This document discusses how various drugs work by altering neurotransmitters in the brain. It explains that drugs can increase or decrease neurotransmitter production, transport, storage, release, or receptor binding. It then provides details on specific drugs like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, meth/cocaine, heroin, LSD/peyote/mushrooms, and MDMA, describing which neurotransmitters they affect and how this leads to their psychoactive effects as well as risks of addiction and withdrawal.

1. Warm-up!

2. Drugs and Effects on
Neurotransmitters

3. How drugs work
Drugs achieve their affect by imitating or altering
the release or uptake of neurotransmitters.
Drugs may increase or decrease how much of a
neurotransmitter is made, how it is transported,
stored, released, or how they bind to target cells.
Drugs can also mimic the activity of some
neurotransmitters and bind to the receptors
instead.

4. Caffeine
• Blocks the activity of adenosine, a
neurotransmitter that makes us tired or
sleepy.
• Because it blocks adenosine, it also causes
changes in the balance of other
neurotransmitters, increasing levels of
dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.
• Increases muscle activity, relieves
depression, and makes you feel relaxed,
alert, energetic, and relieves migraine
headaches.
• Can also make you jittery, increase anxiety
levels, and cause insomnia.

5. Nicotine
• Imitates the action of acetylcholine and binds
to its receptors.
• After binding, it excites the cell then
desensitizes the receptors, making it
unreactive to any neurotransmitters that
might calm the cell.
• Another chemical in tobacco prevents
breakdown of dopamine, increasing its
activity within the body.

6. Alcohol
• Binds directly to receptors for
acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and
glutamate.
• Enhances activity of GABA,
effectively turning cells off longer,
decreasing their activity.
• Reduces glutamate activity,
decreasing efficiency of neural
responses and decreasing balance
and coordination.

7. Cannabis (THC)
• Binds to receptors for anandamides,
which are responsible for regulating
mood, memory, appetite, pain,
cognition, and emotions.
• This modifies cellular enzymes and
reduces their activity, which decreases
the excitability of that neuron.
• Increases release of dopamine,
decreases action of GABA.

8. Meth/Cocaine
• Blocks reuptake receptors for dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin by the cell
releasing them.
• Increases concentration of these
neurotransmitters in the synapse, which
increases reactions.
• Increased dopamine causes more receptors to
be created, which leads to addiction and
withdrawal symptoms when quitting

9. Heroin
• Mimic the effects of our neurotransmitters
affecting pain, mood control, immune
response, hunger, thirst, and other processes.
• Reduces excitability of neurons, producing a
euphoric feeling.
• Reduces activity of GABA, which increases
activity of dopamine.

10. LSD/Peyote/Mushrooms
• Reacts with serotonin receptors to create
similar affects.
• Affects the way the retinas process
information and conduct it to the brain.
• Causes increased muscle tremors, sweating,
uncontrolled blood pressure

11. MDMA (Ecstasy)
• Blocks the reuptake pumps for certain
neurotransmitters like serotonin,
norepinephrine, and dopamine.
• This increases energy and produces a feeling
of euphoria.
• A few hours after use, there is a decrease in
serotonin leading to depression-like
symptoms, causing the user to
then want more of the drug.