Psych - Substance use and addiction

Question 1

What is the difference between addiction and dependence?

Answer 1

Addiction - compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences

Dependence - a physical adaptation to a substance

Question 2

How does alcohol cause it’s effects?

Answer 2

It boosts the inhibitory system of the GABA-A receptor - anxiolysis & sedation
It also blocks the excitatory system of the NDMA receptor - impaired memory

Question 3

Why does chronic alcohol exposure result in more alcohol being needed to have the desired affect?

Answer 3

This is because constant exposure of alcohol to the GABA-A receptor can result in the sub unit being switched to one less sensitive to alcohol to make the GABA and glutamate be in balance

Question 4

How do people get withdrawal symptoms from alcohol?

Answer 4

Once the levels of alcohol are reduced after chronic exposure, as the GABA receptors are less sensitive, they then have a reduced inhibitory effect, which results in the excitatory response being greater that the inhibitory response which can lead to hyperexcitability(seizures) or cell death(atrophy)

Question 5

How do you treat alcohol withdrawal in patients?

Answer 5

Give patients benzodiazepines to boost GABA function