Addiction- defining addiction Flashcards
What is addiction
A state in which a person engages in compulsive behaviour despite its harmful consequences
What can long term use cause
Physical dependence
What is physical dependence
A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued. E.g., delirium tremors with alcohol cessation.
What can happen when a person is physically dependent on a something
Normal day-to-day functioning can become reliant on the substance. E.g., having an alcoholic drink before work.
What is psychological dependence
The condition that exists when a person must continue to take a drug in order to satisfy intense mental and emotional craving for the drug.
What does psychological dependence cause
Absence of the drug causes the individual to feel anxious, irritable or depressed, and have cravings for the substance.
What does psychological dependence cause a person to think
That they cannot cope with work and social life without a particular drug such as alcohol or nicotine.
What is tolerance
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug (or behaviour), requiring the user to take larger and larger doses (or behaviours) before experiencing the same effect.
What three ways can the body’s adjustment of chronic use occur in
Metabolic tolerance
Neuroadaptation
Learned tolerance
What is metabolic tolerance
Where enzymes responsible for breaking down the drug become more effective reducing its effect.
What is Neuroadaptation
Where changes at the synapse occur e.g., down regulation may make receptors less sensitive or fewer in number; reducing the effects of drugs/behaviours.
What is learned tolerance
The result of practice as the person has learned to function normally whilst under the influence of drug (and dealing with its effects).
