Stimulants

Chapters 4, 12, 14

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 Objectives
• To provide information about stimulants
• To assist students in understanding consequences
of stimulant use
• To assist students in understanding drug
interactions
• To educate students about the symptoms of
toxicity, overdose and withdrawal
• To motivate students to make informed choices
about stimulant use
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 Introduction
• Stimulants are drugs that act to “wake up” the
fight or flight reaction from the sympathetic
nervous system.
• Stimulants can be found in everything from food
and drink to over the counter medication to
prescriptions and illicit drugs.

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 Description/terms
• Amphetamines Stimulant Fact Sheet
• Caffeine Caffeine Facts
• Decongestants
Overview of Decongestants (i.e. Sudafed)
• Methamphetamines
Methamphetamine Online Reading

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 Terms cont…
• Ritalin/Adderall
– Ritalin
– Ritalin Part II
– Adderall

• Cocaine: Cocaine Overview

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 Amphetamines

• Methamphetamine WebCast
• Methamphetamine Quick Reference
• Methamphetamine Technical Information

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 Cocaine

• Cocaine Overview
• Cocaine Technical Information
• Cocaine WebCast

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 Metabolism/ Tolerance
• Regular use of amphetamines induces tolerance to
some effects,
• The most common symptoms of withdrawal
among heavy amphetamine users are fatigue, long
but troubled sleep, irritability, intense hunger, and
moderate to severe depression, fits of violence

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 Effects and Symptoms of
Toxicity
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism;
feelings of exhilaration, energy, increased mental
alertness /rapid or irregular heart beat; reduced
appetite, weight loss, heart failure, nervousness,
insomnia
• Also, for amphetamine—rapid breathing/ tremor,
loss of coordination; irritability, anxiousness,
restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive
behavior, aggressiveness, tolerance, addiction,
psychosis
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 Toxicity cont…
• For cocaine—increased temperature/chest pain,
respiratory failure, nausea, abdominal pain, strokes,
seizures, headaches, malnutrition, panic attacks
• For MDMA—mild hallucinogenic effects, increased
tactile sensitivity, empathic feelings/impaired memory
and learning, hyperthermia, cardiac toxicity, renal
failure, liver toxicity
• For methamphetamine—aggression, violence, psychotic
behavior/memory loss, cardiac and neurological
damage; impaired memory and learning, tolerance,
addiction
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 Issues in Pregnancy

• March of Dimes Report on Stimulants and Pregnancy

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 Effects on
Sports Performance
• Caffeine in Athletics by Jack Hartley
• Herbal Supplements and Sport Performance
• ESPN Drugs and Sports
• Drug Free Sport--NCAA

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 Rumors and Myths

MYTH:
Stimulants are safe for anyone to take because they are a
prescription medication.
FACT:
Stimulant medications are only to be taken by the person to
whom it was prescribed as prescribed by qualified healthcare
professionals.
MYTH:
Stimulants are addictive.
FACT:
There is no evidence to suggest that people taking stimulant
medications as prescribed become addicted to the
medications
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 Additional Resources
• Cocaine & the Concept of Addiction by S. Peele, Ph.D. & R.
J. DeGrandpre (Addiction Research in press)
• Jamaican Chocolate by Dr. R. J. Lancashire
• Researchers learn how Ritalin works to calm hyperactivity
(CNN 1/14/99)
• Diagnosis and Evaluation of the Child With Attention-Deficit-Hyp
(American Academy of Pediatrics 5/2000)
• Evidence and belief in ADHD by M. Zwi, P. Ramchandani, &
C. Joughin (BMJ 2000;321:975-976)

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 Resources cont…
• FDA Clears Use of Adderall
for Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (Doctors
Guide 2/21/96)
• Recreational Ritalin by N. Ziegler (AP 5/5/2000)
• NICE issues new guidelines on Ritalin by R. Dobson
(BMJ 2000;321:1100)
• Study Suggests Tailoring ADHD Treatment (Science
Daily Magazine 2/4/2000)
• US parents sue psychiatrists for promoting Ritalin by F.
Charatan (BMJ 2000;321:723)
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 Summary
• Overview: Online Methamphetamine Reading
• Responsible use
– Do not mix decongestants with other stimulants
including caffeine
– Drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration from
decongestants
– Try non-drug alternatives first
– Take prescriptions as prescribed
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