Addiction - 01 Describing addiction: physical and psychological dependence, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

Question 1

What are the 2 types of dependence?

Answer 1

1-physical dependence
2-psychological dependence

Question 2

What is physical dependence?

Answer 2

-can only be established when someone stops using a substance and they experience withdrawal symptoms
-follows heavy daily use over long period of time

Question 3

What is psychological dependence?

Answer 3

-emotional need despite no physical need
-becomes central part of thoughts emotions and activities
-strong urge to use despite being aware of harmful effects

Question 4

What is tolerance?

Answer 4

-the way that someone who has become physically dependent on a substance no longer responds to it in the same way

Question 5

What does increased tolerance result in?

Answer 5

addict needs to keep increasing the dose in order to feel the same effect as before

Question 6

What are the 3 types of tolerance?

Answer 6

1-metabolic tolerance
2-cellular tolerance
3-learned tolerance

Question 7

What is metabolic tolerance?

Answer 7

substance is metabolised quicker and so leaves the body quicker so the effect is weaker

Question 8

What is cellular tolerance?

Answer 8

changes in the responsiveness of the neurons due to the brains attempt to recalibrate to higher levels of the drug

Question 9

What is learned tolerance?

Answer 9

A user will experience reduced drug effects because they have learned to function normally when under the influence

Question 10

What is withdrawal syndrome?

Answer 10

A collection of symptoms associated with abstaining from a drug or reducing its use

Question 11

What does nicotine withdrawal look like?

Answer 11

irritability, anxiety, increased appetite, weight gain and restlessness

Question 12

What three factors determine the severity of the withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 12

1)half-life of the drug
2)amount consumed
3)drug use pattern

Question 13

What is a half-life of a drug and how does this effect withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 13

-time taken to eliminate half the drug from the body
-the shorter the half-life, the more intense the withdrawal symptoms

Question 14

How does amount consumed effect withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 14

if larger amounts are consumed then withdrawal will be greater

Question 15

How does drug use patterns effect withdrawal symptoms?

Answer 15

if drug use is frequent then it will be in the body for most of the day, this means that physical dependence will be greater and consequently effects of withdrawal will be greater