Intro to Addiction Flashcards
terminology: drug, recreational drug use, drug misuse
drug = administered substance that alters physiological functioning
recreational drug use = drug used to experience its effects
drug misuse = drug that is not used as intended
drug classification (6)
- CNS depressants
- CNS stimulants
- opiates
- cannabinoids
- hallucinogens
- inhalants
CNS depressants (3)
- alcohol
- barbiturates
- sedatives
CNS stimulants (4)
- cocaine
- amphetamines
- caffeine
- nicotine
opiates (4)
- heroin
- oxycodone
- morphine
- methadone
hallucinogens (4)
- lsd (acid)
- mescaline
- psilocybin (mush)
- mdma
inhalants (4)
- aerosol sprays
- glues
- paint thinner
- gasoline
what is addiction (4)
chronic (1), relapsing (2) brain disorder characterized by a compulsive desire (3) to use a drug despite catastrophic consequences (4)
what does addiction involve (3)
- compulsive use in the face of consequences
- decreased pleasure from the drug
- loss of control over use
biological basis of addiction
disrupts the normal, healthy functioning of organ in the body (like diabetes and the pancreas) -> abnormalities in brain anatomy, function and chemistry
addiction cycle phases (3)
- binge/intoxication -> drug is being consumed
- withdrawal/negative affect -> drug is ceased
- preoccupation/anticipation -> drug-seeking behavior
brain regions associated with each phase in the addiction cycle (3)
- binge/intoxication -> basal ganglia (reward center)
- withdrawal/negative affect -> extended amygdala
- preoccupation/anticipation -> PFC
summary of binge/intoxication phase (4)
- DA released in reward centers (BG) of the brain
- brain becomes hypersensitive to drug cues -> strong feelings of craving
- increased craving for drug + decreased liking of drug
- cue-craving association stored in brain as enduring memory; relapse is possible even after long abstinence
role of DA in addiction (3)
- DA = motivation to repeat behaviors that help us survive (learn smth new -> DA release)
- drugs cause unnaturally large releases of DA in BG = creates motivation to consume the drug again
- assigns salience to drug and drug-related things (cues)
- DA facilitates consolidation of maladaptive memory traces connected to drug in the hippocampus
what brain pathway facilitates natural and drug rewards and reinforcement
mesolimbic pathway
activation of VTA neurons creates
increased levels of DA in NAc
what is the mesolimbic pathway
dopaminergic pathway connecting VTA to NAc
DA levels in reward centers when consuming high vs low fat diet
greater DA release when consuming high fat diet
graphical elements that show level of addiction severeness
- peak of DA
- how fast it reaches the peak and how fast it drops
what is the capture rate
% of people who became addicted after trying drug / % of people who tried the drug (likelihood of becoming dependent if use drug)
drug with the highest capture rate
tobacco
influence of DA on salience (3)
- drug = high value
- drug-related things (people, places, contexts, etc.) = high value
- other aspects of life = lower value
how do cues work (4)
- attention is automatically driven to cues
- brain is conditioned to expect reward after seeing cue
- leads to strong feeling of craving
- compulsion to satisfy craving at /any expense/
results of testing brain hypersensitivity to drug cues (control vs CUD+ vs CUD-A)
- control = strong activity when pleasant and unpleasant images; no activity when cocaine-related
- CUD+ = weak activity when pleasant images; high activity when cocaine-related
- CUD-A = high activity when pleasant, unpleasant and cocaine-related images
what explains that SUD people find natural rewards less important
less brain hypersensitivity to pleasant images
what explains that abstinent SUD people can still relapse
high brain hypersensitivity to cocaine-related images (cues)
what is tolerance
with repeated drug use over time, same amount of drug is not producing same effect (need higher dose to achieve same effect)
molecular-level changes in brain due to drug use and consequence
DAr downregulation -> tolerance (too much DA release, brain wants to keep homeostasis so decreases # of DAr: high is not as high, start using more)
over time, characteristics of addiction (2)
- increased wanting of drug
- decreased liking of drug
relationship bw liking and wanting systems
- under normal circumstances, work in sync
- repeated drug use disturbs balance (separate psychological processes w/ independent mechanisms)
events of withdrawal phase (3)
- “coming down” from high
- body feels (physiological) its absence
- withdrawal symptoms
when do DA neurons become active in addiction
anticipation of reward leads to DA release; DA neurons in VTA activated when reward is expected (provides motivational drive)
how can withdrawal symptoms vary (3)
- drug
- duration of use
- consumption pattern
withdrawal symptom ex (12)
- sweating
- nausea
- trembling
- irregular sleep patterns
- irritability
- mood swings
- body aches
- chills
- cravings
- vomiting
- anxiety & depression
- seizures
onset, peak and duration of withdrawal symptoms
usually between 4-12 hours after last use; peak 1-2 days later; last weeks to months
why do withdrawal symptoms drive drug use
drug use relieves symptoms (back to homeostasis)
role of the PFC (3)
- executive function
- performs reasoning
- weighs pros and cons
PFC in addiction (3)
- reduced ability to inhibit impulsive behavior
- stop signals are very weak
- smaller PFC associated with greater lifetime drug use
effect of weak stop signals from PFC
drive to use drug surpasses ability to inhibit drug use
what is drug dependence
chronic drug use that results in physiological changes that will lead to the occurrence of negative symptoms (withdrawal) when drug is ceased
physical vs psychological dependence
physical = tolerance; withdrawal symptoms when stop use
psychological = subjective feeling that need drug to maintain feeling of well-being
what is SUD
problematic pattern of use that impairs functioning (>2 criteria must be met within 1 year)
risk factors for problematic substance use (5)
- genetics/family history
- environment/stress -> early-life trauma (childhood experiences)
- personality -> impulsivity, novelty-seeking, risk-taking
- comorbidity
- age -> younger ~ greater risk
why is drug use during adolescence riskier than in adulthood
brain doesn’t finish developing until 25 years old (last part of brain to develop is PFC)
adolescent brain characterized by (2)
- high functioning reward system: GO signals (reward center sensitive to reward)
- underdeveloped PFC: STOP signals (less ability to inhibit risky behaviors)
adolescent drug use may prime the brain for (3)
- cognitive problems (improper development of PFC)
- psychiatric disorders
- addiction
treatments for addiction (3)
- pharmacological treatments
- psychosocial treatments (CBT, MI, etc.)
- neuromodulation (rTMS, TCDS)
does the brain recover with abstinence (3)
- increased activity in reward brain regions
- increased GMV in PF brain regions
- connection with cues stays present
