Module 11: Recognizing and Avoiding Addiction and Drug Abuse Flashcards
define addiction
- continued involvement with a substance or activity despite ongoing negative consequences
- classified as a mental disorder
- provide initial sense of pleasure
what must a substance or behavior have to be addictive
- potential to produce positive mood changes
define physiological dependence
- adaptive state of brain and body processes that occurs with regular addictive behavior
- experience tolerance when increased amounts of drug are required to achieve desired effect
- results in withdrawal if the addictive behavior stops
define psychological dependence
- dependency of the mind on a substance or behavior
- leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, irritability, cravings
what are the 5 characteristics of addiction
- compulsion
- loss of control
- negative consequences
- denial
- inability to abstain
define nurturing through avoidance
- repeatedly seeking illusion of relief to avoid unpleasant feelings or situations
- lead to addiction
define habit
- repeated behavior in which the repetition may be unconscious
- broken without too much discomfort
- doesn’t contain compulsion
define codependence
- self-defeating relationship pattern in which a person helps or encourages addictive behavior in another person
- family and friends of an addicted person struggle with codependence
define enablers
- people who knowingly or unknowingly protect addicts from the natural consequences of their behavior
define process addiction
- driven by pathological pursuit of a reward or relief by an individual
- person is dependent on a mood-altering behavior or process
- gambling, buying, exercise, technology
define gambling disorder
- behavior including preoccupation with gambling, unsuccessful efforts to cut back or quit, using gambling to escape problems, and lying to family members to conceal the extent of gambling
what percent of college students gamble and what percent are addicted
- 75% gamble
- 6% addicted
define compulsive buying disorder
- preoccupation with shopping and spending accompanied by little control over the impulse to buy
- results in psychological distress and conflict with friends or family
what percent of adults have compulsive buying disorder
- 5%
define exercise addiction
- always working out alone, following the same rigid pattern, exercising for more than 2 hours daily, focusing on weight loss or calories burned, exercising to the point of pain, skips work/class for workouts
define technology addictions
- compulsive use of any form of technology to access the internet for activities
- generally gaming and cybersex
how many people will experience internet addiction
- 1 in 8 internet users
define drugs
- substances other than food that are intended to affect the structure or function of the mind or the body through chemical action
define drug misuse
- use of drug for a purpose other than what was intended
define drug abuse
- excessive use of a drug
define neurotransmitter
- chemical that relays message between nerve cells or from nerve cells to other body cells
which neurotransmitter relays messages about pleasure
dopamine
define the mesolimbic dopamine system
- pleasure circuit
- brain stem: survival
- limbic system: emotional
- frontal cerebral cortex: thinking
define psychoactive drugs
- drugs that affect brain chemistry and have the potential to alter mood or behavior
describe the routes of administration of drugs
- oral ingestion: swallowing, reaches bloodstream in 30 minutes
- inhalation: through respiratory tract, travels rapidly
- injection: into bloodstream/muscles/subcutaneous layer of skin, effects felt within seconds
- transdermal: absorbed through skin
- suppositories: mucous membranes in vagina or anus
what is the most dangerous method of administration and why
- intravenous
- can damage blood vessels or contract HIV and hep B
define polydrug use
- taking several medications simultaneously
- causes interactions between drugs
define synerism
- interaction of two or more drugs
- affects of individual drugs are multiplied beyond normal expectancy
define antagonism
- drugs working at same receptor site
- one drug blocks action of the other
define inhibition
- effects of one drug are eliminated or reduced by the presence of another drug at the receptor site
define intolerance
- drugs combine in the body to produce uncomfortable reactions
define cross-tolerance
- person develops physiological tolerance to one drug that also increases the tolerance to other substance that act similarly on the body
examples of OTC drugs that are subject to misuse and abuse
- caffeine pills and energy drinks
- cold medicines (cough syrups and tablets) containing DXM
- diet pills
what are the most commonly abuse prescription drugs on college campuses
- painkillers: oxycontin and vicodin
- stimulant drugs: adderall and ritalin
what percent of college students report having abused prescription painkillers
- 6.2%
why do some college students use drugs
- positive expectations
- genetics and family history
- substance use in high school
- curiosity
- social norms
- sorority and fraternity membership
- stress
why don’t some college students use drugs
- parental attitudes and behaviors
- religion and spirituality
- student engagement
- college athletics
- healthy social network
what are the categories of drugs
- stimulants
- cannabinoids
- narcotics
- depressants
- hallucinogens
- inhalants
- anabolic steroids
define stimulant and give examples
- drug that increases activity of the central nervous system
- cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, bath salts, caffeine, khat, nicotine
define cocaine
- stimulant and anesthetic
- white crystalline powder
- can be snorted, smoked, injected
define freebasing
- cocaine alkaloid
- removing hydrochloride salt from cocaine powder
- smoking freebase
- similar to crack
define amphetamines
- stimulant
- small doses can improve alertness
- high doses cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior
define methamphetamines
- stimulant
- increases release of and blocks reuptake of dopamine
- destroys dopamine receptors in long term
- can be made with OTC ingredients: ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
- can be snorted, smoked, injected, or orally ingested
define bath salts
- stimulant
- synthetic powder
- contains amphetamines and cocaine-like substances
- can be smoked, snorted, injected, and ingested
- cannot be detected by routine drug screening
define caffeine
- stimulant
- legal
- wakeup effects
- derived from xanthines
how long does it take for the body to metabolize half of the caffeine ingested
- 4 to 6 hours
define khat
- stimulant
- leaves from catha edulis chewed and held in the cheek
define cannabinoids
- marijuana
- most commonly used illicit drug in the US
define marijuana
- cannabinoid
- derived from cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plant
- THC is psychoactive ingredient; amount determines how powerful the high will be
symptoms of marijuana use
- bloodshot eyes
- coughing
- dry mouth and throat (cotton mouth)
- increased thirst and appetite
- lowered blood pressure
- mild muscular weakness
risks associated with marijuana use
- cancer
- mental health disorders
- suppression of immune system
- blood pressure changes
- impaired memory function
how can marijuana be used as medicine
- controls nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
- increases appetite for AIDS wasting syndrome
- reduces muscle pain and spasticity from multiple sclerosis
define synthetic marijuana
- K2, spice
- dried and shredded plant material with synthetic cannabinoids
- K2 is sold legally as herbal blend incense
- spice is smoked to gain effects similar to marijuana
define depressants and give examples
- drugs that slow down the activity of the central nervous system and muscular system
- cause sleepiness of calmness
- alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, rohypnol, GHB
define benodiazepines
- depressant
- sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant
- replaced barbiturates recently
- also called tranquilizers
- valium, ativan, xanax
define barbiturates
- depressant
- sedative, hypnotic
- amytal, seconal
describe the effects when sedative hypnotics are taken with alcohol
- synergistic
- both are depressants
- leads to respiratory failure and death
what complication is specific to sedatives
- cross-tolerance
- users develop tolerance for one sedative or become dependent on it and develop tolerance for others as well
define rohypnol
- depressant
- benzodiazepine
- stronger than valium
- produces sedative effect, amnesia, muscle relaxation
- date rape drug
define GHB
- depressant
- euphoric, sedative, and anabolic effects
- odorless, tasteless fluid
- date rape drug
define opioids and give examples
- drugs that induce sleep, relieve pain, and produce euphoria
- aka narcotics
- derived from parent drug opium from poppyseed
- mimic effects of endorphins
- heroin, morphine, oxycontin, dilaudid
physical effects of opioids
- relieve pain
- lower heart rate, respiration and blood pressure
- weakness
- dizziness
- nausea/vomiting
- euphoria
- decreased sex drive
- visual disturbances
- lack of coordination
define heroin
- opioid
- white powder derived from morphine
- black tar heroin is sticky and dark brown
- injected, snorted, smoked
- very difficult withdrawal symptoms
define hallucinogens and give examples
- substance capable of creating auditory or visual hallucinations and unusual changes in mood, thoughts, and feelings
- receptor sites int he reticular formation (brain stem)
- causes synesthesia: mixing of sensory messages
- LSD, ecstasy, PCP, mescaline, psilocybin, ketamine, salvia
define LSD
- hallucinogen
- most common form is blotter acid: small squares of paper with LSD
- produces effects in doses as low as 20 micrograms
- no physical dependence
define ecstasy
- hallucinogen
- MDMA
- club drugs
- does not create visual hallucinations
- called molly in powder form; pure MDMA
define PCP
- hallucinogen
- first used as anesthetic
- unpredictable regardless of method of administration
define mescaline
- hallucinogen
- derived from peyote cactus
- induces nausea and vomiting
define psilocybin
- hallucinogen
- mushrooms
- effects similar to LSD
define ketamine
- hallucinogen
- liquid form used as anesthetic in hospitals and vet clinics
- inhibits relay of sensory input
define salvia
- hallucinogen
- herb from mint family
- intense but short lasting hallucinatory episodes
define inhalants
- chemical vapors that are sniffed or inhaled to produce highs
- often legal to purchase and widely available
- reach bloodstream within seconds
- effects resemble depressants: dizziness, disorientation, impaired coordination
- rubber cement, model glue, paint thinner, aerosol sprays, lighter fluid, varnish, wax, spot removers, gasoline
define anabolic steriods
- artificial forms of the hormones testosterone that promote muscle growth and strength
- ergogenic drug: enhances athletic performance
- two forms: injectable solutions and pills
effects of steroids
- euphoria
- diminished fatigue
- increased bulk and power
- mood swings
- acne
- liver tumors
- elevated cholesterol
- hypertension
- kidney disease
define the anabolic steroids control act
- crime to possess, prescribe, or distribute anabolic steroids for any use other than the treatment of specific diseases
define detoxification
- abstinence period
- addict adjusts physically and cognitively to being free from the addictions influence
- can be uncomfortable or dangerous
defien outpaiten ebhavioral treatment
- variety of programs for addicts who visit a clinic at regular intervals
define residential treatment programs
- effective for more serious problems
- addict stays in therapeutic communities that are highly structured
what was the first 12 step program
alcoholics anonymous
define 12-step programs
- purpose to work on personal recovery
- admitting to problem
- getting help from others
- admitting to character defects
- apologizing to people hurt in the past
- helping others with similar problems
define methadone maintenance
- pharmacological treatment for drug addiction
- for people addicted to heroin or other opioids
- controversial due to methadone’s own addictive properties
define naltrexone
- opioid antagonist
- treatment for opioid addiction
- limits compulsions and power of highs
define harm reduction
- set of practical approaches to reducing negative consequences of drug use
- needle exchange programs, changing legal sanctions, etc