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Intro to Public Health > Drug Use > Flashcards

Drug Use Flashcards

1
Q

what is a drug?

A

any substance that modifies (either by enhancing, inhibiting, or distorting) mind and/or body functioning

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2
Q

what is a psychoactive drug?

A

drug compounds (substances) that affect the central nervous system – alter consciousness, thoughts, and/or perceptions

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3
Q

licit drug

A

legal drug

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4
Q

illicit drug

A

illegal drug

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5
Q

what drug kills the most people annually?

A

tobacco

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6
Q

discuss the key findings from drug use research

A

people who use illegal drugs are found in all occupations, professions, income, and social class levels, as well as in all age and racial groups

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7
Q

understand the different terminology we use to discuss people who use illegal drugs and why we use the terminology we do

A
  • person-first language
  • avoid stigmatizing labels
  • clinical terminology
  • harm reduction language
  • recovering-oriented language
  • avoid generalizations
  • cultural competence
  • public health approach
  • avoid moral judgments
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8
Q

describe how the brain changes when an individual uses drugs

A

short term:
- neurotransmitter boost
- boost of dopamine and serotonin

long term:
- adaptation with repeated use
- the brain forms new connections related to drug use
- environmental cues become linked to drug use
- the brain reinforces drug-seeking behaviors to avoid discomfort

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9
Q

reinforcement mechanisms

A

pleasure from drug use and avoidance of discomfort (withdrawal) reinforce the desire to use drugs, these mechanisms contribute to the challenging cycle of addiction

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10
Q

regular tolerance

A
  • increasing use
  • when the body and brain become accustomed to the presence of a substance over time, leading to a reduced response to the same amount of that substance
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11
Q

reverse tolerance

A
  • sensitization
  • refers to a phenomenon where an individual becomes more responsive or sensitive to a substance over time, leading to stronger effects with lower doses
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12
Q

cross-tolerance

A
  • replacement
  • phenomenon where the development of tolerance to one substance results in a reduced response to another, often structurally or functionally similar, substance
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13
Q

potency

A

the amount of drug necessary to cause an effect (low potency = more drug)

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14
Q

toxicity

A

the capacity of a drug to do damage or cause adverse effects in the body

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15
Q

describe different risk factors and vulnerabilities that may impact the development of a Substance Use Disorder

A

biological factors:
- genetics
- brain differences
- developmental factors

psychosocial factors:
- mental health conditions
- personality traits
- social environment
- trauma

contextual factors:
- accessibility
- cultural and societal influences
- media and advertising

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16
Q

characteristics of addiction

A
  1. impaired control
  2. compulsive use
  3. continued use despite harm
  4. cravings
17
Q

describe how drugs are classified in the US

A
  1. schedule 1: high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision (heroin, LSD)
  2. schedule 2: high potential for abuse, accepted medical use with severe restrictions (opioids, morphine)
  3. schedule 3: less potential for abuse, accepted medical use, moderate to low potential for physical dependence (some opioids, steroids)
  4. schedule 4: lower potential for abuse, accepted medical use, limited potential for dependence (xanax, valium)
  5. schedule 5: lowest potential for abuse among controlled substances, limited potential for dependence (cold meds)
18
Q

drug misuse

A

the unintentional or inappropriate use of prescribed or over-the-counter types of drugs

19
Q

describe the DSM criteria for a substance use disorder

A
  1. taking the opioid in larger amounts and for longer than intended
  2. wanting to cut down or quit but not being able to do it
  3. spending a lot of time obtaining the opioid
  4. craving or a strong desire to use opioid
  5. repeatedly unable to carry out major obligations at work, school, or home due to opioid use
  6. continued use despite persistent or recurring social interpersonal problems caused or made worse by opioid use
  7. stopping or reducing important social, occupational, or recreational activities due to opioid use
  8. recurrent use of opioids in physically hazardous situations
  9. consistent use of opioids despite acknowledgment of persistent or recurrent physical or psychological difficulties from using opioids
  10. tolerance
  11. withdrawal
20
Q

what are opioids

A

a type of powerful pain-relief medication that can be natural or synthetic

21
Q

stages of the opioid epidemic

A
  1. changes in pain management guidelines (1990s)
  2. over prescription
  3. marketing medications directly to the consumer
  4. about 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids
22
Q

what is harm reduction?

A

a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use

23
Q

examples of harm reduction

A
  1. Naloxone distribution (Narcan)
  2. syringe exchange
  3. fentanyl test strips
  4. safe injection sites
24
Q

steps for overdose response

A
  1. stimulate
  2. call 911
  3. rescue breathing
  4. administer Naloxone
  5. monitor and support (recovery position)
25
Q

history of war on drugs: Richard Nixon

A
  • started the war on drugs
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • the enemy was the addiction
26
Q

history of war on drugs: Ronald Reagan

A
  • the war reemerged
  • new enemy became people who used drugs
  • connected to crack
  • Anti-Drug Act
  • extremely harsh sentencing
27
Q

history of war on drugs: Bill Clinton

A
  • Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (Crime Bill)
  • “three strikes you’re out”
  • ended welfare, connected housing and other services to criminal record
  • increased law enforcement budgets
28
Q

history of war on drugs: Barack Obama

A
  • ended “war” metaphor
  • reversed some policies (coke sentencing)
29
Q

what is Naloxone?

A

medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose

30
Q

how did the war on drugs lead to mass incarceration?

A
  • tough drug laws
  • sentencing disparities
  • three-strikes laws
  • zero tolerance policies
  • expansion of police powers
  • racial disparities
  • impact on low-income communities
  • privatization of prisons
  • limited focus on rehab
31
Q

why did the war on drugs disproportionately impact individuals of color?

A
  • racial profiling
  • disparate policing practices
  • crack-cocaine sentencing disparities
  • zero tolerance policies in schools
  • mandatory minimum sentences
  • three-strikes laws
  • implicit bias
  • economic inequality
  • impact on families and communities
  • privatization of prisons
  • media portrayals and stigmatization

Intro to Public Health (3 decks)

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