Addiction and Alcoholism Flashcards
What are the 3 C’s of addiction?
- Control: early social & recreational use
- Compulsion: Drug-seeking activities and cravings
- Chronicity: Relapses (even after years of sobriety)
Addicts seek ____, not _____
control, not abstinence
What are some risk factors for addiction?
- Genetics
- Earlier age of onset
- Childhood trauma
- Learning Disorders & ADD/ADHD
- Mental illness predating use (depression, etc.)
What are methadone and buprenorphine used for?
- Dopamine receptor agonists
- Stabilizes brain function in addicts
Describe the reward pathway of the brain? Which neurotransmitter is involved?
Ventral tegmental area (VTA) → Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) → prefrontal cortex
- Uses dopamine
Where does alcohol activate the reward pathway?
Nucleus accumbens
Where does cocaine activate the reward pathway?
Nucleus accumbens
Where does heroin activate the reward pathway?
Nucleus accumbens and VTA
Where does nicotine activate the reward pahway?
Nucleus accumbens
Alcohol is part of what class of drugs?
Sedatives / Hypnotics
What are some related issues of alcohol abuse?
- Dexofication
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Loss of judgment
- Suicide/Homicide
- DWI/DUI concerns
- Poly-drug use
- Legality issues
Marijuana is part of what class of drugs?
Hallucinogens
What are some related issues of marijuana abuse?
- Lack of motivation
- Arrested development
- Memory & learning problems
- Long detection time
- Legalization issues
Cocaine/Crack are part of what class of drugs?
Stimulants
What are some related issues with cocaine/crack abuse?
- High relapse potential
- High reward
- Cycle: euphoria → agitation → paranoia → crash → sleep → euthymia → craving
- Obsessive rituals
- Risk of permanent paranoia
- No medications available
Methamphetamine is part of what class of drugs?
Stimulants
What are some related issues with methamphetamine abuse?
- High energy level
- Repetitive behavior patterns
- Incoherent thoughts and confusion
- Auditory hallucinations and paranoia
- Binge behavior
- Long-acting
How long can the effects of methamphetamine last?
Up to 12 hours
Heroin is part of what class of drugs?
Opiates
What are some related issues of heroin abuse?
- Detoxification
- Euphoria
- Craving
- Intense withdrawal
- Physical pain
Ecstasy (MDMA), Gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB), and Rohypnol are all examples of ____
- “Club drugs”
- Designer drugs
Ecstasy is associated with ________
Neuron destruction
How does alcohol affect violent behavior?
Disinhibits aggressivity
How do stimulants affect violence?
Produce dose-dependent paranoia
How do opiates affect violence?
- Opiates produce opiate-seeking behavior, which in turn produces violence
- Opiates themselves don’t produce violence