Mind+Altering+Drugs

= Mind-Altering Drugs =

toc =Preface= A mind altering drug is a drug that produces an altered state of consciousness. The term 'psychoactive drug' is used to describe any chemical substance that affects mood, perception or consciousness as a result of changes in the functioning of the nervous system (brain and spinal cord). These drugs can be used recreationally (purposefully), spiritually and ritually, or therapeutically for medicinal purposes. Mind-altering drugs can be categorized in three groups based on its effect on the brain: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. This page will focus solely on hallucinogens.

=IB Objectives= > Stress the similarity of all three drugs and compre them to the indole ring. =**﻿﻿History**= The use of mind-altering drugs can be traced back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence has shown that Peruvian societies were chewing coca leaves at least 8,000 years ago. The use of marijuana can be traced back to 3,000 B.C. from evidence of its use in a ritual burial site in Romania.
 * Describe the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
 * Discuss the structural similarities and differences between LSD, mescaline and psilocybin.
 * Discuss the arguments for and against the legalization of cannabis.

=Basics= Neurotransmitter chemicals transmit electrical impulses to receptors in the brain. Hallucinogenic drugs affect the transmission of these impulses in the brain.

=Marijuana= Marijuana is a mild hallucinogenic drug that is found in the buds and leaves of the plant //Cannabis sativa//. It is the most widely used illegal drug in the world. The cannabis plant contains over 400 chemicals, the most psychoactive of them being delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The potency of the drug is based on its THC concentration. The short term affects of the drug include dilated pupils causing colors to appear more intense, auditory enhancement, and feelings of relaxation. A user may soon later feel paranoia and other feelings of panic. A recent study released by the US government has shown that 4% of people who try marijuana eventually develop an addiction which can be compared to 11% of alcohol users.

Chemically, THC affects the receptors in our brain. Certain receptors in our brain are called cannabinoid receptors which are activated by the neurotransmitter anandamide. Anandamide is a chemical that pertains to a group of chemicals called cannabinoids of which THC is also a member. When ingested, THC binds with cannabinoid receptors and mimics the actions of anandamide by activating these receptors. A high concentration of these cannabinoid receptors exist in several areas of the brain including areas that control pleasure, short-term memory, sensory and time perception, and coordination which is why the drug has these certain effects. Structurally, THC contains several carbon rings with methyl groups attached, an –OH group on a benzine ring, and a chain of 5 carbons.



=﻿Legalization Debate= The legalization of marijuana is a highly debated topic. Arguments for its legalization include:
 * Medicinal use - there is strong evidence that cannabis can be used to prevent vomiting, as a pain killer for cancer and AIDS pacients, as well as for the treatment of glaucoma, epilepsy, Parkinson's desease, and Huntington's chorea.
 * Will lower crime rate - police can concentrate on other criminal activities, marijuana dealers will become obselete as it can be bought legally.
 * Freedom for the individual.

Arguments against its legalization include:
 * Health risk - increased risk of heart attack and cancer through smoking.
 * Gateway drug - Some claim that marijuana can lead to harder drugs.
 * Increased risk of dangerous driving while under the drug's influence.

=**Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)**= Many hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, psilocybin, and psilocin are amines and have a indole ring structure. It consists of a six-membered benzine ring fused together with a five-membered nitrogen ring. LSD is a relatively non-polar molecule and has a soluble membrane which allows it to enter the brain easily.

LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is derived from a fungus that grows on wheat; ergot. The short term effects that this drug produces include anxiety, dizziness, a desire to laugh, and distortions in the visual and auditory perceptions (hallucinations for the most part). Grasp of time also is completely distorted as well as an increased heart rate. These effects last around 12 hours. Although the effects are generally euphoric, in some cases unpleasant hallucinations can occur. This can then lead to feelings of depression and attempts of suicide.

Long term risks of LSD include severe depression and flashbacks of the LSD effects long after taking the drug. Physically, there are no known effects of LSD on the body, however there is a small chance of becoming dependant on the drug. Although no longer used lawfully, LSD has been used medically as a treatment during psychotherapy. How LSD works is not fully understood, scientists believe that it works by blocking the action of serotonin, a compound that transmits impulses across synapses in the brain.

=﻿Psilocybin and Psilocin - The 'Magic Mushroom'= Psilocybin and psilocin can be found in the liberty cap mushroom //Psilocybe semilanceata// or the 'magic mushroom'. Their hallucagenic affects are much milder than LSD, but they still cause distortion of perception and senses as well as feelings of exhilaration. They are not addictive and as far as we know do not cause long term harm.

Chemically, the psilocybin in the mushroom is converted into active psilocin in the body through the process of dephosporylation. This consists of removing the phosphate groups in the psilocybin by the process of hydrolysis. Psilocin then acts as an agonist and binds to a receptor in the brain. An agonist activates the receptor it binds to and psilocin mimics the effects of the neurotransmitter serotonin which is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. Serotonin is largely responsible for our feelings of happiness which is why it is dubbed the "happiness hormone."

=﻿Mescaline= Mescaline is found in the peyote cactus of South and Central America. It is a strong hallucinogen that alters visual and auditory perception as well as reduces appetite. For people who are already depressed or nervous, it can cause unpleasant mental effects. Other substances in the plant when taken can cause nausea and shuddering. When taken with alcohol, the effects of the drug are significantly enhanced. The long term effects of the drug are not well known, but it likely causes liver damage.

Its structure contains a partial indole ring and three ether groups.

Out of the fifty-some psychoactive ingredients in the peyote cactus, the strongest of them is 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine or simply mescaline. The cause of the hallucinary affects produced by the drug's ingestion are not fully understood, however it is believed that it is related to mescaline's similar structure with amphetamine. Amphetamine is a psychostimulant drug related to the dopamine transmitters.

By Liam Nealon