Addiction Symposium

Question 1

what is tolerance?

Answer 1

Reduced responsiveness to a drug caused by previous administration

Question 2

what is dispositional tolerance ?

Answer 2

less drug reaches the active site

• decreased absorption
• increased metabolism
• increased excretion

Question 3

what is pharmacodynamic tolerance ?

Answer 3

Drug has less action at the active site

- fewer or less efficient receptors

Question 4

what is the withdrawal effect of opioids?

Answer 4

diarrhoea

Question 5

what is the withdrawal effect of barbiturate?

Answer 5

convulsions

Question 6

what is the withdrawal effect of cocaine?

Answer 6

depressed mood

Question 7

what part of the brain causes the sensation of pleasure/reward?

Answer 7

VTA (ventral tegmental area)

- causing an increase in dopamine levels

Question 8

what two distinct components are related to drug dependance?

Answer 8

physical dependance

psychological dependance

Question 9

what is physical and psychological dependance?

Answer 9

Physical dependence which develops as a consequence of tolerance to the drug

Psychological craving which is a result of stimulation of the reward pathways in the brain

Question 10

where does information travel to from the VTA in the reward pathway?

Answer 10

from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens

Question 11

state two stimulants?

Answer 11

cocaine

amphetamine

Question 12

does smoking, injecting or snorting give the quickest or slowest effect?

Answer 12

smoking - almost immediate
injecting - 15-30secs
snorting - 3-5mins

Question 13

state some effects of cocaine

Answer 13

increased alertness and energy
increased confidence and impaired judgement
lessens appetite and sleep

Question 14

state some complications of cocaine

Answer 14

damage to nose and airways 
convulsions with resp failure 
arrhythmias and MI 
HTN 
paranoid psychosis

Question 15

state some symptoms of cocaine withdrawal?

Answer 15

depression 
irritability 
agitation 
cravings 
hyperphagia
hypersomnia

Question 16

state some opiates?

Answer 16

opium 
morphine 
heroin 
methadone 
codeine

Question 17

state some effects of heroin

Answer 17

analgesia 
sleep 
euphoria 
resp and cough reflex depression 
nausea 
decreased sympathetic outflow 
decrease of body temp 
pupillary constriction 
constipation

Question 18

what is phlebitis?

Answer 18

inflammation of a vein

Question 19

state some symptoms of opiate withdrawal?

Answer 19

craving
insomnia 
yawning 
muscle pain and cramps
dilated pupils 
piloerection

Question 20

state the effects of ecstasy

Answer 20

euphoria followed by a feeling of calm

increased sociability

Question 21

state side effects of ecstasy ?

Answer 21

nausea and dry mouth
increased BP and temp
dehydration
can induce psychosis

Question 22

state the effects of cannabis?

Answer 22

euphoriant
increases sociability and appetite
changes in time perception
synaesthesia

Question 23

state some complications of cannabis?

Answer 23

respiratory problems
toxic confusion
cannabis psychosis

Question 24

state some side effects of steroid use?

Answer 24

hair loss 
acne 
stretch marks 
hypogonadism 
gynaecomastia

Question 25

state some complications of steroid use?

Answer 25

increased cholesterol and HTN
liver disease - cholestatic jaundice, liver tumours
hypomania and mania
irritability