Psych Substance use and addictions Flashcards
what is positive reinforcement?
- gaining positive state
- e.g. getting high
what is addiction?
compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences, characterised by an inability to stop using a drug. Failure to meet work, social or family obligations and tolerance and withdrawal
what is dependence?
physical adaptation to a substance
- tolerance/withdrawal
- can be dependent and not addicted
behavioural addictions
- gambling disorder
- internet gaming disorder
hazardous use meaning
A pattern of substance use that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the user. Some would limit the consequences to physical and mental health (as in harmful use); some would also include social consequences. In contrast to harmful use, hazardous use refers to patterns of use that are of public health significance despite the absence of any current disorder in the individual user. The term is used currently by WHO but is not a diagnostic term in ICD-10.
harmful use meaning
A pattern of psychoactive substance use that is causing damage to health. The damage may be physical (e.g. hepatitis following injection of drugs) or mental (e.g. depressive episodes secondary to heavy alcohol intake).
reasons for taking drug for recreational use
- boredom
- reduce anxiety
- get sleep
- wanting to fit in
what characteristic do you see in dependence?
- spiraling dependence
what drug (legal or illegal) is causing the greatest quotation of harm in our society?
alcohol
does dependence mean you take more of a drug than you should?
no
- however if withdraw need to taper the drug down.
what does the speed of a drug entering the brain determine?
how addictive it can be
- faster brain entry = more rush = more addiction
routes for tobacco taking effect?
chewing -> snuff -> cigarettes/vaping
routes for cocaine taking effect?
coca leaves -> coca paste
- > cocaine
- > crack
routes for heroine taking effect?
opium -> morphine -> heroin -> snorted heroine -> smoked heroin
How factors come together to alter how drugs impact the brain?
- social/environmental factors
- Personal factors e.g. genetic; personality traits
- Drug factors
what causes pre-existing vulnerability to a drug?
- family history
- age
what does exposure to a drug cause?
- compensatory neuroadaptations to maintain brain function
- resilience
what system balance does lacohol alter in the brain?
the balance between the brains inhibitory and excitatory systems
What neurons are in the excitatory system?
- glutamatergic
what neurons are in the inhibitory system?
- GABAergic
What happens to excitatory system when you drink alcohol acutely?
- blocks excitatory system
- impaired memory (alohol blackouts)
- No NMDA receptors
What happens to inhibitory system when you drink alcohol acutely?
- anxiolysis
- sedation
What is anxiolysis?
A level of sedation in which a person is very relaxed and may be awake.