Exam #2 - ETIOLOGY Flashcards
Predictors of drug use, misuse, abuse, and dependence:
Intrapersonal predictors…
- Neurobiological
- Cognition
Predictors of drug use, misuse, abuse, and dependence:
Extrapersonal predictors…
- Social groups
- Large social and physical environment
Chicken and the Egg:
(ASKKKK)
Does a variable lead to later drug
use or addictive behavior (is it a predictor), or does it
stem from drug use or addictive behavior (outcome)
- A (antecdents) -> B (behaviors) -> C (consequences)
Neurobiologically relevant etiology:
Define GENES:
Genetic variations, genetic polymorphisms, and allele associations lead to
differences in metabolic processes, which may lead to addiction.
Neurobiologically relevant etiology:
BRAIN STRUCTURES:
Brain variation or structure/pathway communication may
lead to addiction.
Neurobiologically relevant etiology:
Define BRAIN “JUICES”:
Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are chemical substances
which act as mediators for the transmission of impulses from neuron to neuron
through the synapse. Dysregulation of neurotransmitter, neuropeptide, and
hormonal systems may lead to addiction.
Are EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENT AND PERSONALITY PHENOTYPES relevant to Neurobiologically etiology?
Yes
Neurobiologically relevant etiology: Genes
30% to 60% of the variation in drug abuse (e.g., Deak & Johnson, 2021; Facal et al., 2021—50% of alcoholism; twin studies; e.g., brother-brother, father-son; COGA Study
- However, genetic expression is much more complicated than one may imagine (general psychopathology factor,
heavy drinking factor; subtle G x E interaction
How many Brain regions and addiction?
11
Brain regions and addiction (here’s 11)
- Amydala (emotional processing of sensory inputs; innervates VTA;
conditioned incentives) - Hypothalamus (set-point, regulation functions; innervates VTA)
- Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) (manufacture of DA)
- Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB) (carrier of DA)
- Nucleus Accumbens (an endpoint of DA, sends information to
motor areas) - Pallidum (connects movement-control regions)
- Hippocampus (guidance of behavior from episodic inputs; long-
term memory) - Anterior Cingulate Cortex (executive processing, planning)
- Prefrontal Cortex (another endpoint of DA; Dorsolaeral PFC
[working memory]) - Medial Frontal Cortex (effort-based reward-related decision
making) - Orbital Frontal Cortex (implicit cognition, emotion, motivation)
Neurotransmitters associated with appetitive-motivated behaviors
- Dopamine (novelty, pleasure, reward)
- Serotonin (emotion/pleasure maintenance and sleep processing)
all recreational drugs appear to increase DA turnover (T/F)
True
Neurotransmitter-relevant theories of Addiction!
Reward deficiency syndrome:
Insufficient D2 dopamine, serotonin, or norepinephrine production, receptors, pattern of firing; self-medication maybe
Neurotransmitter-relevant theories of Addiction!
Incentive-sensitization theory
Dissociation of “liking” [mu opioid hotspots] with “wanting” [mesolimbic DA]
Name the neurotransmitter-relevant theories of Addiction
Incentive-sensitization theory, Reward deficiency syndrome, Allostasis (opponent-process counteradaptation)
Neurobiologically relevant etiology: environmental or drug use impact
What may lead to under-development of key brain structures?
adverse childhood experiences or ACE
Addictive personality?
Define sensation seeking (SS):
desiring varied, novel, intense experiences
-SS may be a response to high DA turnover
Cognitive etiological variables of drug abuse:
Cognitive-information errors…
may affect one’s likelihood of becoming a drug abuser
Example of Cognitive-information errors:
(ASKK)
- Implicit associative processes; spreading activation
in memory; cues-behaviors-outcomes - Expecting what have been taught or past experiences; can
form a semantic network of associations in memory - Implicit/relatively automatic processes can take over contr
Cognitive etiological variables of drug abuse (continued)
Mystification (Mystification Theory)-subjective process and outcomes become confused;
– ex: “getting used” to a drug is the beginning of addiction, not comfort
Social interaction and social group etiological variables influencing drug use:
- Family unit and parenting
- Family interactions serve as protective or risk factors
for drug use (e.g., conflictual versus warm interactions,
parent deviance) - Parenting styles affect problem behaviors (authoritative
best, see next slide) - Quality and quantity of family time, parental monitoring of a child’s activities are examples of factors
predictive of later drug use (e.g., latch-key kids)
Note: rewarding child for not using tobacco can lead to
increased tobacco use; punitive discipline, spouses arguing
about discipline also not good (T/F)
True
Parenting Style leading to a cooperative child:
Authoritative= warm=strict
Peer social influence
Friends and peer group affiliation inhibit or promote drug use:
(ASKK)
- Informational (covert/observational/modeling)
social influence may operate - Normative (overt/adherence/acceptance) social
influence may operate
Social interaction and social group etiological variables influencing drug use
Define Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)
- Suggests that drug use can develop
through vicarious learning,
modeling, and through reinforcing
pharmacological drug effects. - Family or peer role models act as
teachers of the time and place,
quantity and methods of drug use
teen groups:
Jocks, Brains,
Socials, Deviants, and Regulars/Others
is social support a part of social interaction and social group etiological variables influencing drug use?
Yes
Examples of Social support:
(a) companionship,
(b) instrumental (e.g., money),
(c) conformity (e.g., “don’t cheat”), and
(d) informational (e.g., how to find a classroom)
Centrality (Social networks):
Individuals occupying central positions within a
network tend to be more influential
Liaison (Social networks):
though individuals may be a link between two group
Isolate (Social networks):
not be in the group/have one connection
Group characteristics include:
- density:
- homophily:
- Density: number of group ties
- Homophily: degree of similarity of persons in the
group
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use
Map
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use
The majority of cocaine (about 80%) is manufactured in Colombia (T/F)
True
- the coca leaf is exported from Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, as well as
grown in Colombia… Some in Mexico - treatment cases: 3% in Europe, 60% in ”Americas” (20% in US, 2018)
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use
Majority of opium has been coming from Afganistan (85%) then
Myanmar (~10%). (T/F)
True
-However, in 2023, the United Nations (UN) reported
that Northwest Myanmar (bordering on India) surpassed Afghanistan as
the world’s largest opium producers. Poppy cultivation has also
increased in Manipur, an Indian state.
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use
opioid use disorder treatment cases:
70% of cases in Asia countries, Russian Federation, and high in Western Europe, 20% in “America” (but tied for highest
illicit drug)
How People Get Drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin:
- Access (awareness of local distribution routes)
- Acquisition skills (knowing what to say and do)
- A means of exchange (resources, money or
services provided)
The idea here is that there is knowledge and skill
involved. The long-term addict becomes an “expert” at
knowing where to go and what to do to obtain and use the drug
Air pollution:
Air pollution may exist in urban areas, but may directly dysregulate mesolimbic DA
turnover -> vulnerability to addiction
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use:
- Air pollution
- Socioeconomics
- Environmental availability of drugs
- Media and worldwide access to information (ex: advertisements)
-Parental permissiveness on children’s viewing of R-rated movies
influences smoking
Socioeconomics
- may affect some to self-medicate with drugs under disadvantaged circumstances
- causes a descent in SES due to addiction (downward
drift)
Geographic Information Systems:
Geocoding
ex: can examine distance from drug object location versus fitness club
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use!
M are (blank) more likely to report a substance use disorder than FM
2-to-4 times
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use!
M (blank) likely than FM to self-disclose addiction
more
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use!
Example of fetal effects
54% of pediatric AIDS from mothers due to needle use
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use!
FM>M: custody issues, more likely to lack insurance, victimization
– If a heavy drinker-deaths: FMs 50-100% > M) (T/F)
True
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use!
What affects drug use prevalence or self-disclosure?
Sex-role expectations and differential stigma
who is least likely to misuse substances?
Gender roles: androgynous
- Male High (instrumental)
- Female High (nurturance)
Larger social and physical environmental etiological influences on drug use
W>B drug (blank), but B>W (blank)
use; dependence
- W>B drug use, but B>W dependence
Cultural influences on drug use:
- Life habits or rituals, normative structures and expectations, and beliefs about
drug use and its effects may affect drug use (wine as food in France
Acculturation:
Identification with
Culture of Origin Versus Host Culture
A total of 73 studies, which covered 15,905,182
substance-related posts on Twitter, YouTube,
Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Weibo, were
identified. A total of 76.3% of all
substance-related content was positive in its
depiction of substance use, with 20.2% of
content depicting use negatively. (year of study)
2023
The Mass Media: Sargent and colleagues (2004):
Looks at onset of smoking among 10-to-14-year-olds 17 months
later
(ASKK)
Risk and protective factors:
- may vary in (blank) of impact (maybe SS greater impact than access)
- may vary in (blank) of impact (maybe SS more stable than access )
strength; stability
Biopsychosocial models:
(drug misuse is a biopsychosocial
[BPS] phenomenon as are behavioral addictions
Risk and Protective Factors Considered within a (blank)—Currently Very Popular Model
Socio-Ecological Model (SEM)
Problem Behavior Theory
Perceived Environment
([blank] family/peer
support and norms) + Perceived Environment
([blank] family/peer
approval or modeling of
use behavior = drug use
distal; proximal
Current Multivariate Models
1.Risk and protective factors
2.Biopsychosocial models
3.Risk and Protective Factor
4.Problem Behavior Theory
5.Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI) 9-Cell Matrix
6. Stage Modeling
7. PACE Model
8. Appetitive Effect Model of Addiction
Appetitive Effect Model of Addiction:
Associational Memory-Appetitive Systems Relations (AMASR) Model; if person is vulnerable, they may try a substance and fullflils appetive needs
Summary of Etiology Variables Grouped by Levels
- Neurobiological
- Cognitive
- Microsocial
- Large Social and Physical Environment
Neurobiological:
– Genes
– Brain structures
– Neurotransmitters
– Early childhood environment and personality
Cognitive:
– Cognitive-information errors
– Limits in rational cognitive processing
– Belief-behavior congruence maintenance
– Situational/contextual distortions
Microsocial:
– Family unit and parenting
– Peer social influence
(Social support, deviant socialization, group identification)
Large Social and Physical Environment
– Environmental availability (distribution, access)
– Gender, Ethnicity, and Culture
– Mass/social media
Research problems
