Describing addiction Flashcards
What is addiction?
Compulsion to use substance despite harmful consequences. Inability to stop to extent of failure to meet job/social/family obligations.
What is tolerance?
Taking more & more of substance to get same effect as first time. Explained by homeostasis (brains readjusts what it considers to be normal)
What is metabolic tolerance?
enzymes metabolising drug do it more efficiently over time. Leads to reduced concentrations in blood & at sites of drug action, making effects weaker.
What is cellular tolerance?
prolonged drug use leads to changes in receptor density, reducing response to normal drug dose
What is learned tolerance?
Has learned to function normally when under drug influence
What is withdrawal?
Experiencing unpleasant symptoms as result of prolonged drug use. Following tolerance - brain read to drug & when low levels, seeks it out to feel normal. Withdrawal symptoms opposite to drug symptoms.
What determines how severe withdrawal symptoms are?
- Drug taken - shorter half life = worse withdrawal
- Amount consumed - high levels = worse withdrawal
- Drug use pattern - frequent use = worse withdrawal
What are the phases of withdrawal?
Acute withdrawal - within hours of not taking drug, intense physical cravings, resolves gradually in weeks
Post-acute withdrawal - lasts months/years after drug use, emotional & psychological turmoil as body readjusts itself
What is physical dependence?
Need drug to feel normal. Follows long term, heavy use of drug. Increased tolerance to drug. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when stop taking drug.
What is psychological dependence?
Drug is central part of thoughts/emotions/activities. Strong urge to use drug (cravings). Strong anxiety if cravings not met. Takes over thinking.
Why does psychological dependence occur?
Rational system - operates based on reasoning, emotion free, conscious.
Experiential system - preconscious, automatic, emotional.
Acting irrationally means experiential has taken over rational system.
