Chapter 1 Definitions

Question 1

Pharmacology

Answer 1

the scientific study of drugs concerned with all information about the effects of drugs on living systems.

Question 2

Psychopharacology

Answer 2

the subarea of pharmacology that is concerned with the effects of drugs on behaviour.

Question 3

Drug

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Drug abuse

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Drug effects

Answer 5

The action of a drug on the body. Drug effects are measured in different ways.

Question 6

Substance dependence

Answer 6

a strong compulsion or urge to continue taking a particular drug.

Question 7

Physical dependence

Answer 7

based on the idea that drug taking behaviours continue in order to avoid negative consequences associated with physical withdrawal.

Question 8

Psychological Dependence

Answer 8

based on the idea that the drug taking behaviours persist based on the craving for the positive effects associated with using the drugs.

Question 9

Drug Tolerance

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Dispositional tolerance

Answer 10

occurs when the regular use of a given drug results to some degree.

Question 11

Functional tolerance

Answer 11

when the brain and other parts of the central nervous system become less sensitive to a drugs effects.

Question 12

Acute tolerance

Answer 12

taking the same amount generally produces a reduced pleasurable high due to the rapidly developing acute tolerance.

Question 13

Protracted tolerance

Answer 13

occurs when an individual consumes greater amounts of a drug to achieved an effect that was once achieved with a lesser dose.

Question 14

Behavioural tolerance

Answer 14

involves a behavioural adjustment by the person, which through experience in using drugs, compensates for its effects.

Question 15

Cross-tolerance

Answer 15

occurs when a person who has developed tolerance to one drug will also have tolerance to certain types of drugs.

Question 16

Withdrawal

Answer 16

a definable illness that occurs with a cessation or decrease in use of a drug.

Question 17

Sensation seeking

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Addictive personality

Answer 18

the hypothesis that particular personality characteristics are common to all people with substance abuse disorders.

Question 19

Psychological set

Answer 19

refers to knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and thoughts about how a substance influences the drug experience.

Question 20

Placebo

Answer 20

a chemically inactive substance that is used in controlled research to study the effects of expectations or beliefs about a drugs effects.

Question 21

Polydrug use

Answer 21

some individuals use more than one drug regularly and may use different drugs together on the same occasion.