CNS Depressants: Sedative- Hypnotics
What are CNS Depressants?
Central Nervous System Depressants
This drugs are usually abused by many people in the US.
People take high doses of these drugs to increase their effect.
They can cause serious side affects that many people are unaware of.
Effects of CNS Depressants: Benefits and Risks
These type of drugs "share an ability to reduce CNS activity and diminish the brains level of awareness. There are many reasons why people take depressants. Some treat mild depression, severe depression, anxiety, help sleep, and many others. There are people that have trouble sleeping, so doctors prescribe people medicine that introduces drowsiness. Hypnotics are CNS depressants are used to encourage sleeping. This can be a problem because people become dependent on these drugs and become addicted. Sedative Depressants are used to relieve anxiety, fear, and apprehension. Most people begin to gain a lot of tolerance for the drug and eventually escalate their doses.
"Barbiturates are barbaric acid derivatives that are used in medicine as sedatives and hypnotics"
The most frequently abused Barbiturates are stated in chapter 6, page 172, Table 6.3.
Alcohol: Pharmacological effects
When Drinking alcohol, it can have an effect on someones psychologically and can change personalities and behaviors. Many people take advantage of alcohol and use it in a irresponsible way."Although many consider the effects of alcohol enjoyable and reassuring, the adverse pharmacological impacts of this drug are extensive. Its use causes approximately 14 million causes of alcoholism and its effect are associated with more than 100,000 deaths (186)."
"The pharmacological effects of alcohol abuse cause severe dependence, which is classified as a psychiatric disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Mannual of mental disorders, 4th
edition (186)."
Many people use drinking as a social factor. Which it is, but not used the right way. People under age are getting access to alcohol, as well as college kids who have not hit 21 yet. It states that those that live at home while going to college don't practice binge drinking as something that is common for them. But those that live in the dorms at college tend to party more and practice binge drinking. People think that those that live at home are still being supervised by their parents so it's less likely that they will do it. Those that are on their own, they feel like they are free and can do whatever they want. Also they can find ways to purchase alcohol. For example, people that are older than 21 will purchase it for them.
"The pharmacological effects of alcohol abuse cause severe dependence, which is classified as a psychiatric disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Mannual of mental disorders, 4th
edition (186)."
Many people use drinking as a social factor. Which it is, but not used the right way. People under age are getting access to alcohol, as well as college kids who have not hit 21 yet. It states that those that live at home while going to college don't practice binge drinking as something that is common for them. But those that live in the dorms at college tend to party more and practice binge drinking. People think that those that live at home are still being supervised by their parents so it's less likely that they will do it. Those that are on their own, they feel like they are free and can do whatever they want. Also they can find ways to purchase alcohol. For example, people that are older than 21 will purchase it for them.
How does alcohol make you feel?
It can put people in a bad mood, more social, stressed, nausea, and many other psychological effects.
Drinking on an empty stomach slows down your metabolism. This means that you can get drunk quicker. Drinking water helps to dilute water. This helps slow down the absorption of alcohol.
Alcohol and Tolerance
Drinking alcohol multiple times a day can increase your tolerance and reduces many of alchol's pharmacological effects. Many of the time, it can lead to increase consumption. Which leads to dependence of the drug. It is also common to use alcohol with other harmful drugs. This increases effects of another drug, and allows to person continue to feel relieved.
Genetics
"Large scale studies of twins suggest that addictions such as alcoholism are among the most inherited types of mental illnesses. Consequently, because of our unique gene pattern's some of us get hooked on alcohol whereas others can party hard, but afterwards walk away without any need of desire to consume more alcohol (195)."
I think this is very important for those that have parents who suffer from addiction problems. My father was an alcoholic, so that allows me to be aware of what genes I could inherit. I have to be careful because of it. Not only does this just relate to alcohol addictions but also other drug addictions can be inherited as well.
Affected by Alcohol Vs. Healthy Liver
Alcohol: Behavioral Effects
Binge Drinking: a patteren of 5 or more dinks for men and four of more drinks for women on a single occasion.
Heavy Drinking: five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days
Current use (Not binge):at least one drink in the past 30 days; can include binge and heavy use.
Heavy Drinking: five or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days
Current use (Not binge):at least one drink in the past 30 days; can include binge and heavy use.
On page 210 in the text books figure 8.1 shows and average of binge,current use, and heavy drinking over the age of 12 years old in 2008. It states that the highest rate is between the ages of 21-25 in each category.
Statistics:
*Lower-income drinkers prefer beer, where as higher income prefer wine.
*Both men and women as they age say that wine is their favorite alcoholic beverage.
*18.8 billion dollars yearly, health care services have been spending for alcohol problems and medical consequences because of it.
*26% reported that they drink more than they should.
*The higher level of education a person has, the higher the likelihood of current alcohol use, Vs those that are high school graduates or less.
Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
In our society, drinking is being abused by the young as well. Some of them use it to cope with life issues, while others use it to feel cool or fit in. Some people feel that the lower drinking age should be lowered because they think it will reduce the alcohol abuse. People think find it a hassle to get access to get it and many people get caught and in trouble. The united states, Pakistan, Palau, and Sri Lanka are the only four countries that set their legal drinking age to 21. Many others countries set theirs to 18 or 16. In the US, it has the strictest youth drinking laws and still has the most drinking related problems among younger people. Also on page 215 is states that "comparison of drinking before and after the passage of raised minimum age legislation has generally reveled little impact on behavior." So this shows that their has been little to no impact on drinking consumption.
I think the drinking age should be lowered.I think once people get used to it, it wont be abused as much. Less people would get in trouble. It would be less of a worry for people.
Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism
There is a difference between these two terms.
When talking about alcohol abuse this means having cravings, loss of control, and physical dependence are examples of alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol also has a relationship with being an alcoholic. When talking about alcoholism the behavior is not as pronounced as people who abuse alcohol."For example, an alcholic may repeatedly argue with family members two or three times a week, where as alcohol abusers may have fewer occurrences of the same type of alcohol inspired arguments with a family member."
Reasons why people depend on alcohol...
*They have problems and need to relax
*Find it fun and exciting
*Like the feeling
*Job's stress people out
*Poor people
*Lower-income drinkers prefer beer, where as higher income prefer wine.
*Both men and women as they age say that wine is their favorite alcoholic beverage.
*18.8 billion dollars yearly, health care services have been spending for alcohol problems and medical consequences because of it.
*26% reported that they drink more than they should.
*The higher level of education a person has, the higher the likelihood of current alcohol use, Vs those that are high school graduates or less.
Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
In our society, drinking is being abused by the young as well. Some of them use it to cope with life issues, while others use it to feel cool or fit in. Some people feel that the lower drinking age should be lowered because they think it will reduce the alcohol abuse. People think find it a hassle to get access to get it and many people get caught and in trouble. The united states, Pakistan, Palau, and Sri Lanka are the only four countries that set their legal drinking age to 21. Many others countries set theirs to 18 or 16. In the US, it has the strictest youth drinking laws and still has the most drinking related problems among younger people. Also on page 215 is states that "comparison of drinking before and after the passage of raised minimum age legislation has generally reveled little impact on behavior." So this shows that their has been little to no impact on drinking consumption.
I think the drinking age should be lowered.I think once people get used to it, it wont be abused as much. Less people would get in trouble. It would be less of a worry for people.
Alcohol abuse and Alcoholism
There is a difference between these two terms.
When talking about alcohol abuse this means having cravings, loss of control, and physical dependence are examples of alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol also has a relationship with being an alcoholic. When talking about alcoholism the behavior is not as pronounced as people who abuse alcohol."For example, an alcholic may repeatedly argue with family members two or three times a week, where as alcohol abusers may have fewer occurrences of the same type of alcohol inspired arguments with a family member."
Reasons why people depend on alcohol...
*They have problems and need to relax
*Find it fun and exciting
*Like the feeling
*Job's stress people out
*Poor people
Behaviors related to Acoholics
*Anger
*Sexual Tendencies
*Defensive
*Act before they think
*Hides alcohol
*Drinks in the morning
*Relationship problems
*Denial
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-high-functioning-alcoholic/200901/characteristics-high-functioning-alcoholics
Words learned:
Pseudointoxicated: Acting drunk even before alchol has had a chance to cause it effects.
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: Congestive heart failure due to the replacement of heart muscle with fat and fiber
Different types of alcohol...
Methyl alcohol: Wood alcohol
Ethylene glycol: alcohol used as antifreeze
Isopropyl alcohol: Rubbing alcohol, some times used as an antiseptic
Reflection:
I think I did really well in this chapter. I find this course really interesting. This is because a lot of it relates to my life. My Mom is a drug attic and my Dad was a alcoholic before he died. Also each chapter I keep learning more interesting topics related to drugs and alcohol. As far as discussions, I feel like I do really well with these also. I teach something, provide information to support it, and ask a question. Also with the question I provide a link that may help people with their answer.
I think I did really well in this chapter. I find this course really interesting. This is because a lot of it relates to my life. My Mom is a drug attic and my Dad was a alcoholic before he died. Also each chapter I keep learning more interesting topics related to drugs and alcohol. As far as discussions, I feel like I do really well with these also. I teach something, provide information to support it, and ask a question. Also with the question I provide a link that may help people with their answer.
