S.

N Conte Page
o. nt No.
1 Certificate 2
2 Acknowledgement 3
3 Aim/Objective 4
4 Drugs Overview 5
5 Alcohol 6
P.VISHWAJITH
6 Cocaine 8
XII
7 Nicotine 1
1
8 Methamphetamin 1
e 3
9 Cannabis/ 1
DRUG ABUSE
Weed/ 6
Marijuana
1 Heroin/ 2
0 Diamorphine 9
1 Bibliography 2
1
1 1
IN
D
EX
 Objective

 To study drugs,
their Effects and
Mechanism of Action

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 What are Drugs?
A drug is any substance that causes a change in an organism's
physiology or psychology when consumed.
Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g.
cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin).

What causes drug addiction?

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that
affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to
control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such
as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When
you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it
causes.
Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug
in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes
more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction
begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving
medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the
medication.
As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high.
Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use
increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without
the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and
make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms)

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 Alcohol
Overview
Alcohol, also known by its chemical name ethanol, is a
psychoactive substance that is the active ingredient in drinks
such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits (hard liquor). It is one
of the oldest and most common recreational substances,
causing the characteristic effects of alcohol intoxication
("drunkenness"). Among other effects, alcohol produces a
mood lift and euphoria, decreased anxiety, increased
sociability, sedation, impairment of cognitive, memory,
motor, and sensory function, and generalized depression of
central nervous system function.
Alcohol has been produced and consumed by humans for its
psychoactive effects for almost 10,000 years. Drinking alcohol
is generally socially acceptable and is legal in most countries,
unlike with many other recreational substances. However,
there are often restrictions on alcohol sale and use, for
instance a minimum age for drinking and laws against public
drinking and drinking and driving.

Effects
 Central nervous system impairment
 Gastrointestinal effects
 Brain damage
 Liver diseases
 Cancer and Birth defects

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 Mechanism of Action

The Chemical Breakdown of Alcohol

The chemical name for alcohol is ethanol (CH3CH2OH). The body processes
Most of the ethanol in the body is broken down in the liver by an enzyme c

Alcohol works in the brain primarily by increasing the effects

of a neurotransmitter called γ-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.
This is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and
by facilitating its actions, alcohol suppresses the activity of
the central nervous system. The substance also directly
affects a number of other neurotransmitter systems including
those of glutamate, glycine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.
The

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 pleasurable effects of alcohol ingestion are the result of
increased levels of dopamine and endogenous opioids in the
reward pathways of the brain.

Cocaine
Overview
Cocaine, also known as coke, is a strong stimulant mostly
used as a recreational drug. It is commonly snorted, inhaled
as smoke, or dissolved and injected into a vein. Mental
effects may include loss of contact with reality, an intense
feeling of happiness, or agitation.
Effects begin within seconds to minutes of use and last
between five and ninety minutes. Cocaine has a small
number of accepted medical uses such as numbing and
decreasing bleeding during nasal surgery.
Cocaine is the second most frequently used illegal drug
globally, after cannabis. Between 14 and 21 million people
use the drug each year. Use is highest in North America
followed by Europe and South America. Between one and
three percent of people in the developed world have used
cocaine at some point in their life. In 2013, cocaine use
directly resulted in 4,300 deaths, up from 2,400 in 1990.
Cocaine was first isolated from the leaves in 1860.Since 1961,
the international Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs has
required countries to make recreational use of cocaine a
crime.

Effects
SHORT TERM:
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  Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body
temperature
 Disturbed sleep patterns
 Hallucinations, hyper excitability, irritability
 Nausea
 Intense drug craving
LONG TERM:

 Depression
 Intense drug craving
 Respiratory failure if smoked
 Severe tooth decay
 Sexual problems, reproductive damage and
infertility (for both men and women)

Mechanism of Action
The brain’s mesolimbic dopamine system, its reward
pathway, is stimulated by all types of reinforcing stimuli, such
as food, sex, and many drugs of abuse, including cocaine. This
pathway originates in a region of the midbrain called the
ventral tegmental area and extends to the nucleus
accumbens, one of the brain’s key reward areas.

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 In the normal communication process, dopamine is released
by a neuron into the synapse (the small gap between two
neurons), where it binds to specialized proteins called
dopamine receptors on the neighboring neuron. By this
process, dopamine acts as a chemical messenger, carrying a
signal from neuron to neuron.

Cocaine in the brain: In the normal neural

communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron
into the synapse, where it can bind to dopamine receptors on
neighboring neurons. Normally, dopamine is then recycled
back into the transmitting neuron by a specialized protein
called the dopamine transporter. If cocaine is present, it
attaches to the dopamine transporter and blocks the normal
recycling process, resulting in a buildup of dopamine in the
synapse, which contributes to the pleasurable effects of
cocaine.

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 Nicotine
Overview
Nicotine dependence ― also called tobacco dependence ―
is an addiction to tobacco products caused by the drug
nicotine. Nicotine dependence means you can't stop using
the substance, even though it's causing you harm.
Nicotine produces physical and mood-altering effects in your
brain that are temporarily pleasing. These effects make you
want to use tobacco and lead to dependence. At the same
time, stopping tobacco use causes withdrawal symptoms,
including irritability and anxiety.
While it's the nicotine in tobacco that causes nicotine
dependence, the toxic effects of tobacco result from other
substances in tobacco. Smokers have much higher rates of
heart disease, stroke and cancer than nonsmokers do.

Effects
 Lung cancer and other lung diseases
 Heart and circulatory system problems
 Diabetes
 Infertility and impotence
 Pregnancy and newborn complications
 Teeth and gum disease
 Eye problems

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 Mechanism of Action
Traditional cigarettes are the most common delivery device
for nicotine.[citation needed]. Nicotine can also be delivered
via other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, snus,
pipe tobacco, hookah, all of which can produce nicotine
dependence.

Nicotine is a stimulant
drug that acts as an
agonist at nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors.
These are ionotropic
receptors composed up
of five homomeric or
heteromeric subunits.
In the brain, nicotine
binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dopaminergic
neurons in the cortico-limbic pathways. This causes the
channel to open and allow conductance of multiple cations
including sodium, calcium, and potassium. This leads to
depolarization, which activates voltage-gated calcium
channels and allows more calcium to enter the axon
terminal. Calcium stimulates vesicle trafficking towards the
plasma membrane and the release of dopamine into the
synapse. Dopamine binding to its receptors is responsible the
euphoric and addictive properties of nicotine. Nicotine also
binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the chromaffin
cells in the adrenal medulla. Binding opens the ion channel
allowing influx of sodium, causing depolarization of the cell,
which activates voltage-gated calcium channels. Calcium
triggers the release of epinephrine from intracellular vesicles
into the bloodstream, which causes vasoconstriction,
increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and increased

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 blood sugar.

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 Methamphetamine
Overview
Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant
that affects the central nervous system. Crystal methamphetamine is a f

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)andnarcolepsy,asleep

disorder.
Other common names for methamphetamine include blue,
crystal, ice, meth, and speed.

Effects

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  extreme
weight loss
 severe dental
problems
("meth
mouth")
 intense itching,
leading to skin sores from scratching
 anxiety
 changes in
brain structure
and function
 sleeping problems
 violent behavior
 paranoia—extreme
and unreasonable
distrust of others
 Hallucinations—sensations and images
that seem real though they aren't.

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 Mechanism of Action

In contrast to cocaine, which is quickly removed from and

almost completely metabolized in the body,
methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action, and
a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the
body. Methamphetamine therefore remains in the brain
longer, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects.
Although both methamphetamine and cocaine increase
levels of dopamine, administration of methamphetamine in
animal studies leads to much higher levels of dopamine,
because nerve cells respond differently to the two drugs.
Cocaine prolongs dopamine actions in the brain by blocking
the re-absorption (re-uptake) of the neurotransmitter by
signaling nerve cells. At low doses, methamphetamine also
blocks the re-uptake of dopamine, but it also increases the
release of dopamine, leading to much higher concentrations

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 in the synapse (the gap between neurons), which can be toxic
to nerve terminals.

Cannabis/
Weed/
Marijuana
Overview
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a
psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical
or recreational purposes. The main psychoactive part of
cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of 483 known
compounds in the plant,[20] including at least 65 other
cannabinoids. Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing,
within food, or as an extract.

Effects
 Pregnancy: Marijuana is UNSAFE
when taken by mouth or smoked during
pregnancy. Marijuana passes through the
placenta and can slow the growth of the
fetus. Marijuana use during pregnancy is

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 also associated with childhood leukemia
and abnormalities in the fetus.

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  Heart diseases
 A weakened immune system
 Lung diseases
 Seizure diseases

Mechanism of Action
THC’s chemical structure is similar to the brain
chemical anandamide. Similarity in structure allows the body to recogni
Endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide (see figure) function as n

called cannabinoid receptors on neurons in these brain areas

and activate them, disrupting various mental and physical
functions and causing the effects described earlier. The
neural communication network that uses these cannabinoid
neurotransmitters, known as the endocannabinoid system,
plays a critical role in the nervous system’s normal
functioning, so interfering with it can have profound effects.

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 THC’s
chemical
structure is
similar to the
brain
chemical
anandamide.
Similarity in
structure
allows
drugs to
be
recognized by
the
body and to alter normal brain communication.

THC, acting through cannabinoid receptors, also activates the

brain’s reward system, which includes regions that govern
the response to healthy pleasurable behaviors such as sex
and eating. Like most other drugs that people misuse, THC
stimulates neurons in the reward system to release the
signaling chemical dopamine at levels higher than typically
observed in response to natural stimuli. This flood of
dopamine contributes to the pleasurable "high" that those
who use recreational marijuana seek.

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 Heroin/
Diamorphine
Overview
Heroin, also known as diamorphine among other names, is
an opioid most commonly used as a recreational drug for its
injected, usually into a vein, but it can also be smoked, snorted, or inhal
euphoric effects. It is used medically in several countries to
Heroin was first made by C. R. Alder Wright in 1874 from morphine, a na
relieve pain or in opioid replacement therapy. It is typically

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 heroin is often mixed with other substances such as sugar,
starch, quinine, or strychnine.

Effects
 Repeated heroin use changes the physical
structure and physiology of the brain, creating
long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal
systems that are not easily reversed.
 affect decision-making abilities
 affects ability to regulate behavior

Mechanism of Action
The blood brain permeability of heroin is about 10 times that
of morphine. Once heroin crosses the blood brain barrier, it
is hydrolyzed into 6-acetyl morphine and morphine, which
then quickly bind to opioid receptors. The “rush” felt by
heroin users is the sensation caused by the rapid entry of
heroin into the brain and the attachment of 6-acetyl
morphine and morphine to opioid receptors. Opioids in
general can change the neurochemical activity in the brain
stem causing a depression in breathing. In the limbic system
opioids cause an increase in feelings of pleasure, and have
the ability to block pain signals sent through the spinal cord.

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 When heroin is injected or smoked, users typically feel two
types of euphoric effects–a “rush” and a “high.” The rush
usually lasts one to two minutes and occurs right after the
drug is administered. It is described as an intense orgasmic
feeling that is felt throughout the body, especially in the
abdomen. Following the rush is a high that can last four to
six hours. The feeling is described as warm and pleasant,
with indifference to internal and external stimuli. The
following characterizations may occur during a hig:
 “Go on the nod” – sitting in a chair or lying in bed,
gazing at a newspaper or the television while dozing
and rousing alternatively
 “Drive” – talking constantly, boasting, and busying
oneself with chores
 Alternately nod and drive
 Function normally – this may lead to an observer not
detecting heroin use.

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 Bibliography
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-
addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_(drug)
 https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa72/aa72.htm
 https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/cocaine/effects-of-
cocaine.html
 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-
reports/cocaine/how-does-cocaine-produce-its-effects
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nicotine-
dependence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351584
 https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00184
 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/methamph
etamine
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)#Short_term

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  https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-
947/marijuana
 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-
reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-produce-its-effects
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heroin
 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-
reports/heroin/what-are-long-term-effects-heroin-use
 https://methoide.fcm.arizona.edu/infocenter/index.cfm?stid=1
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