Ch 8 Addictions Flashcards
Characteristics of Addiction (6)
- Change of mood
- Relief from negative emotions
- Experience of pleasure
- Preoccupation with the use of the substance
- Ritualistic use of the substance
- Engagement in addictive behaviors despite negative consequences
any substance (other than food and water) that when taken into the body, alters its functioning
Drug
excessive or inappropriate use of a drug that results in some impairment
Drug abuse
a psychological and/or physiological need for a drug to maintain a sense of well-being or avoid withdrawal symptoms
Drug addiction
a variety of physical and/or psychological symptoms that habitual drug users experience when they discontinue drug use
Withdrawal
Fact about Alcohol Use and Abuse
Alcohol is a psychoactive drug: a depressant that lowers the activity level of the CNS
Social problems related to Alcohol (4)
- Workplace ($4.1 billion lost each year)
- Social, physical, and health harms
- Drinking and Driving (2500 deaths per year)
- Family (violent or reclusive, ‘elephant in the room,’ enabler, co-dependency, correlation)
umbrella term used to describe the range of disabilities and diagnoses that result from drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
FASD related challenges (4)
- Problems communicating
- Sensory deficits
- Poor memory and difficulty learning from consequences
- Increased risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns
Facts about Tabacco (4)
- Tobacco is a stimulant
- Health Effects: Wide variety of diseases and conditions and shortens life expectancy
- Environmental tobacco smoke, smoke in the air that affects others
- Tobacco use has declined during the last 10 years
Prescription Drugs
Dispensed by a pharmacist on the authorization of a doctor or dentist
Common dependencies occur among people with no previous drug abuse or addiction.
ex. Opioid Pain Relievers, Stimulants, Tranquillizers, Sedatives.
Psychoactive pharmaceutical drugs
7% reported engaging in problematic use of the drug including for the feelings it causes, to get a high or for reasons other than prescribed
Opioid pain relievers were the most commonly used drug with a higher prevalence among women than men
Cannabis
Both depressant and stimulant. Cannabis was legalized and regulated in 2018 and has remained the most used drug in Canada.
Harm Reduction Philosophy (3)
- Minimize the harm associated with the use of illegal drugs for those who are not willing or able to stop use
- Ultimate goal is to eliminate or reduce the overall level of drug consumption.
- Highlight any positive steps towards reducing drug use.
Harm Reduction Stages of Change
- Precontemplation
- Contemplation
- Determination
- Action
- Relapse
- Maintenance
Benefits and Drawbacks of Harm Reduction
Benefits:
- Saves lives
- Bridges to detox and treatment
- Benefits the community and public health
Drawbacks:
- Avoids federal control
- Public perception is negative
- Does not deter drug use
- Concerns about criminal activity
Biological explanations of Addictions
Looks at the pleasure gained by consuming drugs
Psychological explanations of Addictions
Looks at the benefits of drug use on the individual
Symbolic Interactionist explanations of Addictions (3)
- Drug behaviour is learned and influenced by families, peers, and others
- Deviant subculture
- Labelling theory
Structural Functionalist explanations of Addictions (3)
- All societies use drugs of some kind
- They are part of many rituals
- Causes social disorganization
Social Conflict explanations of Addictions
People in positions of economic and political power make the sale, use, and possession of drugs by the poor and the powerless illegal
Feminist explanations of Addictions
Part of the explanation of drug abuse by women has to do with women’s vulnerability and disadvantaged position
drugs abused by men vs women
men (alcohol and illegal drugs)
women (legal and psychotherapeutic drugs)
