6: Cocaine and Amphetamines
Sigmund Freud
Where is nicotine most readily absorbed?
Lungs
Which popular soft drink contains the highest concentration of caffeine?
Mountain Dew
A heroin overdose can be treated with what substance?
Naloxone (Narcan)
What neurotransmitter do opiates act on?
Endorphins
What is formication syndrome?
Itching sensation; feeling like there are bugs under the skin
What is the distribution half-life of nicotine?
10-20 minutes
What is the lethal dose of caffeine for an adult?
10g (10,000mg)
What drug was designed for treatment of severe pain and involves a time-release of high doses of painkiller?
OxyCotin
According to the Anit-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and 1988, how many grams of powder cocaine and crack cocaine were required to trigger the minimum sentencing of 5 years?
500g powder cocaine
5g crack cocaine
List three general dependence symptoms for chronic users of cocaine or amphetamines
Depression, anxiety, anhedonia, changes in appetite, sleeping disturbances, and cravings
What neurotransmitter is primarily impacted by nicotine?
Acetylcholine
Which country has the highest average daily caffeine consumption? How much do they consume?
The Netherlands; 414mg per day
What effect of opiates typically leads to death among users?
Respiratory failure/respiratory depression
Name a scenario in which a person would be exposed to third hand smoke
Example: hugging a person after they smoked a cigarette
Define acute tolerance
When users don’t get the same level of high after the first hit within the same day, even when using more. This usually dissipates after 24 hours.
Why is nicotine considered a biphasic drug?
Stimulates ACH receptors at low doses; Slows neural transmission at high doses
Stimulant at low/moderate doses; Depressant at high doses
What are the most commonly reported withdrawal symptoms of caffeine?
Headache and fatigue
Describe opiate withdrawal in the first 12-24 hours
Flu-like symptoms; Runny nose, tearing, sweating, irritability, tremor
What is the most accepted theory for how caffeine use produces its effects?
Antagonism of adenosine receptors
How is cocaine still used medically today (either on its own or its derivatives)
Cocaine hydrochloride - numbing for eye surgery
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)- muscle numbing/pain relief
Procaine - used in dental procedures for numbing
List and explain the benefits of one type of nicotine replacement therapy and one non-nicotine focused therapy
NRT - gum, patch, lozenges, nasal spray, inhaler - continue administering nicotine to help people wean off
Non-nicotine - Bupropion (Wellbutrin) - increased availability of dopamine in the brain and decreases cravings; Varenicline (Chantix) - binds to nicotine receptors, makes smoking not enjoyable, helps with cravings
What phrase is used to describe what type of drug caffeine is (socially)? Why is it called that?
"cradle-to-grave" drug
It is the only substance commonly used medically and non-medically among both young children and adults.
Give one example of how opiates and partial opiate agonists are used to treat individuals with opiate addiction
Methadone - low dose opiate, helps avoid withdrawal
Buprenorphine - helps avoid withdrawal, lower misuse liability than methadone
Suboxone - combo of buprenorphine and naloxone, helps avoid withdrawal, naloxone inactivate when used properly
Define caffeinism. What mg level is this generally seen?
Excessive caffeine intake leading to anxiety, irritability, insomnia, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, gastrointestinal disturbances, and tremors
600mg per day