Addiction and Adult ADHD Flashcards
The key neurotransmitter involved in reward pathway is __
dopamine
Significant amount of dopamine is released in the prefrontal cortex (via the ___ pathway)
mesocortical
The prefrontal cortex is involved in __, __, and __
Brain learns value/worth of certain behaviors -> impacts future planning, decision-making
- planning,
- organization,
- decision-making
The mesocorticolimibic projection is made of __ + ___
mesolimibic pathway
mesocortical pathway
What are natural rewards
- Eating, drinking, nurturing infants, sex
- These are all activities that keep humans alive individually and as a species -> evolutionary benefit to having these trigger increased dopamine levels
Describe drugs effects on the reward pathway
-Drugs are highly rewarding via increased dopamine levels/longer duration of dopamine in the brain!
- Drugs that increase DA release
- DA reuptake inhibitors/DA present in synapse longer Drugs
- cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin
- Cocaine, amphetamines
Describe Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement for these behaviors via increased dopamine release -> people keep engaging in these behaviors (stimuli -> dopamine -> repeat)
Describe positive reinforcement and the concept of “what fires together, wires together”
- Behavior produces + reward–> Dopamine
- the + reward makes the behavior more likely to occur
- “Fires together, wires together”– brain forms fast connections btwn things that happen together so we can predict what may happen based on connection we have made in similar situations previously
Give an example of + reinforcement and the concept “what fires together, wires together”
Example of beginning to use heroin in a friend’s car in a parking lot in Target at a certain time
- Heroin -> increased dopamine -> rewarding -> continue using heroin
- Then start to associate heroin to the situation and people that you usually are with when using heroin
- Pretty soon whenever they see the same car as their friend’s car -> have a craving for heroin
- Then becomes generalized to every time they pass a Target -> have a craving for heroin
- Can also then having cravings every time they see the friend they usually shoot up with
*Craving are not just about seeing/smelling heroin -> many aspects of their general life can trigger cravings
How do drugs encourage behavior via negative reinforcement?
- Neg. reinforcement encourages behavior- allows person to escape negative experiences
- Physical symptoms (withdrawal sx – n/v/d, body aches, dysphoria, feeling of doom/darkness)
- Emotions (guilt, shame, depression, anxiety)
- Trauma (either ongoing or PTSD, “self-medicating”) - Punishment discourages behavior
- Punishment= behavior then neg. consequence
- Punishment can lose potency over time
Reasons for initial drug use
- Positive reinforcement via increased dopamine levels
2. Experience euphoria -> want to continue using drug to experience same sensation
Reasons for persistent drug use
- Negative reinforcement (withdrawal sx) encourages drug use
- Quickly move from euphoric phase of drug use to experiencing withdrawal sx
- Must use drug to prevent withdrawal or even to feel “normal”
Perspective of addiction as an __ response to environment
adaptive
-Trauma/loss, systemic/generational oppression, racism, mental anguish (depression, anxiety), social insecurity/phobia, isolation, boredom
What is the Rat Park Study
- 2 rats in different environments
- 2 water bottles in each environment: 1 with water and 1 with cocaine (a sweetener was used so water tasted the same)
- 1 rat was placed in a plain cage
- Very quickly began to use the cocaine laced water bottle almost exclusively - 1 rat was placed “rat park”- had good food, lots of stimulation (puzzles, wheel)
- Tried both water bottles, but then almost exclusively chose to use the plain water bottle
* **Substance abuse may have a great deal of dependence on our external environment (being bored, lonely really matters on continuing to use!)
What are the 5 C’s for substance use disorder
- Craving
- Compulsive use
- Continued use despite harm (consequences)
- Chronicity
- Control, loss of
What are Cravings?
- Cravings are often described as this overwhelming idea or thought in my mind to engage in an activity
- Must engage in activity to get on with their day
- Bothersome type of experience
- Cannot control behavior of using more and more of substance, even if do not want to
ex. Have 10 oxycodone to last 3 days, but use them all in 3 hours
Compulsive use
- Lose job, family, friends, health (develop endocarditis, hepatitis)
- Means they cannot stop using substance without support/rehab
Continued use despite harm
Describe chronic vs acute substance use
Every other day for 6 months (chronic) vs. use for 3 days every 6 months (acute)
Other features of substance abuse disorder
- Inability to fulfill work or social obligations
- Use in dangerous situations
- Legal problems
- Interpersonal problems
- Mild (1-3), Moderate (4-5), Severe (6+)
needing to increasing doses of a substance to achieve the desired effect
Tolerance
*Physiologic effect/adaptation to a substance
___ is not in physical consciousness or control
Tolerance, dependence
physiologic adaptation to presence of substance, such that the substance is now required to maintain homeostasis
Dependence
substance specific set of symptoms related to absence of substance of dependence
Withdrawal
*Occurs when dependence has developed, and then person abruptly stops using substance
Body has adapted to functioning to a certain level of substance -> without substance -> develop withdrawal symptoms until
body is able to achieve homeostasis again in the absence of the substance
__ does not equal addiction
Withdrawal
What meds tx opiate abuse
- Methadone (full opioid agonist) dosed 1-2x day (long acting)
- Buprenorophine (1-3x/day or every other day)
- Suboxone (buprenorphine + naloxone)
- Naltrexone
Describe where/how Methadone is prescribed
- Regulated by federal and state authorities
- can only be provided for the treatment of addiction from one of these specially designated clinics (cannot be prescribed as an outpatient)
- If being used to tx addiction, must be prescribed at a specialty clinic= Liquid form of methadone used at specialty clinics
- Can only be prescribed outpatient for pain management= Tablet form of methadone used for outpatient pain management
Partial opioid agonist (high affinity for opioid receptors -> binds receptors more tightly than heroin)
Buprenorphine
Describe how suboxone/buprenorphine can be prescribed
Outpatient prescription
- Filled at pharmacy
- Patient can take medication at home
- Prescribed by provider (MD/DO, NP, or PA) who completes training
July 2016 CARE act -> NPs and PAs can now prescribe Suboxone***
- Requires 24 hrs of training, then applying to DEA fro waiver
- Can treat 30 patients in first year, then up to 100 pts/year
Opioid antagonist (disrupts reward pathway) Approved for treatment of alcohol and/or opiate use
Naltrexone
*Not Antabuse (disulfiram) – will not have a violent reaction to alcohol, but if drink while taking medication, might not like it as much
Describe how Naltrexone is prescribed
- No special training or license required (but special pharmacy support required for Vivitrol)
- Daily oral tablet (Depade) or monthly injection (Vivitrol)
Length of medication treatment for addiction
- Suggest a minimum of 12 months to allow for both sufficient time for neurobiochemistry and lifestyle changes
- No upper limit to duration of treatment (Can stay on medications as long as they are needed)
*Some people are highly motivated to get off maintenance therapy