8.1.1 issues around drug taking

Question 1

what is an addiction?

Answer 1

a mental health problem in which an individual takes a substance or engages in a behaviour that is pleasurable but eventually become compulsive with harmful consequences

Question 2

describe the features of drug use in the uk (2022)

Answer 2

• Approximately 1 in 5 adults aged 16 to 24 years (18.6%) reported last year drug use in the year ending June 2022
• 7.4% and 16.2% of adults aged 16 to 59 years and 16 to 24 years, respectively, reported having used Cannabis in the last year
• 2.6% of adults aged 16 to 59 years reported being frequent users of drugs (using them more than once a month in the past year).

Question 3

what is tolerance?

Answer 3

• tolerance means that as a recreational drug is taken over time, more of it will be needed to obtain the euphoric feelings that were produced at first, because the body has adapted to the drug
• tolerance is a physical dependence because the drug will be taken in order for the individual to function normally. It may get to the point where the individual takes a drug to delay the withdrawal symptoms

Question 4

what is withdrawal?

Answer 4

• the physical and emotional symptoms that come when a drug that has been taken for a while is stopped.
• every drug is different when it comes to withdrawal symptoms because they affect neurotransmitters differently

Question 5

what is physical dependence?

Answer 5

• physical dependence means the body has become used to functioning with the drug in its system and so ‘needs’ it for normal functioning of the brain and body.
• present if withdrawal symptoms begin when the drug is no longer taken
• different to addiction because it involves tolerance, needing the drug for normal functioning and withdrawal when stopping the use of a drug due to physical dependence/tolerance.
• Addiction is a beh - it involves not meeting family, social and work obligations. Someone can be physically dependent on a drug and has built up tolerance, yet not be addicted e.g. Caffeine

Question 6

what is psychological dependence?

Answer 6

• the drug is very important in someone’s life and there is an emotional preoccupation with the drug and its effects, as well as a craving for it
• compulsive seeking of the drug to satisfy the need for the drug and this desire is the main motivation in someone’s life