blame it on the alchohol

Addictive Behavior

Behavior based on a pathological need for a substance.

Comorbidity

The co-occurrence of two or more mental disorders in the same individual.

Dopamine Theory of Addiction

The suggestion that addiction results from the dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway.

Endorphins

Opium-like substances produced naturally by the central nervous system and pituitary gland.

Mesocorticolimbic Dopamine Pathway (MCLP)

Often called the 'pleasure pathway,' this center for drug activation in the brain connects the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex.

Psychoactive Substances

Substances that affect mental functioning in the central nervous system, such as alcohol, nicotine, heroin, and marijuana.

Reward Deficiency Syndrome

A hypothesis suggesting that addiction is more likely in individuals with genetic deviations in the reward pathway that make them less satisfied by natural rewards.

Substance Abuse

Generally involves the excessive use of a substance resulting in hazardous behavior (like driving while intoxicated) or continued use despite persistent social, health, or occupational problems.

Substance Dependence

A more severe form of use disorder involving a marked physiological need for increasing amounts of a substance, characterized by tolerance and withdrawal.

Substance-Related Disorders

Disorders resulting from the use of substances that affect mental functioning.

Tolerance

Biochemical changes in the body that result in a need for increased amounts of a substance to achieve the desired effect.

Withdrawal

Physical and psychological symptoms (such as tremors, sweating, and tension) that accompany the cessation of drug use.

Alcohol Amnestic Disorder (Korsakoff’s Syndrome)

A severe memory defect (particularly for recent events) often accompanied by confabulation, resulting from long-term alcohol abuse and vitamin B deficiency.

Alcohol Flush Reaction

A hypersensitive physiological reaction to alcohol, including skin flushing and nausea, common in some ethnic groups due to a mutant enzyme.

Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (Delirium Tremens)

A severe acute reaction following a drinking spree, characterized by disorientation, hallucinations (often of small animals), tremors, and fever.

Alcohol-Risk Personality

An inherited predisposition toward alcohol abuse characterized by impulsivity, high-risk taking, and emotional instability.

Binge Drinking

Consuming five or more drinks on one occasion (or six or more by WHO standards).

Cirrhosis of the Liver

A disorder involving extensive stiffening of liver blood vessels, often caused by heavy alcohol consumption.

Confabulation

The tendency of those with alcohol amnestic disorder to fill memory gaps with unconnected and distorted associations.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A condition in newborns caused by maternal drinking during pregnancy, leading to physical abnormalities and cognitive impairment.

Amphetamine

A potent CNS stimulant that pushes users toward greater expenditures of their own resources, often to the point of hazardous fatigue.

Barbiturates

Powerful sedatives that act as depressants to slow down the CNS and induce sleep.

Caffeine

A legally available stimulant found in food and drinks that can lead to intoxication symptoms like restlessness and insomnia.

Cocaine

A plant-derived stimulant that blocks the presynaptic dopamine transporter, increasing dopamine availability and causing intense euphoria.

Ecstasy (MDMA)

A party drug that acts as both a hallucinogen and a stimulant, often associated with a 'rush' sensation and memory impairment.

Hallucinogens (Psychedelics)

Drugs thought to induce hallucinations or alter sensory perception, mood, and detachment (e.g., LSD, mescaline).

Hashish

A gummy powder derived from the resin of the cannabis plant, usually smoked.

Heroin

A highly addictive and dangerous analgesic derived from morphine that works rapidly and intensely.

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

An extremely potent hallucinogen that can produce 8 hours of sensory perception changes and feelings of depersonalization.

Marijuana

A mild hallucinogen derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa), typically smoked to produce mild euphoria and heightened sensory acuity.

Mescaline

A hallucinogen derived from the peyote cactus.

Morphine

An alkaloid of opium and a powerful sedative and pain reliever.

Nicotine

The poisonous alkaloid found in tobacco that has addictive and antianxiety properties.

Opium

A mixture of alkaloids that serves as a powerful sedative and pain reliever.

Psilocybin

A hallucinogen obtained from certain 'sacred' Mexican mushrooms.

Synthetic Cannabinoids

Man-made substances (e.g., 'Spice,' 'K2') that mimic THC but are more likely to cause serious adverse side effects like seizures and psychosis.

Synthetic Cathinones

Substances (e.g., 'bath salts') that mimic amphetamines and cocaine, producing intense euphoria and agitation.

Abstinence Violation Effect

A phenomenon where a minor transgression of abstinence is viewed as a drastic failure, leading to a loss of self-efficacy and a full relapse.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

A self-help organization that views alcoholism as a lifelong affliction and promotes recovery through a spiritual 12-step approach.

Detoxification

The medical process of eliminating alcoholic or drug substances from an individual's body.

Flashback

An involuntary recurrence of hallucinations or perceptual distortions weeks or months after taking LSD.

Methadone

A synthetic narcotic related to heroin that is used in treatment to satisfy cravings without producing serious psychological impairment.

Relapse Prevention

A cognitive-behavioral treatment where clients are taught to recognize early warning signals of a potential relapse.

Pathological Gambling (Gambling Disorder)

A progressive disorder characterized by a continuous loss of control over gambling despite adverse long-term consequences.

Acamprosate

A medication whose properties are currently being studied for its effectiveness in decreasing drinking and heavy drinking behavior in individuals with alcohol use disorders.

Antianxiety Drugs (Minor Tranquilizers)

A class of substances, such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Librium, Valium, and Xanax), used to alleviate tension and anxiety and induce relaxation.

Aversive Conditioning Therapy

A behavioral treatment that pairs the consumption of a substance with noxious stimuli—such as electric shocks or drugs that induce nausea—to suppress the addictive behavior.

Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI)

A self-control training procedure that provides individuals with skills to moderate their drinking and challenges them about their use while leaving the responsibility for change with the individual.

Buprenorphine

A medication used in heroin treatment that acts as a partial antagonist, providing the contentment associated with heroin without the physical dependence or severe withdrawal symptoms.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An intervention that combines cognitive strategies with social-learning theory and behavioral modeling to help patients navigate difficult situations without returning to drug use.

Contingency Management (CM)

A treatment based on operant conditioning that provides rewards or financial incentives for meeting specific treatment goals, such as producing drug-free urine samples.

Disulfiram (Antabuse)

A deterrent medication that causes violent vomiting if an individual ingests alcohol after taking the drug.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

A brief, collaborative conversation where a clinician helps a patient articulate the pros and cons of their substance use to increase their own internal motivation to change.

Naltrexone

An opiate antagonist that blocks the pleasure-producing effects of alcohol, helping to reduce cravings.

Analgesic

A substance, such as morphine or heroin, that has the ability to eliminate pain without causing a loss of consciousness.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter central to the brain's reward system; its increased availability in the synapse—often caused by stimulants like cocaine—is a primary factor in addiction.

Endogenous Opioids

Opium-like substances naturally stored and released by the brain's 'pleasure areas'.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain that is inhibited by high levels of alcohol, leading to impaired learning and judgment.

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

The active plant-derived psychoactive substance found in marijuana that binds with receptors in the brain to produce intoxication.

Tzlila (הלילצ)

A term used by some to describe the 'quiet in the head' or the deep sense of euphoria and detachment—likened to being at the bottom of the ocean—produced by certain drugs.

Harrison Act (1914)

Significant U.S. legislation that made the unauthorized sale and distribution of certain drugs (like opium and its derivatives) a federal offense, effectively changing the legal status of addicts to that of criminals.

Mainlining

A method of drug administration where a substance is injected directly into the bloodstream via a hypodermic needle.

Skin Popping

A method of administration involving the injection of a liquefied drug just beneath the surface of the skin.

Al-Anon / Alateen

Support organizations affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous designed to help the family members (including children and teenagers) of individuals struggling with alcoholism.

Halfway Houses

Facilities designed to provide environmental support and assist individuals in their transition from a hospital setting back to their family and community.

Moderating Variable

A variable that influences the strength or direction of the relationship between two other variables (for example, how gender might influence the relationship between bereavement and depression).

Project MATCH

A major research study that found that matching patients to specific types of treatment did not significantly improve outcomes, as several different professional treatments were found to be equally effective.

Self-Efficacy

The degree of confidence or achievement an individual feels in their ability to maintain control over an addiction and cope with high-risk situations.