Week 4: Substance Use Problems Flashcards
What is drug abuse
Overuse of a drug to the detrimental of a persons health
What is a drug
A substance that is used to modify the way in which a person functions
Psychological dependence on drugs
A state in which an individual craves for drugs to satisfy psychological needs
What is tolerance to a drug
Need to take larger doses of a drug order to achieve desired effects
What is intoxication
Elevated blood levels of a drug concentration such that a person cannot function normally
What is withdrawal
When a person dependant on a substance stops taking the substance, physical and psychological symptoms occur
Types of drugs (4)
Depressants
Stimulants
Narcotics
Hallucinogens
Depressant drugs
Decreases activity of CNS
Stimulant drugs
Increases activity of CNS
Narcotic drugs
Addictive drugs such as opium, that reduces pain, alters mood, behaviours and usually induces sleep
Hallucinogen drugs
Psychoactive drug that induces hallucinogens or altered sensory experiences
Diagnostic Criteria for substance abuse
A. Maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress manifested by one or more of the following in a 12 month period:
Recurrent substance abusers resulting in failure to fulfil major role
Recurrent substance use in situations such as when driving/ operating machinery
Recurrent substance use leading to legal problems
Continued substance abuse despite having persistent social or interpersonal problems caused by effects of substance abuse
Diagnostic criteria for withdrawal syndrome
A. Development of substance specific syndrome due to cessation of substance abusers
B. Substance specific syndrome causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning
C. Symptoms are not due to a general medical condition and are not accounted for by another mental disorder
