Substance Misuse Flashcards
Stimulants
Make you feel more alert and like you have more energy and confidence
Examples of stimulants
Tobacco, cocaine
Hallucinogens
Change your perceptions, mood and senses
Depressants
Makes you feel relaxed
Examples of depressants
Alcohol, heroin, tranquilisers
Societal vulnerability factors to alcohol misuse
Alcohol pricing, socio-economic status, culture
Individual vulnerability factors to alcohol misuse
Mental health, homelessness, gender, age
Why are drug related deaths on the rise?
Ageing cohort of drug users suffering long-term effects, new trends, less access to services/longer waiting times
Alcohol harms
Coma/death, increased risk of cancer, road accidents,, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia
Psychological alcohol harms
Impairment in memory, memory blackout, depression, suicidal, aggressive behaviour
What is dependence?
Can be physical or psychological, physical relates to symptoms associated with withdrawal, psychological relates to having impaired control
How is dependence diagnosed?
Strong desire or compulsion, difficulties in control levels of use, evidence of tolerance
Risk factors for drug use
Family problems: neglect, drug misuse, abuse
Mental health: depression, anxiety
Social groups: surrounded by drug users
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
Child maltreatment: verbal/physical abuse
Childhood household: Parental separation, domestic violence, mental illness
Policy response to alcohol consumption
Taxation and price regulation, regulating marketing, providing information and education
