370 ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOR

what is addiction?

compulsive and uncontrollable behavior or use of substances

what is the most serious form of addiction?

chemical dependency on drugs

what feeds addiction (what system)?

limbic system

what are the four f’s of the limbic system and how do they relate to addictive behavior?

fight (risk: gambling)

flight/fear

feed (caring)

f\*cking (sex)

these are all basic human needs to be met and when acitivated, can become addictive because they are a need

how much money is lost each year in American health costs, crime, and lost productivity due to the misuse of alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs?

$700 billion

what are some common factors the predispose people to addiction?

the behavior is reinforced

an attempt to meet basic human needs (limbic system)

an attempt to relive stress temporarily

a response to peer pressure

acceptable in a person’s value system

serious physical illness

pressure to perform or succeed

self-hatred

a genetic link

allowed by society

what is a drug? give examples

any substance that alters the user’s ability to function

over-the-counter meds

prescription meds

illegal substances

when tolerance to a drug increases..

why?

a higher dose is needed to achieve the same result because the body can accommodate/dilute effects on the body

what is considered a safe amount of caffeine per day?

400 mg

what are commonly abused prescription medications?

opioids (codeine, oxy, morphine)

CNS depressants (valium, Xanax)

stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta)

inhalants involve what type of use? give examples

common household products (vapors or aerosol gases)

whipped cream canisters, cooking sprays, hair spray, glue, nail polish remover, spray paint, gasoline, lighterfluid

what percent of individuals of the age 12 to 17 abuse inhalants?

2%

what are the serious consequences of inhalants?

suffocation, organ damage, unconsciousness, sudden cardiac death

what is marijuana?

relaxant

psychoactive drug prepared from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa

what is the active ingredient in weed?

THC

(potency has tripled over the past few decades)

what are the short term effects of weed?

confusion, memory loss, tachycardia

what are the long term effects of weed?

motivational syndrome and brain damage

how many states is weed legal in?

21 for recreational use

37 for medical use

what are the other three “forms” of weed?

CBD

epidiolex

THC mimic meds

what is CBD?

the “inactive” ingredient in weed (does not cause a high)

is CBD FDA approved?

no because it is unknown how much should be used

what can CBD help with (although research is ongoing)?

reduce pain, inflammation, anxiety

what is epidiolex?

purified form of CBD that is FDA approved and can treat seizure disorders

what are THC mimic medications?

marinol, syndros, cesamet

helpt to treat nausea and stimulate appetite in cancer patients and AIDS patients with wasting syndrome

why can CBD be harmful? give an example

can slow down the breakdown of some meds causing increased levels of medications in the body and possibly harmful side effects

if you are on blood thinners and take CBD, it can stay in your system for too long and cause your blood to be too thin

what substance has the most compulsive addiction?

cocaine

an overdose of cocaine causes what?

death

what are the long term effects of cocaine?

paranoia and hallucinations

what is crack cocaine?

smokable form of cocaine

usually more potent that powdered

what is methamphetamine?

Potent form of amphetamine that is highly addictive

an overdose on methamphetamine can cause what?

death

what are the long term effects of methamphetamine?

insomnia, confusion, hallucinations, inflammation of the heart lining, schizophrenia-like mental disorder, brain cell damage (similar to stroke)

how does methamphetamine cause Parkinson’s like symptoms?

it reduces the level of dopamine released

what is MDMA?

ecstasy

a synthetic hallucinogen with chemical structure similar to MDA and methamphetamine

what type of drug is ecstasy?

stimulant (that damages the brain)

what are the side effects of MDMA and what can those then lead to?

side effects: elevated BP, elevated HR, elevated temp

leads to: seizures, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, or death

what is heroine?

synthesized form of morphine that can be injected, snorted, sniffed, or smoked and is extremely addictive (tolerance develops quickly

an overdose on heroine can cause what?

convulsions, coma, and death

(withdrawal is painful and prolonged)

what is mexican tar heroine?

ultra-potent form, known to kill unsuspecting users nearly immediately

what are New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)?

unregulated substances of abuse

also called synthetic or designer drugs

mimic the effects of controlled substnaces

highest concentrations in North America and Europe

what are synthetic cannabinoids?

fake pot

100 times more potent that weed

usually sprayed onto mixture of herbs

what are the side effects of cannabinoids?

seizures, high BP, anxiety attacks, hallucinations, nausea, loss of consciousness, chemical dependency

what is alchohol?

ethyl alcohol

depressant drug that affects the brain and slows down the CNS

what is alcoholism?

disease in which an individual loses control over drinking alcoholic beverages

has both a genetic and environmental component

what are some medical complications of addiction?

death

reduced or overtolerance to meds

neuropathy

seizures

cardiovascular

psychological (hallucinations)

organ damage (kidney, lungs, and liver)

what effects can addiction have on the body?

sense perception (proprioception)

motor skills

judgement

self-control

linked to more than half of all car accident deaths, and to violent behavior such as rape, child abuse, suicide, and murder

what is a synergistic action?

effect of mixing two or more drugs, which can be much greater than the sum of the drugs acting by themselves

what is cirrhosis?

damage or scarring of the liver

(from the abdomen filling with fluid and therefore retaining toxins)

what is cardiomyopathy

disease affecting the heart muscle

does alcohol addiction develop slow or fast?

slow

what systems does long term alcohol abuse affect?

brain

immune system

liver

oral

heart

stomach and intestines

reproductive system

what is the number one drug problem among college students?

alcohol

alcohol use in college students leads to what percentage of drop outs?

25%

alcohol use in college students can lead to?

lower GPA

driving while intoxicated

risky sexual behavior

deaths from alcohol poisoning

what is the first step in recovery from addiction?

recognizing the problem

what is tobacco?

contains tar, nicotine, and over 7,000 other toxic materials (about 70 of the 700 are proven carcinogens)

how are tobacco and education level related?

tobacco use goes up → education level goes down

what percent of people will die each year from smoking-related illnesses?

10%

6 million people per year

what are the types of tobacco products?

pipes and cigars: lower risks for heart disease and lung cancer compared to cigs, but higher risk for lip, mouth, and larynx cancer

smokless tobacco: use leads to gingivitis and periodontitis, greater risk of oral cancer, senses of smell and taste diminish

cigarettes: more death are caused annually by tobacco use than by all deaths combined from HIV, illegal drug use, car accidents, alcohol use, suicides, and murders

what are the effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system?

increases HR, increases BP, increases blood clots

increases risk of atherosclerosis, coronary artery spasm, and cardiac arythmia

lowers HDL cholesterol

damages inner walls of arteries

smoking causes approximately how many coronary heart disease deaths?

1/3 (33%)

what percentage of lung cancer is attributed to smoking?

87%

what are the health effects of smoking?

stroke

cancer of larynx

lung cancer

heart attacks

peptic (stomach) ulcers

cervical cancer

unborn babies

mouth (oral) cancer

esophageal cancer

chronic lung disease

circulatory disease

bladder and kidney diseases

how long after inhalation can chemical changes be detected within the body’s blood clotting mechanism, increasing the risk for heart attack or stroke?

20 minutes

how many individuals are killed by smoking each year?

480,000 Americans

42,000 from second hand smoke

top three reasons people begin to smoke?

peer pressure

desire to appear “grown up”

rebellion against authority

how many packs of cigs can lead to psychological addiction and dependency?

3

nicotine is how much more addictive than alcohol?

6 to 8 times

what are the 6 factors related to feelings when smoking?

stimulation

handling

pleasure/pleasurable relaxation

crutch: tension reduction

craving: psychological addiction

habit

what percentage of smokers would like to quit?

70%

physiological addiction to nicotine is broken how many days following the last cig?

3