Intro to addiction AD

Question 1

Addiction

Answer 1

a disorder in which an individual takes a substance or engages in a behaviour that is pleasurable but eventually becomes compulsive with harmful consequences → a loss of control

Question 2

Physical dependance

Answer 2

a state of the body due to habitual substance abuse which results in a withdrawal syndrome when use of the drug is reduced or stopped

Question 3

Psychological dependance

Answer 3

a compulsion to continue taking a substance because its use is rewarding until it becomes a habit

Question 4

Tolerance

Answer 4

a reduction in response to a substance, so that an addicted individual needs more to get the same effect

Question 5

Withdrawal syndrome

Answer 5

a set of symptoms that develop when an addicted person abstains from or reduces their substance abuse

Question 6

risk factors

Answer 6

any internal or external influence that increases the likelihood a person will start using addictive substances or engage in addictive behaviours

Question 7

Key characters:

Answer 7

• Dependance
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal

Question 8

behavioural tolerance

Answer 8

individual learns through experience to change behaviour to compensate for the effects of the substance, eg alcoholics learn to walk slowly when drunk to not fall over

Question 9

cross tolerance

Answer 9

developing tolerance to one substance but reducing sensitivity to another, eg people who are used to sleepy effects of alcohol need more anaesthetic

Question 10

withdrawal symptoms

Answer 10

Collection of symptoms associated with abstaining from an addictive substance or reducing its use. Its symptoms vary with each category of substance and are predictable. They are always the opposite of the ones created by the substance.

Question 11

acute withdrawal phase

Answer 11

begins within hours of abstaining and has intense cravings, reflecting strong dependance. These symptoms stop over a few days.

Question 12

prolonged withdrawal phase

Answer 12

has symptoms that continue for up to years. The person becomes very sensitive to cues associated with the substance. This could be why relapse is so common.

Question 13

5 risk factors

Answer 13

1. genetic vulnerability
2. stress
3. personality
4. family influences
5. peers

Question 14

genetic vulnerability

Answer 14

People inherit a vulnerability to dependance. Genes determine the activity of neurotransmitter systems like dopamine in the brain, which can affect behaviour like an impulsivity

Question 15

stress

Answer 15

People may turn to drugs to self-medicate against present and past events (stress)

Question 16

personality

Answer 16

Traits such as hostility and neuroticism can increase risk of addiction. But ‘addictive personality’ is no such thing

Question 17

family influences

Answer 17

Living with a family that uses addictive substances or has a positive attitude about them increases the risk of becoming addicted

Question 18

peers

Answer 18

Most important risk for addiction in teenagers. Even if their peers don’t use drugs, their attitudes towards them will still be influential.

Question 19

Central role of genes

strength

Answer 19

Risk factors point to the overriding interaction with genes

• Most risk factors are proximate
• Eg high stress levels directly increase addiction risk
• How we respond to stress is partly genetic (Rey et al)
• To truly understand risk factors we must look at the ultimate risk factors-genetics

Genetic vulnerability may be the most significant risk factor

Question 20

Interactions between factors

limitation

Answer 20

We ignore the effects of interactions, including the positive effects.

• Combinations of risk factors
• Mayes and Suchman display that different combinations determine the nature and severity of an addiction
• ‘Risky’ factors can be protective personality traits, genetic characteristics, family and peer influences can reduce risk of addiction.

A more realistic view of risk is to think of things with multiple ‘pathways’ to addiction