Substance Abuse Flashcards
2750 B.C: What was Marijuana used to treat in china?
- Constipation
- Rheumatism
- Absent-mindedness
- Vitamin B1 deficiency
- Malaria
3500 B.C: Which drug did Native North Americans use for its hallucinogenic properties?
Peyote
_______ is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid
of the phenethylamine class, known for its
hallucinogenic effects similar to those of
LSD and psilocybin (mushrooms).
Mescaline
Why do people take drugs? (6 points)
- To fit in
- To relax
- To relieve boredom
- To escape reality
- To rebel
- To experiment
What role does stress play in initiating drug use? Talk about HPA axis
The hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal axis explains how an increase in CRH (hypothalamus), stimulates ACTH (pituitary) which synthesises cortisol (adrenal). This leads to anxiety. The use of drugs reduces CRH and thus reduces anxiety
The more CRH released, the _____ the anxiety/ stress
higher
It is thought that addiction is common in people with
mental health problems
Some ‘substances of abuse’ have a _____ mechanism of action to
psychotherapeutic drugs
similar
The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is implicated in the
rewarding mechanism for all drugs of abuse (via DA increase in nucleus accumbens)
The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is implicated in the
positive symptoms of schizophrenia (via excess striatal DA)
Addiction affects the brain circuits involved in:
- memory
- motivation
- inhibitory control
- reward
When these circuits are disrupted, it affects:
the persons’s capacity to freely choose NOT to use drugs, even if it means losing everything they used to value
The inability to stop is the essence of
addiction
Explain the cycle of addiction
The cycle of addiction has three dimension; personal (preoccupation anticipation), biological (binge intoxication) and social (withdrawal negative effect).
Explain the first stage of addiction cycle.
Personal dimension. Involves preoccupation anticipation.
An overwhelming urge to use the drug preoccupies the user despite other events, responsibilities or relationships in his or her life.
Explain the second stage of addiction cycle.
Biological dimension. Involves binge intoxication.
As the drug is introduced into the body more frequently, larger amounts are necessary to continue experiencing the same high. To increase that feeling, excessive indulgence of the drug (binging) pushes the effects of intoxication to dangerous levels. Prolonged exposure results in desensitization, which can result in an overdose as the user attempts to regain the initial euphoria experienced when using the drug for the first time.
Explain the third stage of the addication cycle.
Social dimension. Involves withdrawal negative affect. The withdrawal symptoms experienced anytime the drug is not present cause tremendous suffering (if not managed by a caring medical professional).
What is physical dependence?
An adaptive state involving physical disturbance when use of the drug is suspended. Eg. experience vomiting, nausea, anxious etc
What is psychological dependence?
A mental state that requires use of the drug in order to produce pleasure or avoid discomfort e.g. withdrawal anxiety/ getting strong urges.
What is physiological tolerance?
When a person’s response to a specific drug concentration is progressively reduced. i.e. an increase in concentration is needed to achieve the same physiological effect
In order to experience symptoms of withdrawal, one must have first developed
a physiological (mental) or physical dependence
Withdrawal symptoms from opiate abuse (such as heroin/morphine) include:
SADV Sweating Anxiety Diarrhoea Vomiting
Alcohol abuse withdrawal symptoms include:
FISSN Fatigue Irritability Sweating Shaking Nausea
Withdrawal from nicotine brings on:
CHIFI Concentration difficulty Headache Irritability Fatigue Insomnia
Estimated that 40-60% of the vulnerability to developing an addiction is due to
genetics
Individuals with a genetic deficiency in _______________ may be more likely
to seek out these recreational pleasure/reward producing substances as they are less
receptive to the natural “feel good’’ effects of dopamine.
D2 Dopamine receptor
What are three common underlying neurobiological factors for increased risk of addiction?
Genetic - (inherited factors that compromise function)
Neurochemical - imbalance in neurotransmitters
Structural/ anatomical (reward pathways)
