Opioids in Pregnancy

Question 1

How much have heroin OD deaths increased since 2010?

Answer 1

248%

Question 2

How cheap is heroin on the street?

Answer 2

$5 a bag

Question 3

Where is the greatest heroin supply/threat in the U.S.?

Answer 3

• Northeast

Question 4

** Is addiction a choice or a disease?

Answer 4

DISEASE

Question 5

What contributes to substance use disorder (SUD)?

Answer 5

• genetics

- environment

Question 6

What part of the brain is involved in decision making?

Answer 6

• prefrontal cortex=doesn’t stop developing until age 25.

Question 7

What happens in your brain when something makes you feel good?

Answer 7

• dopamine is released in your brain and then stored in hippocampus. The amount that was released and stored in memory banks is what allows you to recall how pleasurable something was.

Question 8

What happens in terms of dopamine with addiction?

Answer 8

• the dopamine levels rise so high that it makes you want to repeat the action over and over again.

Question 9

Are dopamine D2 receptors higher or lower in addiction?

Answer 9

LOWER (so you need more to get the same high)

Question 10

Does an addicted brain heal?

Answer 10

• to a degree, but you won’t ever be the same as before in terms of dopamine levels.
• all you actually need is the trigger (i.e. the needle) which you related to feeling good, in order to have the brain release dopamine.

Question 11

Is medication an effective tool for treating addicts?

Answer 11

YES, it can mean life or death.

- include counseling and behavioral therapies as well.

Question 12

*** What medications do we use for addicts? (KNOW BUPRENORPHINE)

Answer 12

• METHADONE= long acting opioid mu agonist, but can overdose more easily if take benzos or alcohol with it.
• BUPRENORPHINE= opioid AGONIST/ANTAGONIST that makes an addict feel normal. She likes this one.
• NALTREXONE= opioid antagonist given to someone after they’ve been clean for 10 days, to prevent cravings and prevent any opioid from binding to the mu receptor.

Question 13

** If someone is a drug abuser, should you keep them in your practice or kick them out? (TEST QUESTION)

Answer 13

• keep them and treat them!

Question 14

** Should women breast feed if that have substance use disorder (SUD) and are on buprenorphine or smoking weed? (TEST QUESTION)

Answer 14

YES

Question 15

** Can you use methadone or buprenorphine in pregnancy for opioid addicted mothers?

Answer 15

YES