Introduction to studying addiction

Question 1

What is an addiction?

Introduction

Answer 1

A disorder where an individual takes a substance or engages in behaviour that is pleasurable but eventually becomes compulsive w/ harmful consequences

Question 2

What is physical dependence?

Introduction

Answer 2

Can only tell someone is physically dependent when they try to abstain
Said to have occured when withdrawal syndrome is produced by stopping intake

Question 3

What is psychological dependence?

Introduction

Answer 3

Compulsion to experience effects of substance - usualy to increase pleasure or lessen discomfort
Taking substance followed by reward
Consequence = person keeps taking substance until it becomes habit

Question 4

What is tolerance?

Introduction

Answer 4

Occurs when individual’s response to given amount of substance is reduced
They need greater dose to produce same effect
Tolerance caused by repeated exposure to effects of substance

Question 5

Behavioural tolerance

Introduction

Answer 5

An individual learns through experience to adjust behaviour to compensate for effects of substance
e.g. drunks learn to walk more slowly when drunk to avoid falling over

Question 6

Cross-Tolerance

Introduction

Answer 6

Whereby developing tolerance to one type of substance can reduce senstivity to another type
People who have developed tolerance to sleep-inducing effects of alcohol need higher doese of anaesthetic

Question 7

Withdrawal syndrome

Introduction

Answer 7

Collection of symptoms associated w/ abstaining from addictive substance
The collection of symptoms are unique to each substance & is predictable
Symptoms tend to be opposite of those created by substance
Motivation to continue taking substance is partly to avoid withdrawal

Question 8

Acute withdrawal

Introduction

Answer 8

Begins within hours of abstaining
Features intense cravings for substance, reflecting strong physiological and psychological dependence
Symptoms gradually diminish over days

Question 9

Prolonged withdrawal

Introduction

Answer 9

Includes symptoms that continue for weeks, months & even years
Person becomes highly sensitive to the cues they associated w/ the substance (e.g. lighters, rituals, locations)
This is one reason why relapse is so common