Chapter 1 Definitions Flashcards
Pharmacology
the scientific study of drugs concerned with all information about the effects of drugs on living systems.
Psychopharacology
the subarea of pharmacology that is concerned with the effects of drugs on behaviour.
Drug
broadly defined as any chemical entity or mixture of entities not required for the maintenance of health. But alters biological function or structure when administered.
Drug abuse
any use of drugs that causes physical, psychological, legal, or social harm to the individual user or to others affected by the drug users behaviour.
Drug effects
The action of a drug on the body. Drug effects are measured in different ways.
Substance dependence
a strong compulsion or urge to continue taking a particular drug.
Physical dependence
based on the idea that drug taking behaviours continue in order to avoid negative consequences associated with physical withdrawal.
Psychological Dependence
based on the idea that the drug taking behaviours persist based on the craving for the positive effects associated with using the drugs.
Drug Tolerance
an increased amount of a drug is needed to achieve intoxication. Or a diminished drug effect occurs if the same amount of a drug is used.
Dispositional tolerance
occurs when the regular use of a given drug results to some degree.
Functional tolerance
when the brain and other parts of the central nervous system become less sensitive to a drugs effects.
Acute tolerance
taking the same amount generally produces a reduced pleasurable high due to the rapidly developing acute tolerance.
Protracted tolerance
occurs when an individual consumes greater amounts of a drug to achieved an effect that was once achieved with a lesser dose.
Behavioural tolerance
involves a behavioural adjustment by the person, which through experience in using drugs, compensates for its effects.
Cross-tolerance
occurs when a person who has developed tolerance to one drug will also have tolerance to certain types of drugs.
Withdrawal
a definable illness that occurs with a cessation or decrease in use of a drug.
Sensation seeking
the need for varied, novel, and complex sensations and experiences. and the willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experience.
Addictive personality
the hypothesis that particular personality characteristics are common to all people with substance abuse disorders.
Psychological set
refers to knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and thoughts about how a substance influences the drug experience.
Placebo
a chemically inactive substance that is used in controlled research to study the effects of expectations or beliefs about a drugs effects.
Polydrug use
some individuals use more than one drug regularly and may use different drugs together on the same occasion.
