Drug Addiction Flashcards
What is addiction (World Health Organisation)?
State of periodic or chronic intoxication produced by repeated consumption of drug, natural or synthetic
What are cocaine, alcohol, nicotine and ecstasy called?
Psychoactive
What are psychoactive drugs?
Drugs that have an effect on the Central Nervous System
Signs of addiction?
Cravings, physical dependence, poor judgement, financial trouble, neglect responsibilities, develop unhealthy friendships
What is the Dopamine Pathway?
Our brain has a pleasure centre which is sensitive to dopamine, GABA and glutamate, so whenever we do something which is pleasurable, these chemicals are released and activate the area
How does Olds and Milner support the Dopamine Pathway?
Rats would press lever to receive a reward of mild electrical stimulation so continued to press lever for other rewards like food and would even cross a painful electric current grid to reach the lever
How do drugs work?
Change how neurotransmitters work e.g. increase dopamine levels/block re-uptake
What is desensitisation to drugs?
End up taking more drugs because the receptor is constantly stimulated by extra neurotransmitters so you will have a diminished responsiveness
What is drug withdrawal?
Group of symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation or decrease in intake of medications of recreational drugs
Examples of drug withdrawal?
Anxiety, jumpiness, shakiness, sweating, vomiting, insomnia, depression, fatigue, loss of appetite
