drugs and addiction Flashcards
what are some routes of administration for drugs
topical/ transdermal
orally/ gastrointestinal
pulmonary epithelia/ inhilation
injection
what is topical/ transdermal administration
direct local application of the drug to the place where it must act
ointments, creams, lotions, powders, sprays applied to the skin
eye drops and ophthalmic ointments
nose drops and sprays
ear drops
solutions /sprays for use in the mouth, throat, rectum, vagina, urethra - application of sufficiently small volumes and low concentrations to ensure drug acts only at that site
oral mucosa (sublingual)
rectal mucosa (suppositories, enemas)
what is orally/ gastrointestinal administration
- stomach and intestine
what is pulmonary epithelia/ inhalation administration
absorbed through the lungs
gases, vapours, asthmatic medications (e.g., puffers)
what is injection administration
- subcutaneous injection
-intravenous administration - rapid infusion (aka bolus)
-slow infusion
-intra arterial injection
-intramuscular injection
-intrathecal injection
what is use of drugs
drug taking in the most general way, encompasses misuse and abuse
what is misuse of drugs
inappropriate use of legal drugs intended to be medications
what is abuse of drugs
any use of an illegal drug, or the use of a legal drug when it is detrimental to health
what is tolerance
- an acquired reaction to a drugs
- continued intake of the same dose has demising effects
- cross- tolerance
transfer of tolerance from one drug to another within the same general category
what is dependance
general term that reflects the need to keep consuming a drug for psychological or physical reasons, or both
psychoactive drugs have strong potential for dependence development:
patterns of nervous system function are altered
if provide perceived benefits, drug use may continue (possibly at higher dosages)
if continue use …. user may develop dependence
what is psychological dependance/ habituation
persons who have developed strong desires to continue the use of a particular drug
habit
feel need to consume drug to maintain a sense of well-being
abrupt withdrawal would not initiate fully expressed withdrawal illness … minor symptoms
what is physical dependance/ addiction
persons who have developed strong desires to continue the use of a particular drug
habit
feel need to consume drug to maintain a sense of well-being
abrupt withdrawal would not initiate fully expressed withdrawal illness … minor symptoms’
what is addiction
continued involvement with substance or activity despite ongoing negative consequences
what are the four criteria for a physiological addiction
craving
tolerance
withdrawal
relapse
what is addictive behaviour
addictive behaviours are habits that are out of control, resulting in a negative impact on a person’s health
addiction is most often associated with drug use
many experts now extend the concept of addiction to other behaviours
others may include: shopping, eating, gambling, sex, television, video games, work, alcohol
what is exercise addiction
use exercise compulsively to meet needs of intimacy, nurturance, self-esteem, and self-competency
are traditionally women, but men too are developing more unhealthy exercise patterns
more men are abusing steroids and overexercising
what are negative consequences of exercise
alienation of family and friends
injuries from overdoing it
craving for more
what is club drugs
substances commonly used at nightclubs, music festivals, raves, and dance parties to enhance social intimacy and sensory stimulation
the most widely used club drugs are 3,4-methylenedioxymetham-phetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy; gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB); flunitrazepam (Rohypnol); and ketamine (Ketalar).
popular because of their low cost and convenient distribution as small pills, powders, or liquids
usually are taken orally and may be taken in combination with each other, with alcohol, or with other drugs
they are often adulterated or misrepresented
any club drug overdose should therefore be suspected as polydrug use with the actual substance and dose unknown
what are methamphetamines
powerfully addicting and easily made using the over the counter drugs and materials
can be snorted, injected, smoked or injected orally
what are the effects of methamphetamines
small doses increase alterness and decrease appetite
large doses can lead to convulsions, hallucinations and death
users experience tolerance immediately making meth a highly addictive drug
what is the first step in the process of addiction
exposure
what is exposure
person must be exposed to drug or behaviour
can begin after person is exposed to a drug or behaviour that he/she finds enjoyable
drug/behaviour may replace unpleasant feeling or sensation
initial pleasure gradually (or quickly) become a focal point
what is compulsion in the process of addiction
distinguished by obsession, or excessive preoccupation with the behavior and an overwhelming need to perform it
increasingly more energy, time and money are spent pursuing drug/behaviour
at this point, said to have a compulsion for the drug/behaviour
repeated exposure to drug/behaviour continue despite negative effects
“normal” life likely to degenerate - family, friend, work, etc … less important
development of tolerance and withdrawal are possible
what happens during loss of control
is the inability to reliably predict whether any isolated occurrence of the behavior will be healthy or damaging
over time, search for highs become obsession … try to avoid effects of withdrawal
lose ability to control behaviours
continue to behave in ways that make lives worse (despite neg. consequences)
what are negative consequences of addiction
such as physical damage, legal trouble, financial problems, academic failure, and family dissolution, do not occur with healthy involvement in any behavior
what is the biopsychosocial model
proposes that addiction is caused by a variety of factors operating together
what is the biological or disease influences model of addiction
serotonins and GABA
what are environmental influences of addiction
cultural expectations, attitudes, and messaging
social learning theory
what are individual factors that can contribute to addiction
genetic predisposition
personality traits, attitudes & beliefs
interpersonal skills
what are immediate factors that contribute to addiction
home and family
school
peers
what are larger society factors that influence addiction
youth subculture
modelling and advertising
technological advances
what impact does addiction have on family and friends
- codependence
a person is “addicted to the addict”
the person assumes responsibility for meeting the addicts needs and neglects his or her own
-enablers
people who knowingly or unknowingly protect addicts from the natural consequences of their actions
what is innervation
planned process of confrontation by people who are important to the addict
its purpose is to allow the addict to see the destructive nature of the addiction
what is treatment
abstinence is refraining from the addictive behavior
detoxification is adjustment physically and cognitively to being free from the influence of addiction
what are the 3 strategies for addiction treatment that were studied
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- motivational psychology
- x=12 step program
what is the focus for treatment selection
the focus for treatment selection should be on choosing a program that was competently run
what is withdrawal illness
uncomfortable, perhaps toxic response of the body as it attempts to maintain homeostasis in the absence of a drug
may include: mild to severe irritability depression, nervousness, digestive difficulties, abdominal pain
what is relapse
is isolated or complete return to addictive behavior
relapse prevention requires the addict and significant others to recognize the signs of imminent relapse and to develop a plan for responding to the signs
relapse is not a failure to change or a lack of desire to stay well
what is the first line of treatment for opioid overdoses
Naloxone
what are prescription and OTC medications capable of
- curing diseases
-easing pain
-calming fears
-alleviating anxiety and frustration - releasing sleepiness
- treating many health problems
what is the definition of drug
any substance, other than a normal constituent of the body or one that is required for normal body function, that when applied to or introduced into a living organism, has the affect of altering body functions
what is the definition of pharmacology
the science that deals with the fate of drugs in the body and their actions on the body
what is pharmacy
the science of preparation of drugs
what is therapeutics
treatments of disease, by drugs and other means
what is medicine
drugs whose primary function is to heal unhealthy tissue
used to ease pain, prevent illness, diagnose health conditions
what is psyonactive/ psychotropic
any substance capable of altering ones feeling, moods or perceptions
examples: stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opiates, inhalant
what are the drug classifications
central nervous system (CNS)- depressants
CNS- stimulants
hallucinogens/ psychedelic drugs
dissociate anesthetics
narcotic analgesics
inhalants
cannabis
what are central nervous system (CNS)- depressants
psychoactive drugs that reduce the function of the CNS
examples: alcohol, barbiturates , tranquillizers, anti depressants
what are stimulants
psychoactive drugs that stimulate the function of the CNS
examples: caffeine, ice, cocaine
what are hallucinogen/ psychedelic drugs
psychoactive drugs capable of producing hallucinations, distortions or reality
example: LSD, mescaline
what are dissociate anesthetics
psychoactive drug that inhibit pain by cutting off or dissociating the brains perception of the pain
examples: dextromethorphan, ketamine, phencyclidine
what are narcotic analgesics
psychoactive drugs derived from the prenatal poppy plant
- narcotic analgesics relieve pain, induce euphoria, induce sleep and create mood changes
examples: opium, codeine, heroin, morphine, oxycontin
what is cannabis
scientific name for marijuana
active ingredient in cannabis is delta- 9 tetrahydrocannabinol or TCH
produces euphoria, relaxed inhibitions, increased appetite, disoriented behaviour
includes cannabinoids and synthetics like dronabinol
what are inhalants
psychoactive drugs that enter the body through inhalation
produce mint altering results and effects
examples: toluene, plastic cement, anesthetic gases
what does pharmakinetics study
- the routes and mechanisms of absorption and excretion
- the rate at which a drugs action begins and the duration of the effect
- the biotransformation of the substance in the body
- the effects and routes of excretion of the metabolites of the drug
what does pharmodynamics study
the study of how a drug acts on a living organism
the pharmacologic response observed relative to the concentration of the drug at an active site in the organism
what are phrarmodynamic variations
changes in tissue response can be caused by disease processes
drug interactions
previous drug history
dosage in children of different ages
dosages for adults should take account of body size and build
what is bioavailability
the degree of activity or amount of an administered drug or other substance that becomes available for activity in the target tissue
variety of physiologic factors in GI tract and liver
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- steatorrhea
- billiard obstruction
what are sources of variation in drug response
compliance- not following direction
why not?
- complexity and inconvenience
- continuity and ease of contact with physician
- psychiatric illnesses
