Drugs

Question 1

Whats a drug

Answer 1

A drug is an exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cell functioning that alters function of cells of the body when taken in relatively small amounts.

Question 2

Whats a psychoactive drug?

Answer 2

Psychoactive drugs are drugs that influence subjective experience and behaviors by acting on the nervous system.

Question 3

How does nicotine lead to increase dopamine in nucleus accumbens?

Answer 3

stimulate VTA Da neurons (acts as hormone that influences VTA to send dopamine to n. accumbens

Question 4

How does Cocaine & Amphetamine lead to increase dopamine in nucleus accumbens?

Answer 4

Effect the Da transporter; effects uptake and reuptake of drug in synapses

Question 5

How does opiates lead to increase dopamine in nucleus accumbens?

Answer 5

Remove the inhibition

Question 6

Explain contingent drug tolerance.

Answer 6

tolerance that develops based on stimuli received while under the influence of the drug. If drug effects something that is being effected while under the influence a tolerance is built.

Question 7

Discuss conditioned drug tolerance and conditioned compensatory responses.

Answer 7

tolerance to a drug that develops from environmental factors. If drug has an effect on something

Question 8

Contrast metabolic tolerance and functional tolerance. Which is more common for psychoactive drugs?

Answer 8

Metabolic is when your body processes something faster so you have less of an effect. Functional is when a drug doesn’t work as well as it did before.
Psychoactive drugs mainly show functional tolerance.

Question 9

Other than drugs of abuse, what else increase dopamine release in nucleus accumbens?

Answer 9

Sex, video gaming, gambling, food

Question 10

Other than glutamate and GABA receptors, what other receptors does alcohol impact?

Answer 10


Dopamine and opiate including in nucleus accumbens

Question 11

Describe the stages of alcohol withdrawal.

Answer 11

1) 6 hours after- tremors, headaches, vomiting, cramps, sweating and hallucinations
2) 15 hours after- Convulsive activity
3) ½ days after- DTs: hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and hyperthermia

Question 12

The genes that are associated with alcohol are related to what neurotransmitter system?

Answer 12

Gene for enzyme that breaks down dopamine in terminal after reuptake-COMT

Question 13

What drugs are in the stimulant category and what are the general psychological and somatic effects of stimulant drugs?

Answer 13

Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Ecstasy

Question 14

Define serotonin syndrome. Why are drug interactions often to blame?

Answer 14

When too much serotonin is being released and absorbed. When MAOI and Ecstasy are taken together MAOI’s block MAO from breaking down excess serotonin and the Ecstasy floods serotonin receptors by encouraging production of serotonin.

Question 15

What neurotransmitter and hormone systems are effected by ecstasy?

Answer 15

Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin

Question 16

What is the difference b/t heroin and morphine?

Answer 16

Morphine is a synthetic and doesn’t cross the BBB as readily as Heroin because of heroin’s two added acetyl groups.

Question 17

What are opioid receptors? Where are they in the brain? Are they inhibitory or excitatory?

Answer 17

Opioid receptors are located in most major regions of the brain and are inhibitory to parts of the brain (pain control, decreases stress response and memory, decrease in breathing and heart rate)

Question 18

Are abused drugs necessarily illegal drugs?

Answer 18

no, prescription and OTC drugs included

Question 19

What factors facilitate acquisition of drug taking.

Answer 19

Facilitate: food restrictions, social/environmental stress, certain behavioral traits (prefer sweetened water, high activity in novel environment)

Question 20

what factors protect against it?

Answer 20

Protect against: Social interaction and environmental enrichment

Question 21

What factors are important in transitioning from initial to habitual drug taking?

Answer 21

Shifts from nucleus accumbens control of drug taking to related structure Involved in habitual behaviors

Question 22

What 3 factors can lead to drug craving and relapse? What factors protect against these?

Answer 22

Stress
Exposure to sensations related to drug intake (environmental cues)
Drug priming (small exposure to drug)

Question 23

Whats 3 theories of addiction discussed here.

Answer 23

Physical-Dependence
Positive-Incentive
Incentive-Sensitization

Question 24

Whats physical dependence

Answer 24

Drugs used to avoid withdrawal; after detox people can still revert to taking drug again

Question 25

Whats Positive-Incentive

Answer 25

Drugs are used for pleasure; physical addiction still important but an emphasis on hedonic nature of drug use

Question 26

Whats Incentive-Sensitization

Answer 26

incentive increases even through development of tolerance; even though you like it less you want it more

Question 27

Whats antabuse

Answer 27

makes you violently sick if you drink alcohol. It’s a pill.

Question 28

whats Acamprosate

Answer 28

makes withdraw safer, it binds and blocks receptors, protects against seizures.

Question 29

whats Naloxone

Answer 29

blocks the opiates so you don’t feel pleasure