Drugs of Abuse Flashcards
Define a drug
(Pharmacological)
Any substance, other than a nutrient, which alters bilogical processes.
(A compound designed to produce a biological effect)
What is an experimental drug?
A substance which exerts a biological effect, but which has yet to have approved clinical usage
What is a candidate drug?
A substance, which is being tested in clinical trials
What is a medicinal drug?
- Active component of medicine, which is designed and expected to evoke a therapeutic effect
- Also termed the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)
What are ‘recreational drugs’?
A drug used for non-medicinal purposes
What is a drug of misuse?
- A medicinal drug used for a purpose other than medicinal benefit
What is a drug of absuse?
- No medicinal uses
- But is exploited for psychoactivity or other subjective ‘benefit’
What is a psychotropic?
A substance which alters mood, consciousness or behaviour
What is addiction?
- Complicated
- Repeated drug seeking irrespective of dangerous or unhealthy outcomes
What is dependance?
- The need for continuing exposure to a drug/stimulus
- Defined on the basis of avoiding adverse symptoms of withdrawal
1. Physiological symptoms
2. Psychological symptoms - Many abused drugs not associated with withdrawal but therapeutics are
What is ‘tolerance’?
The need to increase dose to maintain the same effect
How are drugs of abuse sorted?
Broadly divided into 3 classes
- Stimulants
* Amphetamines, caffeine, cocaine, nicotine - Depressants
* Alcohol, cannabis, opiods - Psychedelics
* LSD, MDMA
List acronyms for key terms.
- Form – Formulation/delivery
- MMoA – Molecular mechanism of action
- Acute – Acute symptoms and time course
- Long – Long-term effects
- Wdrwl – Withdrawal
What is Nicotine?
- Form – Dried tobacco leaves ignited and inhaled (Vaping)
- MMoa – Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
1. Incd peripheral adrenaline, inc central neurotransmission - Acute – Hyperstimulation, reduced fatigue, mental alertness
- Long – Higher/repeated dosing leads to sedative efects
- Wdrwl – Cravings, anxiety, depressions, insomnia, restlessness, weight gain
What is cocaine?
- Form – Hydrochlorine salt can be snorted as powder or injected as aqueous solution
1. Crack is cocaine base - MMoa – DAT/SLC6A3 dopamine transporter blockade
1. Incd monoamine activity in CNS (and PNS) - Acute – Hyperstimulation, reduced fatigue, mental alertness
1. Constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils and incd temp, HR and BP
2. Duration depends on route of admin - faster absorbtion = More intense + shorter the high
What are the long term effects of cocaine?
- Long – Repeated use can reduce the duration of the high and inc the risk of addiction
1. Some tolerance, bust sensitisation possible
2. Binges, during which the drug is taken respeatedly and at increasingly high doses, may lead to: - – Inc irritability, restlessness and paranoia
- – Full blown parranoid psychosis
- – Cardiovascular complication, arrhythmias, heart attack, stroke
- – Appetite reduction leading to malnourishment
What are the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine?
- Crash induced dysphoria
- Depressions
- Anxiety
- Pain
- Cravings
Explain what heroin is and its effects.
- Form – Injectable aqueous solution
- MMoa – = µ opioid receptor activation
- Acute – Rapid onset (seconds), lasts a few hours
1. Surge of euphoria
2. Followed by alternately wakeful and drowsy state
3. Mental functioning becomes clouded due to depression of CNS
What are the long term effects of Heroin?
- Severe constipation
- Malnourished
- Mental instability
- Focus on drug-seeking
What are the withdrawal symptoms of Heroin?
Major withdrawal symptoms peak 48-72hrs after the last dose and subside after about a week.
- Craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain
- Insomnia, diarrhoea and vomiting
- Cold flashes + goose bumps
- Involuntary kicking movts
- Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users in poor health can be fatal
What is cannabis?
Form – Cannabis leaf/ herbal cannabis
* SMoking, orally, vapes, juicing
MMoa – ~100 unique chemicals that act on CB1 cannabinoid receptors
Acute – Incd pule rate, red eyes, incd appetite
* Biphasic, highly variable, context-dependent
1. Initial period of euphoria, followed by drowsiness
2. Difficulty concentrating and thinking
3. MIldly impaired hearing
What are the long term effects of cannabis?
Limited understanding of chronic effects
- Tolerance is displayed to cardiac & psychoactive effects
- Dependance (~10% of heavy users)
- Panic attacks, depression, mania, scizophrenia
1. Adolescent exposure - Respiratory disorders
What are the withdrawal symptoms of cannabis?
Mild withdrawal symptoms
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbance
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Salivation
What is alcohol?
Form – Aqueous solution orally administered
MMoa – ?
Acute – CNS depressant, irritated stomach, inhibits vasopression (dehydration), death
