EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

To better understand the disruption caused by the actions of psychoactive drugs, a general knowledge of the normal functioning of the nervous system’s basis unit, the neuron, is required.

First, stimuli from the internal or external environment are received by the appropriate sensory receptor, perhaps an organ such as an eye or an ear.  Once sensed, these stimuli are converted into electrical impulses.  The impulses are then directed along the axon toward the synaptic junction near an adjacent neuron. 

UNDERWEIGHT AND UNDERNOURISHED

For some young adults, the lack of adequate body weight is a serious concern, particularly for those who have inherited a tendency to thinness.  These people would likely fall into a BMI Category of less than 18.5 and be from 10% to 20% below normal on a standard height-weight table.  Males tend to be particularly concerned with too thin a body type, preferring a lean, muscular V-shape appearance.

EATING DISORDERS

Some people have medically identifiable, potentially serious difficulties with body images, body weight, and food selection.  Among these disorders are two that are frequently seen among college students – anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.  In addition, binge eating and disordered eating are also found in college populations.  However, most eating disorders also involve inappropriate food choices and psychological issues.

In the United States, conservative estimates indicate that after puberty 5 to 10 million females and 1 million males are struggling with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.  It is estimated that approximately 8% of college women will develop an eating disorder, and the population most at risk for developing bulimia is college freshmen women.