drug & beh txt 14-18

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. Describe the historical significance of opium and its use in ancient times.

2. Explain the process by which heroin is derived from morphine and how this impacts its potency.

3. Discuss the OxyContin crisis in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, and the factors that contributed to the problem.

4. What are the key differences between psychological dependence and physical dependence?

5. What is the role of harm reduction strategies, such as supervised injection sites, in addressing opioid misuse?

6. Explain the difference between entheogens and entactogens.

7. Describe the controversy surrounding research into psilocybin and potential therapeutic benefits.

8. Explain the effects of anticholinergic hallucinogens and provide an example of a plant source.

9. What are some of the reasons why athletes might use stimulants, and what are the associated risks?

10. Discuss the role of media in influencing perceptions of drug use, referencing an example from the provided text.

Quiz Answer Key

1. Opium, derived from the poppy plant, has been used medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years, originating in the Middle East. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Arabs utilized it for pain relief and treating ailments like dysentery, while the Islamic world embraced it due to alcohol prohibition. Its widespread use throughout history highlights its significance in medicine and culture.

2. Heroin is produced by adding two acetyl groups to the morphine molecule, a process that makes it 2-3 times more potent than morphine. This chemical modification allows heroin to cross the blood-brain barrier more easily. Heroin’s increased potency leads to a more rapid and intense high, thus increasing its risk for addiction.

3. The OxyContin crisis in Glace Bay occurred after the region's industries collapsed, leading to widespread unemployment and despair. OxyContin was marketed for chronic pain, and its time-release mechanism was bypassed when users crushed the pills for snorting or injecting, increasing the potency. This resulted in widespread abuse and addiction in the community.

4. Psychological dependence refers to the craving for a drug's pleasurable effects, while physical dependence involves the body adapting to the drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Psychological dependence is related to a craving whereas physical dependence has both tolerance and withdrawal components when the drug is stopped. Both types of dependence contribute to addiction, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite negative consequences.

5. Harm reduction strategies, such as supervised injection sites (SIFs), aim to reduce the harms associated with drug use without necessarily requiring abstinence. SIFs provide a safe environment for drug consumption, reducing the risk of overdose, infections, and public disorder. These sites also offer access to healthcare, addiction treatment, and other support services, improving the health and well-being of drug users.

6. Entheogens are substances used to facilitate spiritual experiences and connect with the divine, while entactogens are substances that enhance empathy, sociability, and emotional openness. Entheogens help create a sense of spirituality whereas entactogens facilitate social interactions. MDMA is an example of an entactogen.

7. Research into psilocybin is controversial due to concerns that it may encourage unsafe use among youth and potentially induce psychosis. Supporters argue that psilocybin could offer insights into neurobiology and aid in understanding mystical experiences and therapeutic applications. The debate centers on balancing the potential benefits with the risks of misuse.

8. Anticholinergic hallucinogens block muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, leading to delirium, confusion, memory loss, and hallucinations. These substances can cause both peripheral effects like dry mouth and blurred vision and central effects like disorientation. An example of a plant source is Atropa belladonna.

9. Athletes might use stimulants to increase confidence, motivation, and endurance by masking fatigue and allowing longer exertion. However, regular stimulant use can lead to overexertion, serious health risks, dependence, paranoia, and depression. The potential performance benefits are outweighed by the significant health and psychological risks.

10. The "This is your brain on drugs" commercial from the 1980s exaggerated the harmful effects of drug use by depicting a frying egg to represent the brain. Such an approach can undermine credibility among young people by being unrealistic. A more realistic approach is needed.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to the Opium Wars between Britain and China.

2. Compare and contrast the effects, risks, and cultural significance of LSD and psilocybin.

3. Analyze the ethical considerations involved in the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports.

4. Evaluate the effectiveness of different harm reduction strategies in addressing opioid misuse and overdose.

5. Describe the transtheoretical model and describe how this model helps treatment providers when planning appropriate care for a patient with a substance abuse disorder.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Opium: A highly addictive substance derived from the opium poppy plant, historically used for pain relief and recreational purposes.

• Opioids: A class of drugs, both natural and synthetic, that bind to opioid receptors in the brain, producing pain relief and other effects.

• Morphine: A natural opioid derived from opium, used as a potent pain reliever.

• Codeine: A natural opioid derived from opium, used for pain relief and cough suppression.

• Heroin (Diacetylmorphine): A semi-synthetic opioid derived from morphine, known for its high potency and addictive potential.

• OxyContin: A brand name for oxycodone, a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic, associated with widespread abuse and addiction.

• Fentanyl: A potent synthetic opioid, significantly stronger than morphine, often implicated in overdose deaths.

• Naloxone: An opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose.

• Endorphins: Naturally occurring opioid-like substances in the body that activate opioid receptors.

• Psychological Dependence: The craving for a drug's pleasurable effects.

• Physical Dependence: The body's adaptation to a drug, resulting in withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

• Tolerance: The need for increased doses of a drug to achieve the same effect.

• Withdrawal: The physical and psychological symptoms that occur when drug use is stopped.

• Harm Reduction: Strategies aimed at reducing the negative consequences of drug use without necessarily requiring abstinence.

• Supervised Injection Sites (SIFs): Facilities that provide a safe environment for drug consumption, reducing the risk of overdose and infections.

• Phantastica: A term for hallucinogens that allow users to perceive altered realities without major physiological toxicity.

• Psychedelic: A term coined to describe drugs that produce profound alterations in perception, mood, and thought.

• Psychotomimetic: A term suggesting hallucinogens mimic mental disorders.

• Entheogen: A term for substances used to facilitate spiritual experiences.

• Entactogen: A term for substances that enhance empathy and sociability.

• Hallucinogens: Drugs that produce hallucinations and altered perceptions.

• LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide): A potent synthetic hallucinogen derived from ergot alkaloids.

• Psilocybin: The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, known for its hallucinogenic effects.

• DMT (Dimethyltryptamine): A naturally occurring hallucinogen found in plants and mammals.

• Ayahuasca: A traditional South American brew containing DMT and harmaline, used for spiritual and therapeutic purposes.

• MDMA (Ecstasy): A synthetic hallucinogen and stimulant, known for its empathogenic effects.

• Deliriants: Drugs that cause mental confusion, loss of touch with reality, and dissociation.

• PCP (Phencyclidine): A dissociative anesthetic drug with hallucinogenic effects.

• Ketamine: A dissociative anesthetic drug similar to PCP, also used recreationally.

• Dextromethorphan (DXM): A common cough suppressant that produces dissociative effects at high doses.

• Anticholinergics: Substances that block acetylcholine receptors, causing delirium and hallucinations.

• Salvia Divinorum: A hallucinogenic plant used by the Mazatec people, known for its active compound, salvinorin A.

• Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Substances used to improve athletic performance.

• Anabolic Steroids: Synthetic hormones that promote muscle growth and masculinizing effects.

• Human Growth Hormone (HGH): A hormone that can increase height and weight when administered during growth periods.

• Creatine: A legally available supplement that can improve strength and short-term speed in sprinting.

• "Roid Rage": Violent tendencies and extreme irritability associated with steroid use.

• "Cutting": The process of reducing body fat to achieve a lean and muscular physique.

• Prevention: Actions aimed at preventing the initiation of substance use.

• Treatment: Interventions aimed at reducing substance use and its associated harms.

• Transtheoretical Model (TTM): A model that outlines the stages of change in behavior: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse.

• Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): A therapy that works with ambivalent users to identify stages of change.

• Contingency Management: A therapy that provides rewards for positive behaviors, such as drug-free urine samples.

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): A self-help group that promotes a disease model for alcohol dependence.

• Suboxone (buprenorphine with naloxone): A treatment medication used to prevent misuse and manage cravings.