Substance Use Disorders

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

A group of disorders characterized by the excessive use of substances like alcohol, nicotine, and drugs, leading to significant impairment or distress.

Alcohol use disorder

A medical condition characterized by an inability to control or stop alcohol use despite negative consequences.

Tolerance

A state in which increasing amounts of a drug are required to achieve the same effect.

Withdrawal

Physical disturbances experienced when drug use is reduced or stopped, including symptoms like pain, irritability, and nausea.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desired stimulus to increase a behavior, such as smoking making a person feel more alert.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an aversive stimulus to increase behavior, such as smoking to alleviate cravings.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays key roles in reward, motivation, and pleasure, particularly in relation to drug reinforcement.

Mesolimbic Dopamine System

A neural pathway that is critical in the reinforcement of drug use, where dopamine is released in response to rewarding stimuli.

Self-medication

The use of substances to alleviate negative feelings like anxiety or depression.

Comorbidity

The occurrence of two or more disorders or diseases in a patient simultaneously, such as substance use disorder and mental health issues.

Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs)

High-frequency sounds made by rats, which can indicate emotional states such as negative or positive affect.

Risk Factors

Characteristics or conditions that increase the likelihood of developing substance use disorders, such as genetic predisposition or environmental stress.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

A type of psychotherapy that helps patients change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior associated with substance use.

Methadone

A long-acting opioid agonist used in opioid replacement therapy to treat substance use disorders.

Antagonists

Substances that block receptors and prevent drugs from exerting their effects, used in treatment strategies for substance use disorders.

Cannabidiol (CBD)

A non-psychoactive component of cannabis known for its potential therapeutic effects, such as anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory, affected by substances like alcohol.

Chronic Drug Use

Long-term use of substances that can lead to physical dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.

Craving

An intense desire or urge to use a substance, often leading to relapse in those recovering from addiction.

Social problems

Issues that arise in an individual's social relationships due to substance use, affecting quality of life and interpersonal connections.