Drug Abuse & Psychopharmacology

Pharmacology

The study of drugs and their effects on the body.

Psychopharmacology

The study of the effects of drugs on the mind and behavior.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body.

Administration

The method by which a drug is introduced into the body.

Distribution

The dispersion or dissemination of substances throughout the fluids and tissues of the body.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life, including the conversion of drugs.

Excretion

The process of eliminating waste products from the body, including drugs.

Enteral

Referring to administration of drugs via the gastrointestinal tract.

Parenteral

Referring to administration of drugs outside the gastrointestinal tract.

IV

Intravenous; a method of drug administration directly into the bloodstream.

IM

Intramuscular; a method of drug administration into a muscle.

SC

Subcutaneous; a method of drug administration under the skin.

Therapeutic index

The ratio of the toxic dose (LD50) to the effective dose (ED50) of a drug.

ED50

The effective dose at which 50% of the population experiences the desired effect.

LD50

The lethal dose at which 50% of the population dies from a substance.

Lipid solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in fats, affecting its absorption and distribution.

Depot binding

The storage of drugs in body tissues, affecting their availability and duration of action.

Volume of distribution (Vd)

A pharmacological parameter that describes the distribution of a drug throughout the body's fluids and tissues.

Heteroreceptor

A receptor that responds to neurotransmitters released from different neurons.

Autoreceptor

A receptor that responds to neurotransmitters released from the same neuron.

Sedatives

Drugs that induce calmness or sleep, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase alertness and energy, such as cocaine and amphetamines.

Hallucinogens

Substances that cause perceptual distortions and altered states of consciousness.

Indirect Agonists

Benzodiazepines, Alcohol, Barbiturates

Alcohol

Facilitation of GABAA receptor function

Behavioral Dysregulation

Inability to stop or cut down despite catastrophic consequences of use

Acquisition

Stages of Addiction: Recreational or social use, Habitual use, Abuse, Compulsive use/Addiction

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that creates associations between a naturally occurring stimulus and a previously neutral stimulus.

Instrumental Conditioning

A learning process where behavior is modified by its consequences.

Reinforcement

The process of increasing the likelihood of a behavior by following it with a reward.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a stimulus to increase a behavior.

Primary Reinforcement

Reinforcement that satisfies a biological need.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior.

Secondary Reinforcement

Reinforcement that is learned and not inherently satisfying.

Nucleus Accumbens (NAC)

A brain region involved in the reward circuit.

Microdialysis Studies

Research that measures the concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Endogenous Opioid System

A system in the brain that regulates pain and reward.

VTA-NAC Reinforcement

The pathway involved in the reinforcement of drug taking.

Self-Administration

Working for the drug.

Progressive Ratio Schedule

A measure of the value of the reward based on the effort required to obtain it.

Relapse

Return to drug-seeking behavior after a period of abstinence.

Cue-induced Relapse

Relapse triggered by environmental cues associated with drug use.

Stress and Addiction

Stress alters mesolimbic activity (VTA-NAC) and is a factor in human addiction/relapse.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

Area of the brain involved in decision making.

Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC)

Area of the brain that evaluates the value of rewards.

Cingulate Gyrus

Brain region implicated in emotion and coping.