Addictive Drugs

Question 1

Drug Addiction

Answer 1

A compulsion to seek out and take drugs despite adverse consequences.

Uncontrollable Drug Seeking”

Question 2

Drug Dependence

Answer 2

The physical adaptation where the body and brain need the drug to function. If there is no drug, withdrawal symptoms would occur.

Question 3

Drug Tolerance

Answer 3

The effects of the drug (good or bad) diminish/reduces as the body gets too used to the drug.

Question 4

What happens to the dopamine system with an addictive drug?

Answer 4

Increases Firing Rate of Dopamine Neurons

Increases amount of Dopamine in the Synapse

Question 5

Dopamine

Answer 5

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control your pleasure and reward system. Helps tells us to take action to receive that reward. If we like the feeling of the drug, it will tell us to get more of it.

Question 6

Onset

Answer 6

The onset is the reinforcement/reward part of the brain that reviews what just happened before the dopamine fired.

Question 7

What are the three features of addictive drugs?

Answer 7

1) Increase of Dopamine in the Synapse
2) Rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier
3) Withdrawal Symptoms

Question 8

MDMA

Answer 8

• Similar to methamphetamine, but focuses on serotonin neurons
• It reverse-transports serotonin out of the neuron and into the synapse.
• MDMA is NOT addictive.

Question 9

When does Dopamine fire more?

Answer 9

1) Something new or unexpected happens
2) Something good is about to happen
3) Something happens that is better than what was expected

Question 10

When does Dopamine fire less?

Answer 10

Something happens that is worse than what was expected

Question 11

Opioids

Answer 11

Morphine, heroin, and fentanyl

Agonist at the mu opioid receptors = dopamine neurons fire more because they are disinhibited

Question 12

Effects of Opioids

Answer 12

Physical dependence

Withdrawal Symptoms

Heightened pain activity

Nausea and Diarrhea

Dysphoria (depressed mood)

Irritability (easily annoyed and angered)

Question 13

Psychostimulants

Answer 13

Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine

Targets the Dopamine Transporter

Cocaine (prevents dopamine transporter from clearing dopamine in the synapse)

Amphetamine & Methamphetamine (reverse the direction of the transporter)

Question 14

Nicotine

Answer 14

Activates the acetylcholine receptors

Nicotine Receptors: ability to bind nicotine

Question 15

Early Stages of Addiction

Answer 15

1. Recreational Drug Use
2. Intoxication “High” Positive Reinforcement
3. Intoxication wears off Dysphoria
4. Drug Seeking

Question 16

Later Stages of Addiction

Answer 16

1. Compulsive Drug Use & Tolerance
2. Withdrawal Symptoms Relief
3. Acute Withdrawal = Prolonged Withdrawal = Abstinence = Stressful Event Environmental Cues = Relapse
4. Drug Seeking

Question 17

Drugs that increase firing rate of dopamine neurons

Answer 17

Opiates

Alcohol

Benzodiazepines

Barbiturates

Nicotine

Question 18

Drugs that increase the synaptic levels of dopamine by affecting uptake mechanisms

Answer 18

Cocaine

Crack

Amphetamine

Meth

Question 19

Drugs that are abused but are not highly addictive

Answer 19

Hallucinogens

LSD

Salvia