Addictions Flashcards
What are stimulants in drug misuse?
Cocaine (most potent natural stimulant) and Amphetamine
What are the forms of cocaine?
Coca leaves are chewed or brewed
Cocaine hydrochloride is snorted or injected
Cocaine freebase or crack cocaine is smoked
When are the effects of cocaine experienced?
Depends on dose and rate
Smoking - almost immediate
Injecting - 15-30 seconds
Snorting - 3-5 minutes
Crack smoking is very intense but quickly over
What are the effects of cocaine?
Stimulant and euphoriant - increased alertness, energy, confidence, impaired judgement and lessens appetite
Damage to nose, airways, convulsions with resp. failure, cardiac arrhythmia’s, MI, HTN, CVA, toxic confusion and paranoid psychosis
What are the withdrawal effects of cocaine?
Depression, irritability, agitation, craving, hyperphagia (always hungry) and hypersomnia
How is amphetamine used?
Generally amphetamine sulphate
Sniffed, swallowed or injected
What are the effects of amphetamine?
Similar to cocaine but longer lasting
Toxic confusion occasionally with convulsions and death
Amphetamine psychosis in heavy chronic use
What are types of opiates?
Opium, morphine, heroin, methadone, codeine and dihydrocodeine
Describe heroin
Synthesised from morphine
Addictive potential
Available as diamorphine or diamorphine hydrochloride
Powder or tar like substance
How is heroin taken?
Snorting, smoking and injection
Smoking is safest and injecting is most dangerous
What are some of the effects of heroin?
Analgesia, drowsiness/ sleep, mood change, resp. depression, cough reflex depression, sensitization of labyrinth with N/V, decreased sympathetic outflow, constipation and lowering of body temp.
What are the signs of heroin use?
Respiratory arrest with a pulse
Pinpoint pupils unreactive to light
Snoring giving way to shallow respiration
Bradycardia and hypotension
Reduced consciousness/ coma
What is the effect of opiates?
Intense but transient feeling of pleasure
‘Rush’
Physical and emotional anaesthetic
What is the first time side effect of opiates?
Nausea/ vomiting and headache
What are the medium term side effects of opiates?
Phlebitis (inflammation of veins), anorexia and constipation
What are the longer term side effects of opiates?
Tolerance, withdrawal, social and health problems
Describe the opiate withdrawal syndrome symptoms
Craving, insomnia, yawning, muscle pain, cramps, dilated pupils, piloerection, increased salivary, nasal and lacrimal secretion
Describe methadone/ buprenorphine maintenance
Decriminalises drug use
Allows normalisation of lifestyle
Reduces IV misuse
Leakage on to the illicit market
Describe ecstasy (MDMA)
Almost always used orally
Relaxed euphoric state without hallucinations
Half of ecstasy tablets have no MDMA
What are the effects of ecstasy?
Euphoria followed by a feeling of calm
Increased sociability
Inability to distinguish between what is and isn’t desirable
Effects after 20 mins and lasts 2-4 hrs
What are the side effects of ecstasy?
Nausea and dry mouth
Increased BP and temp.
Risk dehydration
Anxiety and panic
Drug induced psychosis
Describe cannabis
Most commonly used illicit drugs
Presented as marijuana, hashish or hash oil
Skunk has high THC content
Can be eaten but usually smoked
What are the psychological effects of cannabis?
Relaxing or stimulating, euphoriant, increases sociability, hilarity, appetite, changes in time perception and synaesthesia
High doses - anxiety, panic, persecutory ideation and hallucinatory activity
What are the ill effects of cannabis?
Respiratory problems, toxic confusion and exacerbation of mental illness
Describe benzodiazepines
Diazepam, temazepam, nitrazepam, alprazolam….
Describe anabolic (androgenic) steroids
Family of drugs comprising testosterone and many synthetic analogues
Prescribed in hypogonadism, muscular dystrophy, various anaemias and wasting
What are the side effects of steroids?
Skin - acne, stretch marks and baldness
Feminisation in males - hypogonadism and gynaecomastia
Virilisation in women (develop male traits)
Increased cholesterol and HTN
Growth deficits
Liver disease
What are the psychological side effects of steroids?
Irritability and anger - roid rage
Hypomania and mania
Depression and suicidality
