Human Behavior Stimulants Caffeine Nicotine Amphetamines and Cocaine

Human Behavior Stimulants: Caffeine, Nicotine, Amphetamines, and Cocaine

Caffeine v Occurs naturally in coffee, tea, and cocoa. v Stimulant: v Drugs including amphetamines and cocaine, stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and produce feelings of optimism and boundless energy v Caffeine lengthens the time it take to fall asleep and reduces total minutes of sleep v Found in many beverages v Large doses can cause insomnia and diarrhea v Addictive

Nicotine v Psychoactive drug in tobacco v Probably the most addictive stimulant today v Causes health issues with prolonged use v Can cause a “high” v Withdrawal symptoms include drowsiness, headaches, irritability and intense cravings v Younger users are likely to increase to “bigger” drugs

Amphetamines v First used in the 1930 s as a nasal spray to help asthma v Used in military during WWII to reduce fatigue v “Pep pills” for night workers v Also prescribed as “diet pills” v Amphetamines: v Stimulant drugs that initially produce “rushes” of euphoria often followed by sudden “crashes” and sometimes severe depression

Amphetamines Continued v Amphetamine Psychosis: v Paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations, much like paranoid schizophrenia v Methamphetamine v “speed” or “fire” v “ice”, “crystal”, and “crank” (smoking form) v Stimulant and hallucinogen

Amphetamines Coninued v Short-Term v Teeth clenching v Chills or sweating v Aggression v Axons stop firing v Birth defects v Lower intelligence

Cocaine v Cocaine: v Derived from the coca plant that, although producing a sense of euphoria by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, leads to anxiety, depression and addictive cravings v Physician use (Novocain and to cure alcohol and morphine addictions) v Smoked as “crack” v “coke” and “snow”

Cocaine v Less then 10 seconds to the brain for crack v Last 5 -20 minutes v Used on Wall Street to stay up and deal in the 1970 s v Quick high v Fast and Long depression after high