Study Guide: Drug Abuse II Flashcards
Why is defining drug addiction a complex challenge? Discuss the limitations of early views that focused on moral failings or physical dependence.
” Certain individuals use substances in ways that at times are unacceptable to some people for certain and uncertain reasons.”
Early views: Assume consumption is under voluntary control.
Physical dependence: Occurs to avoid withdrawal symptoms. ( unpleasant withdrawal.)
Negative reinforcement of reaching for drugs to calm bad withdrawal symptoms promotes repeated abstinence attempts ( loop.)
How does the positive reinforcement model explain drug addiction? What are its strengths and limitations?
- Produces euphoric effects to re-experience them due to liking the experience.
Criticisms: Not all drugs produce dependence produce euphoric effects and a lot of people don’t feel the effects anymore, but still feel compelled to take the drug. ( incentive motivational effects.)
Explain the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction. How does it address some for the limitations of the positive reinforcement.
It distinguishes between liking the drug ( the high) and drug wanting ( the craving.) Over time there is an increase in wanting it even though there is no change or even a decrease in drug liking due to tolerance.
How does the contemporary biopsychological view of addiction differ from earlier perspectives?
Addiction is the result of long-term neuroadaptations in the brain that are caused by chronic drug use. The brain changes as drug use goes on. Addiction is like a disease?
- Says abusers require treatment but abnormal condition in abuser not identified.
- No- go system ( Hypofrontality) damage to it
- chronic and relapsing disorder
- Relapse due to cues, drug, or stress.
Why is relapse a significant challenge in addiction treatment? What is the role of craving and environmental cues in relapse.
Elicited by cues, drug, or stress. Drug paired stimuli.
- loss of control
- craving/withdrawal
What are the two commonly used animal models of addiction and explain what they measure?
- Self administration: self administration of drug resulting in sensitized responses to drugs
- Conditioned place preference where they prefer environments with the drug.
Baseline & Test: Time in drug paired side
What is the mesolimbic dopamine system, and why is it considered the “ reward pathway” in the brain?
Dopamine from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens.
Ventral Tegmental Area intake of dopamine to the substantia nigra and nucleus accumbens.
Not a clear understanding og the changes occurring in the system. Enhancing activity there.
What are the effects of alcohol on the CNS in terms of interaction with GABA, glutamate, and dopamine?
GABA ( Main inhibitory neurotransmitter): Alcohol enhances receptors by enhancing GABA function ( anxiolytics.)
Glutamate ( main excitatory neurotransmitter:) Alcohol decrease glutamatergic transmission ny inhibiting the NMDA receptor and decreasing levels of glutamate
Dopamine: Elevates dopamine levels by enhancing activity of mesolimbic pathway
- Withdrawal creates an opposite effect.)
What are the long-term consequences of chronic alcohol use on the brain and liver?
Liver: Cirrhosis; liver cell damage and scarring of the liver. Begins to store fats
Brains: Korsakoff’s syndrome; memory loss, sensory and motor dysfunction. Shrinking matter cortical gray matter, ventrical size.
Reduces rate of neurogenesis
How does cocaine exert its stimulant effects on the brain? What are the potential risks associated with heavy cocaine use?
Cocaine acts by blocking the reuptake of monoamine transmitters so that they accumulate in synapses throughout the brain, boosting their effects.
Raises the risk of stroke, psychosis, loss of grey matter, and severe mood disturbances.
