Biological Key question Flashcards
What is the biological key question?
How effective is drug therapy for treating addictions?
In 2013/2014 how many opioid users were there in the UK?
293,879 opiate users
What ‘replacement’ drugs are provided to opioid users to help reduce their symptoms of withdrawal?
Methadone or Buprenorphine
Give some symptoms of drug addiction
Cravings, seeking drugs, withdrawal symptoms, irritability
How does Buprenorphine work?
Buprenorphine is a similar shape to heroin and so binds to the opioid receptors blocking them partially which stops the withdrawal symptoms but doesn’t give feelings of euphoria
What is an alternative therapy for drug addiction other than drug treatment?
Counselling, support groups e.g. alcoholics anonymous
Why is the biological key question a key issue in terms of crime in society?
Drug addiction leads to theft owing to the need to find money to buy drugs
Why do drug users need to take more and more drugs each time in order to achieve the same high?
Repeated exposure to recreational drugs can lead to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms which
continues drug use and can lead to social and economic costs so needs to be treated.
Why do drug users need to be weaned off drugs instead of them taken away all at once?
When a user stops taking they experience withdrawal symptoms such as shakes, sweating, sickness and by gradually reducing drug in take a person reduces the effects of these symptoms
How does heroin affect the brain/body?
Heroin reduces GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) which causes an increase in
Dopamine. Heroin effects 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.
How does methadone work?
Methadone mimics the action of heroin at the synaptic level through dopamine and endorphins
How is buprenorphine used to help to wean a person off drugs?
Over time, the dose of buprenorphine
is gradually reduced until it can be stopped completely
When should a person begin to take their buprenorphine and why?
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
Give 2 pieces of evidence that support the argument that drug therapy is effective at treating drug addiction
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
&
Marteau et al found it 6 times safer than methadone
What did rat park (Alexander) suggest about the effectiveness of drug therapy in treating addiction?
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
