WOD exam 1

What is substance use disorder (SUD)?

A condition characterized by the excessive or maladaptive use of drugs for nonmedical purposes despite negative consequences.

How do we assess substance use disorders?

Through criteria that evaluate abuse, dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

Define 'abuse' in the context of substance use.

The excessive or maladaptive use of drugs despite social, psychological, and physical problems.

What does 'dependence' mean in relation to drugs?

A compulsion to use the drug despite deterioration in health, work, or social activities.

What is 'tolerance' in substance use?

A gradual decrease in the effect of a certain dose as the drug is repeatedly taken.

What is 'withdrawal'?

The pharmacological effects experienced when a drug is removed from a brain altered by chronic use.

How do North American substance use rates compare globally?

North American use is higher than most places, with opioid deaths significantly higher in the US than in the EU.

What is a significant predictor of future drug use rates?

Youth rates of substance use.

What percentage of arrestees test positive for drugs?

Over two-thirds of arrestees test positive for at least one drug.

What percentage of arrestees meet the criteria for substance use disorder?

Approximately 60%, compared to about 8% of the general population.

What are the general mechanisms involved in drug effects on the brain?

Drugs can drastically increase dopamine release, activating reward centers and conditioning users to repeat the behavior.

What are common withdrawal symptoms?

Symptoms can include tremors, muscle aches, fatigue, vomiting, and racing pulse.

What can make alcohol withdrawal particularly dangerous?

Delirium tremens can occur, which can be lethal.

What are the main categories of drugs?

Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogenics, narcotics, cannabis, and inhalants.

What is Schedule 1 in drug scheduling?

Drugs with no medicinal purpose and high potential for abuse, such as heroin and LSD.

Give an example of a Schedule 2 drug.

Vicodin, cocaine, or meth.

What is the potential for abuse of Schedule 4 drugs?

They have a low potential for abuse and dependence, such as Xanax and Valium.

What is the historical significance of marijuana?

It has been used recreationally since the 3rd century BC and was commonly used medicinally in the US until the 1800s.

What are the effects of THC on the brain?

THC binds to cannabinoid receptors, releasing dopamine and affecting pleasure, memory, motor coordination, and sensory perceptions.

What are common withdrawal symptoms from marijuana?

Irritability, stomach pain, anxiety, insomnia, decreased appetite, and restlessness.

What is the historical use of opioids?

Natural opium has been used for psychoactive and pain-reducing properties since ancient times, with widespread use in the USA until the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act of 1914.

What are opioids?

All natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid receptors and reduce the intensity of pain signals.

What are opiates?

Natural opioids, including heroin, morphine, and codeine.

What is a primary risk factor associated with opioid use?

Respiratory depression, which can lead to overdose when breathing slows down.

What plant is cocaine derived from?

The coca plant.

What is the historical significance of cocaine?

Used since Incan civilizations, extracted from the coca plant in 1860, and used in medicines and beverages.

Why is cocaine classified as a Schedule II drug?

Because it is still used as an anesthetic for some surgeries.

What happens when hydrochloride salt is removed from cocaine?

It becomes freebase cocaine, which can be smoked.

What are the effects of cocaine on dopamine?

Cocaine prevents dopamine reuptake, leading to a massive increase in dopamine levels in the synapse.

What are common effects of chronic cocaine abuse?

Loss of about 20% of dopamine receptors, increased heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, leading to potential cardiac issues.

What is 'crack' cocaine?

A form of cocaine that is treated with baking soda to create safer, cheaper 'rocks' that can be smoked.

What are the effects of crack cocaine?

More intense than snorting cocaine, leading to irritability, paranoia, aggression, and potential heart attack or stroke.

What are amphetamines derived from?

Ephedra, a plant native to China and Mongolia.

What was Benzedrine used for in the 1930s?

Heavily marketed to soldiers to stay alert on the battlefield.

What are the effects of amphetamines on the brain?

Increases activity of dopamine and norepinephrine, resulting in euphoria, improved motor skills, and higher self-confidence.

What are the negative effects of methamphetamine use?

Psychosis, hallucinations, erratic behavior, significant brain damage, and overdose death.

What are 'bath salts'?

Retail products marketed as not for human consumption, derived from cathinone, a stimulant.

What are common effects of bath salts?

Agitation, paranoia, seizures, panic attacks, and overdose death.

What is LSD known for?

Being the most widely known and commonly used hallucinogen, promoting consciousness expansion.

What are the effects of LSD?

Stimulates serotonin-2A receptors, leading to hallucinations, increased heart rate, and risk of injury.

What is PCP originally invented for?

As an anesthetic, but discontinued due to side effects of delirium.

What are the effects of PCP?

Detachment from surroundings, hallucinations, severe mood disorders, and risk of seizures.

What are the effects of psilocybin (mushrooms)?

Similar to LSD but less intense, with fewer chances of paranoia and panic reactions.

What is ecstasy commonly associated with?

Increased levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, often containing MDMA.

What are the risks associated with ecstasy use?

Long-term memory issues, serotonin depletion, anxiety, and increased heart rate.

What is the historical significance of alcohol?

Used since ancient times, with legal codes limiting consumption as far back as 1700 BC.

What are the cumulative effects of excessive alcohol consumption?

Can appear within 5 years of heavy drinking, affecting major organ systems.

What is the primary classification of alcohol?

A depressant, which reduces inhibitions and can cause confusion.

What is the importance of theories of drug use?

To understand who is more likely to develop a substance use disorder (SUD) and the significance of knowledge in prevention.

What are the biological factors influencing susceptibility to substance use disorders (SUDs)?

Lower levels of naturally occurring endorphins or receptors increase susceptibility to drug abuse.

How does genetic predisposition affect alcoholism risk in adopted children?

Adopted children have a higher risk of alcoholism if their biological parents had alcoholism compared to their adoptive parents.

Which gene is associated with nicotine addiction?

The CHRNA5 gene reduces negative effects of nicotine and plays a significant role in cigarette addiction.

What role does the OPRMI gene play in substance use?

The OPRMI gene is linked to the rewarding effects and withdrawal effects of opioids.

What is the significance of epigenetics in understanding SUDs?

Epigenetics highlights the critical interaction between genes and the environment in predisposition to SUDs.

What psychological traits are associated with higher risk for substance use?

Traits include risk-taking, impulsivity, sensation seeking, low self-esteem, stress sensitivity, and valuing nonconformity.

How do rewards and punishments influence behavior according to Skinner?

Rewards reinforce behavior, while punishments discourage it; stronger and immediate rewards increase behavior repetition.

What is the concept of differential association in criminology?

It suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others who engage in crime.

What does social control theory propose about crime?

It posits that stronger social bonds reduce the likelihood of committing crimes.

What is the focus of self-control theory?

It emphasizes the importance of childhood experiences in developing self-control to prevent criminal behavior.

What does the term 'anomie' refer to in Merton's theory?

Anomie refers to a state of normlessness where societal cohesion is weakened, leading to increased deviance.

What is strain theory and its relation to crime?

Strain theory suggests that negative experiences can increase the likelihood of engaging in crime or substance use.

What is the relationship between drug use and criminal behavior?

There is a significant link, with many individuals who use drugs also committing crimes, though not all do.

What is the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program (ADAM)?

ADAM is a data collection program that monitors drug abuse among arrestees to understand the drug-crime link.

What does the enslavement theory suggest about drug addiction?

It posits that drug addiction arises from poverty, mental health issues, and the need to engage in property crime to support habits.

How does the intensification theory challenge the enslavement model?

It argues that juvenile delinquency often precedes substance abuse, indicating a different causal relationship.

What complications arise in understanding the drug-crime relationship?

Complications include the overlap of drug use with small-scale drug sales and the impact of socioeconomic status.

How does drug type influence criminal behavior?

Different drugs have varying effects on judgment and behavior, impacting the likelihood of committing crimes.

What is the relationship between alcohol and aggression?

Long-term alcohol use is associated with increased aggression and violent behavior.

What historical regulation is associated with drinking houses?

The Code of Hammurabi, which regulated drinking houses around 1770 BC.

What substances were used by Native American tribes for hundreds of years?

Peyote, mushrooms, and other naturally existing plants.

What marked the beginning of drug regulation in the US?

Concerns about drug use grew in the late 1800s, leading to the first antidrug laws.

What was the impact of the American Civil War on drug use?

It resulted in hundreds of thousands of morphine prescriptions.

What was the first antidrug law in the US?

The ban on opium smoking passed by San Francisco in 1875.

What was the purpose of the Harrison Tax Act of 1914?

To regulate drug abuse through taxation.

What was a major opposition to the Harrison Tax Act?

Opposition from southern states due to state's rights views and the pharmaceutical lobby.

What was the Prohibition period characterized by?

Heavy alcohol use, bootlegging, and organized crime.

Who was Harry Anslinger and what was his role in drug policy?

Director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics who promoted marijuana as a dangerous substance.

What did the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 do?

It required a tax on the manufacture and sale of marijuana.

What significant legislation was passed in 1951 regarding drug offenses?

The Boggs Act, which established mandatory minimums for drug offenses.

What was the Controlled Substances Act of 1970?

It scheduled drugs based on medical use, potential for abuse, and dependence risk.

What was Nixon's approach to the war on drugs in 1971?

Focused on reducing demand through treatment and rehabilitation.

How did Reagan's war on drugs differ from Nixon's?

It emphasized supply reduction, militarization, and harsh sentencing.

What was the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986?

It imposed mandatory minimums for federal drug convictions, limiting judicial discretion.

What societal issues in the 1960s influenced drug use?

Counterculture, civil rights movements, anti-war protests, and rising crime.

What was the impact of the 1994 Crime Bill under Clinton?

It included three strikes laws, truth in sentencing, and the construction of new prisons.

What crisis began in the early 2000s related to drug use?

The opioid crisis, focusing on prescription opioids.

What was the effect of zero tolerance laws in schools?

They sharply increased penalties for drug-related offenses within protected zones.

What was a significant change in drug policy during the Reagan administration?

Increased law enforcement spending and institutionalization of 'zero tolerance' policies.

How did drug use perceptions shift in the 1960s?

Drug use became more accepted across all classes, not just low SES.

What was the role of the CIA in drug experimentation during the 1940s and 1950s?

They tested LSD as a 'truth serum' and for mind control.

What narrative did Anslinger promote regarding drug abuse?

He aimed to make drug abuse appear 'un-American' by linking it to communism.

What was a major consequence of the prohibition of alcohol?

The rise of organized crime and illegal activities like bootlegging.

What was the public health campaign Nixon initiated in 1971?

Aimed at rehabilitating drug users to eliminate drug abuse and related antisocial activities.

What was the impact of the 'gateway theory' promoted by Anslinger?

It linked marijuana use to the use of harder drugs, influencing drug policy.

Very Important 1960s

Civil unrest

Outward substance use

Issues in society in 1960s; drug use shifts from low SES/unacceptable to all classes/encouraged

Increased use of psychedelics while marijuana and heroin use increases as well

Controlled Substances Act 1970

• scheduling of drugs based on medical use, potential for abuse, and dependence risk

• Also gives the DEA the power to investigate drugs for scheduling

• Increase spending for drug prevention from federal govt from 1978-2000

Nixon’s war on drugs vs. Reagan’s war on drugs

Nixon's 1971 war on drugs focused on reducing demand through treatment and rehabilitation, whereas Reagan's 1980s campaign emphasized supply reduction, militarization, and harsh sentencing.

Both eras contributed to high incarceration rates and racial disparities

Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986

Mandatory minimums for federal drug convictions, limiting judge discretion drastically

One piece of the “tough on crime” and “zero tolerance” trends of the 1970s and 1980s

Trends we have seen historically in the US approach to drug regulation/laws

get tough on crime → rehabilitation approach (and back and forth)

Impact on Anslinger

Getting more punitive

Tumultuous, unsettled, rising crime, group conflict, just a lot of chaos all around

Counterculture, civil rights movements, anti-war protests, loss of faith in government