Mod 3 (Sec 2)

Question 1

Substance use

Answer 1

• the use of a psychoactive substance
• can include caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit drugs

Question 2

Substance misuse

Answer 2

• use of a psychoactive substance in a way that causes concern/elevates risk of reduced well-being and poor mental health
• E.x. regular or excess use when should be in class
• use of medication for purpose other than described
• binge drinking (4+/5+ drinks)

Question 3

Substance use disorder

Answer 3

• clinically significant abuse or dependency which includes psychological and physiological aspects of an addiction
• worsening physical health, depressive symptoms
• failure to meet responsibilities
• problems in relationships
• assoc. losses

Question 4

Substance use and dev. brain

Answer 4

• brain is especially susceptible to toxins such as excessive alcohol and drug misuse
• can be assoc. w/ a number of structural/functional changes in brain during this time

Question 5

Mental health problems

Answer 5

• substance use can contribute to the dev. and worsening of mental health problems including poor sleep, anxiety, depression, psychosis

Question 6

Cognition

Answer 6

• substance misuse is assoc. w/ altered brain functions
• how you think, perceive, and feel

Question 7

Attention

Answer 7

• substance misuse is assoc. w/ reduced sustained attention, distraction, error
• using stimulant meds does not help w/ conc. unless have diagnosable ADD

Question 8

Learning

Answer 8

• regular cannabis and alcohol misuse is assoc. w/ poorer uni performance and higher dropout rates

Question 9

Motivation

Answer 9

• low drive and low motivation are assoc. w/ substance misuse
  -especially regular cannabis misuse which is assoc. w/ amotivational syndrome

Question 10

Substance use: alcohol

Answer 10

• WHO indicates most substance misuse and use disorders arise after starting uni
• alcohol is most common
• alcohol acts primarily on CNS and functions as a depressant, slows down neural processes and communication
• disinhibition of normal behaviour
• disruptions in decision-making
• slower thinking and responding
• trouble w/ motor coordination

Question 11

Binge Drinking

Answer 11

• consumption of excess of alcohol at one point in time
• assoc. w/ negative outcomes

Question 12

Binge drinking: negative outcomes

Answer 12

• risk of physical harm (assaults, injury)
• blackouts, forgetting what happened
• hangovers
• poor academic performance

Question 13

Short-term effects: alcohol

Answer 13

• alcohol is a depressant
• more drinks will slow brain activity, slurred speech, unsteady balance
• affects the dopaminergic system, GABA and glutamate systems
• can lead to coma and death
• assoc. w/ poor quality sleep, heart palpitations, dehydration

Question 14

Long-term effects: alcohol

Answer 14

• assoc. w/ toxic effects on the brain; shrinkage of key brain areas for memory and reasoning
• arrhythmias; irregular heart beat
• weakened immune system
• diseases of liver, pancreas, stomach
• some from of cancer
• alcohol dementia

Question 15

Substance use: Cannabis

Answer 15

• second most commonly abused substance among youths
• psychoactive drug derived from the sativa plant
• contains many chemicals classified as cannabinoids
• acts on the CNS
• variable effects depending on ratio of CBD and THC (hallucinogenic properties)

Question 16

The Endocannabinoid System

Answer 16

• body has natural cannabinoids that act on receptors all over body to promote normal functioning
• involved in actions such as appetite, pain, immune system, conc., well-being
• when using exogenous (from external source) cannabis, this can disrupt the normal system

Question 17

Cannabis

Answer 17

• regular cannabis use (especially w/ high THC:CBD) is assoc. w/ increased risk of worsening or new onset of mental health problems
• decreased cognitive efficiency, memory, rxn time, motivation
• effects are amplified if cannabis use starts in adolescence and in context w/ other substances
• can also inc. risk of cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, some cancers

Question 18

CBD

Answer 18

• second-most abundant cannabinoid in plant after THC
• many potential therapeutic benefits
• counterbalancing effects of THB
• alleviating pain, movement disorders, nausea, calming effect

Question 19

Substance use: Stimulants and Cog. enhancers

Answer 19

• stimulants; class of drug that inc. activity of the brain
• act on receptors to either block or reuptake or stimulate release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, increasing their effects
• most common across pop. is caffeine

Question 20

Positive effects: caffeine

Answer 20

• moderate doses (1-2 cups) can increase well-being, happiness, energy, alertness, sociability

Question 21

Amount of caffeine

Answer 21

• adolescents should not consume more than 100 mg of caffeine/day
• adults should limit consumption to no more than 400 mg/day

Question 22

Length of effects: caffeine

Answer 22

• the average half-life of caffeine is about 5 hours so caffeinated items should not be consumed after 5 pm. to not negatively impact sleep

Question 23

Negative effects: caffeine

Answer 23

• higher doses are likely to produce symptoms of anxiety, jitteriness, upset stomach
• can have reverse effect and cause restlessness, nervousness, inattention/distractibility, irritable mood, insomnia, sleep disruption, lower energy
• ind. can develop tolerance and experience withdrawal like w/ other addictive drugs
• common withdrawal symptoms; headache, changes in BP, shakiness, reduced cog. function

Question 24

Substance use: non-medical use stimulants

Answer 24

• non-medical prescription drug use is generally defined as use w/ out prescription or use for reasons other than what medication is intended for
• meds commonly misused by younger people in higher education include stimulants and other illicit drugs

Question 25

Evidence of advantages of use

Answer 25

• lack of evidence for an academic advantage assoc. w/ non-medical use of stimulant meds
• for students who do not have a diagnosed ADHD it will not improve academic performance

Question 26

Potential harms

Answer 26

• cardiovascular events
• increased risk behaviours
• poorer well-being
• anxiety and agitation
• poor conc.
• sleep problems

Question 27

Ketamine

Answer 27

• substance w/ very powerful anesthetic effects
• mainly used for veterinary medicine
• recreational effects cause feelings of relaxation/happiness to dream-like and detached
• special K, vitamin K, donkey dust
• reduces sensations in body which can lead to injury
• powerful dissociative effects

Question 28

MDMA

Answer 28

• synthetic drug that is chemically similar to hallucinogens and stimulants
• produces feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, distorted sensory and time perception
• affects neural chemicals
• ecstasy, molly
• can cause unpleasant feelings and withdrawal

Question 29

Cocaine

Answer 29

• highly addictive stimulant that derives from the coca plant
• primarily affects the level of neurochemical dopamine in the brain
• flood of dopamine and then there is a crash
• crack, blow, coke, rock, snow
• w/ repeated use, disrupts dopamine circuits making it hard to enjoy normal day life