PASS S5 - Addiction and substance misuse

Question 1

Define substance abuse

Answer 1

Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs.

Question 2

Name the 4 different types of substances

Answer 2

Stimulants
Hallucinogens
Depressants
Volatile substances and ‘designer drugs’ etc

Question 3

What does a stimulant do and state an example

Answer 3

Makes you feel more alert/energetic

eg. tobacco, cocaine

Question 4

What does a hallucinogen do and state an example

Answer 4

Described as mind altering - change perceptions, mood and stress
eg. LSD and magic mushrooms

Question 5

What does a depressant do and state an example

Answer 5

Makes you feel relaxed

eg. alcohol, heroin

Question 6

Define dependence

Answer 6

A cluster of physiological, behavioural, and cognitive phenomena in which the use of a substance or a class of substances takes on a much higher priority for a given individual than other behaviours that once had greater value

Question 7

State risk factors for drug use

Answer 7

Issues relating to family life
Mental health
Employment and educational attainment
Social groups
Previous drug use
Biology
Adverse childhood experiences

Question 8

Name some models that help us to understand drug use

Answer 8

Moral model
Disease model
Psycho-dynamic model
Social learning model (linked to conditioning !)
Socio-cultural model
Public health model

Question 9

Name physical effects of dependent drug use

Answer 9

Dependence
Complications of injecting
Blood-borne virus transmission
Poor pregnancy outcomes

Question 10

Name psychological effects of dependent drug use

Answer 10

Fear of withdrawal
Craving
Guilt

Question 11

Aims of treating a drug user

Answer 11

To reduce harm to user, family, community and society
To stabilise lifestyle
To reduce crime
To improve health and reduce death

Question 12

Common treatment regimes for newly presenting drug users

Answer 12

Health check
Screening for blood-borne viruses
Sexual health advice
Check general immunisation status

Question 13

Main elements of treatment and care for a drug user

Answer 13

Substitute prescribing (mostly methadone)
Counselling 
Detoxification 
Maintenance medication 
Wrap-around services

Question 14

Describe the six stages in the cycle of change

Answer 14

Pre-contemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
Maintenance
Relapse