Introduction to addiction

Question 1

What is addiction?

Answer 1

Addiction- A disorder in which an individual takes a substance or engages in a behaviour that is pleasurable, and eventually becomes compulsive with harmful consequences

Question 2

What are the 2 types of dependence?

Answer 2

• Physical
• Psychological

Question 3

What is physical dependence?

Answer 3

• A state of the body due to habitual substance abuse
• Results in withdrawal symptoms when intake is reduced/stopped

Question 4

What is psychological dependence?

Answer 4

• A compulsion to continue taking a substance as its use is rewarding (i.e. pleasure)
• Results in the substance-taking becoming a habit

Question 5

What is tolerance?

Answer 5

• A reduction in response to a substance, so the addict needs to take more to feel the same effect

Question 6

What are the 2 types of tolerance?

Answer 6

• Behavioural
• Cross-tolerance

Question 7

What is behavioural tolerance?

Answer 7

• Occurs when an individual learns through experience to adjust their behaviour to compensate for the effects of the substance

Question 8

What is cross-tolerance?

Answer 8

• Developing tolerance to one substance reduces sensitivity to other substances

Question 9

Why is cross-tolerance an issue?

Answer 9

• In surgery: people who have developed a tolerance to sleep-inducing effects of alcohol may need higher doses of anaesthetic
  (Can be used therapeutically by giving benzodiazepines to those withdrawing from alcohol to reduce withdrawal symptoms)

Question 10

What is withdrawal syndrome?

Answer 10

• A set of symptoms that develop when an addict abstains from or reduces their substance abuse
• E.g: irritability, anxiety, agitation
• Symptoms of withdrawal are unpleasant, so act as motivation for continuing to take a substance (to avoid symptoms)

Question 11

What are the 2 types of withdrawal?

Answer 11

• Acute withdrawal phase
• Prolonged withdrawal phase

Question 12

What is the acute withdrawal phase?

Answer 12

• Begins within hours of abstainance
• Features intense craving
• Symptoms gradually diminish (over a few days)

Question 13

What is the prolonged withdrawal phase?

Answer 13

• Symptoms continue for weeks, months or even years
• High sensitivity to cues associated with substances

Question 14

What are the 5 risk factors for addiction?

Answer 14

1) Genetic vulnerability (predisposition to dependence, genes detrmine neurotransmitter system activity)
2) Stress (self-medication)
3) Personality (hostility, neuroticism)
4) Family influences (positive attitudes/use of substances)
5) Peers (attitudes)

Question 15

Limitation-
I- Ignores effect of interaction between risk factors

Answer 15

D- No risk factor is causal, so combos of factors may be more important. Mayes and Suchman suggest different combos partly determine nature and severity of addiction. Risk factors may be protective (e.g: genetics may reduce risk)
E- It is more realistic to think of risk factors in terms of interaction, and as positive

Question 16

Strength-
I- Risk factors point to overriding interaction with genes

Answer 16

D- Most risk factors are proximate (immediate influence), e.g: high stress levels and novelty-seeking personality. Rey says the way we respond to stress and the extent to which we seek novelty are partly genetic. To fully understand any risk factor, we must look back to genetics
E- Genetic vulnerability may be the most significant risk factor due to its influence on other factors