake results in depletion of monoamines (serotonin, noradrenaline etc) so there is a depression crash that is remedied by taking more cocaine

Question 6

Nasal Septum vs Cocaine

Answer 6

This is because of vasoconstriction.

Question 7

Cocaine Long Term Effects - Schizophrenic-like symptoms

Answer 7

Hallucinations
Delusions of persecution
Mood disturbances
Repetitive Behaviours

Question 8

More Cocaine Long Term Effects

Answer 8

Sexual dysfunction
Tolerance for some of the ‘desired’ effects, such as euphoria and confidence
Sensitisation or other effects, such as convulsiveness, stereotyped behaviour, addictiveness

Question 9

Cocaine Addictiveness

Answer 9

Direct effect on dopamine released in the nucleus accembens and prefrontal cortex
Direct activation of the ‘seeking’ or ‘reward’ pathway
Strong psychological addictiveness, much less physical addictiveness

Question 10

Types of amphetamines

Answer 10

Speed - taken orally
Crystal Meth - smoked
Ecstacy - taken orally
Mephedrone/Methadrone/Methylone - snorted or orally

Question 11

Amphetamines half life and blood-brain barrier

Answer 11

Uptake speed and half-life depend on the drug and method of taking it
All cross through blood-brain barrier with ease

Question 12

Amphetamines short term effects

Answer 12

1. Euphoria
2. Energy
3. Confidence
4. Talkativeness
5. Activity
6. Alertness
7. Attention

Question 13

Ecstacy short term effects

Answer 13

Increased confidence and feelings of energy lead to an increase in dehydration, exhaustion, muscle breakdown, overheating and convulsions

Question 14

Amphetamines long term effects

Answer 14

Similar to cocaine: hallucinations, delusions of persecution, mood disturbances, repetitive behaviour.
You also get a tolerance to some effects and a sensitisation to others
Extended use can kill dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in the brain

Question 15

Amphetamines addictiveness

Answer 15

Like cocaine there is strong potential for psychological addiction but not much for physical addiction

Question 16

How does Ritalin work?

Answer 16

Acts similarly to cocaine by blocking the monoamine reuptake transporter. The release is much more gradual and does not have the immediate effects cocaine does.

Question 17

Caffeine

Answer 17

Typically ingested in coffee or soft drinks
Concentration peaks after 40 minutes
Easily passes through blood-brain barrier
Half life of 3.5-5 hours and even longer in children
Lethal dose is 100 cups of coffee/10g of caffeine

Question 18

Caffeine’s Short Term Effects

Answer 18

Increases alertness and wakefulness
Induces clear thinking
Induces restlessness
Difficulty with fine movements
Increases cardiac contractions
Constricts blood vessels

Question 19

Caffeine Side Effects

Answer 19

Anxiety
Insomnia
Change in mood
Hypertension

Question 20

How does caffeine work?

Answer 20

Blocks adenosine receptors
Adenosine is involved in inducing sleep and vasodilation
Stimulates adrenaline release from adrenal medulla

Question 21

Caffeine long term effects

Answer 21

Mostly sleep deprivation (especially slow wave sleep), can be countered with more caffeine.

Question 22

Caffeine Addictiveness

Answer 22

Clear physical dependence with withdrawal symptoms including headaches, sleepiness, irritability and difficulty concentrating
Psychological dependence: increases dopamine in nucleus accumbens

Question 23

How to take nicotine

Answer 23

Usually smoked but sometimes chewed

Question 24

Nicotine vs blood-brain barrier

Answer 24

Within 7 seconds of the puff, 25% of the nicotine in the smoke has already crossed the blood-brain barrier

Question 25

Nicotine half-life

Answer 25

2 hours in the chronic smoker

Question 26

Nicotine short-term effects

Answer 26

Induces vomiting
Reduces muscle tone (relaxes)
Reduces weight gain
Increases heart rate and blood pressure

Question 27

How does nicotine work?

Answer 27

Binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found in the brain. These receptors are involved in stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, including the release of adrenaline from the adrenal gland.

Question 28

Nicotine long term effects

Answer 28

Body easily builds tolerance and possibly wears out the heart quicker.
Major problems associated with tobacco and smoke that can cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and more

Question 29

Nicotine Addictiveness

Answer 29

Withdrawal symptoms include craving, irritability, increased appetite and insomnia.
Could be the most addictive drug psychologically

Question 30

How is alcohol taken?

Answer 30

Usually ingested, easily crosses the blood brain-barrier and reached max blood concentration in 30-90 minutes.
Mostly eliminated through the liver, which breaks it down at a steady rate

Question 31

Alcohol short term effects - low dose

Answer 31

In a low dose there’s mild euphoria and it lowers anxiety

Also produces dilated blood vessels and more urination

Question 32

Alcohol short term effects - intoxication

Answer 32

Slower reflexes
Incoordination
Sedation
Memory problems
Dilated blood vessels
More urination

Question 33

Alcohol physiological action

Answer 33

Agonist of GABA-A receptors and antagonists of NMDA receptors.

Question 34

Alcohol long term effects

Answer 34

Cirrhosis of the liver which leads to liver failure
Brain damage (especially in the hippocampus with Korsakoff’s syndrome)
Foetal alcohol syndrome

Question 35

Physical dependence to alcohol

Answer 35

Tolerance builds up from first night drinking.
Withdrawal takes place in hangover
After chronic use there can be very strong withdrawal symptoms (Delirium Tremens) which can be fatal

Question 36

Psychological dependence on alcohol

Answer 36

Increases dopamine release in the n Accumbens (as do other NMDA receptor antagonists)
Strong heritable component to alcoholism