6B: Drugs of Abuse Flashcards
What is another term for the reward pathway?
Regulated by?
What does this pathway include?
mesolimbic p athway/ Regulated by dopamine
Ventral tegmental area ( VTA), amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex
Function
a) Ventral tegmental area
b) Amygdala
c) Nucleus accumbens
d) Hippocampus
e) prefrontal cortex
VTA: produce dopamine Amygdala: produce emotion Nucleus accumbens: control motor function Hippocampus: memory formation Prefrontal cortex: focus attention
Explain the reward pathway
VTA releases dopamine and receptors uptake dopamine
Amygdala says it is tasty
Hippocampus remembers the taste of the bite
Nucleus accumbens say let’s take another bite
Prefrontal cortex focuses attention on it
What is methadone used for?
Mechanism of it
used to treat opioid addiction
Cause slow activation of opiate receptors–> decreasing high and decreasing withdrawal symptoms
How to treat nicotine addiction?
Mechanism
Nicotine replacement therapy
Deliver low level of nicotine to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms
Which therapy is used for cognitive distortions and behaviors
Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of talk therapy focused on cognitive distortions and behavior to change thinking pattern
What is a motivational interview?
“person-centered” approach to behavior change, where clinicians identify intrinsic motivation to change and help them address ambivalence
What is a 12 step program?
Group therapy to overcome addiction
What are three key ideas for the 12 step program?
Acceptance=accknowledge addiction is a probrem
Surrender= accept help offered through group and higher power
Active involvement= help other addicts
Relapse
when a patient can slip and go back–> it is hard to stay clean
What are depressants? 3 examples
decrease arousal and brain stimulation: calmative,
sleep-inducing, anxiety-inducing, and anesthetizing
GABA receptors
alcohol, barbiturate, and benzodiazepines
What are stimulants? 4 examples
Increase arousal and activity in the nervous system
Dopamine receptors
caffeine, cocaine, nicotine, and amphetamine
What are hallucinogens? 4 examples
Cause hallucination changes perception, thought, and consciousness
5HT serotonin receptors
Mescaline, LSD, DMT, and psilocybin
Opiate vs opioid
Natural vs synthetic: decrease sensation of pain
Opioid receptor
decrease CNS function, HR/BP, and induce sleep
Intoxification
physical and mental impairment due to the influence of drugs
What are two types of withdrawal? Define each
acute withdrawal: physical withdrawal ( few weeks)
post-acute withdrawal ( up to 2 years) : emotional and psychological withdrawal: sleep difficulities, anxiety, impaired concentration
Substance-induced disorders
Disorders caused by substance, such as disorder relating mood, anxiety, sleep
Substance-used disorders
Significant impairment in life at work/school/home due to substance use
Usage patterns = failing to meet expectations, frequent cravings
Withdrawal symptoms are common
symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Drug to treat
begin 4-12 hours, peak at 2 days, improve after 4-5 days
symptoms: hand tremors, delirium tremens, insomnia, and fever
Treat with benzodiazepine
Receptor-down regulation
Repeated exposure of receptor to ligand results in fewer
available receptors
Receptor-up regulation
More available receptors as a result of decreased exposure of receptors to ligand
Physical dependence comprises of
Neurochemical changes
withdrawal symptoms: tremor, headache, nausea,
tolerance: larger doses required for the same effects
psychological dependence:
Comprised of cravings, anxiety, panic and anhedonia
Cross-tolerance
Tolerance to one drug results in changes in tolerance to another drug
