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PCL200 > Lec #3 Addictive Drugs > Flashcards

Lec #3 Addictive Drugs Flashcards

1
Q

addiction

A
  • a compulsion to take a drug (or engage in an activity) despite adverse consequences.
  • All drugs that are addictive make us physically dependent
  • All drugs that make us physically dependent, are not necessarily addictive
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2
Q

natural rewards

A
  • necessary behaviors that humans must do to survive. We must eat, drink, live in social groups, and procreate
  • cause a surge in dopamine but are rarely addictive
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3
Q

dopamine

A
  • Dopamine neurons are firing away at a steady rate and when something good happens, their firing rate increases, and a burst of dopamine is released.
  • At a subconscious level, the dopamine burst reinforces that activity, compelling us to repeat it again.
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4
Q

what happens when something good unexpectedly happens?

A

burst of dopamine, increased from the steady firing rate

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5
Q

pleasure of anticipation

A

after a while the dopamine neurons increase their firing just in advance of the expected good thing to happen

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6
Q

disappointment

A

substantial drop in the level of dopamine

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7
Q

How does the brain learn from poor experience subconsciously?

A

Our dopamine system is constantly updating our expectations for what will come next based on what has happened in the past and involved in generating habits

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8
Q

habits

A

behavioural patterns that are somewhat unconscious and are difficult to change

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9
Q

what happens dopamine fire more?

A
  • Something new or unexpected happens
  • Something good is about to happen
  • Something happens that is better than what was expected
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10
Q

When is a drug more likely to be addictive?

A
  • rapid onset, which rapidly increases dopamine, will be more addictive than one with a slow onset that gradually increases dopamine.
  • does not include prescription drugs made with slow-release
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11
Q

what affects the onset of a drug?

A

-the route of administration
- the drug’s ability to pass the blood-brain-barrier

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12
Q

what is the quickest way of ingesting a drug?

A

through the veins and inhaled by the lungs replenishing the blood with oxygen and that oxygenated blood goes directly to the brain

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13
Q

how is alcohol addictive?

A
  • Alcohol is easily absorbed and can enter the bloodstream rapidly.
  • easily pass through the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain.
  • consumed continuously so that by the time the dopamine surge happens, the person is probably taking their next sip.
    -The brain connects the act of drinking with the dopamine surge, and that drinking behaviour is reinforced.
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14
Q

what are possible withdrawal symptoms of heroin?

A
  • heightened pain sensitivity
  • euphoria
  • diarrhea
  • motivation to take more heroin to relieve withdrawal
  • The more unpleasant the withdrawal symptoms are, the more likely the person is to repeat drug consumption.
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15
Q

abused drugs

A

often addictive drugs that are taken recreationally (not to treat an illness) and are associated with physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms

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16
Q

what are the 3 features of an addictive drug?

A
  • increase the levels of dopamine in the synapse (by increasing firing rate or preventing clearance).
  • They rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier so that there is little time between taking the drug and feeling the effect (increase of dopamine).
  • Repeated use causes physical dependence, with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that encourage more use.
17
Q

opioids as a drug of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system (morphine, heroin, fentanyl)

A
  • codeine converted into morphine
  • agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, firing more neurons because disinhibited
  • effects: physical dependence
  • withdrawal symptoms: heightened pain sensitivity, nausea, diarrhea, dysphoria, depression and irritability
18
Q

alcohol as a drug of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system

A
  • depressant because reduces the activity of all neurons
  • low doses of alcohol intoxication: dopamine neurons fire rapidly because disinhibited
  • reduces activity of neurons thta act as a brake on dopamine
  • effects: physical dependence
  • withdrawal symptoms: nausea, vomiting, muscle tremor, headache, anxiety, delirium and seizures
19
Q

nicotine as a drug of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system

A
  • activates acetylcholine receptors that are sodium channels and nicotinic receptors
  • Tobacco plants produce nicotine as a neurotoxin for the insects that want to eat the plant
  • highly addictive because it increases the firing rate of dopamine neurons.
  • rapidly delivered to the brain since it passes easily through the lungs to the blood and from the blood to the brain.
  • withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, irritability, attention deficit, insomnia, and depressed mood.
20
Q

psychostimulants as drugs of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system (cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine)

A
  • act on the dopamine neuron, targeting the dopamine transporter
  • Cocaine prevents the dopamine transporter from clearing dopamine in the synapse, so dopamine accumulates there.
  • Amphetamine and methamphetamine reverse the direction of the transporter so that dopamine is dumped into the synapse instead of being cleared.
  • withdrawal symptoms: fatigue and dysphoria
21
Q

benzodiazepines and barbiturates as drugs of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system

A
  • prescription drugs that are used to temporarily reduce anxiety, and epilepsy and promote sleep
    They are also prescribed for epilepsy.
  • not prescribed for anxiety or sleep anymore because it is possible to have a lethal overdose.
  • addictive and act in a similar manner to alcohol
  • similar withdrawal symptoms to alcohol as well
22
Q

mechanism of action of cannabis

A
  • produces the “high” delta-9 THC, which activates CB1 receptors.
  • Withdrawal symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, and loss of appetite.
23
Q

hallucinogens as drugs of abuse and how it acts on the dopamine system ( lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD/acid) and psilocybin (mushrooms))

A
  • not addictive
  • do not have strong actions on the dopamine system, and instead activate the serotonin system.
  • classified as drugs of abuse because they are not used to treat any medical condition (yet), and can have serious adverse effects.
  • Excessive activation of serotonin receptors causes hyperthermia that can be fatal
24
Q

inhalants as drugs of abuse and how they act on the dopamine system

A
  • reduce oxygenation of the brain and other organs, causing lasting organ damage or lethal overdose.
25
Q

conditioned (associative/ pavlovian) learning

A

form associations between the environmental cues that precede an event, and the outcome of the event.
- Rang a bell just before he fed the dogs. After several repetitions, the dogs would begin to salivate when the bell rang.

26
Q

who is vulnerable to addiction?

A
  • those who consume addictive drugs repeatedly
  • prevalence of drug use in community, peer group or family (environmental risk factors)
  • people with psychiatric disorders (co-morbidity)
  • those with a family member suffering from addiction
  • men
  • genetic: nicotine cessation is more successful for people who are slow metabolizers of nicotine. Fast metabolizers have a lower quit rate
27
Q

why are depressants addictive?

A
  • disinhibit dopamine neurons
28
Q

drug tolerance

A

occurs after repeated use of the drug. The effects of the drug (beneficial or adverse effects) diminish as the body adjusts its physiology to adapt to the presence of the drug

29
Q

drug dependence

A

physical adaptation where the body and brain do not function normally without the continued presence of the drug. The absence of the drug causes withdrawal symptoms.

30
Q

what drugs used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms of opioids ?

A

methadone or buprenorphine

31
Q

what drugs used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms of tobacco products (smoking) ?

A

nicotine or varenicline

32
Q

what drugs used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms of alcohol ?

A

benzodiazepines

33
Q

what drugs used to help reduce withdrawal symptoms of alcohol disorder ?

A

naltrexone

PCL200 (6 decks)

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