Ch. 2: Social Problems Attributed to Drug Use

Toxic

Poisonous, dangerous

Behavioral toxicity

Refers to the fact that a drug can be toxic because it impairs behavior and amplifies the danger level of many activities. The effect of alcohol on driving is an example

Acute

In general, “sharp.” In medicine, “rapid.” Referring to drugs, the short-term effects or effects of a single administration, as opposed to chronic, or long-term, effects of administration

Chronic

Occurring over time. Chronic drug use is long-term use; chronic drug effects are persistent effects produced by long-term use

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus. The infectious agent responsible for AIDS

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a disease in which the body’s immune system breaks down, leading eventually to death. Because the disease is spread through the mixing of body fluids, it is more prevalent in intravenous drug users who share needles. The infectious agent is the human immuodeficiency virus (HIV)

Social determinants of health

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age that shape their health

Tolerance

Reduced effect of a drug after repeated use

Physical dependence

Defined by the presence of a consistent set of symptoms when use of a drug is stopped. These withdrawal symptoms imply that homeostatic mechanisms of the body had made adjustments to counteract the drug’s effects and without the drug the system is thrown out of balance

Withdrawal syndrome

The set of symptoms that occur reliably when someone stops taking a drug; also called abstinence syndrome

Psychological dependence

Behavioral dependence, indicated by a high rate of drug use, craving for the drug, and a tendency to relapse after stopping use

Reinforcement

The process of strengthening a behavioral tendency by presenting a stimulus contingent on the behavior. For example, the tendency to obtain and take a drug might be strengthened by the stimulus properties of the drug that occur after it is taken, thus leading to psychological dependence

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

A worldwide organization of self-help groups based on alcoholics helping each other achieve and maintain sobriety

Biopsychosocial

A theory or perspective that relies on the interaction of biological, individual psychological, and social variables