Drug And Alcohol Dependency Flashcards
Tolerance
With repeated administration, more a substance is required in order to achieve the same effects.
Craving/Compulsion
Powerful desire or urge
Dependence
Relies heavily on it to function or complete daily activities
Withdrawal
The effect of stopping usage after long-term abuse. Physical withdrawals can be fatal particularly in alcohol, can result in seizures or death. Psychological withdrawal state of anhedonia characterised by dysphoria, irritability, and emotional distress
Anhedonia
Inability to feel pleasure. Characterised by dysphoria, irritability, and emotional distress.
Stimulants
Cause increased energy, increased heart rate, euphoria, dilated pupils, paranoia, anxiety, sexual arousal, sexual impotence, comedowns.
Empathogens
Cause the user to act “loved up”, feel connectedness, warmth understanding, arousal, belonging, mood swings, depression.
Psychedelics
Cause “trips”, feelings of spirtual connection, heightened senses, visual or auditory hallucinations, anxiety, panic, and can result in mental health problems.
Dissociatives
Causes “out of body” experience, feels euphoric, floaty, disconnected, relaxed, numb, scared, unable to move, in a ‘hole’.
Cannabinoids
“Stoned”, calm, munchies, chilled out, floaty, giggly, sensual, paranoid, dry mouth, lazy, sleepy, mental health issues.
Depressants
Euphoric, confident, relaxed, risk-taking, vomiting, withdrawal, unconsciousness, coma, death.
Opioids
Confident, warm, safe, pain-free, invincible, constricted pupils, hallucinations, addiction, withdrawal, overdose.
Temperance Model
Substance has the power of addiction and destruction, the individual affected is powerless. Addiction is involuntary disease. Believes that alcohol is the addiction source because it is so easily obtainable and theres no resistance. Addiction is the end-result. Believes the only way to stop it is prohibition. This model sees moderate and heavy drinkers as the same but empathises with heavy drinkers whilst rejcting people who drunk in moderation.
Moral Model
Believes addiction is the result of weakness and defective character (biological basis is rejected). Solution is helping people make better decisions using education and deterrants. A person who possesses moral strength would have strength required to stop addiction.
Disease Model
Sees alcoholism as a medical disorder which leads to behavioural impairment. Individual cannot control craving for alcohol. This model is utilised in therapeutic settings. Addiction doesn’t stop when you have stopped abusing substances, constant battle. Wants to identify people with specific physiological process of addiction and identify them so they will not drink/use.
Medical Model
Number of potential physiological medical factors have been considered to put the person ar risk to problems. ‘Alcoholism runs in my family’. Control is related to risk management.
Contributions - addiction can be managed by behavioural and pharmacological means. Framing it as a disease reduces blame, and increases compassion towards individuals suffering from addiction.
Limitations - emphasises biology, genetics and individual health behaviours, ignores social and cultural influences with may confer vulnerability for addiction.
Psychodynamic Model
Alcohol and other drug problems are primarily related to psychodynamic factors such as early childhood experiences or trauma. People need psychotherapy to address underlying issues. Substance misuse is a result of maladaptive coping or addictive personality.
Sociocultural Model
Number of sociocultural factors have been identified which increase the risk of problems within a population. Need to address the factors.
Systems and Families Model
Need to see alcohol and other drug use in relationship to the functioning of the family and social systems. For people to change, need to consider relationships and change within the system. Much more difficult for person to change because of the system. ‘You can’t deal with my family and be sober..’
Learning Model
Alcohol and other drug use is learned behaviour. If a behaviour is learned it can be unlearned and new behaviour learned in its place. Person is responsible for learning and practicing behaviour.
Psychological Models
Focuses on the neglect of the self and self-destructive behaviour in the individual. Takes into account deliberate cognitions like beliefs about tension relieving effects and automatic cognitive processes such as heightened attention to substance related cues. Learning theiries help to set up context in which addictions and related cognitions are shaped.
Aspects of Psychological Theories
- Choice - person often chooses to engage in addictive behaviour as a result of a cost benefit analysis of the alternative (may be influenced by biases and changing preferences)
- Compulsion and Self-Control - person sometimes sincerely chooses to refrain from a behaviour but fails to enact their choice.
- Learning Mechanisms - sometimes behaviour results from a habit with little conscious decision-making, and certain behaviours come to be valued out of proportion to the benefits they bring.
Instrumental Learning
Reinforcement increases frequency of behaviour. Punishment decreases frequency of behaviour.
Conditioning Model
- Classical Conditioning (Pavlov) -
- Associative Learning (Pavlov) -
- Operant Conditioning (Skinner) -
- Instrumental Learning (Skinner) - Reinforcement increases frequency of behaviour. Punishment decreases frequency of behaviour.
Integrated Theory
Based on multifaceted theory of motivation. Takes into account bio, psych, and social elements. Encompasses varying forms of addiction. Notes that addiction is related to other behaviours where strong desires and motivation overtake reason.
Systems involved in Biopsychosocial Systems Model of Addiction
- National and regional drug policies
- Drug Laws
- Socio-economic context.
Social factors of the Biopsychosocial Systems Model of Addiction
- interpersonal relationships
- treatment ma d drug-using settings
- norms around drug use
Psychological factors of Biopsychosocial Systems Model of Addiction
- identity
- ability to cope
- counselling and support services
Biological factors of Biopsychosocial Systems Model of Addiction
- concurrent mental illness
- neuroadaptations
- Mu opioid receptors
FACTORS - 5Ps
- Presenting
- Predisposing - genetic, schooling, upbringing
- Precipitating - drug and alcohol use, personality difficulties, PTSD, unemployment, offending behaviour, NFA
- Perpetuating - hepatitis, active drug use, no contact with children, NFA
- Protective
