Psychodelic Drugs Essay Example For Students

Psychodelic Drugs Essay Psychodelic Drugs AlcoholAlcohol is one of the most widely used drugs in this society. It isaccepted as a part of social life. Its use is widely promoted via sponsorship ofsporting events. Advertising infers that drinking is the path to happiness,success, romance, etc. There are references to alcohol and its effects fromearliest known writings. Alcohol is consumed in the beverage form and soldlegally in this state to persons over 21. Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the stomachand small intestine. It is distributed by the blood throughout the body,affecting literally every organ it touches in a matter of minutes. Enzymes inthe liver metabolize alcohol at a rate of 10-15 ml (less than one half ounce)per hour. Hence, only time can sober someone up. Coffee, cold showers, orexercise do not work. The warm glow of disinhibition, letting go is a major desired effectof alcohol. People feel more sociable and talkative with small amounts of thedrug. Alcohol is a relaxant, so many people drink to unwind from the demands oflife. Because alcohol has been around for so long, its effects are well-known. Two key concepts to understand in dealing with alcohol use and abuse areimpairment and tolerance. They are both problems in themselves and signals ofpossible additional difficulties. IMPAIRMENT refers to the deficits in performance, judgment, memory, andmotor skills which occur because of alcohol consumption. Impairment becomesnoticeable at blood levels of 0.05%, which can occur when as few as two drinksare consumed in an hour by a 160 pound person. The deceptive part aboutimpairment is that, by definition, impaired judgment cannot recognize its ownimpairment. The individual thinks he or she is functioning well, when actuallys/he is not. Later, there is impaired memory of the impaired performance. TOLERANCE means that a drug loses some of its effect with repeated use,and that higher and higher doses are needed. It is the bodys way of adapting tohaving a foreign substance in the system. People develop a high tolerance to alcohol when they drink a great dealover an extended length of time. WHILE TOLERANCE MAY SEEM TO SOME TO BE ADESIRABLE STATE, IT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES THE RISK OF ALCOHOLISM AND LONG-TERMHEALTH AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS. For example, a heavy drinker could still be lucidat 0.25%, whereas the average person would barely be able to function. Even so,the heavy drinker would be extremely dangerous on the highway. Thirteen percent of male and five percent of female college studentsnationwide are alcoholic. Persons are considered alcoholic if they exhibit threeor more of the following symptoms for more than one month, or if the symptomsget repeated over a longer period of time:1.Alcohol is consumed in greater quantities or for longer periods oftime than the person intended; 2.The individual has a persistent desire tocontrol or eliminate drinking, or has made one or more unsuccessful efforts todo this (for example, there are resolutions to cut down, but these effortsdisappear after a period of time); 3.Considerable time is spent in obtaining,using, or recovering from alcohol and its effects; 4.Intoxication or itsaftereffects (e.g., hangovers) frequently occur at times when the person isexpected to fulfill work, family or school obligations; or there is physicallyhazardous use (e.g., while driving); 5.The individual gives up or reduces social,recreational or job-related activities because of alco hol use; 6.Drinkingcontinues despite the knowledge that alcohol causes the person to have social,psychological or medical problems; 7.Significantly increased tolerance hasdeveloped; 8.Withdrawal symptoms occur when initially attempting abstinence(e.g., flu-like symptoms, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, sweatiness, moodswings, irritability, anxiety); 9.Alcohol or other drugs are used to ward offthe withdrawal. Other long-term medical problems include high blood pressure, increasedrisk of heart attack, pancreatitis, various cancers, cirrhosis of the liver. Chronic heavy drinking in men is associated with testicular atrophy and breastenlargement. In women, as little as one drink a day greatly increases the riskof breast cancer. Drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects and mentalretardation. Alcohol is also fattening. One glass of wine daily added to the diet canresult in a weight gain of ten pounds a year. Cocaine and CrackCocaine is an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. Itis a stimulant and euphoric substance that has powerful effects on the humanbrain. The practice of sniffing (snorting) cocaine actually dates back to thebeginning of this century as knowledge spread about cocaines ability to inducefeelings of well-being and increased energy. At that time, cocaine was alsoavailable in over-the-counter tonics and potions. Crack is cocaine that has been processed so that it can be smoked. It isgenerally sold in small quantities and distributed in small glass vials or smallplastic bags. When crack is smoked, it produces an immediate, short-lived effect. Intravenous use (shooting up) also results in rapid onset of effects, whilethe effects of sniffing are delayed several minutes. The onset of the high, or rush, from cocaine and crack is reported byusers to be intense and pleasurable. Some users have called the rush an orgasmof the brain. The rush lasts only a few seconds, followed by a 20 minute high. Individuals report an increased sense of well-being and self-confidence, alongwith a decrease in fatigue and hunger. Some people report that they experiencecocaine as an aphrodisiac. There is a social aspect to cocaine use as well, ascocaine is frequently obtained from friends and consumed in small get-togethers. Cocaine (and in particular crack) is one of the most addictive drugsknown to humankind. Laboratory studies have shown that animals, when offered theoption to self-administer cocaine, will continue to administer the drug untilthey die, ignoring their needs for food and water. It is reported that as many as one out of every three crack users becomeaddicted to cocaine. There is no scientific way to predict who will becomeaddicted. However, there has been a good deal of news media attention given tostories of successful people who have lost themselves, their jobs, fortunes, andfamilies because of their involvement with cocaine. The problems cocaine causesin peoples lives are so severe and the pull to use the drug again is so strongthat it generally takes people two years of rehabilitation to recover from acocaine addiction, once they seek treatment. Crack is a very rapidly addicting form of cocaine, with addiction oftenbecoming apparent within a matter of weeks. Some users have reported becomingaddicted after their first experience with this form of cocaine. Thus crack isan especially dangerous form of the drug. Food Processing And Preservation EssayRepeated use of the drug produces tolerance (that is, the drug becomesineffective), and it can produce a crash. A recent study found that one of the by-products created when Ecstasy ismetabolized is a toxic substance harmful to nerve endings. This seems to causeParkinsons disease-like symptoms in persons as young as 30 years of age. Thesesymptoms do not appear immediately, but may occur after a period of time. Theyare apparently non-reversible. MushroomsThere are a number of plant materials which have LSD-like effects andwhich come under the heading of mushrooms or shrooms as they are often called. These include the psilocybe mexicana and several other species which have theactive ingredient psilocybin. Mushrooms are generally dried and then eaten. Mescaline originally came form the buttons which grow on the top of peyotecactus. Several varieties of psilocybin mushrooms grow and are illegallymarketed in the Northwest. The initial effects of psilocybin are experienced in 30 minutes and thehigh generally lasts several hours. Small doses can reportedly produce feelingsof physical and mental relaxation and pleasant changes in mood and perception. Larger doses can produce marked changes in perception, with the userexperiencing effects similar to those found with LSD. With mescaline, the effects appear slowly and last from 10-18 hours. Commonly reported effects include euphoria, heightened sensory perception,visual hallucinations, alterations in body image, and some muscular relaxation. With regard to perceptual processes, the unpleasant effects of thesedrugs are similar to those found with LSD. In addition, psilocybin can causedizziness, light-headedness, abdominal discomfort, numbness in the mouth, nausea,vomiting, shivering, facial flushing, sweating, and fatigue. With mescaline,nausea and vomiting frequently occur, and high doses can produce low bloodpressure, cardiac depression, slowed respiration, and headache. These sideeffects have the potential to be medically serious. Both psilocybin and mescaline can be manufactured in the laboratory. MarijuanaMarijuana consists of the dried leaves and flowering tops of the hempplant (cannabis sativa). The plants principal psychoactive ingredient is delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Hashish or hash is the dried resin from the topsand leaves of the female plant. It contains a higher concentration of the THCand is therefore more potent. Both marijuana and hash are usually smoked. When smoked, the effects of marijuana produces a feeling of euphoriawhich gives rise to a tendency to talk and laugh more than usual. Color, sound,and taste, touch and/or smell may be enhanced and experienced as pleasant andfascinating. Muscular relaxation may occur, as well as a sense of well-being andrelief from tension. Cannabis impairs the ability to perform complex motor tasks such asdriving a car. It also impairs short-term memory and logical thinking. At veryhigh doses, effects can be similar to those of hallucinogens, and the user canexperience confusion, restlessness, hallucination, paranoia, and anxiety orpanic. These problems have become more noted in recent years, as the strains ofmarijuana now available are many times more potent than the marijuana of theearly 1970s. Heavy use appears to interfere with brain cell functioning, producingproblems with sequencing ability, time sense, depth perception, memory storage,and recall. Chronic heavy users sometime demonstrate apathy, loss of energy,confusion, and memory problems. Long-term use of THC is also associated with lower sperm counts in malesand alterations in sperm shape and mobility. In women, irregularities inmenstruation and ovulation occur. Pregnant women who are heavy marijuana smokershave higher levels of miscarriages, still-births and genetic disorders. Marijuana smoke contains more cancer-causing agents than tobacco smoke. Laboratory studies have shown pre-cancerous cellular changes in the lung tissueof long term users. Warning SignalsSigns That The Chemical Has Taken ControlThe following symptoms and behaviors, when related to chemical use(including alcohol, of course), indicate that a person has seriouslyoverindulged. Beyond this, these symptoms could indicate a more serious problemor addiction: MEDICALAccidents or injuries Nausea and vomiting Mysterious bruises Gastritis Blackouts (cannot remember something while drinking) Passing out(unconsciousness) Emergency room visitsACADEMIC/EMPLOYMENTAcademic failure/poor work performance Missing classes/absenteeism from work Not living up to ones potential Difficulties with deadlines or procrastination SEXUALImpotence Sexual assault Inability to resist unwanted sexual advance Engaging in sexual activities that are contrary to valuesSOCIAL/PSYCHOLOGICALLoss of self-respect Mood swings Panic and unexplained fears Depression Property damage Paranoia Fights and arguments Social isolation and withdrawalProblems with legal or college authorities Causing emotion al pain to friendsor loved onesDRINKING/USING BEHAVIORSneaking drinks or drugs or using alone Hiding bottles/drugs Consuming morethan intended Inability to predict how much one will consume Using again rightafter sobering up Using to relieve anxiety, insomnia, pain or depression Usingto feel more confident in social situations Spending substantial amounts ofmoney on alcohol and drugs Preoccupation with next high Centering onesrecreational activities around chemicals Family members or friends expressingconcern about ones drinking or other drug use Feeling annoyed or angry whenones chemical use is discussed Inability to carry out an intention to cutdownState LawsThe following chart describes the penalties for POSSESSION of key drugs(the schedules are more inclusive) according to the Federal Drug Schedules:Max. Prison Time Max .Fine SCHEDULE #ClassHeroin, LSD, other hallucinogens marijuana, others 10 years$100,000 SCHEDULE II Class C Felony Methadone, morphine, amphetamines cocaine,PCP 5 years $100,000 SCHEDULE II Class A MisdemeanorsNon-amphetamine stimulants,1 year$2,500SCHEDULE IV Class CMisdemeanors some depressants1 Valium-type tranquilizers, some less potentdepressants 30 days $500SCHEDULE VViolation Dilutemixtures, compounds with small amounts of controlled drugsNone $1,000Delivery of less than five grams or possession or less than one ounce ofmarijuana is a violation. established mandatory evaluation, education andtreatment services for those under 18 years old. If services are successfullycompleted, the charge will be dropped. Alcohol is an illegal drug for those under 21 years of age. For a driverunder 18 ANY detectable amount of alcohol (above .00 BAC) is grounds for losingthe license. That pretty much sums it up for psychodelic drugs. I hope this proved toyou that if you use a psychodelic drug that you should stop, unless it is alcholbecause it is not as bad as LSD, pcp, or anything you have to inject or snort. So I sign out with I hope you learned something, I mean you had to you couldenthave know all of this information. BiblyographyName Year TypeMicrosoft Encarta96EncyclopediaDartmouth collage95Brochure White House97InternetSocial Issues