Substance Abuse Flashcards
What is the neurochemical basis for substance abuse?
- Neurochemical changes accumulate with time
- excess dopamine induced by the drug causes reinforcement of pleasure
- Brain adjust to excess dopamine, thus causing tolerance to the drug
- Escalating amounts of the drug needed to achieve the same effect
- Combo of genetic, environmental and developmental factors
What is the Use Continuum?
Use - Can put children at risk of harm
Abuse - 1 in 12 months (failure to fulfill obligations at work, physically hazardous situations, illegal problems, continued social or interpersonal problems)
Dependence - 1 symptom in 12 months (needs more for “high”, withdrawal, longer amounts over period of time, unsuccessful to cut down, time spent obtaining, continued despite knowledge)
What examples of Rx drugs that can be abused?
Opiods, stimulants (ADHD), CNS depressants, Tramadol
Examples of OTC drugs?
cough suppressants, sedative antihistamines, decongestants, laxatives, analgesics.
What is the most common mood altering drug in the world?
Caffeine - 30mg or less can alter self reports of mood and affect behavior
- 100mg/day can lead to physical dependence/withdrawal symptoms
- Medicinal products w/ caffeine
Withdrawal management of opioids
- usually not life threatening
- may require methadone if addition is long standing
- meds to manage withdrawal symptoms (cloneadine, buprenorphine)
Withdrawal management of benzodiazepine
- Generally involves gradually decreasing doses over time
Withdrawal management of stimulants
Behavioral management most important
Withdrawal management of alcohol
- symptoms may appear w/in 6-24 hours, most severe after 36-72
- Goals: Control agitation, decrease risk of seizures, decrease risk of injury and death
- ICU or locked IP ward
Medical interventions Medications for alcohol withdrawal
Check Lab values of electrolytes, pancreatic enzymes, hematocrit, platelets, and liver function
- Supportive care with frequent vital signs
- Medications: IV thiamine, meds to control agitaiton, IV Benzodiazepine, Antipsychotics
Withdrawal PT implications
- Not advised to perform exercises
- consulted with pt is not arousable or agitated
How does substance abuse affect the body?
- Overal decline in immune function
- Increase susceptibility to disease
- Enhanced by substance abuse related organ system pathologies
- risk of infections
how does substance abuse effect the cardiovascular system?
- Cardiomyopathy (heart muscles from alc = HF)
- Cardiovascular disease (Risk of MI, CVA, PVD)
- Arrhythmias (imbalanced calcium in cellular levels)
- Endocarditis or heart Valve infection (from needles)
- HTN (doubled by alcoholism)
How does substance abuse affect the Pulmonary system?
- Respiratory depression
- Impaired cough and gag reflex
- Aspiration
- Lung infections
- Pulmonary Edema
- Nasal Passageway infections
- Interstitial lung disease
How does substance abuse effect the GI system?
- Gastritis (stomach irritation)
- Esophageal cancer
- Decreased gastric and intestinal motility
- Malabsoption (water decreased)
- Cancers of GI tract
- Ischemic Colitis
- Constipation (small bowel Obstruction)