Addiction and Substance Use Disorders Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards that highlight key terms and concepts related to addiction and substance use disorders.

Addiction

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

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A diagnosis combining substance abuse and dependence with severity levels: Mild, Moderate, and Severe.

Mild SUD symptoms

2 to 3 symptoms according to DSM-V.

Moderate SUD symptoms

4 to 5 symptoms according to DSM-V.

Severe SUD symptoms

6 or more symptoms according to DSM-V.

Standard Drink - Beer

12 oz regular beer.

Standard Drink - Malt Liquor

8-9 oz malt liquor.

Standard Drink - Wine

5 oz wine.

Standard Drink - Spirits

1.5 oz 80-proof spirits.

Risky Drinking for Men

More than 4 drinks per day or more than 14 drinks per week.

Risky Drinking for Women

More than 3 drinks per day or more than 7 drinks per week.

Binge Drinking - Men

5 or more drinks on one occasion.

Binge Drinking - Women

4 or more drinks on one occasion.

Heavy Alcohol Use

Binge drinking for 5 or more days in the past month.

Genetic Influence on Addiction

Genetics account for 35-70% of variance in vulnerability to addiction.

Adolescent Environmental Influence

Environmental factors are stronger during adolescence.

Positive Reinforcement in Addiction

Drugs activate reward systems and dopamine.

Impulsivity as a Predictor

Preference for immediate reward, predicting later substance use.

Developmental Risk Factor

Substance use usually begins in adolescence, early initiation increases risk.

Cognitive Expectancy Theory

Beliefs about drug effects predict use initiation and persistence.

Alcohol Myopia

Tunnel vision on immediate cues leading to extreme behaviors.

Behavioral/Social Learning Perspective

Addiction behavior is learned from peers, family, and media.

Externalizing Differences

Impulsivity, conduct disorder, and ADHD leading to early onset SUD.

Internalizing Differences

Anxiety and depression leading to self-medication with substances.

Sociocultural Risk Factors

Family use, peer groups, and environmental stress can increase addiction risk.

Routes of Drug Administration

Ingestion, inhalation, intranasal, and injection as pathways to absorb drugs.

Pharmacokinetics

Process involving absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs.

Half-life

The time required to eliminate 50% of a drug from the body.

Tolerance

Diminished effect of a drug over time requiring larger doses.

Agonists

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

Antagonists

Substances that block receptor activation in the brain.

Stimulants - Desired Effects

Euphoria, energy, and alertness.

Stimulants - Aftereffects

Anxiety, fatigue, and depression.

Sedatives - Desired Effects

Relaxation and calmness.

Sedatives - Aftereffects

Agitation and insomnia.

Opiates - Desired Effects

Pain relief and euphoria.

Opiates - Aftereffects

Flu-like withdrawal symptoms.

Psychedelics - Desired Effects

Hallucinations and sensory distortion.

Cannabis - Desired Effects

Relaxation and time distortion.

Cross-Tolerance

Resistance to drugs of similar pharmacological action.

Potentiation

Combining drugs that enhance or amplify each other's effects.

Opioid Epidemic Scale

The deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history.

Key Drug: OxyContin

Marketed as less addictive despite concealed abuse data.

Contributors to Opioid Crisis

Overprescription and limited access to alternative pain management.

MAT Treatment - Methadone

Full agonist used to prevent withdrawal; tightly regulated.

MAT Treatment - Buprenorphine

Partial agonist with naloxone used to lower overdose risk.

Overdose Reversal - Naloxone

An opioid antagonist that reverses respiratory depression.

College Drinking Patterns

79% Drink in past year; 54% identified as problem drinkers.

Consequences of College Drinking

Includes academic failure, health risks, and violence involvement.

Prevention Strategies

Social norms campaigns, environmental policies, and alcohol-free programming.