Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example

Psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and marijuana have the ability to change or alter the consciousness of an individual. More people especially the use these drugs to change their consciousness and alter one’s sense of awareness. The use of drugs differs from one group to the other. Psychoactive drugs are natural or synthetic substances that produce changes in emotions, thought and behavior as they alter the functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Psychotomimetic drugs, a class of psychoactive produce an altered sense of reality and hallucination.Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example.  Drugs are mostly categorized as either illicit or licit; they may also be categorized as per the effect the drugs have on the body i.e. narcotics, hallucinogens, and antipsychotics.

According to ethnobotanists, Psychotomimetic drugs have been used for millions of years and are found in particular flora. Most ancient cultures had access to alcohol and some drugs that they used for different purposes ranging from ceremonials, healings physical and psychological problems and nourishment. Most tribal groups had strict regime and regulation for use of alcohol and drugs by its members. Shaman and religious leaders mostly used the powerful psychoactive drugs. Most groups of people categorized drugs according to their effect; those with strong effect had strong regulations against their usage. Though the usage of drugs and alcohol in different cultural groups varies, the impact of the drugs on the body of users is relatively the same.

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We have social and psychological factors that enhance the usage of drugs in different groups. In northern America, drug use is mostly associated with certain groups mostly the ethnic minorities. Drug use though spread in whole of America is mostly huge in areas with dense population. In cities, ethnic tend to stay together hence the high incidence of alcohol and drug use. The media reinforces the tendency to believe that the minorities are the only ones abusing alcohol as it mostly reports on them.

People belonging to religious groups tend to have few or sometimes nondrug and alcohol usage cases. It is mostly as a resultant of their religious customs that is mostly against alcohol and drug usage.

Reactions

The study gives a critical analysis of the usage of alcohol and other drugs and its origin. Its quite surprising to know that most of the drugs and alcohol have been in use for many years. Though currently highly abused, most of these drugs were used purposively.

Furthermore, the knowledge of some drugs having medicinal value is of great knowledge, having been used for quite long.

The author failed to highlight the usage of alcohol and drugs among the affluent American and the motivation for usage. Though it’s true that most low-level individual tend to indulge highly in alcohol and drug abuse, most of them are motivated to do so by various social issues mostly related to poverty. Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example.

Cultural self-awareness summary

The article gives great knowledge about diverse cultural groups and their beliefs on the usage of alcohol and other drugs. Most groups, since time memorial, operate under regulations that define their way of life. Among most tribal groups, the use of drugs was regulated and in some situations some drugs remained a preserve of a few.

The religious belief and belonging of an individual and can be a key determinant of the likelihood to use alcohol and drugs. Most religions tend to have strong regulations against drug use and abuse, any strong believer of such religions tend to follow the rules hence little use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

The socio-cultural status of individuals is a key indicator of the likelihood of alcohol and drug abuse. Most minorities in cities tend to live in one location hence high population density; therefore a high tendency to alcohol and drug use and abuse.

Work cited

Trimble, Joseph E, Catherine S. Bolek, and Steve J. Niemcryk. Ethnic and Multicultural Drug Abuse: Perspectives on Current Research. New York: Harrington Park Press, 1992. Print.

Psychoactive drugs are drugs that interfere with the proper functioning of the brain leading to unusual behavior, mood swings and unstable state of consciousness. They are classified into three main categories. These are psychedelics, stimulants and depressants (Cherry 1). Drugs that belong to the depressants category like alcohol are among the commonest and are therefore used widely throughout the globe.Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example.

They are known for their characteristic inhibition of the Central Nervous System. Other drugs in this category include benzodiazepines and barbiturates. This paper concentrates on alcohol as a psychoactive drug and also discusses the physiological effects it has on the human body together with the coping strategies that can be used to end its addiction.

After taking alcohol, it is not digested but it goes into the blood stream. Here it mixes with water and it is carried by this bodily water into the major organs which normally have large volumes of water. These organs include the brain, the heart, the liver etc. After reaching the major organs, it is carried to the rest of the body.

These organs, particularly the brain, are normally highly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and thus extended drinking periods are most likely to lead to diseases of major organs. A person becomes intoxicated with alcohol when alcohol reaches the CNS (Central Nervous System) and makes sensory and emotional functions of the CNS to weaken (Dunlap 1).

This results in the dulling of sight, smell, taste and other senses which is a technical description of the drunken stupor. As mentioned above, drinking of alcohol may lead to acquisition of diseases to major organs. This usually occurs if the person is addicted to the alcohol or he/she has taken alcohol for a long time.

Addiction to alcohol occurs due to dependency on alcohol which is caused by physiological changes in the body of the addict. Some of these changes include decreased excitation of the body, affected neurotransmitters, an affected brain, an increase of the dopamine “rush” that makes a person thirst for alcohol (Dunlap 1).

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Alcohol addicts are normally advised to know their cause of addiction to alcohol in order to fight the addiction in the most appropriate way (King 1).Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example.  For Instance, genetically inherited addiction can be fought by avoiding alcohol. On the other hand, addiction to alcohol brought about by hypoglycemia can be stopped by avoiding sugary things.

In general however, alcohol addiction can be controlled and stopped if the patient maintains psychological stability and strength (King 1). With an undeterred determination to succeed in breaking an addiction to alcohol, the patient will be able to stop the addiction and the body metabolism will slowly adapt.

Alcoholism is one of the most dangerous habits that people acquire. As stated earlier, extended drinking periods lead to addiction to alcohol which ultimately leads to diseases to major organs. These diseases are normally terminal and they may take very long before they kill their victim.

The victim will therefore live in pain until his death. It is therefore advisable that people avoid engaging themselves in drinking habits since the complex physiological processes that take place when one takes alcohol may lead to addiction. If a person is already addicted to alcohol, he/she should evaluate his/her eating habits and past in order to find a practical way to break the habit. Psychoactive Drugs Essay Example.