Addiction Flashcards
Addiction [definition]:
The compulsion to use a substance or engage in a behaviour despite its harmful consequences
Physical dependence [definition]:
Habitual use leading to withdrawal syndrome when addictive substance is reduced
Psychological dependence [definition]:
When a drug becomes a central part of an individual’s thoughts, emotions and activities resulting in a strong urge to use the drug
Tolerance [definition]:
When an individual no longer responds to a drug the same way, resulting in larger doses needed to experience the same effect as before
What is physical dependence often accompanied by?
tolerance to drug
What are the three explanations for tolerance?
- Enzymes
- Receptor density
- Learned tolerance
Tolerance [enzyme explanation]:
[3]:
- Enzymes responsible for metabolising the drug do so more efficiently over time
- This results in fewer concentrations of drug in the blood and the sites of drug action
- This makes the effect weaker
Tolerance [receptor density explanation]:
[2]:
- Prolonged drug use leads to changes in receptor density
- This reduces the response to the normal dose of the drug, meaning more is needed
Learned Tolerance [explanation]:
User will experience reduced drug effects because they have learned to function normally under the influence of the drug
What are the phases of withdrawal? [2]:
- Acute withdrawal
- Post-acute withdrawal
Acute withdrawal [3]:
- Begins within hours of drug absence
- Gradually resolves after a few weeks
- Physical cravings addict feels are intense and persistent as body is not used to living w/o drug for so long
Post-acute withdrawal [3]:
- Can last for months or years after person has stopped using drug
- Addict experiences alternating periods of dysfunction and near-normality, causing emotional and psychological turmoil
- cus the brain is slowly regaining and rebalancing itself
What are the types of risk factors for addiction? [5]:
- Genetic vulnerability
- Stress
- Personality
- Family influence
- Peer influence
Genetic vulnerability [definition]:
Inherited characteristics that make someone more likely to develop an addiction
Genetic vulnerability research [2]:
- Suske et al (2010)
- Blum and Payne (1991)
Suske et al (2010) [4]:
- Suske et al (2010) interviewed 2889 pairs of twins
- To investigate genetic and environmental factors to gambling addiction
- Male MZ twins = 49% heritability DZ = 21% heritability
- Female MZ twins = 55% DZ = 21%
Blum and Payne (1991) [4]:
- ppl vulnerable to drug addiction have abnormally low levels of dopamine
- They have a decreased ability to activate dopamine receptors
- This means that anything that increases dopamine causes strong feelings of euphoria
- Blum found variant of dopamine receptor gene linked to low dopamine more common in alcoholic blood
Genetics as a risk factor for addiction [2]:
+ some ppl born with a genetic predisposition to substance abuse
+ It explains the development of addiction & any interaction with the environment
What are examples of genetic mechanisms? [2]:
- Neurotransmitters
- Metabolisms
What is a study that supports genetic vulnerability as a risk factor?
Suske et al (2010)
How is stress a risk factor for addiction? [2]:
- Increased stress = increased vulnerability
- People deal with stressful situations and use addictions to cope/ self-medicate/ forget.
The self-medication model [3]:
- Gelkopf et al (2002)
- Exposure to severe stress linked to vulnerability
- Ppl engage in pathological behaviours to treat psychological symptoms
Traumatic stress vs stress:
Ppl exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to addictions
Traumatic stress as a risk factor research [4]:
- Robins et al (1974)
- Interviewed US soldiers within a year of their return from Vietnam war
- About 50% had used opium or heroin during their tour
- 20% developed a psychological dependence for heroin during vietnam
