Stimulants and Synthetics - Piasecki

Question 1

what are the common stimulants?

Answer 1

Cocaine
meth
ecstasy
Abuse of Rx mes like ritalin

Question 2

what are the physical findings in stimulant abuse?

Answer 2

eyes
vital signs
behavioral findings

Question 3

what are the findings of the eyes that you see in stimulants?

Answer 3

dilated pupils

nystagmus; vertical, horizontal, or rotary

Question 4

food raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 4

150%

Question 5

sex raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 5

200%

Question 6

amphetamine raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 6

1050%

Question 7

cocaine raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 7

350%

Question 8

Nicotine raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 8

225%

Question 9

alcohol raises dopamine by what percent of baseline?

Answer 9

200%

Question 10

where in the brain do drugs raise dopamine levels?

Answer 10

nucleus accumbens

Question 11

What are the chronic effects of drug use?

Answer 11

intracellular and structural brain changes and long lasting behavioral changes

Question 12

what are the structural changes to the brain post meth use?

Answer 12

decreased gray matter
decreased volume
increased white matter

Question 13

what are some of the behavioral changes of chronic meth use?

Answer 13

cognition and mood
judgment
craving

Question 14

what happens to DA and 5-HT levels during withdrawal?

Answer 14

they drop below normal baseline

Question 15

what are the brain function changes that occur with chronic drug use?

Answer 15

executive functioning
Neurocognitive changes - at times deficits in:
memory
impulse control
information processing
motor skills

Question 16

what cognitive tests are used to assess function?

Answer 16

mental flexibility
logical abilities
learning
memory

Question 17

what types of executive function deficits were seen in SUD pts at intake?

Answer 17

attention
cognitive flexibility
working memory
problem-solving
organization

Question 18

What types of learning disabilities do pts with SUD have?

Answer 18

in order:
math
reading
writing

Question 19

Besides executive function and learning deficits, what other issues do SUD pts have?

Answer 19

visual-spatial/organizational
language
memory

Question 20

regional brain dysfunction post meth use relates to what psychiatric sx?

Answer 20

depression

Question 21

what areas of the brain are dysfunctional after meth use that leads to depression?

Answer 21

1. pregenual anterior cingulate cortex
2. infragenual anterior cingulate cortex
3. Amygdala
4. inferior frontal gyrus

Question 22

what are the old school designer drugs?

Answer 22

opioids
hallucinogens
anabolic steroids

Question 23

What are the new wave designer drugs?

Answer 23

stimulants, aka MDPV
synthetic cannabinoids (SPICE)
NBOMe

Question 24

what was the first synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist?

Answer 24

HU-210

Question 25

What are the uses of Nabilone and Dronabinol?

Answer 25

nausea following chemo

Question 26

What is the common acronym for spice?

Answer 26

JWH

Question 27

t/f: spice/k2 is physically addicting

Answer 27

true

Question 28

t/f: one time use of spice has lead to death

Answer 28

true

Question 29

what is the common name of MDPV?

Answer 29

bath salts

Question 30

how does one take bath salts?

Answer 30

like or meth
snort
smoke
inject
swallow in water

Question 31

what are some of the major effects of Spice?

Answer 31

visual/auditory hallucinations

Question 32

what are some of the major effects of bath salts?

Answer 32

extreme energy
extreme paranoia
high body temperature