10/18 Substance Abuse I - Williams Flashcards
alcohol/drug use disorders as chronic medical conditions
causative factors
- genetic susceptibility
- genetic risk is approx 50% (similar to other chronic conds)
- chronic pathophysiologic/fx changes
- risk factors influenced by choices
- similar tx goals and strategies
- similar clinical outcomes
substance use disorder
criteria
mild/moderate/severe
criteria can be lumped into 4 general buckets
2 or more in 12 months:
-
phamarcological
- withdrawal
- tolerance
- impaired control
- desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down/control use
- great time spent obtaining/using
- craving; strong urges to use
- larger amounts consumed than intended
-
risky use**
- use despite physical or psychological problems
- use when it is hazardous
- social impairment
- use despite problems in relationships
- failure to fulfill roles (work/school/home)
- reduced occupational, recreational activity
mild → 2-3 sx
moderate → 4-5 sx
severe → 6+ sx
classification of substance use disorder
early/sustained remision,
early remission: 3-12mo abstinence
sustained remission: 12+mo abstinence
in controlled environment
on maintenance therapy (opioid)
substance induced disorders
- intoxication
- withdrawal
- substance induced mental disorder
- delirium
- dementia
- amnesia
- psychosis
- mood disorder
- anxiety
- sexual dysfx
- sleep disorder
clinician barriers
- inadequate training/education
- misperceptions/stereotyping
- uncertain about what to do
at risk for drinking criteria
men
- > 4 drinks/day or 14/wk
women
- > 3 drinks/day or 7/wk
1/4 of all of these people will go on to have an alcohol use disorder
CAGE
- ever felt you should CUT DOWN on your drinking?
- every been ANNOYED by people criticizing your drinking?
- ever felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking?
- ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady nerves or take care of a hangover? (EYE OPENER)
2 = positive test
1 = suspicious
assessment of SUD
- clinical interview
- amount, type, frequency
- conseqs of use
- legal
- fxal
- medical
- psychological
- social
- physical exam and labs
alcohol use disorder
male/female
onset
risk factors
male: female = 3:1
onset between 16-30
risk factors:
- tobacco use, depression/anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, some jobs, gambling, fam hx
women experience more medical consequences
fatty liver
experienced by almost all heavy drinkers
- usually asymptomatic
- reversible
alcoholic cirrhosis
4 fx of liver
how alcohol messes with these fxs
liver has many key fx; messing with them leads to issues
- portal HTN
- hepatosplenomegaly
- caput medusae
- esophageal varices
- hemorrhoids
- affected: splenic, umbilical, esophageal, internal hemorrhoidal vv
- detoxifying fx
- decr androgens → gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, decreased axillary/pubic hair, spider angioma or nevi
- buildup of ammonia → asterixis, delirium, encephalopathy
- synthesizing fx
- glucose
- albumin → ascites, edema
- coagulation factors (vitK-dep) → ecchymoses
- bilirubin → jaundice, scleral icterus
- storage fx
- thiamine (B1)
- folate → macrocytic anemia/pallor
- pyridoxine (B6) → pallor/anemia
what to look for in labs for alcohol use disorder
serum and urine toxicology/BAL
LFTs
- GGT > 35; good marker for heavy drinking, normalizes after approx 5wk
- AST, ALT; both abs value and ratio are important, but less sensitive than GGT
- AST:ALT > 2 suggests AUD
MCV
triglycerides
platelets
carbohydrate deficient transferrin
- abnormal form of transferrin
- CDT > 20 g/L indicates heavy drinking
alcohol intoxication
1 or more of the following:
- slurred speech
- incoordination
- unsteady gait
- memory or attn impairment
- stupor or coma
- nystagmus
Wernicke encephalopathy
cause: acute thiamine (B1) deficiency due to dietary depletion
triad of sx:
- confusion
- ataxia
- ophtalmoplegia (eye muscle paralysis - usually lat rectus; nystagmus)
Korsakoff syndrome
cause: chronic thiamine (B1) depletion
NOT REVERSIBLE
sx:
- impaired memory in alert, responsive pt
- confabulation
- retrograde and anterograde memory loss
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
bilateral involvement of mammillary bodies → affects memory
alcohol tx
- intervention
- detox
- rehab
at risk drinkers?
- help patients decrease drinking
- minor intervention