Drug Dependence

Question 1

Psychoactive Drugs:

Answer 1

Drugs that can alter our consciousness, and perceptions. They can alter our perception, increase our mood, calm us down, make us feel more alert

Question 2

main categories of psychoactive drugs:

Answer 2

depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens

Question 3

Depressants

Answer 3

are drugs that lower your body’s basic functions and neural activity, lower
CNS activity (decrease arousal/stimulation in areas of our brain)

Question 4

Three categories of depressants

Answer 4

alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines

Question 5

Barbiturates used to?

Answer 5

used to induce sleep or reduce anxiety (calm them down) Depress your CNS.

Question 6

Effects of alcohol

Answer 6

Decreased inhibitions, so decreasing cognitive control
Lack of coordination, slurring of speech
Think more slowly, disrupt REM sleep

Question 7

Effects of Benzodiazepines

Answer 7

• sleep aids (to treat insomnia) or anti-anxiety or seizures (anticonvulsant)

depressant

Enhance your brain’s response to GABA. They open up GABA-activated chloride (Cl-) channels in your neurons, and make neurons more (-) charged.

Question 8

3 types of Benzodiazepines

Answer 8

Short-acting (preferred for insomnia) , intermediate-acting, long-acting
(preferred to treat anxiety)

Question 9

Effects of stimulants

Answer 9

Stimulants are drugs that excite your CNS, increase HR/BP, alertness, more awake, more energetic. Can cause people to feel glittery.

Question 10

Effects of hallucinogens

Answer 10

Distorted perceptions/hallucinations - seeing or hearing things different from how things actually are.

Heighted sensations. Based on reality but is different from what’s going on in the world around

Can give them energy or calm them down

Emotional responses - Feeling of connectedness and mood swings (changing
moods)

Exact effect can be different depending on an individual’s personality or who
they are/who they are win

Dilation of pupil (mydriasis)

Question 11

Effects of Opiates/Opioids

Answer 11

can be used to treat pain/anxiety

Act on endorphin receptors. NOT a DEPRESSANT but can be used for
anxiety/pain

Question 12

Barbiturates:

Answer 12

used to be called a tranquilizer. Depressant.

Induce sleep, reduce anxiety.
o Side effects: reduced memory + judgement + concentration

o Combined with alcohol = leads to death

Question 13

Caffeine

Answer 13

(inhibits adenosine receptors) can disrupt your sleep. Increases energy, can disrupt sleep for several hours

Question 14

Nicotine

Answer 14

Increase HR/BP. also disrupts sleep and can suppress appetite
Nicotine is a CNS stimulant, which works as an acetylcholine receptor agonist.

Question 15

Transdermal

Answer 15

drug is absorbed through skin

Question 16

Intramuscular –

Answer 16

needle stuck into muscle. Can deliver drugs to your system slowly or quickly.

Question 17

Cross toleranc3

Answer 17

is a reduction in the efficacy or responsiveness to a novel drug due to a common CNS target.

Question 18

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT):

Answer 18

Psychological treatment for drug treatment. Addresses both cognitive and behavioural components of addiction. Patients learn to recognize problematic thought patterns and develop more positive thought patterns and coping behaviors.

Question 19

Motivational interviewing

Answer 19

involves working with patient to find intrinsic motivation to
change. Very focus, goal directed therapy. Few sessions and can be doorway for patient
to engage in another treatment (like CBT or group meetings).

Question 20

Group meetings

Answer 20

such as AA (alcohol anonymous) or NA (narcotics anonymous) involve
12-step program that help people go through process of recovery.

Question 21

Relapse

Answer 21

is when patient can slip and go back Depends on environmental triggers and drug they were addicted too. More addictive substances make relapse more likely. Encountering anything that one used to associate with the drug makes relapse more likely as well.