Ch 11 Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

Flashcards on Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

Drug

Any substance other than food that affects our bodies or minds.

Substance Intoxication

A temporary state of poor judgment, mood changes, irritability, slurred speech, and poor coordination due to substance use.

Hallucinosis

A particular form of intoxication which consists of perceptual distortions and hallucinations.

Substance Use Disorder

A pattern of behavior in which a person relies on a drug excessively and chronically.

Substance Dependence

A more advanced pattern of use in which a person abuses a drug and centers his or her life around it.

Tolerance

The need for increasing doses of substances to produce the desired effect.

Withdrawal

Unpleasant and sometimes dangerous symptoms occurring when drug use is stopped or cut back.

Symptoms of withdrawal

shakiness, nausea, anxiety, headaches, possibly blackouts

Depressants

Slow the activity of the central nervous system (CNS).

Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol is absorbed into the blood through the stomach lining and takes effect in the bloodstream and CNS. Alcohol is a GABA agonist (facilitates GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter

Blood concentration

Concentration of ethyl alcohol in the blood (BAC): BAC = 0.06—relaxation, BAC = 0.09—intoxication, BAC > 0.55—death

what is alcohol metabolized by

the liver, primarily by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (effects each person’s tolerance)

Delirium Tremens (DTs)

A dangerous severe withdrawal syndrome which can be fatal. DTs symptoms can include hallucinations, shivering, and sweating, and in more extreme cases seizures, loss of consciousness, and stroke.

Cirrhosis

Serious damage to physical health, especially the liver.

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

caused by misuse of alcohol. Confusion, loss of motor control

Korsakoff’s Syndrome

Memory loss (brain tissue loss) from long-term alcohol use.

Opioids

A depressant. Also known as “narcotics.” They produce their effects by depressing the CNS, particularly centers that control emotion. These drugs attach to the receptors stimulated by endorphins). They naturally help relieve pain and reduce emotional tension; can cause opioid use disorder within a few weeks

Heroin

Effects when injected include a rapid sense of euphoria, pain relief, and relaxation. Initial “rush” leads to longer-term “high”/“nod”

Rush

A spasm of warmth and ecstasy that an injection of a drug quickly brings on.

Side effects of opioids

nausea, narrowing of pupils, and constipation

Symptoms of withdrawal of opioids

anxiety, restlessness, craving, tension, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, cramps, weight loss from dehydration, loss of motor control

Dangers of overdose of opioids

closes down the respiratory center of the brain, paralyzing breathing and causing death. Risk of overdose is heightened after abstinence followed by resumption of the drug at the same dose they had used before

Stimulants

Stimulate the activity of the central nervous system (CNS).

Cocaine

A stimulant; stimulating the activity of neurotransmitters, dopamine as well as norepinephrine and serotonin; Produces euphoric rush of well-being and confidence. High doses can produce intoxication: mania, paranoia, and impaired judgement.

Cocaine-induced psychosis

Hallucinations, delusions from use of cocaine

Withdrawal of cocaine

Symptoms of withdrawal (e.g., depression-like letdown—“crashing”, fatigue)

Physical risks associated with cocaine use: heart arrythmias & brain seizures that can lead to cardiac arrest. Biggest risk--overdose, excessive doses depress the respiratory center of the brain and stop breathing

Amphetamines

Manufactured in the laboratory (pill, capsule most common; inject/smoke for a quicker/more powerful effect); Surge in popularity in recent years. Since 1989, usage increased rapidly and now accounts for 24% of all admissions to drug treatment programs; Chronic use=> ”meth mouth”, open body sores, decline in cognitive functioning, brain damage

Hallucinogens

Produce delusions, hallucinations, and other sensory changes by binding to serotonin receptors; risk of physical addiction relative to other addictive drugs risks associated with the use of various hallucinogens, especially bad “trips” and flashbacks

Cannabis substances

A hallucinogen; Produce sensory changes, but have both depressant, and stimulant effect; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

The greater the THC content, the more powerful the drug. Marijuana available today is

significantly more potent than decades ago due to higher THC content

Polysubstance use

People often take more than one drug at a time

Synergistic effect

drugs act to potentiate--strengthen their effects in combination, e.g.,

alcohol and barbiturates combined can lead to an overdose by severely depressing the

CNS)

Antagonistic effect

a drug can block or change the effects of another drug

Cross-tolerance

Tolerance for one substance can lead to tolerance for similar

substance...can help to reduce withdrawal symptoms, e.g., under medical supervision, benzodiazepines can assist in modulating severe withdrawal from alcohol

Crashing

As the stimulant effects of the drug subside, the user experiences a depression-like letdown

Psychological Treatments

self-help and residential treatment programs, behavioral self-control training, contingency management, relapse-prevention

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

A self-help organization that provides support and guidance for people with alcohol use disorder

Behavioral Self-Control Training (BSCT)

Clients keep track of their own sue and triggers, learn coping strategies for such events, learn to set limits on drinking, and learn skills (relaxation, coping, problem-solving).

Contingency Management

Offer clients incentives (prizes/cash etc) that are contingent on the submission of drug-free urine specimens

Residential Treatment Centers

A place where people who were formerly addicted to drugs live, work, and socialize in a drug-free environment

Biological Treatments

maintenance approach, e.g., methadone, and

blocking approach, e.g., antagonist drugs such as Antabuse for alcohol, naltrexone for narcotics and alcohol), and their relative effectiveness

Drug Maintenance Therapy

A treatment in which clients are given legally and medically supervised doses of methadone — a heroin substitute — to treat various opioid use disorders.

Blocking approach

Using antagonist drugs to block the pleasurable effects of the substance, discouraging further use.