Reducing addiction - Drug therapy Flashcards
What is drug therapy?
Uses medication in order to treat addiction
- Drugs interact with receptors/enzymes in the brain to reduce cravings for a drug or the desire to engage in a particular behaviour
What is nicotine replacement therapy?
Gum, inhaler, patches
- Work by gradually releasing nicotine into blood at lower levels that in a cigarette and also without the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.
- Helps the individual control cravings, improve their mood and prevent relapse.
Using NRT means that the amount of nicotine can be reduced over time.
What two drugs are commonly used to treat nicotine addiction
Varenicline
Buproprion
- both **nicotine free pills that reduce craving ** for tobacco and help with withdrawal symptoms.
Have different mechanisms of action in the brain, but both help prevent relapse.
How does Varenicline treat nicotine addiction
Causes the release of dopamine in the brain.
Also blocks the effects of any nicotine added to the system. Reduces cravings for a cigarette and decreases the pleasurable effects of smoking.
How does Bupropion treat nicotine addiction?
Works by increasing levels of dopamine by inhibiting its reuptake.
This simulates the effects of nicotine.
What opioid antagonists?
Bind to opioid receptors in the body, resulting in the blocking of these receptors. As a result, this prevents individual experiencing the rewarding response associated with a particular substance/behaviour.
What opiate treats heroine addiction
Naltrexone treats the physiological dependence of heroin
What are antagonists?
Drug substitutes.
Bind to neuron receptors and activate them, providing a similar effect to the addictive drug.
Antagonists stabilise the addict bc they are used to control the withdrawal syndrome, allowing a gradual reduction in dose and symptoms
What is an advantage of the antagonist Methadone in treating heroine addiction?
Satisfy the addict’s craving for a state of euphoria and have fewer side effects
They are ‘cleaner’ because they are administered medically rather than on the street.
What are aversives?
Produce unpleasant consequences such as vomiting
E.g Disulfiram is a drug therapy used to treat alcoholism by creating hypersensitivity to
alcohol. Effects of a severe hangover are felt just five or ten minutes
after an alcoholic drink is taken.
How do antidepressants reduce stress linked with gambling addiction
Evidence to support serotonin dysfunction in pathological gambling.
- Gamblers treated with SSRI’s to increase serotonin levels showed significant improvements in
their gambling behaviour compared to a control group - Gambling is a
response to the stressors in their life, reducing the symptoms associated with these stressors lessens the urge to gamble.
How do antidepressants reduce impulsivity linked with gambling addiction?
Impulsivity is believed to contribute to many addictive behaviours including gambling.
Low levels of serotonin have been found in individuals with impaired impulse control, including pathological gamblers.
SSRI’s raise serotonin activity and therefore should reduce
impulsivity which should also reduce pathological gambling.
What is a strength of drug therapy to reduce addiction
- Research support (Kim et al)
What are limitations of drug therapy to reduce addiction
- Opioids may block fun activities
- Side effects of NRT
- Only treats symptoms
