Substance Use and Addictive Disorders Flashcards
What is the definition of misuse
The misuse of a substance or behaviour results in problems associated with its use.
- lapses in memory
- getting in trouble at home or school
- spend more money
- doing regrettable things
What is Abuse
Identifying abuse of a substance or behaviour is possible once the problems resulting from misuse becomes much more regular. For a period of at least one month
What is Dependency
At the dependency stage the person has lost the ability to choose to use or not use. The may experience physical or psychological withdrawal, cravings of the substance of abuse, and decreased physical, mental, and emotional health. The person now has a addiction
What is Addiction
the persistent, compulsive dependence on or use of a substance or behaviour despite the negative consequences and the increasing frequency of those consequences
What is Tolerance
is a physiological experience that occurs when a person’s reaction to a substance decreases with repeated administrations of the same dose.
What is Withdrawal
causes physiological changes as the blood and tissue concentrations of a drug decrease after heavy and prolonged use of a substance
What other phenomena are frequently encountered by those who abuse substances
flashbacks
synergistic effects
antagonistic effects
What are flashbacks
transitory recurrences of perceptual disturbance that can be caused by a person’s earlier hallucinogenic drug use but occur when the person in in a drug-free state
What are synergistic effects
synergy is the capacity of two or more drugs acting together to create a greater total effect that the sum of the effects if taken independently.
What are antagonistic effects
Drugs that are combined to weaken the effect of one of the drugs.
Ex.
- tranquilizers to aid sleep one may take excessive caffeine
-Cocaine users will often mix it with heroin to soften the letdown of cocaine
What is codependency
A cluster of behaviours and psychological characteristics of overdependence on meeting the needs of others.
Misuse
The use of a substance in a hazardous quantities or binge use behaviours
Addiction
Is a behavioural -type syndrome where an individual is preoccupied with a drug or substance and has an ongoing compulsion to continue its use despite negitive consequences
Alcoholics Anonymous
Is the prototype for all 12 step programs that were subsequently developed for many types of addiction. These programs offer the behavioural, cognitive, and dynamic structure needed by those in recovery
Alcohol withdrawal
Refers to the period of time after the drug of choice is no longer consumed. During this time the individual experiences significant symptoms that are the opposite to the effects of the drug that they were taking
Delirium Tremens
Is a psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation
Concurrent disorders
Is a relatively new term used to describe an individual who is addicted to a substance but also has an ongoing mental health condition. For example someone who has been diagnosed with an alcohol disorder but also diagnosed with bipolar
Enabling
Refers to a state where an individual with their addictive actions
Relapse
is considered a (normal?) part of recovery where an individual returns to addictive behaviours
Steps in a assessment
- level of acute intoxication
- history and past substance use
- medical history
- psychiatric history
- psychological assessment
Central Nervous System depressants
alcohol
benzodiazepines
barbiturates
Signs of intoxication from CNS depressants
Physical: slurred speech incoordination unsteady gait drowsiness decreased BP Psychosocial- Perseptual: Disinhibition of sexual or aggressive drives impaired judgement impaired social or occupational function impaired attention or memory Irritability
Effects of CNS depressant overdose
Cardiovascular or respiratory depression coma shock convulsions death
Treatments for CNS depressant overdose
VS every 15 minutes
ECG and Lab values for shock
IV fluids may be administered
o2, intubations, or mechanical ventilation may be prescribed
of drinks and effects of BAC’S
- 05%
- 10%
- 20%
- 30%
- 40%
- 50%
- 05%: 1-2 drinks, changes in mood & behaviour, impaired judgement
- 10%: 5-6 drinks, Clumsiness in voluntary motor activity
- 20%: 10-12 drinks, Depressed function of the enire motor area of the brain, causing staggering and ataxia, emotional lability
- 30%: 15-18: confusion, stupor
- 40%: 20-24, coma
- 50% 25-30, death due to respiratory depression
Central Nervous System stimulants
amphetamines, cocaine, crack
Effects of CNS stimulants
Tachycardia Dilated pupils, elevated BP nausea vomiting Agitation and aggression grandiosity impaired judgement insomnia euphoria
Effects of CNS stimulant overdose
Respiratory distress ataxia hyperpyrexia convulsions MI death
Opioids
Opium morphine heroin codeine fentanyl methadone
Opioid intoxication
constricted pupils decreased respiration drowsiness decreased BP slurred speech
Inhalants
organic solvents: gases, lighter fluid, paint thinner, chloroform, acetone
Volatile nitrites: room deodorizers
Anaesthetics: gas, liquid
Organic solvent intoxication
euphoria, impaired judgement , slurred speech, flushing, CNS depression
Volatile nitrites intoxication
Enhancement of sexual pleasure
Anaesthetics intoxication
giggling, laughter, euphoria
What agent is used for opioid addiction, and sometimes the treatment of alcoholism
Naltrexone (ReVia)
