Stimulants

History:

1930’s: Benzedrine is used in inhalers, used as a cure for many of illnesses.

1940: WWII used to treat battle fatigue (pep pills)

1950’s: Elevate mood

1960’s: Peak use

1970’s/80’s: Replaced by cocaine

Typical Use of Stimulants

Increase alertness

Treatment of Narcolepsy

Weight loss aid.

Types of Stimulants

Drug How used Duration Cocaine sniffed, inject, 20 min. to 1

hour

smoked

Amphetamines oral, injected 2 to 4 hours

Methamphetamine smoked, oral 4 to 14 hours

inject, inhaled

Immediate Physical and Psychological Effects of Stimulants

• Euphoria

• Increased Alertness

• Excitation

• Decreased Appetite

• Insomnia

• Restlessness

Long Term Psychological Effectsof Stimulant Use

• Nervousness

• Paranoia

• Hallucinations

• Psychosis

• Decreased Mental Ability

Long Term Physiological Effectsof Stimulant Use

• Dizziness• Tremors• Sexual impotence• Insomnia• Skin disorders• Malnutrition• Seizures• Death

Stimulant Overdose

Agitation Increase in body temperature Hallucinations Convulsions Heart Attack

Deaths due to an overdose on amphetamines occur after a high fever. Amphetamines alter the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature.

Withdrawal from Stimulants

Apathy

Long periods of sleep

Irritability

Depression

Disorientation

“Crash”

Cocaine -Plant derived stimulant (Coca plant)

-Synthesized from the coca plant.

-Leaves are reduced to a cocaine paste

(highly potent-no recreational use).

-The paste is treated form to cocaine

hydrochloride (less potent, can’t be

smoked).

- Crack: Cocaine hydrochloride is reduced to its

base and combine with baking powder.

Cocaine: Route of Administration

Route Duration of High

Snort 30 to 45 minutes

IV 10 to 20 minutes

Free-base (smoke) 5 to 10 minutes

Crack (smoke) 5 to 10 minutes

Cocaine Doses

• Cocaine Hydrochloride:

25 mg to 100 mg

• Crack:

250mg to 1 gram

Drug Testing for Cocaine

A urine test will detect cocaine for up to 12 hours after use.

A urine test will detect the cocaine metabolite for up to 2 weeks after use.

Uses of Cocaine

Used as a local anesthesia

Vasoconstrictor

Psycho-stimulant:

Strong reinforcing quality leading to psychological dependence.

Cocaine Personality

• Reckless

• Rebellious

• Low tolerance for frustration

• Craving for excitement

• Risk-Taker

• Personal or family history of depression

Cocaine and The Brain

• Stimulates the part of the brain responsible for pleasure and well-being.

• Depletes Dopamine and Dopamine Receptors

• Strong reinforcing psycho-active effect.

Cocaine Withdrawal

3 Stage Model: 1. Crash-occurs 9 hours to 4 days after first use

(depression, extreme tiredness).

2. Withdrawal-1 to 10 weeks after last use (depression, strong cravings)

3. Extinction Phase- can last indefinitely. (periodic craving, bouts of depression)

Crystal-Methamphetamine

• High powered psycho-stimulant

• Typically produced in home labs

• Route of administration: snorted, inject, smoked

• Immediate effects, with total absorption taking up to 4 hours

• Effects are similar to Cocaine

Cocaine VS Crystal

• Plant Derived

• Effects last 20min to 1 hour

• 50% of the drug is removed from the body in one hour

• Can be used as a local anesthetic

• Man-made

• Effects last 8 to 24 hours

• 50% of the drug is removed from the body in 12 hours

• No medical use