Substance Abuse Flashcards
amphetamine
a drug that stimulates the central nervous system
addiction
strong psychological or physical dependence on a drug or other psychoactive substance
detoxification
a process of eliminating a toxic substance from the body; a medically supervised program for alcohol or opioid addiction
enuresis
urinary incontinence
habituation
development of tolerance to a substance following prolonged medical use but without psychological or physical dependence (addiction)
illicit drug use
the use of a drug or substance in a way that is not intended to be used or the use of a drug that is not legally approved for human administration
intoxication
stimulation, excitement, or stupefaction produced by a chemical substance
Korsakoff’s psychosis
a syndrome of amnesia with confabulation (making up of stories) associated with chronic alcohol abuse; it often occurs together with Wernicke’s encephalopathy
micturition
urination, the desire to urinate, or the frequency of urination
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterised by sleeping during the day, disrupted nighttime sleep, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hallucinations
opioid analgesics
synthetic pain-relieving substances that were originally derived from the opium poppy; naturally occurring opium derivatives are called opiates
physical dependence
a condition characterised by physiologic reliance on a substance, usually indicated by tolerance to the effects of the substance and development of withdrawal symptoms when use of substance is terminated
psychoactive properties
drug properties that affect mood, behaviour, cognitive processes, and mental status
psychological dependence
a condition characterised by strong desires to obtain and use a substance
raves
increasingly popular all-night parties that typically involve dancing, drinking, and the use of various illicit drugs
roofies
pills that are classified as benzodiazepines; they have recently gained popularity as a recreational drug; chemically known as flunitrazepam
substance abuse
the use of a mood- or behaviour-altering substance in a maladaptive manner that often compromises health, safety, and social and occupational functioning, and causes legal problems
commonly abused substances: major categories
opioids, stimulants, depressants
commonly abused substances: individual drugs
alcohol, anabolic steroids, dextromethorphan, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), nicotine, phencyclidine (PCP)
signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal: peak period
1 to 3 days
signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal: duration
5 to 7 days
signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal: signs
drug seeking, mydriasis, piloerection, diaphoresis, rhinorrhea, lacrimation, vomiting, diarrhoea, insomnia, elevated blood pressure and pulse rate
signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal: symptoms
intense desire for drugs, muscle cramps, arthralgia, anxiety, nausea, malaise
amphetamine and cocaine forms
dimethoxymethylamphetamine [DOM, STP, methamphetamine (crystallised form) [ice, crystal, glass], methamphetamine (powdered form) [speed, meth, crank], methylenedioxyamphetamine [MDA, love drug], methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA, ecstasy], cocaine (powdered form) [coke, dust, snow, flake, blow, girl], cocaine (crystallised form) [crack, crack cocaine, freebase rocks, rock]
signs and symptoms of stimulant withdrawal: peak period
1 to 3 days
signs and symptoms of stimulant withdrawal: duration
5 to 7 days
signs and symptoms of stimulant withdrawal: signs
social withdrawal, psychomotor retardation, hypersomnia, hyperphagia
signs and symptoms of stimulant withdrawal: symptoms
depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviour, paranoid delusions
signs and symptoms of stimulant withdrawal: treatment
no pharmacologic treatments to reduce cravings or reverse acute toxicity and known antidotes
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: peak period
2 to 4 days for short-acting drugs; 4 to 7 days for long-acting drugs
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: duration
4 to 7 days for short-acting drugs; 7 to 12 days for long-acting drugs
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: signs
increased psychomotor activity; agitation; muscle weakness; hyperthermia; diaphoresis; delirium; convulsions; elevated blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature; tremors of eyelids, tongue, and hands
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: symptoms
anxiety; depression; euphoria; incoherent thoughts; hostility; grandiosity; disorientation; tactile, auditory, and visual hallucinations; suicidal thoughts
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal
a 7- to 10-day taper (10- to 14-day taper with long-acting benzodiazepines); treatment with diazpam [Valium]
signs, symptoms, and treatment of depressant withdrawal: treatment of barbiturate withdrawal
a 7- to 10-day taper or a 10- to 14-day taper; calculate barbiturate equivalence, and give 50% of the original dosage
signs, symptoms, and treatment of ethanol withdrawal: signs and symptoms (mild withdrawal)
systolic blood pressure higher than 150 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure higher than 90 mm Hg, pulse rate higher than 110 beats/min, temperature above 37.7 degrees, tremors, insomnia, agitation
signs, symptoms, and treatment of ethanol withdrawal: signs and symptoms (moderate withdrawal)
systolic blood pressure higher than 200 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure higher than 140 mm Hg, pulse rate higher than 140 beats/min, temperature above 38.3 degrees, tremors, insomnia, agitation
signs, symptoms, and treatment of ethanol withdrawal: signs and symptoms (severe withdrawal [delirium tremors])
systolic blood pressure higher than 200 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure higher than 140 mm Hg, pulse rate higher than 140 beats/min, temperature above 38.3 degrees, tremors, insomnia, agitation
signs, symptoms, and treatment of ethanol withdrawal: treatment
benzodiazepines; thiamine administration; hydration; magnesium replacement
disulfiram adverse effects: acetaldehyde syndrome
cardiovascular system: vasodilation over the entire body, hypotension, orthostatic syncope, chest pain; central nervous system: intense throbbing of the head and neck leading to a pulsating headache, sweating, marked uneasiness, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, confusion; gastrointestinal system: nausea, copious vomiting, thirst; respiratory system: difficulty breathing
