What is meant by the neurochemistry of a drug

1. What is meant by the neurochemistry of a drug? Identify one neurotransmitter and describe its physiological function in the human brain.

Provide an example to support your description.

2. Describe the so-called “brain reward pathway” and explain its importance to understanding the effects of drug seeking behavior. Provide an example to support your description.

3. Caffeine is currently a legal stimulant. Do you feel that there should be regulation and legislative actions concerning caffeine use?

4. Provide a description of the difference between crack cocaine and powder cocaine? Do you think they should be treated differently regarding the law?

5. What are physiological effects of benzodiazepine use? How can these lead to addiction?

6. Opiates that are prescribed are often abused. Describe the difference between using a medication verses abusing the medication.

7. What are some of the chronic and acute physiological effects of alcohol use?

8. According to the latest version of the DSM, what are the signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder?

9. Describe the medical and spiritual uses of hallucinogens both currently and in the past.

10. Consider the physiological effects of the so-called "designer" drugs. What are the dangers of these drugs?

Describe the potential risks of the following:

1. Over-the-counter drugs
2. Dietary supplements

11. What are some of the reasons why people use performance-enhancing drugs? Do you think that people can become dependent on performance-enhancing drugs?

12. What are some of the reasons why people use performance-enhancing drugs? Do you think that people can become dependent on performance-enhancing drugs?

13. How would you explain the challenges regarding which disorder came first, the mental illness or the addiction? Provide an example to support your explanation.

14. How would you incorporate psychopharmacological treatment when working with a client suffering from anxiety and addiction? What types of medication would you expect the client to be prescribed? What medications should not be prescribed?