Thinking About Psychology
The Science of Mind and Behavior 3e
Charles T. Blair-Broeker & Randal M. Ernst
PowerPoint Presentation Slides
by Kent Korek
Germantown High School
Worth Publishers, © 2012
Biopsychology Domain
Consciousness
Module 09
Psychoactive Drugs
Module Overview
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What Are Psychoactive Drugs?
Alcohol: A Depressant
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Marijuana
Prevention
Click on the any of the above hyperlinks to go to that section in the presentation.
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
What Are Psychoactive
Drugs?
Psychoactive Drug
• Chemical substance that alters
perceptions, mood, or behavior.
• Three common psychoactive drugs:
– Caffeine
– Alcohol
– Nicotine
• Induce an altered state of consciousness
Dependence
• State of physiological or psychological
need (or combined need) to take more
of a drug after continued use.
• Withdrawal follows if the drug is
discontinued
Withdrawal
• Discomfort and distress that follow
when a person who is dependent on a
drug discontinues the use of that
drug.
• Withdrawal symptoms are usually the
reverse of the drug’s effects.
Tolerance
• Reduced responsiveness to a drug,
prompting the user to larger dosages
to achieve the same pleasurable
effects previously obtained by smaller
doses.
Tolerance
Types of Psychoactive Drugs
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Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Marijuana
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
Alcohol:
A Depressant
Depressants
• Drugs (such as alcohol and sedatives)
that reduce neural activity and slow
body functions.
Alcohol (ethyl alcohol)
• Found in beer, wine, and liquor
• The second most used psychoactive
drug (caffeine first)
• Slows thinking, and impairs physical
activity
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
• A measure of how much alcohol is in a
person’s bloodstream
• BAC of .08 considered legal
intoxication in most states
Euphoric Affects of Alcohol
• Alcohol impairs the parts of the brain
responsible for controlling inhibitions
and making judgments
Alcohol, Memory, and Sleep
• Studies have shown that alcohol impairs
memory by suppressing the processing
of events into long term memory.
• Alcohol impairs REM sleep, further
disrupting memory storage.
Alcoholism
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
Stimulants
Stimulants
• Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and
the more powerful amphetamines and
cocaine) that excite neural activity
and speed up body functions.
Caffeine
• Stimulant found in coffee,
chocolate, tea, and some soft
drinks.
• Provides user with a sense of
increased energy, mental
alertness, and forced
wakefulness
• Blocks neurological receptor
sites that, if activated, sedate
the central nervous system
Nicotine
• Stimulant found in
tobacco.
• Effects similar to those
of caffeine
• Very addictive and does
not stay in the body
very long
Cocaine
• Stimulant derived from the leaves of the
coca plant.
• Crack – cocaine crystals
• Blocks the reuptake of
certain neurotransmitters
• Dependency is quick and severe; places
extreme strain on cardiovascular system
Amphetamines
• Drugs that stimulate neural activity,
speeding up body functions.
• Include increased energy and mood
changes
• Includes: speed, uppers, and
methamphetamines
• Mimic adrenaline
• Can cause irreversible changes in mood
Ecstasy
• Also called MDMA, this
hallucinogenic stimulant produces
lower inhibitions, pleasant feelings,
and greater acceptance of others.
• Even moderate users may experience
permanent brain damage.
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens
• Psychedelic (mind-manifesting)
drugs, such as LSD, that distort
perceptions and
• evoke sensory images in the absence
of sensory input.
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
• Powerful hallucinogenic drug; also
known as acid.
• The effects vary from person to person
• Users can be dangerous to themselves
and others.
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
Marijuana
Marijuana
• Leaves, stems, resin, and flowers form
the hemp plant that, when smoked,
lower inhibitions and produce feelings
of relaxation and mild euphoria.
• THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is
the active ingredient
• Disrupts memory; lung damage from
smoke
Module 09: Psychoactive Drugs
Prevention
A Guide to Selected Psychoactive Drugs
High School Drug Use
The End
Teacher Information
• Types of Files
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this file format placed a few limitations on the presentation, it insured the
file would be compatible with the many versions of Powerpoint teachers
use. To add functionality to the presentation, teachers may want to save
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• Animation
– Once again, to insure compatibility with all versions of Powerpoint, none
of the slides are animated. To increase student interest, it is suggested
teachers animate the slides wherever possible.
• Adding slides to this presentation
– Teachers are encouraged to adapt this presentation to their personal
teaching style. To help keep a sense of continuity, blank slides which
can be copied and pasted to a specific location in the presentation follow
this “Teacher Information” section.
Teacher Information
• Domain Coding
– Just as the textbook is organized around the APA National Standards,
these Powerpoints are coded to those same standards. Included at the
top of almost every slide is a small stripe, color coded to the APA
National Standards.
• Scientific Inquiry Domain
• Biopsychology Domain
• Development and Learning Domain
• Social Context Domain
• Cognition Domain
• Individual Variation Domain
• Applications of Psychological Science Domain
• Key Terms and Definitions in Red
– To emphasize their importance, all key terms from the text and their
definitions are printed in red. To maintain consistency, the definitions on
the Powerpoint slides are identical to those in the textbook.
Teacher Information
• Hyperlink Slides - Immediately after the unit title slide, a page (usually
slide #4 or #5) can be found listing all of the module’s subsections. While in
slide show mode, clicking on any of these hyperlinks will take the user
directly to the beginning of that subsection. This allows teachers quick
access to each subsection.
• Continuity slides - Throughout this presentations there are slides,
usually of graphics or tables, that build on one another. These are included
for three purposes.
• By presenting information in small chunks, students will find it easier to process and
remember the concepts.
• By continually changing slides, students will stay interested in the presentation.
• To facilitate class discussion and critical thinking. Students should be encouraged to
think about “what might come next” in the series of slides.
• Please feel free to contact me at korek@germantown.k12.wi.us with any
questions, concerns, suggestions, etc. regarding these presentations.
Kent Korek
Germantown High School
Germantown, WI 53022
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