Substance Abuse

Question 1

2750 B.C: What was Marijuana used to treat in china?

Answer 1

• Constipation
• Rheumatism
• Absent-mindedness
• Vitamin B1 deficiency
• Malaria

Question 2

3500 B.C: Which drug did Native North Americans use for its hallucinogenic properties?

Answer 2

Peyote

Question 3

_______ is a naturally occurring psychedelic alkaloid
of the phenethylamine class, known for its
hallucinogenic effects similar to those of
LSD and psilocybin (mushrooms).

Answer 3

Mescaline

Question 4

Why do people take drugs? (6 points)

Answer 4

• To fit in
• To relax
• To relieve boredom
• To escape reality
• To rebel
• To experiment

Question 5

What role does stress play in initiating drug use? Talk about HPA axis

Answer 5

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

Question 6

The more CRH released, the _____ the anxiety/ stress

Answer 6

higher

Question 7

It is thought that addiction is common in people with

Answer 7

mental health problems

Question 8

Some ‘substances of abuse’ have a _____ mechanism of action to
psychotherapeutic drugs

Answer 8

similar

Question 9

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is implicated in the

Answer 9

rewarding mechanism for all drugs of abuse (via DA increase in nucleus accumbens)

Question 10

The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway is implicated in the

Answer 10

positive symptoms of schizophrenia (via excess striatal DA)

Question 11

Addiction affects the brain circuits involved in:

Answer 11

• memory
• motivation
• inhibitory control
• reward

Question 12

When these circuits are disrupted, it affects:

Answer 12

the persons’s capacity to freely choose NOT to use drugs, even if it means losing everything they used to value

Question 13

The inability to stop is the essence of

Answer 13

addiction

Question 14

Explain the cycle of addiction

Answer 14

The cycle of addiction has three dimension; personal (preoccupation anticipation), biological (binge intoxication) and social (withdrawal negative effect).

Question 15

Explain the first stage of addiction cycle.

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Explain the second stage of addiction cycle.

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

Explain the third stage of the addication cycle.

Answer 17

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).

Question 18

What is physical dependence?

Answer 18

An adaptive state involving physical disturbance when use of the drug is suspended. Eg. experience vomiting, nausea, anxious etc

Question 19

What is psychological dependence?

Answer 19

A mental state that requires use of the drug in order to produce pleasure or avoid discomfort e.g. withdrawal anxiety/ getting strong urges.

Question 20

What is physiological tolerance?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

In order to experience symptoms of withdrawal, one must have first developed

Answer 21

a physiological (mental) or physical dependence

Question 22

Withdrawal symptoms from opiate abuse (such as heroin/morphine) include:

Answer 22

SADV
Sweating
Anxiety
Diarrhoea 
Vomiting

Question 23

Alcohol abuse withdrawal symptoms include:

Answer 23

FISSN
Fatigue
Irritability
Sweating
Shaking
Nausea

Question 24

Withdrawal from nicotine brings on:

Answer 24

CHIFI
Concentration difficulty
Headache
Irritability
Fatigue
Insomnia

Question 25

Estimated that 40-60% of the vulnerability to developing an addiction is due to

Answer 25

genetics

Question 26

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.

Answer 26

D2 Dopamine receptor

Question 27

What are three common underlying neurobiological factors for increased risk of addiction?

Answer 27

Genetic - (inherited factors that compromise function)

Neurochemical - imbalance in neurotransmitters

Structural/ anatomical (reward pathways)