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Definitions
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This section of Chapter 2 will present 14
definitions that will be part of the
Chapter 2 test.
Use the definitions found ONLY in these
slides and NOT any from the textbook
or the Internet.
Drug:
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Any substance, which by its chemical
nature (except food) alters structure or
function in the living organism.
Explanation:
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It has a chemical nature
It’s going to change you in some way
Drug Use:
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Use of drugs for medical purposes
Explanation:
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I know that you can “abuse” prescription
drugs, but for the “sake of argument” this is
what we are going to “call” drug use.
Drug Abuse:
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Use of drugs that results in
physiological or psychological harm to
the user (purposes other than those
intended in medicine.)
Explanation:
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It’s “abuse” if it harms you!
You can abuse drugs that have no
medicinal value too.
Drug Addiction:
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State of periodic or chronic intoxication
produced by the repeated consumption
of a drug.
Explanation:
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I know that you can be “addicted” even
after one experience with certain drugs, but
most of them will require a repeated
consumption.
Psychological Dependence:
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The mind tricks the body into thinking it
needs the drug.
Explanation:
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You don’t really physically need it but you
“think” you do.
Cocaine is a good example of this.
Physical Dependence:
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A condition in which a specific drug
must be present for the cells to continue
functioning in a way similar to the way
they functioned prior to the use of
drugs.
Explanation:
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You know that you were physically
dependent on the drug if you have ANY
withdrawal symptoms
Tolerance:
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An acquired reaction to a drug that
necessitates an increased dosage to
maintain a given effect or action.
Explanation:
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You will need more than 3 beers to get the
same “buzz” that you got when you initially
drank 3 beers.
Potency:
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Relates to how little of a drug is required
to produce a given effect.
Explanation:
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The most potent drug we know is LSD.
You only need a very small amount to “trip
on.”
Toxic:
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Harmful, destructive, or deadly.
Explanation:
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Alcohol is one of the most toxic drugs we
know.
We mean that it is very harmful and
destructive to the body!
Acute:
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The short-term effects or effects from a
single administration of a drug.
Explanation:
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The effects from being drunk one night OR
The effects from one dose of cocaine.
Chronic:
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Persistent effects produced by longterm use.
Explanation:
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The physiological effects from drinking
alcohol over a long period of time.
Specific Effects:
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Those effects of a drug that depend on
the amount and type of chemical
contained in the drug.
Explanation:
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What the chemical is specifically going to
do to you whether you think it will or not.
Marijuana has specific physiological effects
whether you think it is harmless or not.
Nonspecific Effects:
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Effects are not based on its chemical
activity; also referred to as a “placebo
effect.”
Explanation:
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It’s your “mind set” while taking the drug
OR
It’s how you behave when you think you
are taking a drug but really aren’t
Additive Effects:
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When the effects of two different drugs
add up to produce a greater effect than
either drug alone.
Explanation:
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This is what will happen when you take 2
different drugs at the same time; it’s going
to have a greater effect on your body.