_ch. 19 Addiction Flashcards
Five most addictive substances
Most addictive substance
+ Alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine
+ alcohol by 200%
One standard drink
+ Beer - 12 ounce of 5% alcohol
+ Wine – 5 ounce glass, 12% alcohol
+ Hard liquor – shot – 1.5 ounces 40% alcohol.
Low risk drinking limits
+ Women: > 3 drinks per day, > 7 drinks per week
+ men: > 4 drinks per day, > 14 drinks per week
Tips for cutting down alcohol use – 7 total
+ Measure and count
+ set goals
+ pace/space
+ EAT
+ avoid triggers
+ plan for urges
+ know your NO
4 C’s of addiction
+ Chronic
+ cognitive issues
+ cravings
+ compulsive
Signs of intoxication – CNS depressants
+ Slurred speech + in coordination/staggering + drowsiness
+ lowered inhibitions = impulsivity for sex / aggression
+ impaired judgment
+ social/occupational problems
Physical problems – alcohol related
+ Cirrhosis of the liver
+ pancreatitis
+ ulcers
+ esophageal varices
+ malabsorption of vitamins: folic acid, vitamin B1/thiamine, vitamin B 12
+ cardiomyopathy
+ myopathies
Blood tests to determine alcohol misuse
+ ALT/AST
+ lipase/amylase
+ tox screen
+ BAL – blood alcohol level
How does alcohol dull the “awake” centers?
+ By blocking neurotransmission
Existing health problems that worsen with alcohol abuse
+ Liver disease
+ heart disease and hypertension
+ diabetes
+ ulcers/stomach issues
+ depression/anxiety
+ sleep problems 
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms
+ ⬆️ BP/pulse
+ anxiety
+ insomnia
+ tremors
+ illusions/confusion
+ nausea/vomiting/anorexia
Alcohol withdrawal timeline
+ Symptoms begin 6 hours after last drink
+ symptoms peak/disappear 24 to 48 hours after last drink
+ delirium tremens begins 48 to 72 hours – medical emergencies
Mild symptoms of alcohol withdrawal – 6 to 24 hours
+ mild excitation, mild tremors
+ diaphoresis, nausea
+ anxiety
+ rapid heart rate
+ increase BP
2nd cluster of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and timing
+12 to 48 hours post abstinence
+ excessive neuronal excitation
+ gross tremors, anxiety, agitation
+ insomnia, disorientation
+ anorexia, weakness
+ visual/auditory hallucinations
+ headache
+ possibly seizures – tonic clonic
+ hallucinations begin
3rd cluster symptoms - alcohol withdrawal
+ Symptoms characterized by delirium tremens
+ Medical emergency – 20% mortality
+ death due to heart problems, aspiration, pneumonia, hyperpyrexia
+ delirium, disorientation, visual, and tactile hallucinations, illusions, paranoid delusions, agitation, raise vital signs