1
Q
drug - what is it and what is it used for?
A
any chemical other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
- used for both medical and social purposes
- many people believe that each problem needs a chemical solution
2
Q
what are the most serious risks of drugs?
A
abuse
addiction
3
Q
psychoactive drugs
A
a chemical that alters a person’s consciousness or experience
- most often associated with drug abuse
- can cause intoxication
4
Q
intoxication
A
the state of being mentally affected by a chemical (literally, a state of being poisoned)
5
Q
what are the two most widely used and psychoactive drugs?
A
alcohol
nicotine
6
Q
addictive behaviours
A
any habit that becomes out of control, resulting in a negative effect on a person’s health
7
Q
addiction
A
a chronic disease that disrupts the brain’s systems of motivation, reward, and memory; characterized by a compulsive desire and increasing need for a substance or behaviour, and by harm to the individual and/or society
- characteristical feature of addiction is behavioural
- often involves cycles, relapses and remission
8
Q
tolerance
A
a physical state in which the body adapts to a drug so that the initial dose no longer produces the original physical or psychological effects
- user must take higher doses to achieve the same high
9
Q
what is the concept of addiction based on?
A
- identifiable changes to brain cells and brain chemistry rather than moral failing
10
Q
what are the characteristics of addiction: Reinforcement
A
they can be positive (activity/situation reliably results in pleasure or reward) or negative (avoiding the drug/activity results in stress, anxiety, discomfort and depression)
11
Q
what are the characteristics of addiction: compulsion or craving
A
- individual feels a strong need or irresistible “hunger” to engage in behaviour
- craving is often associated with environmental cues and obsessive planning for the next opportunity to perform the action
12
Q
what are the characteristics of addiction: loss of control
A
- loses control over behaviour and cannot block the impulse to do it
13
Q
what are the characteristics of addiction: escalation
A
- involves a pattern of escalation in response to tolerance
- more of the substance is required for the desired effect
14
Q
what are the characteristics of addiction: negative consequences
A
- behaviour continues despite the negative consequences
ie. social, financial, work, academic issues
15
Q
how does an addiction usually develop?
A
- often starts when a person does something to bring pleasure or avoid pain (if it works the person is more likely to do it)
- reinforcement leads to dependence on the substance
- tolerance causes the positive effect which causes the person to want it more
- other factors such as personality, lifestyle, heredity, and social environments can play a role in whether a person will develop an addiction
16
Q
withdrawal
A
a set of symptoms including anxiety, pain, irritability, sweating, tremors, vomiting and insomnia
17
Q
characteristics of people with addictions
A
- many use these substances/activities as a substitute for healthier coping strategies
- those who have trouble dealing with stress and painful emotions may be more susceptible to addiction
- some people have a genetic predisposition to a certain substance based on a variation in brain chemistry
- these people also have problems with impulsive control and self-regulation (risk takers)
18
Q
what are some examples of addicitve behaviours (not including drugs)
A
- gambling,
- compulsive exercising
- work addiction
- sex and love addiction
- compulsive buying or shopping
- internet addiction
19
Q
what are some symptoms related to “workaholics”
A
- intense work schedule
- inability to limit one’s work schedule
- inability to relax, even when away from work
- failed attempts at curtailing the intensity of work (some cases)
20
Q
pharmacy
A
the art of compounding drugs from various substances
21
Q
pharmacology
A
the science and study of drugs
22
Q
who uses drugs? what type of people?
being male, being a troubled adolescent, being a thrill seeker, being in a dysfunctional family, being a peer group that accepts drug use, being poor and dating young??
A
- males are twice as likely as females to abuse drugs
- teens are more likely to try drugs if they have negative self-esteem or self-control, use tobacco, or suffer from certain mental/emotional problems
- a sense of invincibility is a factor in drug experimentation
- choatic home life or parental abuses increases the risk of drug use (also true for single parent homes and parents who didnt finish hs)
- kids who are uninterested in school and get poor grades are more likely to try drugs
- individuals who live in disadvantaged areas are more likely to be surrounded by drugs at a young age
- teen girls who date older boys are more likely to try
23
Q
which personality traits would it be less common for someone to try drugs?
A
- positive self-esteem and concept
- assertive
- independent thinkers
24
Q
why do people use drugs?
A
- mimic parents/actors
- curious/rebellious
- vulnerable to peer pressure
- escape feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness etc
- people living in poverty the need to escape is more compelling
25
what are some risk factors for addiction
- combination of physical, psychological and soical factors (poverty, peers) that determine if a person will be addicted
- being born with certain brain chemistry and metabolism
- mental illness (higher risk)
26
what is the possible research regard co-occurrence (2 mental illnesses) (6)
1. drug abuse may bring about symptoms of another mental illness
2. mental disorders can lead to drug abuse (self-medicating)
3. overlapping genetic vulnerabilities: genetic factors make them susceptible to both drug abuse and mental disorders or 2 mental disorders
4. overlapping environmental triggers: stress and trauma can lead to addictions
5. involvement of similar brain regions: brain systems that deal with reward and stress can be abnormal in those with mental disorders
6. drug use disorders and other mental illnesses are developmental disorders: usually occur when the brain is going through changes (ie. teen years)
27
other risks of drug use: intoxication
- may act in uncharacteristic and unsafe ways bc both mental and physical functions are impaired
28
other risks of drug use: unexpected side effects
- psychoactive drugs have physical and psychological effects beyond the alteration of consciousness
ie. nausea, depression, constipation
29
other risks of drug use: unknown drug constituents
- no quality control in the illegal drug market
- half of all street drugs don't contain the main ingredients
- they can be contaminated or poisonous (laced)
30
other risks of drug use: risk associated with injection drug use and what is the most commonly injected drug
- heroin is the most commonly injected drug
- most people share or reuse needles which can spread diseases bc they can contain blood
- unsterile injections can cause skin and soft tissue infections (progress to gangrene and be fatal)
31
other risks of drug use: legal consequences
- many psychoactive drugs are illegal
| - can result in fines and imprisonment
32
how are drugs taken and how do they impact the chemistry of the brain?
1. mouth: dissolve in the stomach, absorbed into bloodstream by small intestines, pass through the liver, heart and lungs before returning to the heart to be carried by arteries to brain
2. injected: injected directly into bloodstream - reaches brain much faster
3. inhaling: absorbed by the lungs and travel to the brain rapidly
* * the faster a drug reaches the brain, the more likely the user is to become addicted
33
once the drug reaches the brain how does it impact the brain chemistry? how does cocaine work?
- acts on neurotransmitters by either increasing or decreasing the concentration and actions
- some drugs (ie. cocaine) play a key role in reinforcement - when a neurotransmitter is released by one neuron it travels across the synapses to another neuron -- some drugs inhibit the process of resorption ( removing neurotransmitter molecules from synapses) causing extended or intensifying the drug
- cocaine impacts dopamine levels
34
how do drugs exit the body?
- metabolized by the liver
- excreted by the kidneys and urine
- small amounts eliminated by sweat, breast milk and lungs
35
neurotransmitter
the brain chemical that transmits nerve impulses
36
what are the 5 factors that influence a drug's effect
1. pharmacological properties: overall effects on a person's body chemistry, behaviour and psychology. it includes the amount of a drug required for desired effects, time course of effects and drug composition
2. dose-response function: relationship between the amount of drug taken and the intensity of the effect. usually drugs reach a plateau where no other effects will occur but they can bring on other side effects that can be dangerous in high doses
3. time-action function: relationship between the time elapsed since a drug was taken and the intensity of its effect. effects of a drug are greatest when concentrations of drug in body tissues are changing fast
4. drug history: may influence the effects of a drug - may need to take higher doses in order to achieve the same high (build a high tolerance)
5. the method of use: has a direct effect on how strong a response a drug produces
37
what 3 ways are drugs usually injected
1. intravenously (IV, or mainlining)
2. Intramuscularly (IM)
3. subcutaneously (SC, or skin popping)
38
what are some physical factors?
1. body mass, other variables includes general health and genetic factors
2. biochemical state is already altered by another drug, this can make a difference (some drugs intensify the effects of others and others suppress drug effects)
3. pregnancy: dangerous during first trimester: baby can be dependant on drugs when they come out or develop improperly
39
what are some psychological factors?
- person's reponse to a drug is affected by the individual's expectations about how he or she will react
- when a person believes that the drug will affect them they are more likely to experience the effects regardless of the pharmacological properties
40
high
the subjectively pleasing effects of a drug, usually felt soon after the drug is taken
41
placebo effect
a response to an inert or innocuous medication given in place of an active drug
42
what are some social factors? setting?
- setting: the physical and social environment surrounding the drug use
- different settings will change the effects of the drug on the person (ie. more or less present)
43
representative psychoactive drugs: opioids
- aka narcotics
- they have beneficial medical uses including pain relief and cough suppression
- people become less active, less responsive to frustration, hunger and sexual stimulation
- with repeated use many effects dimish
- typically injected, snorting, lungs
ie. cocaine, heroin, morphine, codeine `
44
opioids
- any of several natural or synthetic drugs that relieve pain and cause drowsiness or euphoria
45
euphoria
an exaggerated feeling of well-being
46
representative psychoactive drugs: central nervous system depressants - what are they, what can they range from, what types, what effects, medical uses, overdosing?
- aka sedative-hypnotics: slow down the overall activity of the central nervous system
- results can range from mild sedation to death
- types include alcohol and other barbiturates
- -> barbiturates are similar in chemical composition but differ in how they quickly/long they act (take orally or inject)
- -> antianxiety agents (tranquillizers) include Xanax
- effects: reduce anxiety and cause mood changes, impaired muscular coordination, slurring of speech and drowsiness
- medical uses: used to treat insomnia, anxiety disorders and seizures
- overdosing: depression of the CNS slows respiration and might cause it to stop all together
47
what are some symptoms of overdose in opioids?
- respiratory depression
- coma
- constriction of puplis
48
depressants or sedative-hypnotics
drugs that decrease nervous or muscular activity, causing drowsiness or sleep
49
central nervous system (CNS)
- the brain and spinal cord
50
sedation
induction of a calm, relaxed, often sleepy state
51
tranquilizers
central nervous system depressants that reduce tension and anxiety
52
anaesthetics
drugs that produce a loss of sensation with/without a loss of consciousness
53
representative psychoactive drugs: central nervous system stimulants - what is it and what happens when someone is taking it?
- speed up the activity of the nervous or muscular systems
- physical changes: BP increases, blood vessels constrict, pupils and bronchial tubes dilate, HR increases
ie. cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, amphetamines, ritalin
54
stimulants
drugs that increase nervous system or muscular activity
55
state dependence
a situation in which info learned in a drug-induced state is difficult to recall when the effect of the drug wears off
56
psychosis
a severe mental disorder characterized by a distortion of reality; symptoms might include delusions and hallucinations
57
what is the recommened amount of caffeine daily intake from Health Canada?
400mg/day
58
representative psychoactive drugs: marijuana and other cannabis products - what is the main active ingredient, how is it taken, what are short-term effects and long-term effects?
- most widely used illegal drug in Canada
- THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana
- usually smoked but could be ingested
- Short-term effects:
euphoria, heightened sensory experiences, relaxed and laid back attitude, feelings of depersonalization
- long-term effects:
respiratory damage, impaired lung function, chronic bronchial irritation (can contribute to changes in lung tissue promoting emphysema and cancer), low sperm count, loss of memory, deformed children
59
depersonalization
a state in which a person loses the sense of reality or perceives his or her body as unreal
60
representative psychoactive drugs: hallucinogens
a group of drugs whose predominant pharmacological effect is to alter perceptions, feelings and thoughts
ie. LSD, PCP
61
synaesthesia
condition in which a stimulus evokes not only the sensation appropriate to it but also another sensation of a different characteristic, such as when a colour evokes a smell
62
altered state of consciousness
profound changes in mood, thinking and perception
63
flashbacks
perceptual distortions or bizarre thoughts that recur after the chemical effects of a drug have worn off
64
representative psychoactive drugs: inhalants - what are they and what groups do they fall into? what groups of people use them? are the expensive and legal? how do they get high off of these products? what effects does it have?
- produce effects ranging from heightened pleasure to derilum and death
- major groups:
1. Volatile solvents: found in many products (paint thinner, glue)
2. Aerosols: sprays that contain propellants and solvents
3. Nitrites: butyl nitrite
4. Anaesthetics: nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
- Inuit and First nations use them
- inexpensive and legal and found in many harmless products
- get high by sniffing, snorting and bagging or huffing
- in high doses? loss of consciousness, heart failure and death, suffocation, damage to many organs
65
what are some facilities for drug addiction treatments
- medication-assisted treatment: reduce cravings for the abused drug or to block/oppose its side effects - relapse rate is high
- treatment centres: short-term and long-term services including hospitalization, detoxification, counselling - drug-free environments
- group and peer counselling: AA or NA - 12 step program, meet at least once a week
- harm-reduction strategies: minimize negative effects of drug use and abuse, syringe or needle exchange (PARTICIPANTS ARE STILL DRUG DEPENDANT)
- co-dependancy: a relationship in which a partner or family member who does not abuse drugs/alcohol is controlled by the abuser's behaviour; co-dependant people frequently engage in enabling behaviours (involves the whole family)
66
what are the 5 characteristics typically associated with addictive behaviour
1. reinforcement - through effects that are pleasurable or relieves negative states
2. compulsion/craving - compulsion aspect
3. loss of control: cant block out the craving
4. Escalation: tolerance
5. negative consequences: work, school, relationships
67
what is the cause of addiction
no single of addiction:
- Individual, environment and substance/behaviour combine
- Individuals w increased trouble dealing with stress may be more susceptible to addiction
- people can be genetically predisposed to addiction
68
"Addiction" - Video HBO
- 18-25yrs addictions start (rarely after 40yrs)
- right medication and therapy can really help people
- addiction: disease that comes out of your brain that translates into abnormal behaviour
- all drugs activate the dopamine system that is a natural "reward centre" for the brain but they do it more efficiently (longer and stronger)
- with more use of the drug dopamine levels decrease therefore must take more to achieve the same high
- brain has the ability to recover from addiction
69
"Understanding Relapse" & how to treat drug addiction - Video HBO
- relapse: returning to drugs after being drug-free for a certain period
- part of the disorder
- triggers (people, places, things) can promote relapse
- anhedonia: inability to feel pleasure (also a big cause of relapse)
- CBT: set of techniques that help you adapt both thoughts and behaviours and how to cope without drugs
70
what are the 3 main drug categories
1. Prescription medicines: (antibiotics and antidepressants)
2. Over-the-counter (OTC): (alcohol, tobacco, caffeine products)
3. Illegal substances: (LSD, heroin)
71
substance use disorder (DSM-5;2013) - what is the criteria (11)
1. developing tolerance to the substance
2. experiencing withdrawal
3. taking substance in larger amounts over longer period of time than intended to
4. craving or strong desire to use the substance
5. Unsuccessful efforts to cut down/regulate substance use
6. spending a great deal of time either obtaining, taking or recovering the substance/effects
7. giving up/reducing social, school and work activities bc of substance use
8. continuing to use knowing that it is causing psychological/physical problems
9. repeated use resulting in failure to fulfil obligations at work/school
10. repeated use resulting in hazardous situations
11. continued use despite social/interpersonal problems
72
```
To be diagnosed...
mild?
moderate?
severe?
how many symptoms must they display?
```
a) 2-3
b) 4-5
c) 6-11
* within the same 12 month period (doesn't need to be consecutive)
73
Characteristics of having a higher risk to using and abusing drugs
- being male
- troubled adolescents
- frequently exposed to drugs by peers/family
- disinterested in school
- risk-taking/thrill-seeking personality
- poverty/being poor
74
Characteristics of having a lower risk of using and abusing drug
- attend school regularly
- get good grades
- strong personal identities
- are religious
- good relationship w parents
75
what are the 6 myths about drug abuse?
1. Individuals must reach "rock-bottom" before reaching for help
2. individuals have to want to be treated
3. addiction is a willpower problem'
4. addicts cannot be treated with medication
5. addiction is treated behaviourally, so must be a behaviour problem
6. people addicted to one drug are addicted to all drugs
76
adderall - % that use it, what's the purpose and how does it work?
- used to treat ADHD
- helps to focus on task at hand
- 8% in uni/college use in the past year
- 15% use in life time
- works by: increasing dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters
Associated with focus and attention
77
what are the risks associated with Adderall
- doesn't allow you to multitask
- increased cardiovascular problems
- side effects: shakiness, loss of appetite
- overdosing is possible
78
Addiction Services of Thames Valley
- 8 community-based addiction programs
- professionally trained counsellors
- no restriction to gender/age
Health Sci 1001A
flashcards
Decks in class (12)
# Cards
