Chapter 9: Drugs Flashcards
What is a drug?
Any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
What is a psychoactive drug?
A chemical that alters consciousness or experience
What is intoxication?
The state of being poisoned.
Why is addiction a subjective term?
Many people use it on different levels compared to the textbook definition
What did the tree of addiction show?
That people can get addicted to many things not just drugs
What years did drug use spike? Why was there a spike?
1960/1970, spiked because the war ended and people wanted to have fun and the bad effects of drugs yet
What ages is addiction most common?
Between the ages of 18 and 25
What are the 5 characteristics of addictive behavior?
- Negative consequences
- Loss of control
- Cravings/convulsions
- Reinforcement
- Escalation (Need higher doses to feel the same high)
What is drug habituation?
A lesser version of addiction where there is no convulsions or increased dosages
List the 5 stages of the development of addiction .
- Begins with engagement in the behavior to bring pleasure or avoid pain
- If it works the person will repeat it and become dependent
- Dosage may need to be increased to reach pleasure
- Behavior becomes central in the persons life
- Behavior no long brings pleasure, just avoids the pain of going without it
How does a person become addicted based on brain chemistry?
Drug takes advantage of the natural reward system and enhances it when the person takes the drug. The brain changes its structure to adapt to these changes and produces less dopamine. This causes people to need the drug even to feel normal.
List some common addictions.
Drugs, sex, work, gambling, shopping, internet
What are the symptoms of drug dependence?
Developing tolerance, experiences withdrawal, expressing desire to cut down, spends lots of time trying to get substance or recovering from effects, giving up important responsibilities, continuing to use it despite its negative consequences
Who is at greater risk for trying drugs?
Young people, males, troubled adolescents, thrill seekers, dysfunctional families, a peer group that supports drugs, being poor, girls dating boys that are older
What is the DSM-2013?
The official book of definitions for psychiatric problems
Substance abuse is now known as ____?
Substance use disorder
List 9 characteristics of substance use disorder.
- Developing tolerance
- Experiencing withdrawal
- Taking substance for longer than intended
- Craving the substance
- Unsuccessful efforts to stop or cut down
- Substance becomes center of their life
- Giving up responsibilities
- Use substance in spite of negative consequences
- Using substance in hazardous ways
Why is the relapse rate so high when being treated for addiction?
The dopamine levels are very low which causes a feeling of depression and the person just wants to feel normal again
What is drug abuse?
Using a substance over and over again when there are negative consequences
What are some signs of drug abuse?
Recurrent drug use causing failure to fulfill major responsibilities, causing physical hazards, legal problems, and continuing to do this despite the problems
List the 6 myths about drug addiction.
- Person needs to hit rock bottom before getting help
- Person has to want to be treated to get better
- Addiction is a willpower problem
- Addicts cannot be treated with medication
- Because addiction is treated behaviorally it is a behavioral issue
- People addicted to one drug will be addicted to all drugs
What does adderall treat?
Treats ADD and ADHD.
How is adderall abused?
People who are not prescribed it use the drug to focus for long periods of time
What is the 3rd most accessible drug on USA campuses?
adderall
What are the effects of using adderall?
Increased risk of cardiovascular problems, shakiness from decreased appetite, risk for dependency, amount needed to overdose varies
What is the dose-response function?
Relationship between the amount of drugs taken and the intensity/type of the resulting effect
What is the time-action function?
The relationship between the time elapsed since the drug was taken and the intensity of its effects
What are the effects of a central nervous system depressant?
Slow down the overall activity of the central nervous system causing drowsiness and sleep.
What are the effects of Opioids?
Relieves pain and causes drowsiness or euphoria
What are the effects of central nervous system stimulants?
Increases the nervous/muscular activity, blood pressure, and overall body functions
List some common central nervous system stimulant drugs.
Cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin, ephedrine, caffeine
What is the most used drug in Canada?
Marijuana
What is the active ingredient in marijuana?
THC
What are the effects of marijuana?
Euphoria, laid-back, slowing down of perception of time
What are the effects of hallucinogens?
Alter perception, feelings and thoughts
What are the effects of LSD?
Alter time, visual disturbances, weakness, nausea, synaesthesia, denationalization, used to discover alternate realities
What is synaesthesia?
When a stimulus evokes a normal sensation as well as another sensation that doesn’t make sense
List some different ways to take inhalants.
Snorting, inhaling, huffing, bagging
