Drug Addiction Flashcards
What is tolerance?
Loss of effect when taking the same dose, person increases dose to achieved desired effect
What is dependence?
Physiological and psychological need to keep using a drug
Why does dependence occur?
Physiological changes (alcohol)
Psychological factors (cravings and compulsions to the drug)
Why do you get withdrawal symptoms?
Physiological adaptions to the drug e.g. alcohol and benzodiazepines
What pathway is responsible for psychological addiction?
Mesolimbic pathway
What is the key neurotransmitter in the mesolimbic pathway?
Dopamine
What key structures are involved in the mesolimbic pathway?
Ventral tegmental area
Nucleus accumbens
Amygdala
Prefrontal cortex
How do addictive substances or behaviours activate the mesolimbic pathway?
Dopamine release in the pathway providing pleasurable reward
Repeated exposure to dopamine reduces number and sensitivity of receptors
Therefore stronger stimulus needed for same reward
Every day activities less rewarding, person seeks out the substance or behaviour to stimulate the reward pathway
Where are cues for substance of behaviour embedded?
Amygdala
What causes cravings?
Cues
People, events, places or objects can act as cues triggering a craving
What is a common trigger of a craving?
Stress
What do changes in the prefrontal cortex lead to?
Impaired function
What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?
Executive functions
Give examples of executive function
Decision-making
Assessing risk
Impulse control
Complete the table
