Substance Abuse Disorders Flashcards
Define psychoactive substance
Any substance ingested to alter thought processes, mood, or behaviour
Which substances are most often abused?
- caffeine
- alcohol (41% weekly)
- tobacco (17% daily)
- sugar
Define substance use
Taking moderate amounts of a substance in a way that doesn’t interfere with every day and social functioning
Define substance intoxication
Physiological reaction to ingestion e.g. being drunk or high
Define substance abuse
Use in a way that is dangerous or causes substantial impairment (e.g. affecting jobs or relationships)
Describe tolerance
Needing more of a substance to get the same effect, or experiencing reduced effects from the same amount
Describe withdrawal
Physical reaction when substance is discontinued after regular use
Describe dependence
High tolerance
Withdrawal symptoms
Desperate need
What are withdrawal symptoms
Usually the opposite effect of a drug
- euphoria - dysphoria
- relaxation - tension
- pain relief - pain
- sleep - insomnia
What are some effects of alcohol
- CNS depressant
- influences neurotransmitters
- increases inhibitory effects
- intoxication
- withdrawal
- foetal alcohol syndrome
What is delirium tremens?
Hallucinations and tremors brought on by withdrawal from severe alcohol use
What is foetal alcohol syndrome?
Problems in the foetus from alcohol use during pregnancy. Problems include impaired growth, cognitive difficulties, and behavioural problems
What can heavy alcohol use lead to, long term?
- dementia
- wernicke-korsakoff disorder
What are some characteristics of Wernicke-Korsakoff disorder
- confusion
- lack of coordination
- impaired speech
What are some family problems alcohol abuse can cause?
- neglect
- violence
- separation
- legal problems
- financial problems
- death
What are some workplace problems alcohol can affect?
- work absenteeism
- loss of productivity
- work accidents
What are some general problems alcohol can affect?
- motor vehicle accidents / crime
- one punch attacks
Effect of sedatives
Calming
Effect of hypnotic drugs
Sleep inducing
Effect of anxiolytic drugs
Anxiety reducing
Who is most likely to abuse sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic related drugs?
Caucasian women 35+
What are the effects of S/H/A?
- similar to large doses of alcohol
Effects of amphetamines
- elation
- vigor
- reduce fatigue
- withdrawal: extreme fatigue and depression
How do amphetamines stimulate the CNS?
- enhance the release or norepinephrine and dopamine
- block reuptake
Name some popular stimulants/amphetamines
- adderall
- ritalin
- ecstasy / mdma
- crystal meth
What are some effects of crystal meth
- may cause aggressive tendencies in addition to high
- extreme risk of dependence
Effects of cocaine
- short lived elation
- vigor
- reduced fatigue
- blocking reuptake of dopamine
Opiates
Natural chemical in the opium poppy with narcotic effects
Opioids
Natural and synthetic substances with narcotic effects
Analgesics
Pain killers
Low dose effects of opioids
- activate enkephalins and endorphins
- incude euphoria, drowsiness, slowed breathing
High dose effects of opioids
- death
- lasting and secure withdrawal symptoms
Is concordance for alcohol abuse higher in mono or dizygotic twins?
Monozygotic
How much higher is the risk for sons with alcoholic fathers?
7 x higher
Family history risk
3-4 times higher
Gender and identical twins rates
Higher rates in male identical twins
Which gender of adopted children have a higher risk
Males
Direct activation
Dopamine activation (e.g. amphetamines, cocaine). Drugs that affect the pleasure pathway.
Indirect activation
Inhibition of GABA - stop inhibiting dopamine - dopamine increases
List three ways that drugs can be psychologically reinforcing
- positive reinforcement: seeking a high
- negative reinforcement: escaping withdrawal/crash
- coping: tension reduction and escape from life stressors
Opponent process theory
Drugs themselves are the easiest way to alleviate feelings of withdrawal
Expectancy effects
People use drugs when they anticipate positive effects
Cravings
Triggered by cues (e.g. mood, environment, availability to drug)
Define early childhood trauma
Exposure to actual or threatened death
List some examples of childhood trauma
- serious injury
- sexual violence
- bullying
- terrorism
- exposure to war
- neglect
- domestic violence
What are some examples of the stress response to childhood trauma
- post traumatic stress symptoms
- fight or flight
- senses, amygdala and hippocampus activated
- elevated cortisol
- changes in the gut
Effects of chronic traumatic arousal
- PTSD
- affects eating/hunger
- depression
- hypervigilant system
- anxiety
- gut problems
Societal views about drug abuse
- sign of moral weakness and failure of self control
- sign of a disease - caused by some underlying process
Cultural factors
- influence manifestation of substance abuse
- expectancies of drinking at occasions
Integrative model: Drug use depends on…
- social and cultural expectations
- positive and negative reinforcement
- genetic predisposition and biological factors
- psychosocial stressors
Barbituates
Prescribed to help people sleep
Benzodiazepines
Prescribed to help reduce anxiety
Which psychoactive drug class are the most common?
Stimulants
Effects of crystal meth
Marked aggressive tendencies
