drug addiction

What are drugs

Chemical substances which interact with the biochemistry of the body

What do drugs do

Inhibit/reinforce enzyme activity

Block and activate receptors

Interact with neurotransmitter/hormones

Attack invaders (antibiotics)

When are drugs psychoactive

When they change the way we feel or act

What system do drugs interact with

Nervous/endocrine system

What do agonist drugs do

Mimic action of neurotransmitter/hormone

What are antagonist drugs

Drugs that block the action of neurotransmitter/hormone

What is an autoreceptor

Receptor that sits in the presynaptic membrane, neurotransmitter also bind to

How do drugs get into body

Digestive, respiratory tract

Skin

Mucous membrane

Intravenous/intramuscular/subcutaneous injection

How do drugs get into body through mucous membrane

Like when people snort cocaine - goes through mucous membrane in nose

What is the slowest route for drugs to get into bloodstream

Digestive tract

What is the fastest route for drugs to get into bloodstream

Via intravenous injection

How is drugs distributed

Bloodstream, water soluble drugs is easily dissolved into bloodstream but lipid soluble (fat) need carriers to be transported through blood and can pass through cell membranes

What is the blood brain barrier

Capillaries in the brain have ethilial cells but have no gaps between cells unlike the rest of the body

What type of drug will get through the blood brain barrier

Fat soluble

How are drugs eventually eliminated from the body

By chemical breakdown (by enzymes)

By excretion (in urine)

What is the biological half - life

The time for a drug to reach its half concentration

What is drug tolerance

Form of negative feedback to maintain homeostasis

What is the consequence of drug tolerance

Withdrawal effects

How is tolerance context dependant

Through classical conditioning a place where the drug is taken is associated with the drug

How does context of the tolerance impact you

Overdosing easier in novel surroundings

Withdrawal symptoms also occur in familiar settings

Relapse

How does operant conditions impact drugs

Brain reinforces the notion that the drug is a good thing because it makes u feel better

What are the 2 areas found in the dopamine system

Ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens

What did stellar, Kelley and corbett do

Stimulated the medial forebrain bundle releasing dopamine but infused an antagonist as well which rats didn’t stimulate rats to pull the lever and so it can be concluded that dopamine is responsible for stimulation

What is dopamine

Neurotransmitter that stimulates a response - pain or pleasure

What