3.2.1 Characteristics of Addiction

Question 1

What is addiction?

Answer 1

• Neurological condition characterised by repetitive habit and persistent urge to produce a reward
• seen as a loss of control despite attempts to abstain and relapse rates are high
• characterised by immediate gratification (short term reward) and delayed delirious effects (long term costs)

Question 2

How many categories of addictive substances is there and what are they?

Answer 2

10 : alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives,stimulants, tobacco and other

Question 3

What does the DSM-5 recognise?

Answer 3

Gambling disorder a (behavioural addiction)

Question 4

How does the brain get a high?

Answer 4

Substances activate the reward centres of the brain

Question 5

To be diagnosed with a disorder a patient must be present with…?

Answer 5

2-3 symptoms for a mild addiction
4-5 symptoms for a moderate addiction
6 or more symptoms for a severe addiction

Question 6

Examples of 11 criteria for diagnosis:

Answer 6

• Individual may continue substance use despite knowledge of having persistent or reoccurring physical or psychological problems caused by the substance
• Withdrawal symptoms are present upon ceasing to consume the substance
• Craving is manifested by an intense desire or urge for the drug that may occur at any time

Question 7

What does Walter define addiction as?

Answer 7

The persistent and repetitious enactment of a behaviour pattern

Question 8

What are Walters 4 P’s?

Answer 8

Progression, Preoccupation, Perceived loss of control, Persistence

Question 9

What is salience?

Answer 9

• How important a behaviour becomes to the individual
• Behaviour may become the most important activity for the person
• Without carrying out the behaviour it would consume their thoughts and behaviour

Question 10

What is mood modification?

Answer 10

• Experience when they carry out their addictive
• People will report a rush or buzz when carrying out activity
• Persons choice in activity can have the capacity to achieve different mood modifying events

Question 11

What is tolerance?

Answer 11

• Individual will need more of the drug or behaviour to achieve the same effects as they have built up tolerance to the substance
• An addict will have to increase the amount of activity due to becoming unaffected by smaller doses

Question 12

What are withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 12

• Unpleasant feelings and physical effects that occur when addiction is reduced
• Physical symptoms: insomnia, nausea
• Psychological symptoms: moodiness, irritability
• Symptoms are due to the removal of a chemical to which a person has built tolerance too

Question 13

What is conflict?

Answer 13

• Develop conflicts with people around them
• Many compromise their job or relationships to engage in addictive behaviour
• Develop conflicts with themselves by continuously choosing short term pleasure and relief
• Disregard more severe and long term damage
• In turn need addictive behaviour as a coping strategy

Question 14

What is relapse?

Answer 14

• Addicts will have a strong tendency to return to addictive behaviour
• Commonly seen in nicotine addiction
• Even a couple of cigarettes could cause them to relapse even with years of being clean