Substance Disorders & Treatment Flashcards
Define Substance Use
Sporadic consumption of alcohol/drugs with no adverse consequences
Define Abuse
Frequency of alcohol/drug use may vary, there are adverse consequences experienced by the user
Increase in the frequency to eventually all day
Define Physical Dependence
State of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class-specific withdrawal syndrome
Define Psychological Dependence
Subjective need for a specific psychoactive substance, either for its positive effect or to avoid negative effects of its abstinence
Positive: euphoric
Negative: withdrawal
Define Addiction
Primary, chronic, neurobiology disease, with genetic, psychosocial, & environmental factors
What is addiction characterized by?
Behaviors that include impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm & craving
Define Tolerance
Must increase dose of the substance to get the high associated with the substance
Special Populations with Increase Risk of Substance Abuse
Adolescents Anyone with a psychiatric comorbidity Those who smoke or who abuse alcohol Elderly Health care workers Pregnant women
What questions to ask for each substance the patient uses?
Quantity Amount $ daily/weekly/monthly Frequency of use & time of last use Route of administration Prior detox or addiction treatment & abstinence periods
Physical Changes in Substance Abuse
Impotence Weight loss Sleep disturbance Localized or systemic infections Enlarged/shrunken liver Respiratory or nasal problems Track marks STI's
CAGE Questionnaire
C: cut down on drinking
A: annoyed by criticism of your drinking
G: guilty about drinking
E: eye-opener (morning)
Define risky or hazardness drinking
Men 14 drinks/week
Women 7 drinks/week
Define Unhealthy Alcohol Use
Uses that can result in health consequences
Alcohol abuse is associated with one or more of the following occurring in a 12-month period
Failure to fulfill work, school or social obligations
Recurrent substance use in physically hazardous situations
Recurrent legal problems related to substance use
Continued use despite alcohol-related social or interpersonal problems
Alcohol dependece is a maladaptive patterns of use associated with 3 or more of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Substance taken in larger quantity than intended
Persistent desire to cut down or control use
Time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance
Social, occupational or recreational tasks are sacrificed
Use continues despite physical & psychosocial problems
Medical Morbidity with Alcohol Abuse
HTN, cardiomyopathy
Hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis
TB, pneumonia
Anxiety, depression & eating disorders
CA of the stomach, mouth, larynx, breast, & esophagus
Screening Tools for Alcohol Use/Abuse
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
CAGE questions
Which patients are essential for screening for alcohol use/abuse?
+ family history
Smoke
Frequent ER visits
On meds that interact with ETOH
Screening Tool for Adolescents & College Students
CRAFFT
What does CRAFFT stand for?
ridden in Car driven by someone
alcohol or drugs to Relax, feel better about yourself, or fit in
alcohol or drugs while Alone
Forget things while on alcohol/drugs
family/Friends tell you to cut down on drinking/drug use
Trouble while using alcohol/drugs
Define Moderate Drinking
Men:
Define Heavy Drinking
Men: >14 drinks/week or >4 drinks/occasion
Define Binge Drinking
Men: 5+ drinks in a row
Women: 4+ drinks in a row
Define drink of 80-proof liquor
1.5 fluid ounces
Define drink of wine
5 fluid ounces
Define drink of beer or wine cooler
12 fluid ounces
Etiology of Alcohol-Related Disorders
Psychosocial factors
Genetic factors
Behavioral factors
How does genetics play a factor in alcohol-related issues?
3-4 x higher for ETOH problems in first degree relatives with ETOH problems
Problems increase with # of alcoholic relatives & severity
What does pylorospasm result in?
Vomiting
What 2 enzymes metabolize alcohol?
Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)
Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
CNS depression
Effects of Alcohol on the Brain with Relatively Mild Levels
Thought, judgement, & restraint are loosened
Effects of Alcohol on the Brain with Increasing Levels
Voluntary muscle dysfunction & entire motor area of the brain depressed (walking, stupor)
Effects of Alcohol on the Brain with “Yet Increasing Levels”
Confusion, stupor, coma and primitive centers that control breathing & HR are affected & can result in death due to secondary to direct respiratory depression or aspiration of vomitus
Effects of Alcohol on the Liver
Metabolism leads to chemical attack on the liver
Processes that damage liver cells may continue for weeks to months
What are the 3 patterns of hepatocellular injury?
Fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
What is caused by thiamine deficiency due to poor nutrition/malabsorption?
Wenicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Define Wernicke’s Encephalopathy
Acute symptoms which are reversible when treated with high dose thiamine
What is Wernicke’s Encephalopathy characterized by?
Gait ataxia Vestibular dysfunction Confusion Ocular abnormalities Nystagmus
Define Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Chronic condition
20% recover
PO thiamine
Korsakoff’s Syndrome Characterized by
Impaired recent memory
Anterograde amnesia
Brain injury
Short Term Goals for Treating Alcohol Dependence
ID & initiate treatment for pets. at risk for withdrawal
Promote attendance at AA & support groups
Early intervention
Long Term Goals for Treating Alcohol Dependence
Extended management over time
Determine efficacy of treatment
Mild Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal
Insomnia Tremulousness Mild anxiety GI upset/anorexia Headache Diaphoresis Palpitations
Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures
Occur within 48 hours after last drink
Tonic-clonic
3% of chronic alcoholics
Treat with benzodiazepines
Alcoholic Hallucinosis
12-24 hours of last drink
Resolves 24-48 hours
Not delirium tremens
Usual visual
Agents that should NOT be used Routinely
Ethanol Antipsychotics Anticonvulsants Central acting alpha-2 agonists Beta-blockers Baclofen
Symptoms/Signs of Delirium Tremens
Hallucinations Disorientation Tachycardia HTN Low grade fever Agitation Diaphoresis
Delirium Tremens
48-96 hours after last drink
Last 1-5 days
Risk Factors for Delirium Tremens (DT)
Hx of sustained drinking Hx of previous DTs Age >30 Concurrent illness Mortality rate: 5%
Treatment of Minimal Delirium Tremens
Thiamin
Supportive care
Treatment of Mild Delirium Tremens
Thiamin
Supportive care
Medications to reduce symptoms & monitoring
Treatment of Moderate & Severe Delirium Tremens
Thiamin
Supportive care
Hourly monitoring
Benzodiazepines
Which benzodiazepines are used?
Diazepam (Valium)
Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Lorazepam
Scheduled Targeted Treatment of Delirium Tremens
4-6 hours on the clock
Fairly sedated
Symptom Targeted Treatment of Delirium Tremens
Treat symptoms
More alert
Treatment of Refractory Delirium Tremens
Add phenobarbitol or propofol
Outpatient Therapy of Alcoholism
Acomprosate (Campral)
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
SE of Acomprosate (Campral)
Diarrhea Low pulse High or low BP Headaches Impotence
Contraindication of Acomprosate (Campral)
Kidney disease
MOA of Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Inhibits the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrenase (ALDH)