Defining addiction

Question 1

what is important to note about addiciton?

Answer 1

It is important to note that addiction is a process and can refer to many aspects within the stages of addiction.

Most things in life have the potential to become addictive…

Legal and illegal substances

Legal and illegal behaviours

Question 2

what is an addiction?

Question 3

what is the 4 parts of features of addiction?

Answer 3

• physical dependence
• psychological dependence
• tolerance
• withdrawal

Question 4

what is physical dependence within an addiciton?

Answer 4

• A result of long term use - i.e., daily use for weeks / months.
• A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued. E.g., delirium tremors with alcohol cessation.
• In fact, normal day-to-day functioning can become reliant on the substance. E.g., having an alcoholic drink before work.
• Often accompanied by tolerance. I.e., the user required increased doses in order to obtain the same desired effect.

Question 5

what is psychological dependence within addiction?

Answer 5

• The condition that exists when a person must continue to take a drug in order to satisfy intense mental and emotional craving for the drug.
• The individual feels / thinks that they cannot cope with work and social life without a particular drug such as alcohol or nicotine.
• Absence of the drug causes the individual to feel anxious, irritable or depressed, and have cravings for the substance.
• Thus, the addiction is in the mind and becomes the central focus to a person’s life.

Question 6

what is tolerance within addiction?

Answer 6

• The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug (or behaviour), requiring the user to take larger and larger doses (or behaviours) before experiencing the same effect
• The body’s adjustment to chronic use can occur in at least three ways:

Metabolic tolerance = where enzymes responsible for breaking down the drug become more effective reducing its effect.

Neuroadaptation = where changes at the synapse occur e.g., down regulation may make receptors less sensitive or fewer in number; reducing the effects of drugs/behaviours.

Learned tolerance = the result of practice as the person has learned to function normally whilst under the influence of drug (and dealing with its effects).

Question 7

what is withdrawal within addiction?

Answer 7

• Unpleasant physical or psychological effects following discontinued use of a drug.

Can include shakes or tremors, vomiting, blood pressure, heart rate changes etc. depending on the drug / behaviour.

These effects are the consequence of the body reacting to cessation of the drug and often leads onto relapse as users find withdrawal symptoms intolerable.

• Acute withdrawal - starts within hours but usually stops within weeks.
• Post acute withdrawal - brain slowly reorganises and balances; could take months / years.

Question 8

what are some statistics on alcohol addictions?

Answer 8

• 2011 - 1.5% of deaths attributed to alcohol.
• This equated to 5,792 deaths in the UK alone.
• Overall cost to the economy = £12.6 billion.
• This includes the cost of healthcare, crime and ASB, and loss of productivity in the workplace due to absenteeism.

Question 9

what are the requirements to be diagnosed with a chronic addiction?

Answer 9

• For a diagnosis of the chronic problem of substance dependence, an individual must show three of the following at any time in a 12 month period…

1. Tolerance
2. Withdrawal symptoms
3. Increasing doses
4. Unsuccessful attempts to cut down intake
5. Considerable time spent obtaining, using or recovering from the use of the substance
6. Important social,
   occupational, or recreational activities are given up (e.g., being too hungover to go to work)
7. Continuation of use despite recognition that this causes physical or psychological problems

Question 10

what are the requirements to be diagnosed with an acute or episodic addiction?

Answer 10

• For a diagnosis of the acute or episodic problem of substance dependence, an individual must experience one or more of the following at any time in a 12 month period…

1. Interference with obligations in their major role, for example at work, home or school
   (such as missing lessons)
2. Recurrent use in potentially hazardous situations (e.g., drink driving)
3. Legal problems related to drug use
4. Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems caused by substance use