Substance Use and Addictive Disorders Flashcards
Depressants
Slow the activity of the CNS.
Alcohol
Binge drinking episode
5+ drinks in a single occasion
Heavy drinker
5+ binge drinking episodes in a month
Why does alcohol bring on a relaxed state
Helps GABA shut down neurons
Delirium tremens
Dramatic alcohol withdrawal reaction > visual hallucinations
Sedative hypnotic drugs
Feel relaxed. Barbiturates, benzodiazepines,
Benzodiazepines ___ GABA activity
increase
Opioids
Addictive. Depress the CNS by attaching endorphin sites. Opium, heroin, morphine, codeine
Synthetic opioids (narcotics)
Methadone
What is mainlining?
Injecting the drug directly into the vein
What makes opioids dangerous?
Overdosing > calms down respiratory center too much
Fenatyl
More powerful than any opioid
Stimulants
Increase CNS activity. Cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine
Which one is the most powerful stimulant?
Cocaine
How does cocaine work?
Increases dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine supply
What is freebasing?
Vaporizing pure cocaine and inhaling through a pipe
What is crack
Powerful form of freebase boiled down to crystals
Lab made stimulant
Amphetamines
How do amphetamines work?
Increase release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin
Why is meth dangerous?
Neurotoxic > damages nerve endings
Hallucinogens
Cause powerful changes in sensory perception. LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, MDMA
How does LSD work
Affect serotonin
Why are hallucinogens dangerous?
Produce enormous perceptual, emotional, and behavioral reactions
Cannbis
Hashish, marijuana
Why is polysubstance use so dangerous?
Synergisitc effect - cause greater effect than any individual drug > extreme intoxication
Synergisitc effect when drugs have antagonistic/opposite actions
Build up and become toxic
According to the biological model what is the main cause of addiction
Drug users become more reliant on the drug > biological processes adapt and reduce own neurotransmitter production
Addiction and the reward circuit
As substances repeatedly stimulate the reward circuit > it becomes hypersensitive to them
Detoxification
Systematic and medically supervised withdrawal
Antagonist drugs
Block/change effect of addictive drug
Drug maintenance therapy
Give replacement drug that is safer and is used in a safe environment
