Drug Misuse - Definitions + Trends Flashcards
Drug Abuse
Persistent or sporadic excessive use unrelated to accepted medical practice.
Tolerance
reduction/loss of the normal response to a substance
Psychological Dependence
A feeling of satisfaction and psychic drive that requires periodic or continuous administration of the drug to produce pleasure/avoid discomfort
Physical Dependence
intensive physical disturbances that occur when administration is suspended
4 areas where people misuse drugs:
- Experimentation
- Recreational Use
- Problematic Use
- Addiction
Why do people misuse drugs?
- Peer pressure
- Rebellion
- Combat depression (to stop feeling low)
- To overcome shyness, anxiety, lack of confidence
- To feel good, high, exhilarated, euphoria, rush
What do the desired effects of drugs depend on?
DEPENDS ON ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION: - Swallowed - Injected - Smoked - Sniffed AND THE TYPE OF DRUG MISUSED: - Stimulants - Depressants - Hallucinogens
Name 5 types of stimulant.
- Cocaine Hydrochloride
- Cocaine Freebase
- Amphetamine
- Methamphetamine (crystal meth)
- Ecstasy
Name 3 types of depressant
- Opiates/Opioids
- Benzodiazepines
- Cannabis
Name 2 types of hallucinogens
- LSD
2. Magic Mushrooms
What is the desired effect of a stimulant?
Euphoria + Excitement
Speed up the CNS
What is the desired effect of a depressant?
Euphoria, contentment + well-being
Slow down CNS
What is the desired effect of a hallucinogen?
Sights + Sounds become distorted and exaggerated
Alter perceptions
What do penalties for drug offences depend upon?
- The legal class of the drug
- Which court hears the charge (magistrates or crown court)
- Whether the charge is ‘possession’, ‘possession with intent to supply’ or ‘supplying a controlled drug’
What are the class A drugs?
- Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, crack, magic mushrooms, amphetamines (if prepped for injection)
What are the class B drugs?
- Amphetamines, Cannabis, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine
What are the class C drugs?
- Buprenorphine, Tranquillisers, some painkillers, Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine
What are the possible consequences for class A drugs?
Possession of controlled class A: £5000 fine and/or 6 months in prison
Intent to supply (@ crown court): unlimited fine and/or life imprisonment
What are the possible consequences for class C drugs?
Possession: £2500 fine and/or 3 months imprisonment
What 3 things can we used to measure drug misuse in the UK?
- Offences
- Number of cautions fallen by nearly 2/3 in last 10 years - Surveys
- Crime Survey for England + Wales
- Latest survey indicates public perceive crime rates to have fallen whilst worry about crime remains the same. - Treatment
- National Drug Treatment Monitoring System
