Drugs and Our Society The Physiological Impact of

How drugs impact the physical aspects of the body Timing - how often drugs

How long is this latency period? It depends on the absorption time of the

latency period, cont Timing is important - whether a prescription drug or an illicit

Drug Interactions This refers to the effects of two or more substances - also

Antagonistic Effect of one drug is diminished or negated when combined with another 2.

Synergistic Effect The total effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects

Synergistic Effect, cont - one drug may double or even triple the effect of

Factors influencing the effects of drugs 1. Age - infants and elderly are more

Factors, cont - as people age, the percent of body fat increases - some

Factors, cont - women who weigh the same as men have higher percentage of

Factors, cont Dosage - already discussed the ED and LD - the smallest amount

Factors, cont Many health problems that users experience are due to the purity of

Factors, cont Potency - looking at heroin / morphine / and aspirin as pain

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Drugs and Our Society The Physiological Impact of Drugs Part 5

How drugs impact the physical aspects of the body Timing - how often drugs are taken - once a drug is taken there is a latency period 2. Concentration of the drug is increasing in the blood - but not high enough to feel effects of drug - many times you can feel the drug sensation building - you may feel warm / your skin is tingling / your head feels as if it is expanding 1.

How long is this latency period? It depends on the absorption time of the drug - as concentration of the drug continues to rise - effects become stronger 2. Even when maximum effect is reached - concentration can continue to rise 3. Alcohol: - drink and visit - feel giddy and uninhibited - you are becoming intoxicated 4. Maximum effect is reached when you pass out - concentration continues to rise = death 1.

latency period, cont Timing is important - whether a prescription drug or an illicit drug 6. Both can result in a toxic effect - either an overdose or death 5.

Drug Interactions This refers to the effects of two or more substances - also called a ‘polydrug’ - they can be additive / antagonistic / or synergistic - 25 % of emergency room admissions are for alcohol + medications 2. Additive effect - combination of drugs are purely additive - one a value of 4 / other a 6 / additive effect equals 10 - aspirin + pain reliever have a greater effect 1.

Antagonistic Effect of one drug is diminished or negated when combined with another 2. One has a value of 6 / second value of a 4 - effective value of a 3 - drug has been diminished - Valium and Librium diminish the value of oral contraceptives 3. Using the antibiotic tetracycline with milk or antacids - negates the antibiotic 1.

Synergistic Effect The total effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects 2. The action of two or more agents - synergism: enhanced / unpredictable effect - caused by combining two or more substances - such as barbiturates and alcohol 3. Hyperadditive effect - produce greater effect than administered separately 1.

Synergistic Effect, cont - one drug may double or even triple the effect of another 3. Potentiation - one drug will have no effect - unless taken with another drug 4. One drug with no effect - combined with a drug value of 6 - potentiation effect equals a 10

Factors influencing the effects of drugs 1. Age - infants and elderly are more sensitive to drug effects - elderly makeup 12% of the population but take between 1/4 th and 1/3 rd of all prescription drugs - 2 of every 3 senior citizens aged 65 and older take one or more daily - tolerance for alcohol lessens as you age - BAC’s are higher / less bodily fluids

Factors, cont - as people age, the percent of body fat increases - some drugs accumulate in adipose tissue - this increases sensitivity to those drugs and a toxic reaction can occur 2. Gender - females and males respond differently to drugs - the differences are related to water and body fat

Factors, cont - women who weigh the same as men have higher percentage of body fat and a lower percentage of water this makes women more sensitive to drugs fat stores drugs water dilutes the amount of drug in the bloodstream hormones also make a difference PMS / pregnancy

Factors, cont Dosage - already discussed the ED and LD - the smallest amount of a drug required to produce the desired effect - is called the “threshold dose” 4. Purity and potency - purity: the quality of a substance / the state of non-contamination of a drug - potency: ability to produce an effect relative to other drugs (the less needed to produce a response, the more potent the drug) 3.

Factors, cont Many health problems that users experience are due to the purity of a drug - the quality varies greatly in illicit drugs - it becomes a significant factor in the drug’s effect 6. A DEA report on heroin: - purchased in the mid-1970’s: 6% purity - early 1980’s: less than 4% purity - early 1990’s: more than 20% purity - today: it ranges from 20% to 90% depending on the location 5.

Factors, cont Potency - looking at heroin / morphine / and aspirin as pain relievers (? ) - heroin is the most potent - next is morphine - and then aspirin - so a smaller amount of heroin is needed to reduce the same pain 8. Some drugs vary naturally in potency - percentage of THC ranges from 1% to 10% 7.