Chapter 2 & 3 - Drug Use as a Social Problem; Drug Policy Flashcards
What is the laissez-faire approach to drug use in Canada prior to the 1900s?
The laissez-faire approach meant there were no federal or provincial regulations governing drug use. The government collected taxes from opium factories but did not regulate drug use.
This approach led to a largely unregulated drug environment.
What are the four types of drug-induced toxicity?
- Acute Behavioral (e.g., intoxication from alcohol or marijuana)
- Acute Physiological (e.g., overdose of heroin or alcohol causing breathing to stop)
- Chronic Behavioral (e.g., personality changes in alcoholics or amotivational syndrome in marijuana users)
- Chronic Physiological (e.g., heart disease, lung cancer, liver damage from long-term drug use).
Why did BC declare a public health emergency in 2016?
BC declared a public health emergency due to high rates of drug-related overdoses and deaths, largely driven by fentanyl.
What are supervised consumption sites?
Supervised consumption sites are places where individuals can use drugs under the supervision of medical practitioners or individuals with lived experience. These sites aim to prevent fatal overdoses and provide access to rehabilitation services.
What are the two main components of substance dependence?
- Physiological Dependence: Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
- Psychological Dependence: Emotional craving for the drug and behavior reinforced by substance use.
What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement in the context of drug dependence?
- Positive Reinforcement: The behavior (drug use) is repeated because it elicits a rewarding effect.
- Negative Reinforcement: The behavior (drug use) is repeated because it removes an unpleasant condition (e.g., withdrawal symptoms).
What is the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder?
The DSM-5 criteria include continued use of a substance despite negative consequences, withdrawal symptoms, and cravings. It classifies substance use disorder by the specific drug (e.g., cannabis use disorder).
What are the four main relationships between drug use and crime?
- Drug use itself is criminalized.
- Possible behavior/personality changes increase the likelihood of crime.
- Acute effects of drugs may make crime more likely.
- Criminal activity to obtain drugs.
What was the 1908 Opium Act?
The 1908 Opium Act made it a serious offence to import, manufacture, sell, or possess opium for nonmedical purposes. It marked the beginning of drug enforcement in Canada.
What were the key recommendations of the Le Dain Commission (1969-1973)?
- Gradual decriminalization of illegal drugs.
- Greater leniency for possession with no imprisonment.
- Possession of cannabis should not be an offence.
- Government should conduct research on drug use.
What is the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (1996)?
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act governs the importation, production, distribution, and possession of drugs in Canada. It replaced the Narcotic Control Act and organizes drugs into schedules, defining sentencing and regulations for drug use.
What are the phases of clinical trials for new drugs?
- Phase One: Low doses tested on 20-80 healthy volunteers.
- Phase Two: Tested on a few hundred patients who could benefit.
- Phase Three: Tested on 1,000-5,000 patients to confirm efficacy.
- Phase Four: Ongoing safety studies after the drug is marketed.
What is the difference between brand-name and generic drugs?
- Brand-name drugs: Created and patented by a company, cannot be reproduced by competitors while under patent.
- Generic drugs: Bioequivalent versions of brand-name drugs, produced after the patent expires. They have the same active ingredient but may differ in fillers.
What are Natural Health Products (NHPs)?
NHPs are substances like vitamins, herbal remedies, and traditional medicines that are formulated and promoted similarly to drugs but are classified and regulated as foods. They do not require proof of health claims.
What is the role of the Natural Health Product Directorate (NHPD)?
The NHPD regulates Natural Health Products in Canada, ensuring they are safe and pure, but they do not require proof of health claims or information on contraindications or side effects.
What is the purpose of Drug Treatment Courts (DTC)?
Drug Treatment Courts provide judicially supervised treatment as an alternative to prison time for individuals with substance use disorders. Participants must plead guilty to enter the program, which aims to help them achieve abstinence and improve their overall well-being.
What is the National Anti-Drug Strategy (2007)?
The National Anti-Drug Strategy focuses on prevention, treatment, enforcement, and harm reduction. It shifted away from health promotion, which was part of the earlier National Drug Strategy (1987).
What is the significance of the 2016 Cannabis Act in Canada?
The 2016 Cannabis Act legalized cannabis for recreational use in Canada, following earlier regulations that allowed access to medical marijuana for patients with serious medical conditions.
What are the key factors that influence the dependence potential of psychoactive drugs?
The method of use (e.g., injecting vs. smoking) and the drug’s pharmacological properties influence its dependence potential. Drugs like heroin and crack cocaine have a very high dependence potential, while LSD and psilocybin have a very low potential.
What is the biopsychosocial model of drug dependence?
The biopsychosocial model suggests that drug dependence is influenced by a combination of biological factors (e.g., genetics), psychological factors (e.g., personality traits like impulsivity), and social factors (e.g., environment and social interactions).
What is the role of needle exchange programs in preventing blood-borne diseases?
Needle exchange programs help prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C by providing clean needles to intravenous drug users, reducing the risk of sharing contaminated needles.
What is the significance of the 1909 Patent Medicine Act?
The 1909 Patent Medicine Act was the first step toward federal drug regulation in Canada. It required documentation and approval for some formula drugs, prohibited cocaine in medicine, and required pharmaceutical companies to list ingredients if the medicine contained heroin, morphine, or opium.
What is the difference between acute and chronic drug toxicity?
Acute Toxicity: Immediate effects, such as behavioral intoxication or physiological overdose.
Chronic Toxicity: Long-term effects, such as personality changes, organ damage, or diseases like lung cancer from smoking.
What is the purpose of the New Drug Submission (NDS) process?
The NDS process allows manufacturers to seek authorization to sell a new drug by submitting preclinical and clinical studies, production details, and information on therapeutic value and side effects to Health Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB).
