bio key question

Question 1

what is the bio key question

Answer 1

How effective is drug therapy for treating addictions?

Question 2

opioid users and drug therapy stats

Answer 2

• In the UK (2013/2014) there were 293,879 opiate users. 29,150 successfully used drug therapy to treat drug-addiction

Question 3

substitue prescribing-key question

Answer 3

Substitute prescribing- giving some medication or another which reduces the physical effects of the heroin
* Methadone is a replacement drug that reduces cravings for heroin so could stop addicts offending for
access to heroin.
* Methadone reduction programmes can discourage abstinence from the heroin so cost society more in
economic and social costs.
* Buprenorphine is a common one. It helps avoid the withdrawal effects of coming off the drug but provides less of a ‘high’ so it is less addictive

Question 4

The national institute for drug abuse says…

Answer 4

• Heroin changes the brain and body so any treatment needs to also have a biological basis.
• The national institute for drug abuse calls addiction an illness and explains that there are many features of drug addiction which could be seen as a symptom like cravings and compulsion to seek drugs

Question 5

alternative treatment for drug addiction

Answer 5

• An alternative argument we might want to think about is counselling: It is very beneficial to engage in counselling to determine why you began abusing drugs in the first place. If those issues are not addressed the chronicity of drug misuse is reinforced at the expense of your long-term recovery It is very beneficial to engage in counselling to determine why you began abusing drugs in the first place. If those issues are not addressed the chronicity of drug misuse is reinforced at the expense of your long-term recovery

Question 6

heroin effect

Answer 6

• Heroin in particular: Reduces GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) which causes an increase in Dopamine. Heroin affects the opioid receptors in the brain. This action suppresses physical pain. This chemical effect of heroin slows the motor functions which is why you feel so relaxed and out of it when you’re taking heroin.

Question 7

what substitute prescription drugs do- examples

Answer 7

• Methadone mimics the action of heroin at the synaptic level through dopamine and endorphins.
• Reduction of the methadone doses means the user will experience withdrawal symptoms such as cramps and vomiting so can lead to relapse.
• Buprenorphine binds to the opioid receptors, however, without a perfect fit. As a result the
  Buprenorphine tends to occupy the receptors without all of the opioid effects (without the euphoria).
  This, in turn, prevents that receptor from joining with full opioids. Over time, the dose of buprenorphine is gradually reduced until it can be stopped completely

Question 8

how we can measure drug therapy effect and why timing is important

Answer 8

• Brain scanning methods such as PET could investigate the activity of methadone treatment on the brain to show if it is effective.
• However, Timing of the medication is important, in binding with the receptor it ‘pushes’ heroin out and so a person can have severe withdrawl…so it’s best to wait until you’re already suffering withdrawal to take it
• It also has problems like side-effects- drowsiness, headaches and sickness

Question 9

• Alexander et al (1978)

Answer 9

• Alexander et al (1978) showed that substitute prescribing may not be needed (or the ideal method) Rat park took drug addicted animals and put them into a lush and exciting social cage, over time they weaned themselves of their addiction because their environment replaced the euphoria they got from the drugs
• However, this is an animal study and therefore the results gained from the animals may not be applicable
  to humans

Question 10

• Jones (2004)

Answer 10

• Jones (2004) Buprenorphine prevents withdrawal, allows for a more individual treatment process (it is
  long lasting and thus more flexible when it can be given) and has less chance of overdose