Alternative Consciousness

Drugs and Thugs ◽

10.12987/yale/9780300240344.003.0010 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 117-132

Author(s):

Russell Crandall

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Receptors ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Sensory Input ◽

Psychedelic Drugs ◽

Limited Supply ◽

Unites States ◽

National Effort

This chapter stresses how illicit drugs were difficult to obtain in America and were often heavily diluted by the early 1940s. It illustrates the conditions that limited the supply of drugs in the Unites States, such as the massive diversion of resources toward a single national effort, the militarization of almost every major sea passage, an extremely limited supply of private aircraft and navigable international airspace. It also recounts how cannabis became a potent fuel for the countercultural awakening that began to spread across the nation after the war. The chapter focuses on the term “psychedelic drugs,” which is generally taken to mean a class of substance that primarily affects cognition and perception. It identifies how psychedelic alkaloids such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT, and mescaline bind to serotonin receptors thought to regulate sensory input and interpretation.

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Drug Subcultures in the American City, 1800–present

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.564 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Chris Elcock

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Lysergic Acid ◽

American City ◽

Medical Practitioners ◽

Psychedelic Drugs ◽

History Of ◽

The 19Th Century ◽

Us Cities ◽

Scholarly Attention

The use of illicit drugs in US cities led to the development of important subcultures with shared practices, codes, discourses, and values. From the 19th century onward, American city dwellers have indulged in opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), crack, and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (also known as MDMA or ecstasy). The population density of metropolitan America contributed to the spread of substance use and the rise of communities that centered their lives on drug consumption. In the history of urban drug use, opiates have outlasted all the other drugs and have naturally attracted the bulk of scholarly attention. The nature and identity of these illicit subcultures usually depended on the pharmacology of the drugs and the setting in which they were used. Addictive substances like heroin and amphetamines certainly led to the rise of crime in certain urban areas, but by the same token many urban Americans managed to integrate their addiction into their everyday lives. The more complex pharmacology of psychedelic drugs like LSD in turn gave birth to rich subcultures that resist easy classifications. Most drugs began their careers as medical marvels that were accepted as the product of modernity and often used by the middle class or medical practitioners. Race, age, and class prejudice, and the association of drugs with visible subcultures perceived to pose a threat to the moral fabric of society can partly explain their subsequent bans.

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Emergency Department Admission and Mortality Rate for Suicidal Behavior

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000282 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 406-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Raimondo Maria Pavarin ◽

Angelo Fioritti ◽

Francesca Fontana ◽

Silvia Marani ◽

Alessandra Paparelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Cox Model ◽

Emergency Department Admission ◽

Completed Suicide

Background: The international literature reports that for every completed suicide there are between 8 and 22 visits to an Emergency Department (ED) for attempted suicide/suicidal behavior. Aims: To describe the characteristics of admission to emergency departments (EDs) for suicide-related presenting complaints in the metropolitan area of Bologna; to estimate the risk for all-cause mortality and for suicide; to identify the profiles of subjects most at risk. Method: Follow-up of patients admitted to the EDs of the metropolitan area of Bologna between January 2004 and December 2010 for attempted suicide. A Cox model was used to evaluate the association between sociodemographic variables and the general mortality risk. Results: We identified 505 cases of attempted suicide, which were more frequent for female subjects, over the weekend, and at night (8:00 p.m./8:00 a.m.). The most used suicide methods were psychotropic drugs, sharp or blunt objects, and jumping from high places. In this cohort, 3.6% of subjects completed suicide (4.5% of males vs. 2.9% of females), 2.3% within 1 year of the start of follow-up. The most common causes of death were drug use and hanging. In the multivariate analysis, those who used illicit drugs 24 hr prior to admission to the ED (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.23–9.73) and patients who refused the treatment (HR = 6.74, 95% CI = 1.86–24.40) showed an increased mortality risk for suicide. Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm patients presenting to the ED who refuse treatment represent a specific target group for setting up dedicated prevention schemes.

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The Use of Prescription Drugs and Drugs of Abuse for Neuroenhancement in Europe

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000228 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 155-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Larissa J. Maier ◽

Michael P. Schaub

Keyword(s):

Prescription Drugs ◽

Illicit Drugs ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Low Dose ◽

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Mental Performance ◽

Or Education ◽

Learning Techniques ◽

Monitoring The Future ◽

Definition Of

Abstract. Pharmacological neuroenhancement, defined as the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol for the purpose of enhancing cognition, mood, or prosocial behavior, is not widespread in Europe – nevertheless, it does occur. Thus far, no drug has been proven as safe and effective for cognitive enhancement in otherwise healthy individuals. European studies have investigated the misuse of prescription and illicit stimulants to increase cognitive performance as well as the use of tranquilizers, alcohol, and cannabis to cope with stress related to work or education. Young people in educational settings report pharmacological neuroenhancement more frequently than those in other settings. Although the regular use of drugs for neuroenhancement is not common in Europe, the irregular and low-dose usage of neuroenhancers might cause adverse reactions. Previous studies have revealed that obtaining adequate amounts of sleep and using successful learning techniques effectively improve mental performance, whereas pharmacological neuroenhancement is associated with ambiguous effects. Therefore, non-substance-related alternatives should be promoted to cope with stressful situations. This paper reviews the recent research on pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe, develops a clear definition of the substances used, and formulates recommendations for practitioners regarding how to react to requests for neuroenhancement drug prescriptions. We conclude that monitoring the future development of pharmacological neuroenhancement in Europe is important to provide effective preventive measures when required. Furthermore, substance use to cope with stress related to work or education should be studied in depth because it is likely more prevalent and dangerous than direct neuroenhancement.

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