Chapter 14 Flashcards
drug - what is it and what is it used for?
any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
- used for both medical and social purposes
- many people believe that each problem needs a chemical solution
what are the most serious risks of drugs?
abuse
addiction
psychoactive drugs
a chemical that alters a person’s consciousness or experience
- most often associated with drug abuse
- can cause intoxication
intoxication
the state of being mentally affected by a chemical (literally, a state of being poisoned)
what are the two most widely used and psychoactive drugs?
alcohol
nicotine
addictive behaviours
any habit that becomes out of control, resulting in a negative effect on a person’s health
addiction
a chronic disease that disrupts the brain’s systems of motivation, reward, and memory; characterized by a compulsive desire and increasing need for a substance or behaviour, and by harm to the individual and/or society
- characteristical feature of addiction is behavioural
- often involves cycles, relapses and remission
tolerance
a physical state in which the body adapts to a drug so that the initial dose no longer produces the original physical or psychological effects
- user must take higher doses to achieve the same high
what is the concept of addiction based on?
- identifiable changes to brain cells and brain chemistry rather than moral failing
what are the characteristics of addiction: Reinforcement
they can be positive (activity/situation reliably results in pleasure or reward) or negative (avoiding the drug/activity results in stress, anxiety, discomfort and depression)
what are the characteristics of addiction: compulsion or craving
- individual feels a strong need or irresistible “hunger” to engage in behaviour
- craving is often associated with environmental cues and obsessive planning for the next opportunity to perform the action
what are the characteristics of addiction: loss of control
- loses control over behaviour and cannot block the impulse to do it
what are the characteristics of addiction: escalation
- involves a pattern of escalation in response to tolerance
- more of the substance is required for the desired effect
what are the characteristics of addiction: negative consequences
- behaviour continues despite the negative consequences
ie. social, financial, work, academic issues
how does an addiction usually develop?
- often starts when a person does something to bring pleasure or avoid pain (if it works the person is more likely to do it)
- reinforcement leads to dependence on the substance
- tolerance causes the positive effect which causes the person to want it more
- other factors such as personality, lifestyle, heredity, and social environments can play a role in whether a person will develop an addiction
withdrawal
a set of symptoms including anxiety, pain, irritability, sweating, tremors, vomiting and insomnia
characteristics of people with addictions
- many use these substances/activities as a substitute for healthier coping strategies
- those who have trouble dealing with stress and painful emotions may be more susceptible to addiction
- some people have a genetic predisposition to a certain substance based on a variation in brain chemistry
- these people also have problems with impulsive control and self-regulation (risk takers)
what are some examples of addicitve behaviours (not including drugs)
- gambling,
- compulsive exercising
- work addiction
- sex and love addiction
- compulsive buying or shopping
- internet addiction
what are some symptoms related to “workaholics”
- intense work schedule
- inability to limit one’s work schedule
- inability to relax, even when away from work
- failed attempts at curtailing the intensity of work (some cases)
pharmacy
the art of compounding drugs from various substances
pharmacology
the science and study of drugs
who uses drugs? what type of people?
being male, being a troubled adolescent, being a thrill seeker, being in a dysfunctional family, being a peer group that accepts drug use, being poor and dating young??
- males are twice as likely as females to abuse drugs
- teens are more likely to try drugs if they have negative self-esteem or self-control, use tobacco, or suffer from certain mental/emotional problems
- a sense of invincibility is a factor in drug experimentation
- choatic home life or parental abuses increases the risk of drug use (also true for single parent homes and parents who didnt finish hs)
- kids who are uninterested in school and get poor grades are more likely to try drugs
- individuals who live in disadvantaged areas are more likely to be surrounded by drugs at a young age
- teen girls who date older boys are more likely to try
which personality traits would it be less common for someone to try drugs?
- positive self-esteem and concept
- assertive
- independent thinkers
why do people use drugs?
- mimic parents/actors
- curious/rebellious
- vulnerable to peer pressure
- escape feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness etc
- people living in poverty the need to escape is more compelling
what are some risk factors for addiction
- combination of physical, psychological and soical factors (poverty, peers) that determine if a person will be addicted
- being born with certain brain chemistry and metabolism
- mental illness (higher risk)
what is the possible research regard co-occurrence (2 mental illnesses) (6)
- drug abuse may bring about symptoms of another mental illness
- mental disorders can lead to drug abuse (self-medicating)
- overlapping genetic vulnerabilities: genetic factors make them susceptible to both drug abuse and mental disorders or 2 mental disorders
- overlapping environmental triggers: stress and trauma can lead to addictions
- involvement of similar brain regions: brain systems that deal with reward and stress can be abnormal in those with mental disorders
- drug use disorders and other mental illnesses are developmental disorders: usually occur when the brain is going through changes (ie. teen years)
other risks of drug use: intoxication
- may act in uncharacteristic and unsafe ways bc both mental and physical functions are impaired
other risks of drug use: unexpected side effects
- psychoactive drugs have physical and psychological effects beyond the alteration of consciousness
ie. nausea, depression, constipation
other risks of drug use: unknown drug constituents
- no quality control in the illegal drug market
- half of all street drugs don’t contain the main ingredients
- they can be contaminated or poisonous (laced)
other risks of drug use: risk associated with injection drug use and what is the most commonly injected drug
- heroin is the most commonly injected drug
- most people share or reuse needles which can spread diseases bc they can contain blood
- unsterile injections can cause skin and soft tissue infections (progress to gangrene and be fatal)
other risks of drug use: legal consequences
- many psychoactive drugs are illegal
- can result in fines and imprisonment