SOC 204

Drugs & SocietyChapter 10 Stimulants

Hanson

Do the discussion today even though we haven’t done any pre-work?

Postponediscussion until

tomorrow

67%

33%

Should we:

A. Do the discussion today even though we haven’t done any pre-work?

B. Postpone discussion until tomorrow

Historically, cocaine was used as

a local anesthetic.

A. True

B. False

True

False

18%

82%

Stimulants

Modify (stimulate) a person’s

◦ Activity level

◦ Mood

◦ Central nervous system

Increased heart rate

Increased respiration

Increased blood pressure

Dilated pupils

https://ww

w.youtube.

com/watch

?v=R3GYI

-Kpf5M

History of Cocaine

Bush that grows in the Andes

Natives chewed the leaves for

endurance

Cocoa wine

Coca-Cola

Patent medicines

Cocaine accounts for more ER

visits than any other illegal drug.

A. True

B. False

True

False

50%50%

History

Local anesthesia:

Dr. W. S. Halsted

Early psychiatric uses:

Sigmund Freud

Used to alleviate fatigue,

depression, opiate

addiction

Later opposed this use

Legal Control

46 states passed laws to regulate

cocaine between 1887 and 1914

Negative publicity about cocaine

influenced the passage of the 1914

Harrison Act

Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and

1988

The majority of powder

cocaine users who enter

treatment are white, and the

majority of crack cocaine

users who enter treatment

are black.

A. True

B. False

True

False

61%

39%

Forms of Cocaine

Processing 500 kilograms of coca

leaves yields 1 kilogram of cocaine

Coca paste

Cocaine hydrochloride

Freebase

Crack or rock

Mechanism of Action

Cocaine blocks reuptake of dopamine,

serotonin, and norepinephrine

The depressant effects of alcohol

reduce the stimulating effects of

cocaine, making serious side effects

less likely to occur.

A. True

B. False

True

False

94%

6%

Administration/Elimination Routes:◦ Topical, snorting, IV, smoking

Cocaine is metabolized by enzymes in the blood and liver

Cocaine has a half-life of about one hour

Major metabolites (detected by drug screens) have a half-life of eight hours

Pharmacological Effects of

Cocaine Enhanced activity of the

catecholamine and serotonin transmitters

Blocks the reuptake of these substances following their release from neurons

The summation of cocaine’s effects on dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and serotonin is to cause CNS stimulation

◦ Cardiovascular system

◦ Local anesthetic effect

Benefits/Concerns

Anesthetic properties

Acute toxicity Damage to nasal

septum Paranoid

psychosis Damage to heart

muscle Dependence Some withdrawal Use during

pregnancy

Attend 5/12 Are you in

favor of medication for

children with ADD?A. Yes

B. No

Yes No

0%0%

Amphetamines

Ancient Chinese used ephedra

Chemical version in 1932 –

amphetamine

Used in WWII to fight fatigue

1960’s

Tighter control

After Mexico, the largest producer of

methamphetamine is Canada, because

pseudoephedrine is not regulated there.

A. True

B. False

True

False

22%

78%

Pharmacology

Chemical structure is similar to

catecholamine neurotransmitters

(adrenaline, noradrenaline)

Methamphetamine and amphetamine

both cross blood brain barrier

Increases activity of monoamine

neurotransmitters by stimulating their

release (dopamine, norepinephrine,

serotonin)

How Amphetamines Work

(continued)

Amphetamines can cause

◦ “Fight-or-flight” effect, a response to crisis

◦ Alertness

◦ Anxiety, severe apprehension, or panic

◦ Potent effects on dopamine in the reward center of the brain

◦ Behavioral stereotypy: Meaningless repetition of a single activity

Absorption/Elimination

Peak effects

◦ 1.5 hours oral

◦ 5-20 min snorting

◦ 5-10 min smoking

Half-life is 5-12 hours

Rapid tolerance

Boys are more than twice as likely as

girls to be identified with ADHD.

A. True

B. False

True

False

0%0%

Benefits

Depression

Weight control

Narcolepsy

ADD/ADHD

Concentration

Athletics

ADHD is limited to teenagers and

children. Very few adults have this

disorder.

A. True

B. False

True

False

0%0%

Risks

Acute behavioral toxicity

High doses may destroy catecholamine neurons

Contaminants

Paranoid psychosis

No withdrawal

Powerful psychological dependence

Methamphetamine

Ritalin, Adderall

Most commonly prescribed drugs for ADHD

Ritalin and other stimulants enhance the functioning of the reticular activating system, which helps children focus attention and filter out extraneous stimuli

Side effects include insomnia, weight loss, headaches, irritability, nausea, and dizziness

Videos

Caffeine

Humor

◦ http://www.y

outube.com/

watch?v=Tq

FRP5lXTmE

Do you think of Caffeine as a

Drug?

A. Yes

B. No

C. Not sure

YesNo

Not sure

75%

6%

19%

Why or why not?

Caffeine

Sources of caffeine Coffee

Tea

Soda

Chocolate

Energy drinks

Over-the-counter medications

NoDoz

Vivarin

Anacin

Excedrin

Midol

Diurex

What do you consider an

acceptable level of caffeine

intake?

A. None

B. One beverage a

day

C. 2-5 beverages a

day

D. Any level is ok

None

One beve

rage

a day

2-5 b

everage

s a d

ay

Any level i

s ok

0% 0%0%0%

Pharmacology

Peak blood levels reached 30 minutes

after oral intake

Half-life is about 3 hours

Low-grade tolerance does develop

Mechanism of Action

200 mg◦ Increased arousal

◦ Mood-elevating effects

500 mg◦ Increased heart rate & respiration

◦ Paradoxical effect on blood vessels: dilation

◦ Constriction of blood vessels in the brain = headache relief

◦ Increased basal metabolic rate (10%) in chronic users

Works on the neurotransmitter adenosine (inhibitory)◦ Blocks receptors

Effects

Behavioral◦ Stimulation

◦ Headache

◦ Hyperactivity

◦ Does not sober one up

Concerns◦ Panic attacks

◦ 1980s thought to have a link to cancer, since disproven

◦ Reproduction

◦ Heart disease (large amounts)

◦ Caffeinism

Should there be an age limit on

caffeine consumption?

A. Yes

B. No

YesNo

0%0%

Considerations

What age?◦ Infants

◦ Toddlers

◦ School age

◦ Teenage

What products?◦ Energy drinks

◦ Soda

◦ Coffee

◦ Tea/iced tea

◦ Hot chocolate

◦ Chocolate

Videos

Your brain on coffee◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbuCm

O8Bwhs&noredirect=1

◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfntvRGwpvs

Children and Caffeine◦ http://guardianlv.com/2014/02/caffeine-is-

a-drug-for-kids-video/

Wrap-up

How much caffeine do you consume?

1981 FDA: limit of 6 mg of caffeine per ounce◦ No labeling

required

Item Amount of Item Amount of Caffeine

Jolt soft drink 12 ounces 71.2 mg

Mountain Dew 12 ounces 55.0 mg

Coca-Cola 12 ounces 34.0 mg

Diet Coke 12 ounces 45.0 mg

Pepsi 12 ounces 38.0 mg

7-Up 12 ounces 0 mg

Brewed coffee

(drip method)

5 ounces 115 mg

Espresso 1 shot 64 mg

Tea 5 ounces 40 mg

Iced tea 12 ounces 70 mg

Dark chocolate 1 ounce 20 mg

Milk chocolate 1 ounce 6 mg

Cocoa beverage 5 ounces 4 mg

Chocolate milk beverage 8 ounces 5 mg

Cold relief medication 1 tablet 30 mg

Midol 1 tablet 32 mg

Excedrin 1 tablet 65 mg

Monster Energy Drink 16 ounces 160 mg

Red Bull 8 ounces 60 mg

Under what circumstances should a person

consider reducing caffeine intake?

A. When they are

cranky without it

B. When they have

health

complications

C. When they obsess

about it

D. Can’t think of a

time I’d give it up!W

hen they a

re cr

anky w

...

When th

ey have h

ealth ..

.

When th

ey obse

ss a

bout it

Can’t th

ink o

f a ti

me I’

d g...

0% 0%0%0%

Do you agree with the use of

medication for ADD/ADHD?

A. Yes

B. No

C. I’m not sure

YesNo

I’m n

ot sure

43% 43%

14%

Questions for Discussion 6

List three benefits or risks of using

stimulant medication to treat

ADD/ADHD

Do the benefits or risks change when

prescribing to children?

Back up your points with research