Drug Dependence

Question 1

Ethanol effects

Answer 1

Sedative
Hypnotic
Anaesthetic
Depression of CNS included some depression of inhibition so enhanced self confidence

Question 2

Units of alcohol=

Answer 2

Volume (L) consumed x %abv

Question 3

Absorption influenced by

Answer 3

Amount of food in stomach (especially high fat)

Question 4

Peak blood alcohol conc occurs after

Answer 4

30-60 mins in absence of food

1-2 hours with food

Question 5

1 unit of alcohol raises blood alcohol levels by approx

Answer 5

15mg/100ml

Question 6

Alcohol metabolised at

Answer 6

15mg/100ml per hour, 0 order kinetics

Question 7

volume of distribution of ethanol in body

Answer 7

0.7L/kg

Question 8

Alcohol SE

Answer 8

Liver damage - fatty liver can lead to death of hepatocytes, fibrosis from scar tissue then cirrhosis
Foetal alcohol syndrome when high levels during pregnancy
Korsakoff’s
Anaemia

Question 9

Alcohol aversion therapy

Answer 9

Disulfiram, used as aversion therapy by inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde is toxic and gives bad hangover effects

Question 10

methanol metabolism problems

Answer 10

Produces formaldehyde then formic acid which can cause blindness in severe cases

Question 11

Drug to reduce alcohol cravings

Answer 11

Acamprosate, NMDA antagonist to reduce craving

Question 12

Naltrexone MOA

Answer 12

Opioid receptor antagonist reduces euphoria associated with alcohol to make it less appealing
Same mechanism for opioid dependence

Question 13

BDZ MOA alcohol treatment

Answer 13

Potentiates GABA-A to treat alcohol withdrawal, not good if risk of continued alcohol use

Question 14

More likely to produce dependence if

Answer 14

Rapid onset and elimination
Increased dose
Shorter duration of action
Genetic predisposition e.g. in enzymes that metabolise
Environmental cues encourage

Question 15

physical dependence definition

Answer 15

Negative reinforcement of drug use, withdrawal effects

Question 16

psychological dependence definition

Answer 16

Positive reinforcement, nice effects on mood/behaviour

Question 17

Dopamine reward pathway between

Answer 17

Ventral tegmental area at top off brainstem to nucleus accumbens, relays to frontal region of cerebral cortex

Question 18

Endogenous opioids

Answer 18

Enkephalins (help regulate nociception), endorphins

Question 19

Opioid dependence treatment

Answer 19

Naltrexone blocks rewarding effects

Question 20

Methadone MOA

Answer 20

Slow-acting opioid receptor agonist treats withdrawal and longer acting so to reduce addiction

Question 21

Buprenorphine

Answer 21

Opioid receptor partial agonist

Question 22

Nicotinic receptor role in nicotine addiction

Answer 22

activates nicotinic receptors in brain causing DA release in reward centre

Question 23

Nicotine effects from nt release

Answer 23

DA - psychoactive effects
NA- increased attentiveness
GABA + endorphins- anxiolytic effects

Question 24

Smoking cessation - nicotine replacement ±

Answer 24

Nicotine replacement relieves withdrawal symptoms with lower doses than tobacco smoking

Question 25

Smoking cessation - Buproprion ±

Answer 25

Used as antidepressant normally, mechanism not fully known but may have DA/NA effects

Question 26

Smoking cessation - Varenicline ±

Answer 26

Partial agonist of nAChRs cause moderate sustained mesolithic DA levels, also competitive binding with nicotine