WEEK 9

Question 1

Psychoactive substance

Answer 1

Is a chemical compound ingested to alter mood or behaviour (or both

Question 2

Substance use

Answer 2

is the ingestion of
psychoactive substances in moderate amounts that does not significantly interfere
with social, educational or occupational functioning

–> can include legal or illicit substances

Question 3

Substance Intoxication

Answer 3

is a physiological reaction
to an ingested substance (e.g., drunkenness or “getting high”)

It may involve:

• impaired judgment
• mood changes
• lowered motor ability

Question 4

Substance use DISORDER

Answer 4

Substance use disorder - often described as “addiction”
- Defined by the specific impact on the individual, not the amount of substance
used.

Question 5

Physiological Dependence

Tolerance

Answer 5

greater amounts of the drug are required to experience the same effect

Question 6

Physiological Dependence

Withdrawal

Answer 6

negative physical reaction when the substance is no longer ingested

Question 7

Psychological / behavioural effects

Answer 7

Loss of control over use, life activities are altered, drug

seeking behaviours

Question 8

DSM history

Answer 8

• In early editions of the DSM, alcohol and drug use were considered symptoms of
  other problems
• Considered a sign of moral weakness
• In 1980, DSM-III introduced the term Substance Abuse
• Recognised the complex biological & psychological nature of the problem

Question 9

DSM current criteria for substance use disorder

Answer 9

• Removal of distinction between ‘abuse’ and
  ‘dependence’
• 11 symptoms form criteria used for diagnosis.
  Severity indicated based on number of symptoms
  present from:

Mild: Presence of 2-3 symptoms
Moderate: Presence of 4-5 symptoms
Severe: Presence of 6 < symptoms

Question 10

Co morbidity

Answer 10

75% have additional

symptoms of other disorder can complicate diagnosis

DSM-5 aims to distinguish whether or not a
symptom results from substance abuse

Question 11

Brain Chemistry

Answer 11

• neurotransmitters- chemical used to transmit messages between neurons
• each receptor is sensitive to specific neurotransmitters
• Psycho- active substances appear to bind to specific brain receptor sites
• substances can mimic neurotransmitters and block receptor sites

Question 12

Depressants

Answer 12

Decrease CNS activity

• reduce levels of physiological arousal due to inhibitory centres in the brain being slowed down

Common:
- sedatives
- alcohol:
==> impacts a number of neuroreceptor systems
–> initial effect: apparent stimulation, feelings of wellbeing
–> continued drinking: depresses more areas of the brain, impedes our functioning
–> long term effects: Withdrawal, withdrawal delirium (hallucinations), organ damage
–> Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): combination of problems that occur when mother drinks during pregnancy eg. learning difficulties, behaviour problems, characteristic facial features

Question 13

Sedatives, Hypnotics, Anxiolytics

Answer 13

Sedative: calming
Hypnotic: sleep inducing
Anxiolytic: anxiety reducing