14 Substance misuse

Question 1

what is found in cannabis plant

Answer 1

various different alkaloids
most potent is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Question 2

what is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis

Answer 2

thc

Question 3

why is cannabibidol (CBD) not psychoactive

Answer 3

it doesn’t contain THC

Question 4

which form of cannabis has the most THC

Answer 4

skunk, high potency strain (75%)

flowers of unfertilised plant grown by intensive indoor cultivation

Question 5

what is cannabis resin

Answer 5

oil material scraped from the plant and pressed into blocks (2-10%)

Question 6

what percentage of THC in dried leaves and flowers

Answer 6

0.5-2.5% THC

Question 7

are psychoactive effects of cannabis instant, if so why

Answer 7

yes, active ingredient is very lipophilic and so cross cell membranes and BBB easily

Question 8

what is the peak, half life and duration of effects of cannabis

Answer 8

peak= at 20min
half life= 20-30hrs
duration= 4hrs

Question 9

what happens if you ingest cannabis

Answer 9

onset of effects is delayed but it lasts longer

Question 10

what effects does cannabis have

Answer 10

• relaxation, sleepiness, euphoria
• increase in HR and dilation of blood vessels
• increase in appetite
• change in perception (time appears to pass slowly, stimuli is enhanced)

Question 11

what can large doses of cannabis cause

Answer 11

hallucinations
paranoia
anxiety
depersonalisation

Question 12

do people develop a tolerance to cannabis

Answer 12

not really with small and infrequent doses, no tendency to escalate doses

Question 13

is withdrawal of cannabis severe

Answer 13

no, not even in heavy users

Question 14

can dependence occur with cannabis

Answer 14

yes - addiction is a physiological co

Question 15

is cannabis a gateway drug

Answer 15

yes - leads to easier access to other substances

Question 16

where is most of the harm with cannabis

Answer 16

not with overdosing but with smoking and driving

Question 17

does cannabis cause the same pre-cancer changes in lung tissue as cigarettes

Answer 17

yes - linked to tobacco related deaths

Question 18

what effects does cannabis have on the heart

Answer 18

• HR increases by 20-100%
• heart disease risk increases by 4.2%
• risk of heart attack in first hour after smoking

Question 19

what psychiatric impacts can cannabis have

Answer 19

• psychotic illness
• affective disorders
• cognitive deficits and decline

Question 20

can cannabis cause a predisposition to mental illness

Answer 20

yes

Question 21

what is ‘spice’

Answer 21

mixture of lab based cannabinoids, has intense effects as they are full agonists of receptor

Question 22

what is MDMA similar to

Answer 22

amphetamine and mescaline

Question 23

effects of ecstasy (MDMA)

Answer 23

• euphoria
• feelings of love and peace
• locomotor stimulation
• increased HR, body temp, and sweating
• heightened senses
• insomnia

Question 24

neurotoxic effect of MDMA

Answer 24

selective destruction of nerve terminals, exacerbated by alcohol, protected by cannabinoids

Question 25

what is mephedrone

Answer 25

khat leaves

Question 26

what is the main psychoactive ingredient in mephedrone

Answer 26

cathinone

Question 27

effects of mephedrone

Answer 27

- excitement - loss of appetite - euphoria

Question 28

effects of oral ingestion or inhalation of mephedrone

Answer 28

- deaths and toxicity - hyponatraemia - cerebral oedema - sympathomimetic toxicity

Question 29

examples of psychelics and dissociative

Answer 29

- LSD - PCP - mescaline - psilocybin (magic mushrooms)

Question 30

does LSD cause dependence

Answer 30

no

Question 31

does LSD cause withdrawals

Answer 31

no

Question 32

is there risk of death from effects of LSD

Answer 32

no but harm is associated with accidents/reacting to hallucination

Question 33

effects of LSD

Answer 33

- hallucinations - adrenaline like effects - exhaustion - low mood

Question 34

problems with investigating toxicity/long term effects of drugs

Answer 34

- lack of purity - need binders to get into tablet form - most ecstasy users use many drugs - other confounding factors

Question 35

what causes dissociative states

Answer 35

the ion channel associated with the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor is blocked

Question 36

what is ketamine

Answer 36

a dissociative anaesthetic - patient is detached from environment but awake and unresponsive to pain

Question 37

is ketamine used as an anaesthetic

Answer 37

yes

Question 38

what is phencyclidine (PCP)

Answer 38

a glutamate receptor antagonist

Question 39

what effects does PCP have

Answer 39

- sedation - numbing - amnesia - hallucinations and vivid dreams - seizures - coma - cardiac arrest

Question 40

is PCP a class A drug

Answer 40

yes

Question 41

what effect do synthetic depressants have

Answer 41

an inhibitory and relaxing effect, anti anxiety

Question 42

examples of synthetic depressants

Answer 42

- benzodiapine - etilozam - pyrazolam

Question 43

what is nitrous oxide

Answer 43

an odourless, colourless, non flammable gas used with oxygen for dental procedures

Question 44

effects of nitrous oxide

Answer 44

- euphoria - calmness - dizziness - memory impairment - neuropathy

Question 45

what are nitazenes

Answer 45

strong synthetic opioids , often used as a bulking/cutting agent

Question 46

what is the psychoactive substances act (2016)

Answer 46

its illegal to produce, supply, or import (but not possess unless in prison)

Question 47

what do most drug related deaths involve

Answer 47

poly drug use