Week 14: Substance-Related Disorders

Substance Use Disorders

This is a significant health issue in the U.S., with 29.5 million people aged 12+ suffering from alcohol use disorder in 2021.

• Alcohol-related deaths exceed 140,000 annually, making it the fourth leading preventable cause of death.

• Withdrawal can be life-threatening, and 31% of driving fatalities are alcohol-related. Globally, alcohol causes 5.1% of the disease burden.

• The opioid crisis claims 300 lives daily in the U.S., prompting the CDC to recommend education on fentanyl's potency, addressing polysubstance use, promoting naloxone, and reducing stigma in treatment.

Stigma Around Recovery and Treatment

• Stigma as a barrier: Fear of judgment prevents individuals from seeking help.

• Strategies to reduce stigma:

  • Public education campaigns.

  • Promoting positive stories of recovery.

• Benefits of reducing stigma:

  • Encourages more individuals to seek treatment and ultimately improves public health outcomes.

Substance Misuse

• Substance use includes terms for both misuse and dependence, encompassing various substances, both legal (e.g., alcohol, prescription medications) and illegal.

• Polysubstance use refers to the misuse of more than one substance.

• Definitions:

  • Misuse: Inconsistent with medical/social norms, leads to negative consequences; problems in social, vocational, or legal areas.

    • Simply means incorrect use, but not necessarily dependent on it.

  • Dependence: Encompasses addiction, tolerance, withdrawal, and unsuccessful attempts to quit.

    • This is a psychological need for a substance.

• Misuse and dependence are often viewed as clinically similar.

Symptoms and Effects of Substance Use

• Intoxication: The use of a substance resulting in maladaptive behavior.

• Withdrawal Syndrome: Negative psychological and physical reactions when substance use decreases or halts. Some symptoms can be life-threatening.

  • Detoxification (Detox): The process of safely withdrawing from a substance.

  • Substance-Induced Disorders: Includes psychosis and mood disorders.

Onset and Clinical Course of Alcohol Use Disorder

• Prognosis: Initially unclear, as studies often involve individuals seeking treatment.

• Initial Intoxication: Typically begins during adolescence (ages 12-14), with minor issues appearing in late teens and severe problems emerging between mid-20s and mid-30s (due to easier access as people age).

• Common Issues: Relationship breakups, arrests, withdrawal symptoms, health problems, work/school interference, blackouts, and tolerance development.

  • Blackout: Functioning without conscious awareness or memory (risk of harm to self, others, or abuse).

  • Tolerance: Needing more alcohol for the same effect; tolerance breaks occur where small amounts induce intoxication.

Later Course and Relapse in Alcohol Use Disorder

• Later Stages: Often characterized by periods of abstinence or controlled drinking that follow crises.

  • Temporary control can lead to increased intake and further issues; relapse rates can range from 40% to 80% because this is a chronic disorder.

  • Nearly half relapse within a year post-treatment, with success linked to abstinence goals, motivation, and relapse prevention strategies.

• Spontaneous Remission: Some individuals achieve recovery without formal treatment, often triggered by crises or commitments to loved ones.

Drugs and Classifications

• CNS Depressants: Include alcohol, cannabis, sedatives, and hypnotics.

  • Intended Effects: Decreased anxiety, sedation, drowsiness.

• CNS Stimulants: Increased energy and euphoria, less clinical use due to high potential for misuse.

  • Common examples include amphetamines and cocaine (these are club/designer drugs when mixed with other drugs).

• Cannabis: Changing legal status, with varying intended effects such as euphoria and pain management.

  • THC: associated with “high” or euphoric sensation.

  • CBD: does not have the same psychoactive effects, and stays in the body longer.

  • Excessive use can lead to long-term psychosis.

• Hallucinogens: Distort perception and can lead to symptoms similar to psychosis.

  • Preferred treatment for intoxication: talking to the person, reassurance.

  • If danger to self and others, give haloperidol or benzodiazepines.

• Inhalants: Commonly found in everyday products, intended for euphoria but leading to significant health risks.

  • Causes anoxia (damage to the brain), bronchospasms, and peripheral nerve injury.

Coping Strategies and Relapse Prevention

• Positive Strategies: Building stress management techniques like physical exercise, verbal expression, journaling, and meditation.

• Manage Unstructured Time: Excessive free time can lead to substance use; planning purposeful activities can mitigate risks.

• Social Skills Enhancement: Teaching and demonstrating appropriate social skills can improve self-esteem and reduce isolation.

Related Disorders

• Gambling Disorder: Non-substance-related diagnosis with behaviors such as spending beyond means and inability to refrain from gambling.

• Caffeine and Tobacco/Nicotine: Classified in the DSM-5 as not mental health problems per se, but potential dependencies.

  • Caffeine can mimic an amphetamine, given that it is a stimulant.

Substance-Related Disorder Etiology

• Biological and Genetic Factors: Genetic predispositions and neurochemical influences contributing to the risk of alcohol use disorder.

• Psychological Factors: Family dynamics and coping mechanisms related to parental behavior can impact children's substance use risk.

• Social and Environmental Factors: Cultural influences, laws, availability, and socio-economic status significantly affect substance use trends.

Cultural Considerations

• Islam prohibits alcohol, while wine is integral to Jewish culture/Catholisism.

• The flushing reaction is linked to genes for alcohol metabolism, such as seen in people of Asian ancestry.

• Native American tribes may use peyote in ceremonies, and alcohol use statistics show significant outcomes among Native Americans.

Treatment Approaches

• The Recovery Model: Focus on strengths (not weaknesses), community involvement, health, and purpose.

• Support Services: Integrated programs addressing both substance use disorders and any co-occurring mental health issues.

Expected Findings in Substance Use Disorders

• Screening Techniques: Open-ended questions to gather data about usage patterns, history, and withdrawal symptoms.

  • Focus on adverse effects, withdrawal, and how that affected their life.

• Recognizing Cues: Observing physical and behavioral indicators of substance use.

Alcohol Intoxication and Overdose

• Intoxication Symptoms: Slurred speech, lack of coordination, impaired judgment, blackouts, and can interfere with memory.

• Overdose Symptoms: Include vomiting, unconsciousness, and respiratory depression, potentially leading to cardiovascular shock and death.

• Treatment for Overdose: May involve gastric lavage (pumping someone’s stomach) or dialysis and supportive care.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Detoxification

• Symptoms: Onset occurs 4 to 12 hours after cessation, including tremors, sweating, elevated HR and BP (non-compensating), insomnia, and anxiety.

  • If untreated, symptoms can progress to delirium tremens (DTs) and seizures.

  • Treatment varies based on severity (home vs. hospitalization).

Pharmacological Treatment for Substance-use Disorders

• Primary Goals: Ensure safe withdrawal and prevent relapse.

  • Opioid Treatment: Utilization of clonidine for withdrawal, methadone for dependence, and naloxone for overdose.

    • Withdrawal is very uncomfortable, especially since opioids are a pain reliever and often lead to increased sensitivity to pain during the withdrawal process.

  • Alcohol Withdrawal Management: Benzodiazepines are commonly used for managing symptoms. Disulfiram is implemented for aversion therapy.

    • Disulfiram (Antabuse): An oral medication that inhibits the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, causing unpleasant reactions when alcohol is consumed, thereby deterring the individual from drinking.

      • Side effects: fatigue, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and vomiting.