substance use and addictive disorder

CH. 11

statistics of substance use disorder

16.5% of all people over age 11 in the US have a substance use disorder (emphasis on indigenous populations)

subtance intoxication

changes in behavior, emotion, and thinking caused by substances

substance use disorders

maladaptive behavior patterns and reactions caused by repeated substance use

tolerance

need for increasing doses of substances to produce desired effect

withdrawl

unpleasant and sometime dangerous symptoms occurring with drug stopping or cutting back

criteria for substance usse and addictive disorders

1. individuals display a maladaptive pattern of susbtance use leading to significant impairment of distress

2. substance is taken in larger amounts over a larger period of time

3. failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home

4. continuing to use the substance despite awareness that it is causing or worsening a physical or psychological problem

depressants

slow the activity of the central nervous system (reduce tension and inhibitions and can interfere with judgement, motor activity, and concentration)

types of depressants

alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drugs (depress/slows CNS, not make you depressed)

alcohol and sedative-hypnotic drugs

increase GABA

statistics of alcohol use disorder

10.6% of the US population over 11yo (MvW 4:3, ethnic differences)

alcohol use disorder

• tolerance increases consumption levels

• variety of negative withdrawal symptoms

• regular consumption affects cognition, social life, and work behaviors

• damage in the brain, liver, fetal alcohol syndrome, motor vehicle accidents

sedative-hypnotic (anxiolytic) drugs

produce feelings of relaxation and drowsiness to reduce anxiety and help people sleep (low doses= calming or sedative effect, high doses = sleep inducer or hypnotics)

types of sedative-hypnotic (anxiolytic) drugs

barbiturates and benzodiazepines

barbiturates

widely prescribed for the first half of the twentieth century; largely replaced

benzodiazepines

increase GABA activity, long term use can cause cognitive impairment (can cause intoxication and lead to sedative-hypnotic use disorder)

opioids

include natural (heroin, morphine, etc) and synthetic (methadone) drugs, known are narcotics cause CNS depression and attach to endorphin related brain receptors (pain relief)

stats of opioids

each drug has a different strength, speed of action, and tolerance level (12% over age of 11 have take illicit opioids in the past year)

opioid use disorder

after a few weeks, users may become caught in a pattern of abuse and often dependence (tolerance quickly builds and withdrawal occurs when drug ingestion stops)

risks of opioids

overdose, impure drugs, and dirty needles (ATTACH TO ENDORPHINE RECEPTORS)

stimulants

increase the activity of the CNS (increase blood pressure, heart rate, and alertness, rapid behaviors and thinking)

types of stimulants

cocaine, amphetamines, and caffeine

cocaine

increase dopamine at key neurons throughout the brain as well as norepinephrine and serotonin (risk of psychosis)

amphetamines

prescribed for ADHD, misuse is common among college students (1 in 10 undergrads acquire amphetamines or related stimulants without prescriptions)

methamphetamine

serious negative effects on physical, mental, legal, and social life (increase ER visits, induce psychosis)

stimulant use disorder

dominate an individuals life, leads to poor functioning in social relationships and at work (tolerance and withdrawal)

hallucinogens (psychedelic drugs)

produce powerful changes primarily in sensory perception (trips)

natural hallucinogens

lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, psilocybin, MDMA (ecstacy)

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

increased and altered sensory perception, psychological changes, and physical symptoms (one of the most powerful hallucinogens) bind to SEROTONIN receptors (tolerance and withdrawal are rare, danger in long term effects)

cannabis

produced from hemp plants, major ingredient is THC (hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects) binds to cannaboid receptors (brain and gut)

cannabis use disorder

influence by regular use, about 6% of people in the US (varieties of different strength)

danger of cannabis

tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, panic reactions, accidents, decreased memory, long term health problems, and preproduction problems (medical and recreation use)

polysubstance use

when people take more than one drug at a time (synergistic effects, heighten risk of overdose, and opposite actions because one doesnt cancel the other out)