Addiction: Reducing Addiction - Drug Therapy

Question 1

What is the drug therapy for nicotine addiction?

Answer 1

Nicotine replacement therapy

Question 2

What is NRT?

Answer 2

A agonist substitution

Question 3

What does NRT do?

Answer 3

Increases neurotransmitter activity

Question 4

What is the aim of NRT?

Answer 4

Provide nicotine from a less harmful source

Question 5

1 - How does NRT work?

Answer 5

Stimulates the nicotine receptors and activates the brain’s reward pathway
Releases dopamine into the limbic system
Stimulates the nucleus accumbens, creates pleasureable feeling

Question 6

1 - What does NRT lead to?

Answer 6

A reduction in nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Stops cravings

Question 7

1 - What is the withdrawal symptom an example of?

Answer 7

Negative reinforcements as the NRT removes the unpleasant circumstances of quitting smoking

Question 8

2 - What does NRT also do?

Answer 8

Desensitises the nicotine receptors in the brain by releasing small amounts of nicotine so that ony some receptors are full with nicotine, not all

Question 9

2 - Over time what happens to the nicotine receptors?

Answer 9

Reduce which means the cigarettes become less rewarding to smoke
Relapse is less likely
Gradually reduce the dosage of nicotine as thei tolerance to nicotine is reduced as the tolerance is reduced

Question 10

What is the drug therapy for gambling addiction?

Answer 10

Opioid Antagonist

Question 11

What does the opioid antagonist do?

Answer 11

Reduce neurotransmitter activity

Question 12

What is the aim of opioid antagonist?

Answer 12

Reduce the pleasureable feeling associated with gambling

Question 13

How does the opioid antagonist work?

Answer 13

Enhances the release of neurotransmittrers GABA in the mesolimbic pathway

Question 14

What deos the increased GABA activity ?

Answer 14

Reduces the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens
Linked with reductions in gambling behaviour

Question 15

1 - Who researched the effectiveness of NRT?

Answer 15

Stead et al

Question 16

1 - What did they do?

Answer 16

Reviewed 150 high quality studies that compared use of NRT with a placebo

Question 17

1 - What did they find?

Answer 17

All forms of NRT (Inhalers,gums, patches) were significantly more effectice in helping smokers quit than placebos and no treatment at all

Question 18

1 - What is the link?

Answer 18

Supports drug therapy as a way of reducing addiction, found to be very effective
Supports how reducing addiction can be achieved through giving nicotine in a less harmful way

Question 19

2 - What is a limitation?

Answer 19

Negative side effects

Question 20

2 - What are the common side effects?

Answer 20

Sleep disruption, stomach problems, dizziness and headaches

Question 21

2 - What is this unlike?

Answer 21

CBT

Question 22

2 - What is the link?

Answer 22

Side effects may cause individual to stop taking drug
Relapse in symptoms, drug therapy is ineffective

Question 23

3 - What is a strength of drug therapy?

Answer 23

Requires little motivation and committment

Question 24

3 - What does the patient have to do?

Answer 24

Only wear a patch or chew gum to reduce their addiction

Question 25

3 - What is this unlike?

Answer 25

CBT which requires more effort and motivation to attend session, complete homework, so they’re more motivated to quit

Question 26

3 - What is the link?

Answer 26

More appropriate treatment for reducing addiction than others such as CBT