Drugs are a complicated subject, there are numerous categories of them and each of those have their own subcategories. For example, alcohol and heroin are both considered depressants, but their effects on a person are greatly different. So how do drugs affect one of the most important aspects of a human’s life, sleep? It is impossible to say. Each different drug has their own unique abilities that cause a reaction different from the next. To say a whole category of drugs have the same effect on sleep is just illogical. Drugs and sleep have been closely linked with one another. Sayings like “nightcap, blacking out, hungover, and crashing,” have all become known phrases in society and all of those phrases relate to drugs and sleep. It could …show more content…
Stimulants raise the level of nervous activity in the body increasing things such as: heart rate and breathing rate. Take cocaine as an example, it floods the brain with dopamine causing wakefulness. But after the effects of the drug wear off one of cocaine’s side effects is disrupted REM sleep. A recent study in the long term effects of cocaine actually show that prolonged use can disrupt the user's circadian rhythm. The drug does this by messing with the genes that encode the user’s circadian rhythm. A common misinterpretation of cocaine and sleep’s relationship is that after heavy cocaine use, the users usually “crash” which is very similar to passing out. The users then say they feel well rested, but this is where the misinterpretation takes place. This is because cocaine users commonly display delusional confidence. Probably the greatest distributor of sleep out of all the drugs whether illegal or not, is caffeine. “Fifty-four percent of Americans over the age of eighteen drink coffee everyday,” (“National Coffee Drinking Trends,” 2010). With more than half of the adults in America drinking coffee it is safe to say coffee runs the country. But coffee if drank at the wrong time is the enemy of sleep. Caffeine is not easily broken down in the body. “The half life of caffeine in healthy adults is 5.7 hours. This means if you consume 200mg of caffeine at mid-day, you would still have 100mg in you at around 5.45pm,” (“The Half Life of Coffee,” 2016). This is a problem considering many Americans work a “nine to five job” and have caffeine intake throughout that time. The correct time to cut off caffeine should be before 2 o’clock, which for most is not the case, even a small amount could have harmful effects on
Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is the main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks, which enhances alertness and mood, and counteracts symptoms of sleep. There is no doubt ...
Abstract: The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. Its functions control every aspect of life. It is important to attempt to comprehend the workings of the brain and to learn the effects of natural and unnatural substances on it. In order to look at chemical effects on the brain, one must first get an understanding for the chemicals as well as how the brain works to interpret and react to signals set out by these chemicals, rhythmically and physiologically. Several chemicals observed include: cocaine (and other chemicals), seratonin, and melatonin.
Caffeine is a mild stimulant that occurs naturally in at least 63 plant species. Caffeine can be found in the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots of these various plants. Caffeine is part of the methylxanthine family. It consists of a xanthine molecule with three methyl groups attached to it. Caffeine can be found in many products like sodas, tea, and coffee, but it also occurs in several other products such as prescription medications, diuretics, and pain relievers. Caffeine’s widespread use and popularity have caused many people to view the substance as an addictive drug. Thus making caffeine the most inexpensive and readily available drug known to man. Then on the other hand there are people who view caffeine as a helpful stimulant that increases the individual’s concentration and awareness as well as many other physical traits. The important thing to remember is that caffeine’s affects vary based on the person, the amount ingested, the frequency of consumption, and individual metabolism. (http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/kopykit/caffeine.html)
Drugs are substances that disturb this delicate balance, because they have “passkeys” that let them open certain “locks” located between the neurons. The brain automatically adjusts to these substances from outside the body by producing fewer of its own natural “keys”. Cocaine is type of drug that affects the dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is connected with emotions and noradrenalin is connected with alertness. Cocaine is considered as an illegal drug in most countries but some considered it as an legal drug. Although cocaine is an illegal drug earlier ancient people used to coonsider it as a medicine to treat many illness. Cocaine is absorbed in the dopamine and the...
Cocaine (C17H21NO4) comes from the leaf of an Erythroxylon coca bush. It is a drug that effects the central nervous system. It causes feelings of euphoria, pleasure, increased energy and alertness. People under the influence of cocaine often do not feel the need for food or sleep. They also feel energetic and may talk a lot. However, depending on factors such as environment, dosage, and the manner in which the drug is taken, cocaine can have adverse effects such as violent, erratic behavior, dizziness, paranoia, insomnia, convulsions, and heart failure to name a few. Long- term effects of cocaine include, but are not limited to strokes, heart attacks, seizures, loss of memory, and decrease in learning capability (1).
Modafinil is a wake-promoting drug that has been prescribed for conditions such as sleep disorders, stimulant dependence, and attention deficit disorder [6]. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies modafinil as a Schedule IV drug [2]. The official website for Drug Enforcement Agency states that Schedule IV drugs have low potential for abuse and minimal risk for dependency [5]. However, off-label use of modafinil is becoming widespread. The drug has received some media scrutiny due to its unique effects. Athlete, cultural members of Wall Street, and others exposed to long-hour and stress-filled environments have taken non-therapeutic advantage of the drug. In fact, modafinil is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, who compares the stimulant effect of the drug similar to amphetamine. Increasing popularity of its use has many questioning the drug’s true addiction potential [2]. And, if modafinil has low addictive properties, how does its elusive mechanism play a role in abuse?
The brain controls pretty much everything you do, even while asleep. When drugs enter the brain, the substance can disturb the organ and change how the brain performs its duties to function. These changes are what lead to a continuous yearning for drugs or addiction. The signals a drug sends to the brain get confused with that of a euphoric chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good. After repeated use of drugs the brain in most cases becomes damaged and irreparable. Adolescents are more prone to addiction due to the fact that their brains are not yet fully developed. The lack of maturity of the brain give health specialist the theory that drug use at an older age will reduce the chances of addiction.
Almost everyone seem to suffer from not being able to get enough sleep at some time in their life. If you are always tired then that means that you’re not getting enough sleep. As we all know, inadequate sleep which is referred to as insomnia. Insomnia is basically one of the many sleeping disorders that some people may have and is one of the most common sleep disorder. There are many different effects of insomnia which includes some may become less productive, less ambitious, have a poor performance at school, work, or their everyday life tasks. Insomnia is not an illness but it is a symptom which can typically last no more than maybe a few days or it could be long term for some people. Who gets insomnia? According to Bayer (2001) “Approximately 36 out of every 100 Americans have reported experiencing this symptom [insomnia]. However, only 5 out of every 100 Americans consider the problem severe enough to seek medical help” (p. 22).
My mother always said, “Everyone acknowledges the dangers of drugs, but people still do them, and I can not grasp why”. Well in this research paper I will discuss the dangers of three different drugs, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. More specifically, Cocaine, Alcohol, and LSD(Acid). 25% of American adults ages 26-34 have tried cocaine at least once in their life (Cocaineaddiction.ws). In 2006, there were more than 1.2 million emergency room visits and 2.7 million physician office visits due to excessive drinking(Bouchery EE, Harwood HJ, Sacks JJ, Simon CJ, Brewer RD.). And 5.90 adults from the age of 18-25 have used LSD in their lifetime(Office of National Drug Control Policy).It is important to know about these drugs because not only can it affect you, it can affect your neighbor, therefore the more educated you are on these subjects and risk factors the better off you are.
Development is a never ending cycle in life. Each person begins to develop from conception until passing away. Now, while most people think that development starts after birth that is incorrect. Development starts as soon as the baby is conceived. Everything that a woman carrying a baby does or takes place in will translate into the baby. The baby shares a blood flow with the mother. Drugs, even legal drugs, will go into the mother’s blood stream which will then go into the baby’s blood stream. The “maternal blood flows through the uterine arteries to the spaces housing the placenta, and it returns through the uterine vein to the maternal circulation” (Santrock, 2012, p. 80). This means that anything that enters into the blood stream will also affect the baby. Each type of drug is under a certain category. Psychoactive drugs are drugs that are constantly being studier. According to Santrock (2012), psychoactive drugs are drugs that act on the nervous system to alter states of consciousness, modify perception, and change moods. (p.83). They come in three categories: stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. Stimulants include caffeine, cocaine, methamphetamine and nicotine. Some people say that pregnant woman do not know what taking these into their system is doing to their baby. Stimulants are becoming more popular and there effects need to be studied and known. Each stimulant affects the baby in short-term and long-term.
Sleeping is something that is an essential part of human nature and is a must in order for one to be a functional human being. Sleep is an idea that is accompanied by many wives’ tales, including the ideas that one needs seven to eight hours of sleep each night and alcohol helps one fall asleep and sleep more soundly. One myth about sleep is that during sleeping, one is in a state of nothingness. In truth, however, it has been discovered that during sleep the brain is active, variations in heartbeat and breathing occur, and the eyes and ears are active throughout the time of sleep. These activities during a person’s sleep are important because they help that person be more aware, awake, and alert during consciousness. If all of these important activities occur during sleep, why is it that people are so willing to short themselves of this vital activity? Although much about sleep still remains a mystery, research and experiments continue to show how important sleep is to each and every person. Throughout this paper, I will discuss sleep and the effects that it has on performance and health, especially in college students. A college student’s sleeping pattern is a reliable indicator to their level of performance in the classroom and other school-affiliated activities, as a lack of sleep leads to decreased performance. Sleep is directly related the level of performance and health in an individual; the more rested a person is, the better that person will perform and feel (Dryer, 2006).
Kales, A. (1972). The evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders : Pharmacological and psychological studies. In M. Chase (ed.)The Sleeping Brain. Los Angeles : Brain Information Service.
The altered states of consciousness produced by drugs presents an all-to-common phenomenon in today’s society. Whether the desired sensation comes in the form of energy, a means of relaxation, or pain reduction, many people go to great lengths and present their bodies to threatening conditions in order to achieve this euphoric “high.” Unfortunately, the use of these drugs very often comes with dangerous side effects that users must learn to manage with for the rest of their life. According to neuroscientists, our entire conscious existence bases itself off of the lighting-fast reactions occurring in our nervous system (Nichols, 2012). Therefore, changing these neurological reactions can permanently effect our conscious being (Blatter, 2012). The physical and neurological effects from the use and abuse of stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, organic solvents, and athletic performance enhancing drugs will be discussed in order to better comprehend why certain individuals expose themselves to such dangerous materials with seemingly no regard to the permanent consequences associated with such actions.
As side from that, excess caffeine can also overstimulate the central nervous system, disrupting sleeping patterns. High amounts of caffeine produce negative effect on sleep onset and quality. However, there are large individual differences in the effects of caffeine on sleep. Many people consume coffee during the evening and have no problems falling asleep, while others find that the mild stimulation of caffeine consumed shortly before a bed time delays the time to fall asleep.
Lack of sleep negatively affects many different aspects of your life and making sure you get enough sleep will save you from: mood swings, loss of focus, change in behavior, and difficulties in everyday tasks.