pt 3: development and maintenance of drug abuse

Key factors of drugs abuse

Route of administration, physical dependence, genetic variation, drug reward, personality variables, family/sociocultural influences, psychosocial variables

How does the route of administration effect drug abues?

Fast onset is associated with shorter duration of action & is more likely to produce addiction

• IV and inhalation have the most addictive effects

Most abused drugs act as (+) reinforcers, how does this work?

Drug reward: is the positive experience associated with the drug

Drug reinforcement: Is shared by investigating how animals self-administer the drug

Increase drug reward, increase how (+) reinforcing it is

Substances that are strong reinforcers taken by IV or inhaled have a strong abuse potential: cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine

What is abstinence syndrome

Attempts of abstinence lead to highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms which motivates the user to take the drug again

Impulsive stage of drug use

Initial drug use is motivated by (+) reinforcement

Compulsive stage of drug use

Continued drug abuse that is motivated by (-) reinforcement, take the drug to feel better/remove withdrawal symptoms

Explain how classical conditioning can trigger withdrawal symptoms

Repeated drug use leads to physical dependence

US: reduced levels of drug in body due to delay in obtaining the substance lead to UR which are the unconditioned withdrawal symptoms and then the CS is the environmental stimuli associated with prior withdrawal reactions leading to CR, conditioned withdrawal symptoms including cravings

What are 4 different kinds of variables that can affect addiciton

1. Genetic variables

2. Personality variables

3. Psychosocial variables (stress levels)

4. Familial and social

Self-medication hypothesis

Some life events can trigger anxiety & mood disorders, like depression which could lead to substance use

Protective factors

Help maintain a stable abstinence in previously drug-abusing or addicted individuals

• natural recovery (spontaneous): long-term abstinence w/t little or no treatment

• many different experiences can lead to decision to stop using (+) can be marriage or children (-) imprisonment, death of drug abusing friend, or health problem

Biopsychosocial model of addiction

Includes all pharmacological, biological, psycho and socio factors that influence addiction risk