Psychology Question

Rapid Review focus Psychoactive drug; Cocaine

Select a psychoactive drug Cocaine that is of pharmacological interest, but not one you will review as part of your Critical Review or one that was included in your previous Rapid Review. For this paper, you may choose drugs of abuse; however, the paper must focus on the pharmacology of the drug and not on the social or addictive aspects. If you focus on addiction and social impact, your paper will not receive credit.

In addition to the text, research a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years on your selected drug. Prepare a three-page summary of the drug using the PSY630 Rapid Review Example paper (Links to an external site.) as a guide.

In your Rapid Review, analyze and explain the pharmacological aspects of the drug as they relate to the following: neurotransmitters affected, receptors, route of administration, half-life, doses, side effects, drug interactions, contraindications, and other important facets of the drug. Explain these aspects of the drug in terms of the psychiatric disorders indicated for the drug and the issue(s) associated with that use. If there is no accepted therapeutic use for the drug, evaluate and describe the actions of the drug with regard to the abuse process.

The paper:

Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length, excluding title page and references page, and it must be formatted according to APA style as outlined 7^th edition.

Paragraph layout for paper:

Description of Drug, Neurotransmitters and Receptors Affected
Route of Administration, Half-life, Dosage
Side Effects, Drug interactions, Contraindications
Psychiatric Disorders Indicated for the Drug OR The Abuse Process of the Drug
Conclusion

Requirements: APA | Analytical Review | 3 pages, Double spaced

Here is a link to the Textbook that I have Chapter 7 covers the psychoactive drug Cocaine;

Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E., & Julien, R. M. (2018). Julien’s primer of drug action: A comprehensive guide to the actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs (14th ed.). Retrieved from https://vitalsource.com

Answer preview

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug manufactured from the leaves of the coca plant in South America. Health care providers can use it for medicinal reasons, such as treating anesthesia for some surgeries. As a street drug, drug dealers often mix it with cornstarch and talcum powder to make it more effective. Cocaine use can disrupt neurotransmission, communication between the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain (Wang, Penmatsa, & Gouaux, 2015). Change neurotransmission in the brain leads to a change in behavior, thinking, and feelings to the user. Neurotransmitters are specialized molecules that carry the signal across the synapses. Cocaine uses particular transmitters such as acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, or glutamate. Cocaine use may affect one transmitter or group of neurotransmitters. Cocaine use stimulates cells directly by activating their receptors for serotonin and indirectly causing the rise of glutamate and neurotransmitter in the brain. Cocaine causes an increase of the dopamine signaling in the brain area called the nucleus accumbens (NAC), resulting in addiction (Advokat, Comaty, Julien, 2018). Cocaine attaches to the receptor for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the cholinergic system. This causes a change in molecular components of receiving and sending process other than receptors.
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