Chapter 9
Understanding Drugs and
Medicines
Drugs of abuse – ( for example: cocaine,
nicotine, alcohol and marijuana) change the
way the brain works in ways that are not healthy.
When these drugs are taken for no medical
reason they are called “drugs of abuse”
Medicine – any drug that is used to cure,
prevent or treat illness or discomfort.
To be a good medicine, a drug should be
 Effective
 Safe
 and have minor side effects
Types of medicines – OTC (over the counter) and
Prescription
Prescription medications – instructions on the
following:
 Dose or dosage
 When you should take the medicine
 How often you should take it
 The length of time you should take it
Misuse of medications – taking any medication in
the wrong dosage or for the wrong reason.
This can be intentional or unintentional. This is
a less serious term than abuse.
Misuse of medication can result in overdose and
death.
Misuse applies to OTC drugs and prescription
medications.
Abuse - someone else taking a
prescription other than the person on the
label, or intentionally taking the
medication in the wrong amount or when
it is not needed. Abuse can also mean
taking more than one drug at the same
time without a medical reason.
Use of any illegal drug is considered to be
“drug abuse”
What are mind altering substances?
Marijuana, alcohol, LSD, and Ecstasy are a few
Psychoactive medicines and drugs are
ones that change the way we think, feel,
and perceive things and are more likely
to be misused or abused.
Drug interaction – when two or more
drugs or medicines are combined
the effect can be dangerous.
The combined effect can be more
than double, or one drug’s effects
can knock out another drug’s
effects. (i.e., sedatives and alcohol,
antibiotics and birth control)
Drugs and the Brain - some drugs, like
antidepressants, make changes to the
brain that are positive and beneficial,
allowing people who are depressed to
return to a more balanced level of
emotions.
These drugs work by increasing the levels
of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in nerve
synapses.
Remember - epinephrine (adrenaline) is
also a neurotransmitter and exercise or
stress can increase that level as well)
Drugs of abuse like cocaine, ecstasy,
nicotine and marijuana can interrupt
normal brain activity and serotonin
levels. This creates long-term problems
for habitual users – changes in
motivation, emotions, depression.
Drug users who develop habits begin to
rely on the feelings these drugs create
(even coffee junkies like me) and need
more of their drug to produce the same
feelings over time…
What is this condition called?
Drug tolerance – needing more of a drug
to produce the same/desired effect.
After drug use, drug tolerance is the next
step in the process of addiction.
Dependence – the user relies on the
effects of the drug to feel comfortable in
many situations, like using alcohol at a
party or “needing” to be drunk or high in
order to enjoy a social event or another
person’s company.
Some drugs will cause a person to develop
a physical or psychological dependence
toward the drug.
Physical dependence means a person
needs the drug just to avoid unpleasant
withdrawal symptoms.
Psychological dependence includes
cravings and the need to use the drug in
order to feel “normal”.
Addiction – a person is both physically
and psychologically dependent on the
drug. Obtaining and taking the drug
becomes more important than any other
aspect of the user’s life.
Withdrawal – symptoms include shakes,
tremors, vomiting, nausea, loss of
appetite, cravings, sweating.
Recovery is a term used to describe the
process of becoming physically and
psychologically clean from the drug. The
psychological cravings and memories of
good feelings no longer associated with
the drug are what makes recovering
addicts return to their drug – also the
inability to cope with stress and pain.