Addictive Behaviors Final Review

Psychoactive drug

A substance that alters brain function and changes mood, perception, or behavior.

Illicit drug

A substance illegal to possess, use, or sell.

Over-the-counter (OTC) drug

Medication available without prescription.

Prescription drug

Medication requiring authorization from a licensed provider.

Patent medicines (1800s)

Unregulated drugs sold with exaggerated claims.

Toxicity

Degree to which a substance can cause harm.

Acute effect

Immediate, short-term effect of a drug.

Intoxication

Temporary behavioral or psychological change from a substance.

Chronic effect

Long-term effects of repeated drug exposure.

Tolerance

Reduced response requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

Desensitization

Decrease in receptor responsiveness over time.

Sensitization

Increased response after repeated exposure.

Prevalence

Total number of cases at one time.

Incidence

Number of new cases over a period.

Risk factors

Conditions increasing likelihood of substance misuse.

Protective factors

Conditions reducing likelihood of substance misuse.

Drug use

Consumption of a substance.

Drug misuse

Using a drug incorrectly or in harmful ways.

Drug abuse

Pattern of harmful use causing problems.

Drug dependence

Physiological or psychological need for a substance.

Addiction

Compulsive use despite harm.

Substance Use Disorder

Clinically significant impairment from substance use.

DSM-IV

Older diagnostic manual with abuse vs dependence categories.

DSM-5

Combines abuse/dependence into a single SUD scale.

ICD-11

International diagnostic system.

NIDA

NIH institute focused on drug abuse research.

NIAAA

NIH institute focused on alcohol research.

SAMHSA

U.S. agency overseeing public behavioral health.

CDC

National public health agency collecting health data.

Disfavored nomenclature

Terms like “addict” or “junkie” discouraged due to stigma.

✅ SET 7 — REGULATORY EVENTS + LARGE DRUG SURVEYS

1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act

Required accurate labeling and banned adulterated products.

1914 Harrison Narcotics Act

Regulated and taxed opiates and cocaine.

1919 18th Amendment

Prohibited alcohol manufacture, sale, and transport.

1933 21st Amendment

Repealed Prohibition.

1970 Controlled Substances Act

Created drug schedules and federal enforcement system.

1984 Drinking age to 21

Federal incentive for states to raise minimum age.

2019 Tobacco age to 21

Increased federal age to purchase tobacco products.

Monitoring the Future (MTF)

Annual student survey of substance use trends.

NSDUH

National household survey on drug use and mental health.

DAWN

Tracks emergency room visits related to drug use.

✅ SET 8 — DRUG PHARMACOLOGY

Dose-response

Relationship between dose and effect size.

ED50

Dose producing effect in 50% of individuals.

TD50

Dose producing toxic response in 50% of individuals.

LD50

Dose causing death in 50% of individuals.

Therapeutic index

Ratio of TD50 to ED50; indicates drug safety margin.

Maximum effect (efficacy)

Greatest effect a drug can produce.

Potency

Amount of drug needed to produce an effect.

Slope of dose-response curve

How quickly effects change with dose.

Variability

Differences in response between individuals.

Shift right in curve

Decreased potency.

Shift left in curve

Increased potency.

Agonist

Activates receptors to increase signaling.

Antagonist

Blocks receptors to reduce signaling.

Full agonist

Produces maximal receptor activation.

Partial agonist

Produces weaker activation even at full dose.

Competitive antagonist

Competes for same receptor site; shifts curve right.

Non-competitive antagonist

Reduces maximum effect; cannot be overcome by dose increases.

Stimulants

Increase CNS activity (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines).

Depressants

Slow CNS activity (e.g., benzodiazepines).

Alcohol

CNS depressant affecting GABA and glutamate.

Cannabis

Psychoactive plant with THC acting on cannabinoid receptors.

Tobacco

Contains nicotine, a stimulant acting on acetylcholine receptors.

Caffeine

Adenosine receptor antagonist producing alertness.

Opioids

Pain-relieving drugs acting on mu-opioid receptors.

Hallucinogens

Distort perception (e.g., LSD, psilocybin).

PEDS

Performance-enhancing drugs used to improve athletic function.

Dietary supplements

Products not requiring FDA pre-market safety or efficacy testing.

Psychiatric medications

Drugs used to treat mental disorders (antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.).

Primary prevention

Preventing substance use before it begins.

Secondary prevention

Identifying and addressing risky use early.

Tertiary prevention

Reducing harm and treating existing disorders.

Behavioral Health Continuum of Care

Framework from prevention to recovery support.

Methadone

Full opioid agonist preventing withdrawal and cravings.

Buprenorphine

Partial agonist reducing cravings with lower overdose risk.

Naltrexone

Opioid antagonist preventing opioid/alcohol effects.

Nicotine replacement therapy

Provides controlled nicotine doses to reduce withdrawal.

Varenicline

Partial nicotinic agonist reducing cravings and reward from smoking.

Bupropion

Antidepressant reducing nicotine withdrawal.

Benzodiazepines (alcohol treatment)

Manage severe withdrawal symptoms.

Disulfiram

Causes sickness if alcohol is consumed.

12-step programs

Support groups emphasizing abstinence.

SMART Recovery

Cognitive-behavioral alternative to 12-step models.

CBT

Targets thought/behavior patterns maintaining substance use.

ACT

Promotes acceptance and values-based behavior change.

Motivational Enhancement

Increases willingness to change.

Mindfulness

Builds awareness to reduce automatic substance use.

Contingency Management

Rewards abstinence or treatment goals.