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| There are 109 entries in the glossary. | |
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| Term | Definition |
| Narcotic | a drug (as codeine, methadone, or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether in fact physiologically addictive and narcotic or not |
| Neuron | Nerve cell. Neurons are unique cells found in the brain and body that are specialized to process and transmit information. |
| Neurotoxins | Substances that can damage or kill neurons. |
| Neurotransmission | The process that occurs when a neuron releases neurotransmitters to communicate with another neuron across the synapse. |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemicals produced by neurons to carry their messages to other neurons. |
| Nicotine | The drug in tobacco that is addictive. Nicotine also activates a specific kind of acetylcholine receptor. |
| Nitrites | A special class of inhalants that act primarily to dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles. Whereas other inhalants are used to alter mood, nitrites are used primarily as sexual enhancers. (See also amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite). |
| Nitrous oxide |
An inhalant, also known as "laughing
gas." Nitrous oxide is a weak anesthetic that does not produce
unconsciousness. Repeated use of "nitrous" can cause the fatty
tissue in the brain to deteriorate, resulting in severe headaches,
hallucinations, hand and foot numbness and spasms in arms and legs. |
| Norepinephrine |
A neurotransmitter and a hormone. It
is released by the sympathetic nervous system onto the heart, blood vessels,
and other organs and by the adrenal gland into the bloodstream as part of the
fight-or-flight response. Norepinephrine is also present in the brain and is
used as a neurotransmitter in normal brain processes. |
| Opiate Receptors | The opiate receptor and other brain receptors are proteins located on the surfaces of nerve cells, or neurons. The brain works through neurons communicating with each other by releasing signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemicals attach to receptors on nearby neurons the way a key fits a lock. Opiates bind spcifically to opiate receptors. |
| Opiates |
Any of the psychoactive drugs that
originate from the opium poppy or that have a chemical structure like the drugs
derived from opium. Such drugs include opium, codeine, and morphine (derived
from the plant), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone, and meperidine
(Demerol), which were first synthesized by chemists. |
| Opioid | Any chemical that has opiate-like effects; commonly used to refer to neurochemicals that activate opiate receptors (see Opiate Receptors). |
| Organic solvents | One class of inhalants that includes substances such as gasoline, paint thinner, and glue. Organic solvents are neurotoxic because they dissolve fatty substances, including the axon's myeline sheath. |
| Outpatient treatment | Nonresidential treatment for drug addiction. Patients live at home, often work, and come to a clinic for treatment. |
| Overdose | The condition that results when too much of a drug is taken, making a person sick or unconscious and sometimes resulting in death. |
| PCP | Phencyclidine (PCP): Originally developed as an anesthetic, PCP may act as an hallucinogen, stimulant, or sedative. |
| Physical dependence | An adaptive physiological state that occurs with regular drug use and results in a withdrawal syndrome when drug use is stopped; usually occurs with tolerance. |
| Pituitary Gland | An endocrine organ closely linked with the hypothalamus. The pituitary secretes a number of hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine organs in the human body. |
| Psychoactive | Having a specific effect on the mind. |
| Receptor | A large molecule that recognizes specific chemicals (normally neurotransmitters, hormones, and similar endogenous substances) and transmits the message carried by the chemical into the cell on which the receptor resides. |
| Relapse | In drug abuse, relapse is the resumption of drug use after trying to stop taking drugs. Relapse is a common occurrence in many chronic disorders, including addiction, that require behavioral adjustments to treat effectively. |
| Rush | A surge of pleasure that rapidly follows administration of some drugs. |
| Second-Hand Smoke (Passive Inhalation) | Exposure of non-smoking subjects to side-stream smoke from active smokers, thereby raising the possibility that a non-user... may test positive. |
| Serotonin | A neurotransmitter that regulates many functions,including mood, appetite, and sensory perception. |
| Steroid | A drug which increases the development of your muscles, sometimes taken illegally by people taking part in sports competitions. |
| Glossary V2.0 | |
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