Drugs

Our brain is protected by a layer of capillaries called the blood-brain barrier.

Drugs are either...

Agonists

Antagonists

Reuptake inhibitors

If a drug is used often, a tolerance is created for the drug. Thus you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. If you stop using a drug you can develop withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants

-Speed up body processes.

Depressants

- Slows down body processes

Alcohol

- More than 86 billion dollars are spent annually on alcoholic beverages.

- Alcohol is involved in 60% of ALL crimes.

- Alcohol is involved in over 70% of sexually related crimes.

Opiates

- Has depressive and hallucinogenic qualities.

- Agonist for endorphins.

- Derived from poppy plant.

- Morphine, heroin, methadone and codeine.

- All these drugs cross the placental barrier….teratogens.