Drug addiction

Question 1

Name 3 stimulants

Answer 1

Amphetamine, Cocaine, Nicotine

Question 2

Name 3 Depressants

Answer 2

Alcohol, Opiates & Sedatives

Question 3

Name 3 Hallucinogens

Answer 3

LSD, Magic Mushrooms, & Mescaline

Question 4

What two groups does Ecstasy (MDMA) fall under?

Answer 4

Stimulants & Hallucinogens

Question 5

What neurotransmitters do stimulants affect? (2)

Answer 5

Dopamine & Noradrenaline activity (increases)

Question 6

What neurotransmitters do depressants affect? (3)

Answer 6

GABA, Dopamine & Serotonin activity (increases)

Question 7

What neurotransmitters do hallucinogens affect?
(2)

Answer 7

Serotonin & Acetylcholine activity (increases)

Question 8

What are the subjective effects of stimulants? (4)

Answer 8

Energy, Euphoria, Alertness & Confidence

Question 9

What subjective effects do depressants have? (4)

Answer 9

Sleepiness, Confusion, Euphoria, Warmth

Question 10

What subjective effects do hallucinogens have? (3)

Answer 10

Altered Perception, Thoughts & Feelings

Question 11

Addictive potential of stimulants

Answer 11

HIGH

Question 12

Addictive potential of depressants

Answer 12

HIGH

Question 13

Addictive potential of hallucinogens

Answer 13

LOW

Question 14

What can Ecstasy (MDMA) do?

Answer 14

Increase alertness, talkativeness & affection. Music & colours seem more intense.

Question 15

The biological reward pathway is:

Answer 15

The Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB)

Question 16

In order to have direct effects on the Central Nervous System, drugs must be able to cross the…?

Answer 16

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)

Question 17

What is the Blood Brain Barrier?

Answer 17

A protective layer that lines the inner surfaces of the blood vessels inside your brain. (Basically a filter)

Question 18

What does the BBB control?

Answer 18

Substances that can enter or leave the nervous tissue

Question 19

What is the BBB a barrier between?

Answer 19

The bloodstream and the extra cellular space of the brain

Question 20

What is unique about the BBB’s Endothelial cells?

Answer 20

The cells that make up the BBB are tightly-fused together to restrict diffusion across the vessel lining

Question 21

What is involved with signalling the Endothelial cells to tighten in the BBB?

Answer 21

The Astrocytic End-Feet

Question 22

What does Epigenetic mean?

Answer 22

The environment can influence genetics

Question 23

What do we call it when individuals are unable to produce the same ‘reward’ feeling others get when taking drugs?

Answer 23

Reward Deficiency Syndrome

Question 24

What causes Reward Deficiency Syndrome?

Answer 24

Insufficient monoaminergic neurotransmitter turnover

Question 25

Why do heroin users find withdrawal symptoms hard?

Answer 25

Because it relieves pain, when you stop taking it you can get crippling stomach pain (eg) as digestive system has lots of pain receptors

Question 26

What is a common psychological treatment for drug addiction?

Answer 26

CBT - a short-term, focussed approach

Question 27

Which area of the brain is considered the most important in the ‘reward system’?

Answer 27

The Nucleus Accumbens