Mr.

Silimperi Name: _________________

Council Rock High School South Date: _________________
AP Psychology Chapter 7 Drugs

Psychoactive drugs => chemical substance which alters perceptions and moods
Tolerance –diminishing effect with regular use, requires user to take larger doses
Withdrawal – discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of drug
Physical dependence vs. psychological dependence

Depressants Stimulants Hallucinogens

Downers
Calm neural activity
Slow bodily functions
EX: barbiturates (tranquilizers)
Opiates (morphine / heroin),
alcohol
Increases harmful tendencies
Urges you feel when sober are
the ones you are MORE LIKELY
to act upon when intoxicated
Slows sympathetic nervous
system
Slow reaction time
Slurred speech
Skilled performance decreases
Memory=> disrupts processing
of recent experiences into LTM
Inability to transfer memories
from the intoxicated state to
sober state
Suppresses REM Sleep
Reduces self awareness
User’s expectations
Flood of artificial opiates, brain
stops producing its own
(endorphins)
**ALL trigger negative aftereffects that offset immediate positive effects. EMOTIONS tend to produce
opposing emotions which linger after the original emotions disappear. Opposing emotions will grow
stronger. => TOLERANCE…Withdrawal.
Uppers
Excites neural activity
Arouse bodily functions
EX: caffeine, nicotine,
amphetamines, COCAINE
Increase heart/ breathing rates
Pupils dilate
Appetite diminishes
Increase in energy and self
confidence
Cocaine=>15-30 minute rush;
then comes “downer”
MIX of factors (expectations)
Distort perceptions
Evokes sensory images w/ out
sensory input
Psychedelics
EX: marijuana (THC), PCP, LSD
Mood/ expectations color
experience
Relaxes, disinhibits, euphoric
high
Therapeutic => pain reducer
Impairs motor coordination,
perceptual skills, slows reaction
time
Disrupts memory formation,
impairs recall
THC = stays in system longer
May achieve high w/ smaller
amounts
Depresses male sex hormone,
sperm levels, damage to lungs