Reducing addiction- Drug Therapy Flashcards
What is drug therapy?
Treatments involving drugs that have particular effects on brain/bodily functioning
What are the 3 main types of drug therapy?
- Aversives
- Agonists
- Antagonists
What are aversives?
- Produce unpleasant consequences (e.g: nauseau, vomiting)
- E.g: disulfiram creates hypersensitivity to alcohol
- Works on counterconditioning
- Associate drinking with unpleasant consequences rather than enjoyment
- If someone drinks on the drug, within 5 mins, they will experience effects of a severe hangover
What are agonists?
- Drug substitutes that activate neuron receptors, providing similar effects to the addictive substance
- E.g: methadone treats heroin addiction by satisfying cravings of euphoria
- Fewer harmful side effects, cleaner (medically administered)
- Stablise individual- used to control withdrawal syndrome, allowing gradual reduction in dose/symptoms
What are antagonists?
- Block receptor sites, so the substance of dependence cannot have its usual effects (e.g: euphoria)
- E.g: naltrexone (opiod antagonist) treats psychological dependence of heroin addiction
- Other interventions (e.g: counselling) used alongside drug
What is the drug therapy for nicotine addiction?
- Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)- gum, patches, inhalers deliver psychoactive substance in tobacco in a less harmful way
- Provides clearn, controlled dose- operates as an agonist by activtaing nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChRs) in mesolimbic pathway
- This stimulates dopmaine release in nucleus accumbens
- Amount of nicotine reduced over time
- Manage withdrawal symptoms in 2-3 months- reducing unpleasantness
What is the drug therapy for gambling addiction?
- No official therapy
- Opiod antagonists (e.g: naltrexone) used for heroin addiction
- Neurochem explanation is that it taps on same dopamine reward system as nicotine
- Enhance release of neurotransmitter GABA in mesolimbic pathwaysv
- Increased GABA activity reduces dopamine release in nucleus accumbens
Strength-
I- Research support
D- Hartmann-Boyce et al conducted meta-analysis of 136 studies into NRT effectiveness. Concluded all forms of NRT are more effective in helping smokers quit than placebo and no therapy groups. Increased rate of quitting by up to 60%
E- Effective therapy which may save lives and reduce NHS costs
Limitation-
I- Publication bias (research support)
D- Only included analysis of published studies- more likely to show positive results. Non-significant studies typically not published. Researchers notes they wrote to manufacturers of NRt products to track down unpublished studies but poor response
E- NRT may not be as effective as research suggests
Limitation-
I- Side effects
D- Risk of side effects may discontinue therapy. NRTs= sleep disturbance, gastointestinal problems, dizziness, headaches. Greater side effects in gambling addiction- required dose is much higher so side effects worsen= muscle spasms, anxiety, depression
E- Side effects should be weighed up against benefits/cost of therapies
Strength-
I- Reduces stigma
D- Many see addiction as a psychological weakness. If addiction is the responsibility of the individual, it may still spiral out of control. Stigma of addiction may lead to self-blame, depression- recovery made harder. Erode stigma by continuing successful drug use, encourge perception that addiction has a neurochemical basis
E- Perceiving addiction as something that can be treated helps avoid self-blame and assists recovery
Evaluation extra-
I- Costs vs benefits
Limitation-
D- Serious costs to using drug therapy (side effects)- relatively minor in NRTs but severe in gambling. Suppresses cravings and symptoms but no cure- cravings return when no drug is taken
Strength-
D- Some benefits- control unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Tolerable side effects. Evidnece suggests NRTS are effective- outweigh side effects. Cost effective, non-disruptivem small dose required, imprvove economy
E- Some strong costs but benefits outweigh costs as long as drugs are used alongside therapy
