4.3 Biological Aspects of Substance Use Disorders Flashcards by Jose Gracia

Define Substances

The term “substance” used in this course includes anything taken into the body in order to achieve an altered state of mind

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Define Metabolism

the chemical and physical processes involved in the maintenance of life Nutrients
from food. The neurochemistry of well-being

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Define Disease

(1) An interruption, cessation or disorder of body functions, systems or organs.
(2) A morbid entity characterized usually by at least two of these criteria:

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What are the disease criteria?

(a) recognized etiologic agent(s)
(b) identifiable group of signs and symptoms,
(c) consistent anatomical alterations.

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Define Neurotransmitter

a chemical that is released from a nerve cell which then transmits an impulse from one nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue.

A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another.

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Define Acetylcholine

(Ach) translates intention into action between neuron and muscle fiber.

Also linked to attention and neuroplasticity

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Define Norepinephrine

(NE) both a hormone and neurotransmitter, linked to mood, arousal, vigilance, memory, and stress.

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Define Serotonin

(5HT) – called the “calming chemical” of the brain because of its mood, modulating effects. Linked to depression, appetite, sleep, memory, decision making behaviors.

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Define Dopamine

(DA) often called the “pleasure chemical” of the brain.

Involved in motivation, decision making, movement,

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Define Glutamate

most excitatory neurotransmitter. Too much glutamate can result in death or stroke. Role in learning and helping to form memories

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Define Gamma-Aminobutyric

(GABA) most inhibitory neurotransmitter (opposite of glutamate). Linked to seizures.

Plays important role in brain development. Implicated in addiction brain circuitry

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Define Agonist

A drug that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter at the receptor site.

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Define Antagonist

A substance that tends to nullify the action of another, such as a drug that binds to
a receptor without eliciting a biological response.

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Define Lethal Dose

expressed as a ratio for a given dose of a drug the number of people expected to
die (e.g., LD 1 indicates that 1 person out of 100 people will die if given that specific amount of
the drug, or their blood serum levels reach that specific level)

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What are the biological (medical) aspects of alcohol contamination?

Consumption of alcohol in high amounts is a major cause of illness, injury and early death.
Some of the most preventable illnesses known are due to abusive alcohol consumption.

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What are the properties of alcohol?

(1) Toxin
(2) Anesthetic/Sedative
(3) Disinhibitor
(4) CNS Depressant:
(5) Cerebellar irritant
(6) Selectively Addictive
(7) Vaso-constrictor/dilator
(8) Solvent
(9) Dehydrant

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What are alcohol’s effect on the digestive system?

Mouth/GI Tract
Secretion of hydrochloric acid
Pancreas
Liver
Alcoholic Cirrhosis

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How does alcohol stimulate secretion of hydrochloric acid?

(a) Causes irritation of the stomach lining.
(b) Results may be inflammation of stomach lining, pain or bleeding

(c) Frequent excessive intake of alcohol interferes with absorption of food, iron, calcium,
magnesium, and vitamins in the small intestine, leading to serious nutritional
deficiencies.

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How does alcohol affect the Pancreas?

(a) Alcohol causes inflammation of the pancreatic cells, interfering with the digestion of food and promoting a foul-smelling diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and severe pain.
(b) Acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) often appears after 5-10 years of drinking the equivalent of one pint per day.
(c) The pancreas produces insulin, necessary for the body to use sugar. Prolonged pancreatitis may reduce or stop the

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What are the two forms of liver disease associated with alcoholism?

Fatty Liver
Alcoholic Hepatitis
Alcoholic Cirrhosis

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When blood backs in other vessels particular in esophagus and the rectum, what the medical issues.

Hemorrhoids
Varicose Veins
Esophageal Varices

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What is plasma?

The liquid part of the blood

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What is it called when red blood cells are in adequate in alcoholics?

Anemia

What are alcohols effects on the cardiovascular system?

Causes vessels in skin to dilate.
Increased workload of the heart
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Beriberi heart disease

What are alcohols effects on the nervous system?

1. Wernicke's Syndrome | 2. Korsakoff's Psychosis

Does alcohol affect cancer?

Excessive intake of alcohol increases the risk of certain forms of cancer

What types of cancer is associated with alcohol consumption?

1. Head and neck cancer 2. Esophageal cancer 3. Liver cancer 4. Breast cancer 5. Colorectal cancer

How does alcohol metabolized in the human body?

80% of consume alcohol is metabolized by the ADH pathway. 20% is metabolized by the MEOS

What is the measurement of a standard drink?

.5 ounces of pure alcohol. Alcohol drinks come in various containers

One 12 ounce beer equals how many percent of alcohol?

Average is 4% alcohol

One 1.5 ounce shot of hard liquor equals to how many percent or proof of alcohol?

40% or 80 proof

15 ounce glass of wine equals how many percent of alcohol?

11%

Chemicals in the brain that carry messages are known as what?

Neurotransmitters and other names such as Epinephrine, nor epinephrine, and serotonin

Acetaldehyde interacts with some of the neurotransmitters to form a new substance known as the _____________

Tetrahydroisoquinilone (THIQ’s or TIQ’s)

What is another name for the nerve cells?

Neurons

Through the activity of neurons, the body responds and adjust to changes in the environment what is that called?

Stimuli

What makes up a nerve cell?

1. Dendrites 2. Cell body 3. Axon 4. Vesicle 5. Neurotransmitters 6. Synapse 7. Receptor site

How does Cell Body work?

1) Provides nutrients to the cell for cell survival | 2) Impulses pass through cell body to the Axon

How does dendrites work?

1) Receive electrical impulses from Receptors | 2) Transmit impulses toward the cell body

How does Axon work?

1) Transmits electrical impulses away from cell body | 2) Delivers impulses to the Vesicle

How does vesicle work?

1) Identifies the type of impulse (e.g. pain, elation, etc.) 2) Translates electrical impulse to chemical message 3) Transporter sites release pertinent chemical message into the synapse 4) Reuptake sites recover chemicals from synapse and return to storage

How does neurotransmitters work?

1) Float from Transport site to Receptor site 2) Once released from Receptor site, return to Vesicle through Reuptake site

How does synapse work?

1) Provide space for transmission of chemical messages 2) Returns chemicals to Vesicle after they are used 3) Provides transportation of chemicals that are manufactured in places other than Vesicles

How does receptor site work?

1) Receives chemical messages from Vesicles 2) translates chemical messages into electrical messages 3) Releases chemicals back into synapse

What effects of alcohol on neurons?

1. Impairment 2. Adaptation of neurons 3. Recovery of neurons

What are the effects of cocaine on neurons?

1. Impairment 2. Adaptation of neurons 3. Recovery of neurons

This is the outer most part of the brain which controls abstract thought, learning and adjustment, therefore, from the very first drink judgment is affected. What are the doses and BAC?

Cerebral cortex | 1-3 Doses BAC .01-.04

This part of the brain controls the senses (hearing, smell, taste, and touch).

Sensory motor strips

What is the most important senses that is impaired by the consumption of alcohol?

Vision

How many percent of the information required for the driving task is provided from our vision?

90%

Impairment of the vision starts at how many BAC?

.03

This part of the brain controls the regulation of movement, balance, coordination, and large muscle activity. Examples of impairment behavior at this level includes knocking over drinks and difficulty walking. How many doses and BAC?

Cerebellum | 8 to 12 doses BAC .16-.30

How many types of PAW symptoms are there?

Six

What are the types of PAW symptoms?

1. Inability to think clearly 2. Memory problems 3. Emotional overreactions or numbness 4. Sleep disturbances 5. Physical coordination problems 6. Stress sensitivity

Describe in ability to think clearly?

1. Inability to concentrate 2. Impairment of abstract reasoning 3. Rigid and repetitive thinking

How to manage PAW symptoms?

1. Stabilization 2. Education and retraining 3. Self protect behavior 4. Nutrition 5. Exercise 6. Relaxation 7. Spirituality 8. Balanced living