Pharmacology exam 1 review
Chapter 1: Basics of Drug Use & Abuse
Q: What is psychopharmacology?
A: The study of how drugs affect the brain, body, and behavior.
Q: Difference between drug use and drug abuse?
A:
Use = Taking a drug, not always harmful.
Abuse = Causes harm (physical, mental, social, legal).
Q: 3 main factors that shape a person’s drug experience?
A: 1) Drug itself, 2) The person, 3) The setting/environment.
Q: Most common drugs used in the U.S.?
A: Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana.
Q: What is polydrug use?
A: Using more than one drug at the same time.
Q: What is tolerance?
A: Needing more of the drug to get the same effect.
Q: What is withdrawal?
A: Negative symptoms when stopping or reducing drug use.
Q: What does DSM-5 say about substance disorders?
A: Combines “abuse” and “dependence” → now called substance use disorder with 11 criteria.
Chapter 2: Drug Use Yesterday & Today
Q: Why study history of drug use?
A: Helps explain cultural attitudes, laws, and why drugs are used today.
Q: Example of historical use?
A: Opium used in ancient civilizations for pain relief.
Q: Trend in modern use?
A: High rates of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana; ongoing opioid crisis.
Chapter 3: Drugs & the Nervous System
Q: What’s the nervous system’s role in drug use?
A: Drugs affect how brain cells (neurons) communicate.
Q: What are neurotransmitters?
A: Brain chemicals that send messages (like dopamine, serotonin).
Q: How do drugs act on neurotransmitters?
A: They can increase, block, or mimic them.
Q: Main parts of the nervous system?
A: Central (brain & spinal cord) + Peripheral (nerves in body).
Chapter 4: Pharmacology Basics
Q: 4 steps of how drugs move through the body?
A: 1) Absorption, 2) Distribution, 3) Metabolism, 4) Excretion.
Q: What is a dose–response curve?
A: Graph showing how drug effect changes with dose.
Q: What is a half-life?
A: Time it takes for the drug level in body to drop by half.
Chapter 5: Psychopharmacology & New Drugs
Q: What is psychopharmacology?
A: Study of how drugs affect behavior, thinking, mood.
Q: What’s involved in new drug development?
A: Testing safety, effectiveness, side effects before approval.
Q: Why is placebo important in research?
A: Shows if effects are from the drug or just expectation.
Chapter 15: Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Q: 3 psychological factors in recovery?
A: Motivation to change, self-confidence (self-efficacy), coping skills.
Q: 2 main types of treatment?
A: 1) Medication (e.g., methadone, buprenorphine)
2) Therapy (CBT, motivational interviewing).
Q: What is relapse?
A: Returning to drug use after a period of stopping.
Q: Is relapse failure?
A: No—common part of recovery process.
Q: What’s the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA)?
A: Treatment that changes lifestyle and uses family/community support.
Q: DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder?
A: 11 total → grouped as impaired control, social problems, risky use, physical dependence.