Module 6 - Key Populations & Health Care Challenges

Question 1

Physical dependence

Answer 1

o A state of adaptation that is manifested by a class-specific drug withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, or administration of an antagonist. An individual has a subjective sense of need for a specific psychoactive substance, to benefit from its positive effects, or to avoid negative effects associated with not consuming the substance. It is not the same as addiction; it is a pharmacological effect.

Question 2

Drug Tolerance

Answer 2

o A state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a diminution of one or more of the drug’s effects over time. It is not the same as addiction.

Question 3

Addiction

Answer 3

o A neurobiological disease that has genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviours that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

Question 4

What is opioid misuse?

Answer 4

• The opioid misuse and abuse epidemic is a public safety crisis that is affecting all Canadians in all provinces. Prescription drug misuse is defined as the use of any prescription opioid in a way that is not directed by the prescriber. It includes use
  o without a prescription (e.g., using another person’s opioid)
  o use in greater amounts
  o more often or longer than instructed to take the opioid
  o use in any other way than that instructed by the prescriber

Question 5

According to Bruce Alexander what causes addiction?

Answer 5

• Bruce Alexander hypothesised that “addiction is about your cage” and “what if addiction is an adaptation to your environment”
• Humans have natural need to bond, but if the ability to bond is damaged due to reasons such as trauma, humans will bond with things such as gambling or drugs because bonding is part of our nature.