substance abuse WH

drug abuse

overuse or misuse of any drug

dependence

development of high tolerance to the sub; physical symptoms of withdrawal when you attempt to reduce/stop use

addiction

using drugs or alcohol despite their consequences, being unablet to stop use; neglecting social/work obligations due to use

illicit drugs

drug misuse

use of a drug for a purpose it was not intended for, whether accidental or deliberate

-includes unintended dose, timing, or by someone else

most abused drugs are:

opioids, pain meds for sleep/anxiety, ADHD meds

most misused drugs are:

sleep aids, antihistamines, cough suppressants

types of drug entry

orally, through lungs, injection

oral drug entry

swallowing in capsule, tablet, or liquid form; most common way, but doesn’t reach the bloodstream as fast

lungs drug entry

sniffing a powder, inhaling gases, aerosol spray, fumes from solvents, smoking

injection drug entry

1. subcutaneously- under the skin

2. intramuscularly- into muscle tissue

3. intravenously- into vein through syringe, immediately introduces drug to bloodstream, the fastest way

Gender differences in treatment

-women are less likely to enter treatment

-ML to be referred by community agencies

-ML to use self pay/public insurance

-doesn’t traditionally cover all women’s needs (childcare, domestic violence, prenatal care)

Gender differences in drug use

-addiction is more prevalent in men

-women ML to use as a coping mechanism, weight management

-women face more stigma for use

-women ML to be relational drug users, become addicted faster

Telescoping

the accelerated progression from the initiation of the substance to the onset of dependence and first admission to treatment

-most common in women

Physical differences for drug use

-estrogen can increase consumption of substances

-smaller body mass, faster metabolism= sub reaches brain quicker

-women become addicted faster

Tobacco

-greatest preventable cause of death, disability, and disease in the US

-kills more people every year than alcohol, car accidents, drugs, HIV, murder, and suicide combined

-calls half of all users through related diseases (lung cancer, COPD)

Smoking trends

-ML to smoke if you are low income, less education, disability, LBGTQ, or severe psych distress

-90% start before age 18

-80% live in developing countries

secondhand smoke (passive)

environmental exposure to smoke exhaled from a cigarette; causes acute lower resp tract infections, asthma, middle ear infections in children

third hand smoke

leftover chemicals that accumulate in a room where someone has smoked

smoking health consequences

-causes 90% of lung cancer deaths, 30% of all cancer deaths

-average smoker loses 14.5 years of life

-doubles heart attack risk

-increases risk of arteriosclerosis, peripheral heart disease, osteoporosis, early menopause, infertility, allergies

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

characterized by permanent airflow obstruction, extended periods of disability; leading cause of death among demale smokers

nicotine

addictive element in cigarettes, stimulates pleasure centers of the brain; increases BP, HR, negating hunger, short-term concentration, relaxation

tar

thick fluid produced when tobacco is burned, has many compounds (like carcinogens); accumulates and settles in oral cavities, pulmonary systems when inhaled

carbon monoxide

byproduct of cigarettes; gas that interferes w/ the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, impairs nervous system functioning, degrades cardiopulm system

hookahs

-just as harmful as cigarettes due to same ingredients

-may be more harmful since it is used for longer amounts of time

-in one session, you inhale as much smoke as smoking 10 cigs

smoking withdrawal

-symptoms can occur in 2 hours for heavy smokers

-peak is 24-48 hrs after

-women may not want to quit due to weight gain fears

Quitting smoking

-risk of heart disease falls by 50% in one year

Depressants & antianxiety drugs

drugs that relax the CNS

-depressants, sedatives, hypnotics

-alcohol is most common

-Barbiturates, benzodiazepine

Barbiturates

depressants used medically for inducing relaxation and sleep, relieving tension, seizures