Substance Use and Abuse Flashcards
What is drug abuse?
extended use of something that will impair biological, psychological, or social well-being.
__________ and ________ are the most widely used drugs
alcohol and tobacco
what is the negative effect of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco compared to other illnesses and disabilities.
The abuse of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco is the cause of more deaths, illnesses, and disabilities than any other preventable health condition.
A drug’s __________ determines the ease with which it passes through the _____-______ barrier.
fat solubility, blood-brain
What is the difference between agonists, partial agonist and antagonist?
agonists - molecule that mimics neurotransmitter
partial agonists - elicits weaker response than agonists
antagonist - blocks neurotransmitter
What does hallucinogens, stimulants and depressants do?
hallucinogens - Alter sensory perception and induce visual and auditory hallucinations.
stimulants - boost CNS, rewarding effects, physical and psychological dependence.
depressants - sedatives, tranquilizers, hypnotics, slows cognition and sensory responsiveness, suicides, overdose, dependency
explain concordance rate in addiction.
addicts inherit a biological vulnerability to physical dependence; drugs use to restore abnormally low levels of key neurotransmitters
What is the reward model for addiction?
Involves pleasure seeking; cocaine, alcohol, nicotine = ^ dopamine
- reward model; withdrawal relief, neg reinforcement
- septal area of hypothalamus activated during drug use/behavior
Fill in the blanks for the evidence in reward models.
People who are dependent on one substance are ____ likely to be addicted to others as well
Some drugs that produce feelings of ______ are ___ considered physically addictive
Unable to explain why drug use continues even when _______ side effects occurs
more
well-being, not
unpleasant
What are the evidence against the reward model?
- environmental factors are stronger influence for drug use than prior use of other stimulants.
- incentive-sensitization theory (2 stages)
~ good feelings during drug use will take over
~ dopamine cravings to give automatic behavior
What are the social learning models of addiction?
- identification with a drug (I am a drinker)
- social control - hard to break from social norms with higher attachment to social environment (family/school).
- peer cluster - having a group of friends will help break away from typical social influences from family/school.
What are some of the statistics/data for alcohol abusers?
50% of 12 and older are drinkers
“At-risk” drinkers: Two or more episodes of binge drinking in the past month, or consuming an average of two or more alcoholic drinks per day in the past month (mostly 25 - 44)
18-24 are heavy/binge drinkers
What are some of the adverse effects of alcohol?
v immune, damage DNA, v endocrine function, v growth hormone, v testosterone and estrogen, v fertility in men and ^ miscarriages in women
What are some other alcohol-related morbidity
^ fat deposit on heart –> cardiovascular disease
ulcers, liver disease (hepatitis & cirrhosis)
fetal alcohol syndrome - adverse effect on infant due to mother’s use
Korsakoff’s syndrome - cannot store new memories
What are some of the psychosocial consequences to alcohol use?
- behavioral disinhibition - no confidence or freedom from social constraints
- Low BAL: cheerful, relaxed, confidence
- v higher order executive function; alcohol myopia (smaller perceptive field), focus on now and not future consequences
