Biochemistry of Substances

Week 1
Objectives

 Learn how, in general, drugs affect the

body
 Learn about how drugs enter and exit
the body
 Learn about drug schedules, uses and
addictive potential

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Overview

 The following is a useful reference table

for identifying drugs, their schedules,
modes of ingestion effects and much
more.
 http://www.drugdetection.com/table.html

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 How Drugs Enter
 Absorption (through the skin such as
Myoflex cream or transdermal patches, or
through mucus membranes such as nose
and lips)
 Oral: Caffeine, cough syrup, pills
 Inhalation: fumes, smoke
 Injection: epidural, vaccinations, allergy
shots
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Completion
 Which of the following is typically
administered through absorption?
 Birth Control
 Nicotine
 Caffeine
 Pain medication
 Cocaine

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Answers
 All of the above drugs except caffeine
are regularly administered through
absorption.

 Although most people believe they

“inhale” cocaine when it is snorted,
actually it is absorbed through the
mucous membranes in the nose
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How Drugs Exit
 Half-Life:
 The length of time for half of the substance
to be excreted from the body
 Routes of Excretion
 Urine
 Exhalation
 Defecation
 Sweat
 Saliva
 Breast Milk (nursing mothers)
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Factors Determining
Physiological Impact
 Drug Interactions 1+1=3
 Sedative + Sedative
 Sedative + Stimulant
 Stimulant + Stimulant
 Opiate+ Sedative
 Opiate + Stimulant

 Cross-Tolerance
 tolerance to one drug leads to tolerance of
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Factors cont…

 Individual Differences
 Weight/Body Fat
 Gender
 Ethnicity
 Physiological Responsiveness
 Setting/Expectations

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The Nervous System
 CNS
 Consists of the brain, spinal cord and
peripheral nervous system
 Sympathetic (Has sympathy for
you)
 Excitatory/Fight or Flight
 Parasympathetic
 Inhibitory/calming/relaxing

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 Neurons, Synapses
 Neurons contain neurotransmitters
 When a neuron in stimulated an action potential
moves to the end and triggers a series of
chemical changes
 Calcium Ions flow into the neuron causing the
release of the neurotransmitter into the space
between 2 neurons (synaptic space)
 The neurotransmitter molecule then binds, like a
lock and key, with the receptor on the other
neuron which causes a characteristic reaction
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How drugs affect
neurotransmission

 Increase the amount of the

neurotransmitter released
 By blocking the postsynaptic receptors

 In a few minutes you will be directed to

a website that illustrates these points.

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Neurochemicals and Hormones
 Acetylcholine
 Norepinepherine
 Dopamine
 Endorphins
 GABA
 Serotonin

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Online Reading
 Tutorial on How Drugs Affect the Brain

Go to the website and review the 5

lessons. They are relatively short

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Drug Types
 Stimulants
(After you read the first page, the “next” button is located at the bottom of the
page)
 Depressants (includes Anxiolytics)
 Inhalants
 Benzodiazepines
 Barbiturates
 Alcohol
 Opiates
 Hallucinogens
 Marijuana
 Steroids
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Drugs and Athletic Performance
 Overview

 Some psychoactive drugs have actual

performance-enhancing side effects. However,
many actually decrease performance,
primarily because of adverse cardiovascular
effects and impaired coordination and
judgment. Athletes and nonathletes alike may
be knowingly or unknowingly exposed to
psychoactive substances if they use over-the-
counter, recreational, or prescription drugs.
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Drug Schedules (Web Link)
 Schedule I
 High potential for abuse. No medical uses
 Heroin, LSD, PCP
 Schedule II
 High potential for abuse. Some medical uses
 Codeine, morphine, methadone, amphetamines
 Schedule III
 Some potential for abuse. Some medical uses
 Codeine cough syrups, long acting barbiturates, No
Refills allowed
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Schedules cont…
 Schedule IV
 Low Potential for abuse. Many medical
uses, Some limits on refills
 Antianxiety drugs
 Schedule V
 Low potential for abuse, Many uses. No
limits on prescription refills

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