PHAR 101 - Drug Abuse

Substance Use Disorder

substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress within a 12-month period.

Drug Misuse

use of drug for nontherapeutic effect in order to alter the mood, emotion, or consciousness

Tolerance

bodies physical adaptation to a drug where more drug is needed over time to elicit the same response

Dependence

a physical state the body develops during regular drug use that leads to withdrawal symptoms if stopped

Withdrawal

unpleasant symptoms that result after abruptly stopping a medication or drug leading to decreased drug levels

Drug Overdose

intentional or unintentional consumption of excessive amounts of drug

Addiction

extreme substance use disorder - has been removed from diagnosis criteria due to negative connotation

illicit drug

a substance with no recognized use or for non-therapeutic use

FDA

Federal drug administration - regulatory body for drug approval in the US

Alcohol

the most of opioids substance use disorder in US

Which drug is responsible for the most overdose deaths?

Fentanyl

Opioid Epidemic

Primary problem in US

What is an opioid

Prescription medication used to treat pain

Causes dependence both physically and psychologically

Which opioid was the most misused prescription opioid in 2021?

Hydrocodone

Why use Hydrocodone?

Relieving Pain

Effects of Opioids

Tolerance and Dependence are the big effects

Small effects: constipation, nausea (vomiting), sleepiness/drowsiness, confusion, depression, itching, sweating

Oxycodone

"Hillbilly Heroin", "Kicker": often combined with other non-opioid pain relievers like Tylenol or Ibrofen

Heroin

Smack, H, Junk: Opioid synthesized from morphine

can be injected or smoked

Fentanyl

a synthetic opioid: 50-100 times more potent than morphine

What makes fentanyl so dangerous?

leading to a high rate of overdose death

Recognizing Signs of Opioid Overdose

Pale face, clammy to the touch, body goes limp, fingernails or lips are blue, pinpoint pupils, unable to wake, slow breathing

Naloxone

against Opioid, Administered intramuscularly or intranasally, onset within 1-2 minutes

can induce withdrawal when no opioids are present

Long-term treat options

medication assisted treatment (MAT) known as medication based opioid use disorder treatment (MOUD)

Long-acting agonist or partial agonist to help minimize cravings

what are available agents for long-term treatment options?

Methadone, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone

Marijuana

dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant

THC

primary psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana

CBD

non-psychoactive, very low affinity for cannabioid receptors

Hemp

low-THC concentration

Medical marijuana

utilized for medical purpose, requires a prescription

Short-term side effects of Cannabis

Dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, euphoria, increased appetite, increased heart rate, more hungry

Long-term side effects of Cannabis

Lower IQ in young adults

Breathing problems - chronic bronchitis if smoked

Psychotic symptoms - especially if family history

Intense Nausea and Vomiting

Addiction

FDA-Approval of CBD

Epidiolex (cannabidiol)

stimulants

speed up the body's systems

can reverse fatigue, promote wakefulness

Reason people use stimulants

exhilaration, improve performance, increase activity, decrease appetite, extend wakefulness

Side effects of stimulants

dizziness, tremors, headache, flushed skin, chest pain, excessive sweating

Prescriptions Stimulants

Used to treat ADHD

Methamphetamine

Highly addictive stimulate

"crystal meth", "ice", "crank"

be synthesized from ephedrine

smoked or injected - very potent

Cocaine

was in the original formula for "coke"

classified as a narcotic in 1914 - use declined with introduction of amphetamine

Hallucinogens

Distortion of thought in time and space

Side effects of Hallucinogens

increased heart rate, blood pressure, dilated pupils

Inhalants

first drug kids use - 1 in 5 try by the 8th grade

invisible, volatile substances found in household products

long-term use effects of inhalants

weight loss, disorientation, inattentive, irritability, depression

Kratom

a legal drug derived from a tropical tree native to southeast Asia

might cause similar effects to opioids and stimulants

Side effects of Kratom

itching, sweating, dry-mouth, constipation, seizures, psychosis

can be dependence

Xylazine

Emerging threat by the white house