Substance Use and Addiction

These flashcards cover key concepts related to substance use, addiction, and their effects, designed to aid in understanding for exam preparation.

Addiction

A behavior done regularly, habitually, or compulsively, partially out of conscious control.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A diagnosis that combines substance abuse and dependence with varying severity levels.

Standard Drink

A measure of alcohol consumption that can include specific amounts of beer, malt liquor, wine, and spirits.

Risky Drinking (NIAAA)

Drinking patterns identified as being harmful based on the number of drinks consumed per day or per week.

Binge Drinking

Consuming 5 or more drinks for men, or 4 or more drinks for women in one occasion.

Heavy Alcohol Use

Binge drinking on 5 or more days within the past month.

Positive Reinforcement

The concept where drugs activate dopamine and reward systems, encouraging continued use.

Cognitive/Learning Factors

People's beliefs about substance effects can predict initiation and persistence of use.

Half-life

The time it takes for the body to eliminate 50% of a drug.

Agonists

Substances that mimic neurotransmitters, commonly found in drugs of abuse.

Cross-Tolerance

A phenomenon where resistance to one drug may extend to other similar drugs.

Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome

A disorder resulting from thiamine deficiency, characterized by memory loss and confabulation.

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

A condition in which individuals develop a dependence on opioid medications.

Naloxone (Narcan)

An antagonist that reverses respiratory depression in opioid overdose cases.

Social Norms Campaigns

Strategies aimed at correcting misperceptions about typical drinking behaviors among peers.

Environmental Policies

Regulations designed to reduce harmful drinking behaviors in college settings.