Substance Misuse and Dependence Flashcards
Describe tolerance to a substance
- With repeated administration more of the substance is required in order to achieve the same effects
Give the 4 main aspects of substance misuse and dependence
Tolerance
Dependence
Withdrawal
Craving/Compulsion
Describe physical withdrawals
can be fatal particularly in alcohol, seizures, death
What is psychological withdrawal?
state of anhedonia characterised by dysphoria, irritability, emotional distress
What is craving/compulsion
powerful desire of urge
What are the 8 main unidimensional models of substance misuse?
Temperance Moral Disease Medical Psychodynamic Socio-cultural Systems and families Learning Theory
Describe the temperance model of substance misuse
- The drug us dangerous and causes the problems
- Moderation is unreliable so the answer is prohibition
- ‘Once you start using, can’t stop…’
- The drug takes control
Describe the moral model of substance misuse
- People decide to use alcohol and other drugs based in social and/or religious norms
o Addiction is the result of weakness and defective character
o Biological basis of addiction is rejected – total responsibility is placed on the person - So, we need to help people make better decision with education deterrents
- ‘They can always choose not to use…’
- But social and religious norms change over time
Describe the disease model of substance misuse
- Certain people have a specific physiological process off addiction which leads to a loss of control when the drug is used
- These people need to be identified and cannot drink/use
- ‘I have a disease…’
- The individual has the responsibility of managing his/her disease but if use, then loss of control
Describe the medical model of substance misuse
- A number of potential physiological medical factors have been considered which put the person at risk/more vulnerable to problems
- Assess risk and address factors as possible
- ‘Alcoholism runs in my family’
- Again, control is related to risk management
Describe the psychodynamic model of substance misuse
- Alcohol and other drug problems are primarily related to psychodynamic factors such as early childhood experiences or trauma
o Addictive personality disorder/self-medication - People need psychotherapy to address underlying issues
- ‘I have an additive personality’
- Substance misuse as maladaptive coping
Describe the socio-cultural model of substance misuse
- A number of sociocultural factors have been identified which increase the risk of problems within a population
- Need to address these factors
- ‘Who wouldn’t have a problem living in my neighbourhood…’
- Sociocultural factors seen as key
Describe the systems and family model of substance misuse
- Need to see alcohol and other drug use in relationship to the functioning of family and social systems
- For people to change, need to consider relationships and change within the system
- ‘You can’t be sober and deal with my family…’
- Much more difficult for a person to change because of system
Describe the learning model of substance misuse
- Alcohol and other drug use is learned behaviour
- If a behaviour is learned it can be unlearned and new behaviour learned in its place
- ‘I use Valium because I don’t know how else to get to sleep…’
- The person is responsible for learning and practicing…
What are the aspects of psychological theories
- CHOICE – a person often choses to engage in addictive behaviour as a result of a cost benefit analysis of the alternative (may be influenced by biases and changing preferences)
- COMPULSION and SELF-CONTROL – a person sometimes sincerely chooses to refrain from a behaviour but fails to enact their choice
- LEARNING MECHANISMS – sometimes behaviours result from a habit with little conscious decision-making, and certain behaviours come to be valued out of proportion to the benefits they bring
