Substance Related Disorders Flashcards
What is the physical part of the addiction process?
- Tolerance, the bodies decreased response to repeated taking of a drug
- Withdrawal when prolonged use of substance has altered the body to such an extent that it is affected when the substance is not taken
How is substance abuse characterised?
- Failure to fulfil major obligations (e.g. work)
- Exposure to physical dangers (e.g. drunk driving)
- Legal problems brought on by drug use
- Persistent social or interpersonal problems (e.g. arguments)
How many out of the 7 characteristics do people need to fulfil to be substance dependant?
3
How many under 16’s taken drugs in last year?
21%
How many under 16’s taken drugs in last month?
12%
% of 11 year olds using drugs in the last year?
8%
% of 15 year olds using drugs in the last year?
38%
What is the most frequently reported illicit drug use?
Cannabis
What % of under 25 year olds in the last year used heroin and cocaine?
1%
What is alcohol classified as?
Sedative hypnotic agent
What does alcohol do?
Exercises a temporary and nonspecific depressant effect
Prevalence of alcoholism in males?
20%
Prevalence of alcoholism in females?
8%
What are some withdrawal symptoms of alcohol?
Anxiety, depression, weakness, inability to slep
What is the most common poly-drug of alcohol?
Smoking
What are some short-term actions of alcohol?
It is absorbed from stomach into the blood & acts in the brain:
- Stimulates GABA receptors, increases dopamine/serotonin levels, inhibits glutamate receptors
What are some long-term effects of alcohol?
Alcoholics reduce their food intake
- It impairs food digestion
- Vitamin deficiency
Can lead to: brain damage, loss of brain less, surprising of the immune system
What is the addicting agent of tobacco?
Nicotine
What is nicotine classified as?
Stimulant-euphoriant
What are some withdrawal symptoms of nicotine?
Irritability, loss of concentration, decreased metabolic rate, cravings
What % of smokers lit up within five minutes of waking?
17%
What is the highest proportion of smokers that want to give up?
Less than 20 a day
What are the highest reason for wanting to quit smoking?
Health concerns 86%
What was the second highest reason for wanting to quit smoking?
Cost 27%
What was the 3rd highest reason for wanting to quit smoking
Family pressure 20%
What was the 4th highest reason for wanted to quit smoking?
Effect on children 15%
Who smokes more, married or singles?
Married (18%)
Singles (28%)
Who smokes more professionals or manual workers?
Professionals (15%)
Manual (26%)
What age group is smoking highest in?
20-24 (31%)
What age group is smoking lowest in?
60+ (12%)
How does cannabis work?
Usually smoked, quickly absorbed into the lungs and the THC is transported to the brain
What are some short-term effects of cannabis use?
Memory loss, compromised lung structure & function
What are some unwanted effects of cannabis?
A-motivational syndrome
What are some long-term effects of cannabis use?
Unpleasant mood, can’t derive pleasure from activities
What are the medical implications of Cannabis?
- Reduces nausea and loss of appetite
- Can reduce pain signalling
- Can reduce discomfort of AIDS
What % of cannabis users don’t go on to use harder substance drugs?
40%
What is the network theory of cannabis?
Cannabis is part of the picture, but only one of many contributing factors to involvement in harmful substance abuse
What are some natural Opioids?
Opium, morphine, heroin
What do Opiods do?
Produce a profound, generalised & abiding sedative, anaesthetic & euphoriant effect
What do both synthetic & natural opiates have in common?
Bind od opiate receptors in the brain and block experience of emotional and physical pain
When may withdrawal symptoms from opioids begin?
6 - 8 hours after last injection
What do sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics do?
Produce a temporary & nonspecific depressant
What kind of withdrawal symptoms can sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics produce?
As its such a powerful drug, it can cause death
Whats an example of a stimulant?
‘uppers’, e.g. cocaine
What do stimulants do?
They act on the brain & sympathy nervous system to increase alertness & motor activity
What do amphetamines & cocaine do?
Increase the release & block the repute of norepinephrine & dopamine
How are stimulants taken?
Orally or intravenously
What can an overdose in stimulants cause?
Chills, nausea, paranoid breakdown, heart attack, death
What is an ephedrine a variant of?
Amphetamine
What does ephedrine do?
Induces an alertness and reduces appetite
What is a natural example of a hallucinogen?
Peyote
What is a synthetic example of a hallucinogen?
LSD, ecstacy
Is physical dependance an issue for hallucinogens?
No - virtually not an issue except for ecstasy
What are some side effects of LSD?
- Synethesia: Blending of sensory information
- Rapid mood shifts
- Effects depend on set and setting
What effect does MDMA have on a person?
Increases release of serotonin (involved in managing mood & body temperature - death is often a result of the body overheating & the blood coagulating
What are some long-term dangers of MDMA?
Irreversible serotonin depletion, memory problems?
What are some socio-cultural in relation to substance abuse?
- Media
- Social milieu
- Ready availability of the substance
- Cultural attitudes & patterns of drinking
- Media
What are some psychological variables on substance disorders?
- Mood alteration
- Tension reduction hypothesis
- Expectancy theory
