Drug Use and Abuse Chapters 1-4 Flashcards
Drug use signifies 3 major simultaneous changes:
- Social and psychological (reward from social pressures)
- Pharmacalogically (alters body chemistry)
- Genetically (genetic programmed desire)
Insiders
Drug users/symphathizers
Outsiders
nonusers/against
4 Principles factors that affect drug use
- Biologial, genetic, pharmacological
- Cultural
- Social Factors
- Contextual
6 Major Types of Commonly Used Drugs
- Prescription
- OTC
- Recreational (coffee, tea, etc)
- Illicit Drugs
- Herbal
- Commercial (paints, glues, cleaning products)
3 Prescription Drugs Currently Abused
- Narcotics
- Depressants
- Stimulants
Stimulants
- increase alertness, excite, euphoria
- Major stimulants: amphetamines (crack, coke, meth)
- Minor stimulants: coffee, tea, chocolate, tobacco
- Chronic use paranoia, anxiety
Hallucinogens/Psychedelics
- Synthetic or natural
- Intense alteration of perceptions
- Tolerance builds rapidly
- Ex: MDMA, LSD, mushrooms, PCP
Depressants
- Relieve boredom, stress, anxiety
- Ex: alcohol, valium, barbiturates
3 Types of Drug Users
- Experimenters (recreational, usually peer pressure, usually able to limit)
- Compulsive (must get high, escape reality)
- Floaters/chippers (use others drugs) (between experimenters and compulsive)
Designer Drugs/Synthetic drugs or synthetic opiods
- Structural analogs
- Hybrid drugs
- Ex: Ecstacy, Demoral
Structural Analog
Altered chemical structures of current illicit drugs to create a new species
Drug Misuse
Unintentional or inappropriate use of prescribed or OTC drugs
Drug Abuse also known as: (2 names)
Chemical or substance abuse
Physical Dependence
refers to the need to continue taking the drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms
Psychological Dependence
Need that a user may psychologically feel for continued use of a drug in order to experience effects or relieve withdrawal
5 Stages of Drug Dependence
- Relief
- Increased Use
- Preoccupation
- Dependency
- Withdrawal
Holistic Self-Awareness
Mind, body, and spirit work best when drug-free
3 Major Theoretical positions on drug use and abuse
- • Biological
- • Sociological
- • Psychological
Substance dependence
true addiction, continued use despite significant substance-related problems known to the user
Addiction is considered a _________ disease.
Considered BRAIN DISEASE by NIDA
Moral Model
belief that people abuse alcohol because they choose to do so, traditional
Disease Model
model of addiction in the US; belief that people abuse alcohol because of some biologically cause condition
Characterological or personality predisposition model
– view of chemical dependency as a symptom of problems in the development or operation of the system of needs, motives, and attitudes within the individual
Career Pattern of Addiction (6 Steps)
- • Experimentation or initiation
- • Escalation (increasing use)
- • Maintenance
- • Dysfunction
- • Recovery
- • Ex-addict
5 Steps of Drug Use
- • Initiation
- • Continuation
- • Transition to drug abuse
- • Attempts to stop
- • Relapse
Dopamine
- neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulates movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure; it mediates the rewarding aspects of most drugs of abuse
- Particulary influenced by drug abuse
- Dopamine important transmitter in controlling movement and fine muscle activity as well as endocrine functions
Comorbidity
2 or more disorders or illnesses occurring in the same person; they can occur either simultaneously or one after the other; also implies interaction between the illnesses that can worsen the courses of both
Is drug addiction a mental illness?
Yes
Social Learning Theory
a theory that places emphasis on how an individual learns patterns of behavior from the attitudes of others, society, and peers
• Conditioning
Differential Reinforcement
ratio between reinforces, both favorable and disfavorable, for sustaining drug use behavior
Social Influence Theories
a person’s day to day social relations as a primary cause for drug use
Structural influence theories
structural organization of a society, peer group, or subculture are directly responsible for drug use
4 Social Influence Theories
o 1) Social learning
o 2) Role of significant others in socialization
o 3) Labeling
o 4) Subculture
Labeling Theory
- theory emphasizing that other people’s perceptions directly influence one’s self-image
- o Does not fully explain why initial drug use occurs but details processes by which many people come to view themselves as socially deviant from others
- o Labeling theory says that other people whose opinions we value have a determining influence over our self-image
Primary Deviance
any type of initial deviant behavior in which the perpetrator does not identify with the deviance
Secondary Deviance
– any type of deviant behavior in which the perpetrator identifies with the deviance; perceives self as deviant
Master Status
major status position in the eyes of others that clearly identifies an individual: ex: doctor, professor, alcoholic, heroin addict
Retrospective interpretation
– social psychological process of redefining a person in light of a major status position, for example, homosexual, physician, alcoholic, convicted felon
o Once negative master status has been attached to an individual’s public image, retrospective interpretation sets in (Shur)
• Redefining a person’s image in the eyes of peers
Subculture Theory
explains drug use as a peer-generated activity
o Group leaders have influence over inexperienced drug users
o Further extension of subculture theory is the social and cultural support perspective
• Explains drug use and abuse in peer groups as resulting from an attempt by peers to solve problems collectively
Structural Influence Theories
o Focus on how elements in the organization of a society, group, or subculture affect the motivation and resulting drug use
o No single factor in society, the group, or subculture produces the attraction to drug use but rather that the organization itself or lack of organization causes behavior
Social Strain Theory
suggests that frustration results from being unable to secure the means to achieve sought-after goals
Social Disorganization Theory
because of rapid social change, previous affiliated individuals no longer find themselves integrated into a community’s social, commercial, religious, and economic institutions
Conventional Behavior
behavior largely dictated by custom and tradition, which is often dictated by custom and tradition and that evaporates or goes into a state of flux because of social change
Control Theory
– emphasizes when people are left without bonds to other groups (peers, family), they generally have a tendency to deviate from upheld values and attitudes
Socialization
growth and development process responsible for learning how to become a responsible, functioning human being
4 Things that people lack cause delinquent behavior
- 1) Attachment to others
- 2) Commitment to goals
- 3) Involvement in conventional activity
- 4) Belief in a common value system
Patent Medicine
Meant the ingredients were secret not patented
o 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
- Defined drugs to include products that affected bodily structure or function even in absence of disease
- Companies had to file with the government for all new drugs to prove they were safe (not effective just safe)
- Had to list all ingredients and quantity of each and provide instructions regarding correct use of drug and warnings about its dangers
o Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951
- After passed almost all new drugs placed in prescription-class
- Established criteria which are still used today for determining whether a drug should a prescription or nonprescription, if does not fall into 1 or following 3 categories it is nonprescription:
- 1) The drug is habit-forming
- 2) No safe for self-medication because of its toxicity
- 3) Drug is a new compound that has not shown to be completely safe
Kefauver and Harris Amendments of 1962
• 1938 act did not give FDA authority to supervise clinical testing of drugs, the effectiveness of drugs being sold to public were not being determined
• Supposed to fix problem, but didn’t pass until thalidomide accident
• Thalidomide – sedative drug that when used during pregnancy can cause severe developmental damage to fetus
o Baby could be born with abnormally developed arms or legs called phocomelia
• Required fro the first time that drug manufacturers demonstrate the efficacy as well as safety of their drugs
Harrison Act of 1914
first legitimate effort by the US government to regulated addicting substances
8 Factors Determining which Schedule a drug is in
- 1) Actual potential for abuse of drug
- 2) Scientific evidence of the pharmacological effects of drug
- 3) Scientific knowledge of drug
- 4) Its history and current pattern of abuse
- 5) Risks for public health?
- 6) Psychological or physiological dependence liability of drug
- 7) Scope, duration, and significance of abuse
- 8) Whether substance is precursor of a substance already controlled
Demand Reduction
attempts to decrease individuals’ tendencies to use drugs, often aimed at youth, with emphasis on reformulating values and behaviors
o Complex but experience has shown that prevention and treatment are better strategies and in the long run less costly than interdiction or incarceration
Inoculation Strategy
o Aims to protect drug users by teaching them responsibility
o Emphasis on being rational, accountable, and responsible about drug use (designated drivers)
Drug Courts
o Designed to deal with nonviolent drug-abusing offenders
o Integrate mandatory drug testing, substance abuse treatment, sanctions, and incentives in a judicially supervised setting
o Provide and tools necessary to rebuild their lives and become productive members of the community
Discretionary Enforcement of Drug Laws
Allow greater discretion by judicial systems for prosecution and sentencing
Hormones
- chemical messengers released into the blood by glands
- Hormones are essential in regulating metabolism, growth, tissue repair, and sexual behavior
- Compared to neurotransmitters, hormones tend to have a slower onset, longer duration of action, and more generalized target
Receptors
special proteins in a membrane that are activated by natural substances or drugs to alter cell function
Acetycholine
- excitatory-inhibitory, mild euphoria, excitation, insomnia, tobacco, nicotine
- ACh
Synapse
site of communication between message-sending neuron and its message-receiving target cell
Synaptic Cleft
minute gap between the neuron and target cell, across which neurotransmitters travel
Dendrites
short branches of neurons that receive transmitter signals
Axon
an extension of the neuronal cell body along which electrochemical signals travel
Glia
supporting cells that are critical for protecting and providing sustenance to the neurons
Endorphins
neurotransmitters that have narcotic-like effects
Opiate Receptors
receptors activated by opioid narcotic drugs such as heroin and morphine
Cannibinoid system
biological target of tertahydrocannabinol in marijuana
Anandamide
naturally occurring fatty acid neurotransmitter that selectively activates cannabinoid receptors
Agonistic
- type of substance that activates a receptor
- Mimics effect of a messenger substance like a neurotransmitter that is naturally produced by the body and interacts with the receptor to cause some cellular change
Antagonist
type of substance that blocks a receptor
Catecholamines
Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, all of which have similar chemical structures
ACETYLCHOLINE
Large quantities of acetylcholine (ACh) are found in the brain
One of the major neurotransmitters in the autonomic portion of PNS
Depending on the region can have either excitatory or inhibitory effects
• Divided into muscarinic and nicolinic
• Muscarinic inhibitory
• Nicotine activate nicolinic (excitory)
Reuptake
most catecholamines are taken back up into the neurons that released them to be used over again
Sympathomimetic
- agents that mimic the effects of norepinephrine or epinephrine
- Classified into alpha and beta categories
- Norepinephrine act predominantly on alpha receptors
Seratonin
- Synthesized in neurons and elsewhere
- Seratonin generally inhibits action of its target neurons
- One important role of serotonergic neurons is to prevent overreaction to various stimuli
- Serotonergic neurons also help regulate the release of hormones from the hypothalamus
- Alteration of serotonergic neurons, factors in mental illness and contribute to side effects of many drug abuse
PNS has input and output
- Input – to brain and spinal cord conveys sensory information
- Output – separated into somatic types (control of voluntary muscles) and autonomic types (control of unconscious functions)
RETICULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEMS
- Area of the brain that receives input from all sensory systems as well from the cerebral cortex
- Found at junction between spinal cord and brain
- One major function: control brain’s state of arousal (sleep versus awake)
- Very susceptible to effects of drugs
- High levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or stimulant drugs such as amphetamines activate RAS
Anticholinergic
agents that antagonize the effects of acetylcholine
Basal Ganglia
- Include caudate nucleus and primary centers for involuntary and finely tuned motor functions (ex: posture)
- Structures involved in establishing and maintaining behaviors
- 2 important neurotransmitters: dopamine and Ach
- Important for developing addiction and affecting decision-making
Limbic System
- Nucleus accumbens
- Include thalamus, medial forebrain bundle, and hypothalamus
- Functions linked with basal ganglia, drugs that affect one system affect the other
- Regulate emotional activities, memory, basic hypothalamic functions, mating, and caring for young, reward centers
- Principle transmitters include dopamine, norepinephrine, and seratonin
Nucleus accumbens
part of the CNS limbic system and a critical brain region for reward system
Cerebral Cortex
Lies under skull and almost completely surrounds rest of brain
Responsible for receiving sensory input, interpreting incoming information, and initiating voluntary motor behavior
Frontal Cortex
cortical region essential for information processing and decision making
Insula
- Located deep within the brain connected with pleasure pathways and appears to be important for motivation
- Recently linked with drug addiction
Hypothalamus
- Located near base of the brain
- CNS control center, and many vital support functions (cardiovascular activity, hormone release, appetite regulation)
- Primary point of contact between the nervous and endocrine systems
- Principle transmitters: norepinephrine, and dopamine
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
controls the unconscious functions of the body
Located within CNS and considered part of ANS
ANS divided into 2 functional components:
- sympathetic and parasympathetic
- • Because 2 parts of the ANS work in opposite ways much of the time they are considered physiological antagonists
- • Control most internal organs, circulatory system, and secretory system
- • Release Ach at its synapses
Sympathetic
Sympathetic system normally active at all times
• Release norepinephrine
Part of ANS
Parasympathetic
- Parasympathetic nervous system is organized mainly for limited, focused activity and usually conserves and restores energy rather than expends it.
- Part of ANS
Cholinergic Drugs
drugs that affect Ach release, metabolism, or interaction with its respective receptor, can either mimic or antagonize the parasympathetic nervous system
Endocrine System and 3 Principal sources of hormones
- • Pituitary gland
- • Adrenal glands
- • Sex glands
Ductless
Pituitary Glands
- master gland, controls many other glands by releasing regulating factors and growth hormone
- • Hypothalamus helps control the activity of pituitary gland
Adrenal Glands
- near kidneys and divided into 2 parts: cortex (outer surface), and medulla (inner)
- • Component of sympathetic nervous system
- • Also release corticosteriods or just steroids and androgens
- • Steriods – hormones related to the cortcosteriods release from adrenal cortex
- • Androgens – male sex hormones
Sex Glands
responsible for secretion of male and female sex hormones that help regulate the development and activity of respective reproductive systems
Activity of gonads (ovaries, testes) is regulated by hormones released from pituitary gland
Anabolic Steriods
- compounds chemically like the steroids that stimulate production of tissue mass
- Schedule III systems
Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)
- Designer Steriods
- FDA banned THG in products classified as nutritional supplements
