Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Psychoactive Drugs169Table 4.4Behavioral Effects of Blood Alcohol LevelsBloodAlcohol LevelBehavioral Effects0.05% Lowered alertness; release ofinhibitions; impaired judgment0.10% Slowed reaction times; impairedmotor function; less caution0.15% Large, consistent increases inreaction time0.20% Marked depression in sensory andmotor capability; obvious intoxication0.25% Severe motor disturbance; staggering;sensory perceptions greatly impaired0.30% Stuporous but conscious; no comprehensionof the world around them0.35% Surgical anesthesia; minimal levelcausing death0.40% About half of those at this level dieThis Is Fun? According to anational survey of college students,more than half “drank toget drunk” in the previous year(Wechsler & others, 2002).Despite the deaths from alcoholpoisoning of several college studentseach year, binge drinkingand public drunkenness remaincommon at spring break celebrations.College students currentlyspend $5.5 billion a yearon alcohol, more than theyspend on textbooks, soft drinks,tea, milk, juice, and coffee combined(Nelson & others, 2005).InhalantsInhalants are chemical substances that are inhaled to produce an alteration in consciousness.Paint solvents, model airplane glue, spray paint and paint thinner, gasoline,nitrous oxide, and aerosol sprays are just a few of the substances that are abusedin this way. Inhalants are inexpensive and readily available. Inhalant abuse is mostprevalent among adolescent and young adult males.Although psychoactive inhalants do not have a common chemical structure, theygenerally act as central nervous system depressants. At low doses, they may causerelaxation, giddiness, and reduced inhibition. At higher doses, inhalants can lead tohallucinations and a loss of consciousness. Because the effects usually last only a fewminutes, abusers may try to prolong the high by repeatedly inhaling, a practice thatincreases the risk of serious damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.Inhalants are very dangerous. Suffocation is one hazard, but many inhaled substancesare also toxic to the liver and other organs. Chronic abuse also leads to neurologicaland brain damage. One study compared cognitive functioning in cocaineand inhalant abusers. Both groups scored well below the normal population, but inhalantusers scored even below the cocaine abusers on problem-solving and memorytests. MRI scans showed that the inhalant users also had more extensive braindamage than the cocaine users (Mathias, 2002; Rosenberg & others, 2002).Barbiturates and TranquilizersBarbiturates are powerful depressant drugs that reduce anxiety and promote sleep,which is why they are sometimes called “downers.” Barbiturates depress activity inthe brain centers that control arousal, wakefulness, and alertness. They also depressthe brain’s respiratory centers.Like alcohol, barbiturates at low doses cause relaxation, mild euphoria, andreduced inhibitions. Larger doses produce a loss of coordination, impaired mentalfunctioning, and depression. High doses can produce unconsciousness, coma, anddeath. Barbiturates produce a very deep but abnormal sleep in which REM sleep isgreatly reduced. Because of the additive effect of depressants, barbiturates combinedwith alcohol are particularly dangerous.Common barbiturates include the prescription sedatives Seconal and Nembutal.The illegal drug methaqualone (street name quaalude) is almost identical chemicallyto barbiturates and has similar effects.inhalantsChemical substances that are inhaled toproduce an alteration in consciousness.barbiturates(barb-ITCH-yer-ets) A category of depressantdrugs that reduce anxiety and producesleepiness.