Emerging Treatments for Drug Dependence and Addiction Flashcards
Difference between drug disuse and drug use disorder
Drug disuse isn’t sanctioned by society, but has no harm associated.
Drug use disorder results in harm.
Difference between substance dependence and addiction
Dependence is a homeostatic response to drug, a physical need.
Addiction implies a psychological need.
Prevalence of substance use disorders and dependence
Substance use disorders - 15-20% population
Dependence - 6-8% of population
Drug group that is increasing in prevalence of abuse
Opioids
When are people most vulnerable to addiction?
Between late adolescence and twenties
Effect of methamphetamine addiction on brain
Decreased dopamine receptor density
Evidence for genetic component of alcoholism
Schuckit found teenagers who had never had alcohol before. Those who had alcoholics in the family didn’t get as affected by alcohol.
Focus of addiction treatment
Reduce morbidity and mortality
Comparison of relapse rates of alcoholism and other chronic diseases
Very similar.
Type I diabetes, hypertension, asthma all similar.
Drug that most users are physically addicted to
Nicotine
Why might nicotine be more physically addictive than other drugs?
Higher number of bolus doses of nicotine when smoking.
Group that nicotine replacement therapy is most effective on
Heavy smokers
Most common relapse prevention pharmacotherapeutic agents in Australia
Varenicline, bupropion
Phenotype that results in less addiction to nicotine
People with a slower nicotine metabolism are more likely to quit, have less damage to organs
Drug that reduces rate of nicotine metabolism
Methoxsalen
