Problem 1 When is a drug a drug? Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a drug?

A

A substance that comes from outside the body, crosses the blood/brain barrier and has an effect similar to our natural neurotransmitters

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2
Q

Opioids

A

o Target endorphin receptors and creating a dreamy sense of well-being
o used as painkiller (physical as well as psychological pain)

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3
Q

Stimulants (upper)

A

o Release noradrenaline and dopamine making you feel alert and full of energy

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4
Q

Depressants (downer)

A

o Activate GABA receptors
o They are useful for decreasing anxiety, relieving insomnia and pain, reducing convulsions, and relaxing muscles in spasm

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5
Q

Psychedelics

A

o Have effects on serotonin receptors but where they engage else where is not really known

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6
Q

Difference between dependence and addiction

A

The difference is that that you have the craving with an addiction. (Addiction is the last stage of dependence)

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7
Q

Pull factors

A

Pleasure, powerful memories, reducing suffering, new meanings

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8
Q

Push factors

A

Impulsivity, Compulsion, withdraw

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9
Q

Dopamine

A

is involved in drive and desire and perhaps (pretty sure that it is like this) reward (important for addiction acts at the reward centre of the brain the nucleus accumbens)

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10
Q

Endorphines

A

Give peace and pleasure, reduce suffering and numbs pain

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11
Q

GABA & Glutamate

A

regulate memory

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12
Q

Serotonin

A

may be involved in attributing meaning to experience

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13
Q

Noradrenalin

A

related to impulsivity and compulsivity

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14
Q

The addicted personality

A

o When mother used drugs during pregnancy
o Traumas encourage opiate use
o Impulsivity
o Compulsivity (are less likely to start but when its harder to stop)
o Anxiety (relief of these feelings)
o Gender: men are more likely to get addicted because they tend to more sensation seeking

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15
Q

Effects of alcohol

A

o Reduces anxiety
o Concentrations >50 ml/dl: produce ataxia, inattention and slowed reaction times
o Concentrations >150 ml/dl: amnestic
o Concentrations above 300 ml/dl: death from respiratory depression can occur

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16
Q

Effects of tabaco

A

o Highly addictive
o Increases the risk of lung cancer and can cause chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma as well as heart problems cardiovascular disease and stroke
o Nicotine: has anti-psychotic and cognition-impairing properties
o No loss of tangibles and relationships
o Medium international damage caused by deforestation fertilisers and farmers who are exploited
o Social benefits: Smokers tend to have a strong sense of group identity and create social bonds by while consuming cigarettes

17
Q

Tabaco and Neurotransmitter

A

o Smoke contains substances that block the important brain enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO)
o Monoamine oxidase: breaks down dopamine so if blocked, the level of dopamine increases
o is delivered to the brain nearly as fast as an injection
o tabaco binds to acetylcholine receptors

18
Q

Alcohol and neurotransmitter

A

o Releases endorphins noradrenaline and dopamine and endogenous opioid

19
Q

Receptors involved in reinforcement actions of alcohol

A

mu and delta receptors (opioid receptors)

20
Q

GABA (alcohol)

A

 GABA a receptor: alcohol increases the ability of GABA a receptor to open chloride channel but only for some sorts of GABA a receptor. (if gamma-2 unit of the GABA a receptor includes the amino acid serine, alcohol potentiate GABA)
 GABA enhancing actions of alcohol are found at low concentrations (<100 mg/dl)
 At higher concentrations alcohol has a direct action on the receptor, causing opening of the chloride channel that is GABA independent (>250 mg/dl)

21
Q

Glutamate (alcohol)

A

 Key receptor: NMDA receptor → sits in the cell membrane and regulates calcium passage
 Alcohol acts as a blocker of the NMDA channel, opposing the effects of glutamate (>100 ml/dl)
 Contributes to the causation by alcohol of amnesia and other cerebral depressant effects

22
Q

• Hedonic homeostatic dysregulation

A

1 pre occupation and anticipation
o Dopamine and endorphin are high and stress is too
2Positive reinforcement: (binge intoxication)
o Dopamine and endorphin are high stress is gone
3Withdraw negative affect
o Neurotransmitter go low because they were to high and the stress goes up → craving