Drugs and Alcohol Flashcards

1
Q

Drug

A

Any chemical other than food that is intended to affect the structure or function of the body

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2
Q

Psychoactive drug

A

A drug that acts on the nervous system and affects or alters a persons’ experience or consciousness

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3
Q

Intoxication

A

A state of being mentally affected or poisoned by a substance

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4
Q

Addictive behaviour

A

Any habit that becomes out of control and results in negative health effects

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5
Q

Addiction

A

A chronic disease that disrupts the brains reward pathways and is characterized by a compulsive need or desire to consume a drug or alcohol

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6
Q

Charcteristics of Addiction

A
  • Reinforcement:
    Positive - good feelings while using (high)
    Negative - Withdrawals
  • Compulsion - A compelling need to use or engage in behaviour
  • Loss of control - Cannot block the impulse to continue behaviour
  • Escalation - More of the substance is required to achieve the same physiological effect (tolerance)
  • Negative consequences - May affect things like job performance, academics, relationships, health
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7
Q

Types of addictive behaviours

A
  • Substance use
  • Gambling
  • Social media
  • Gaming
  • Compulsive buying
  • Work
  • Excercise
  • Sex
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8
Q

Routes of administration

A
  • Oral dosage
    Ex. Tylenol, Cannabis in food
  • Inhalation
    Ex. vaping, smoking
  • Injected
    Ex. Needles
  • Snorted
    Ex. Cocaine

Injecting/smoking = most likely to cause dependence (wears off quick, more frequent doses)

Injecting = more likely to transmit infectious diseases

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9
Q

How drugs affect the brain

A
  • Changes brain chemistry
  • Altered effects of neurotransmitters
  • Increases effect of dopamine in the brain’s reward and pleasure pathway
  • Nicotine, cocaine, alcohol, heroin, and amphetamines all affect dopamine levels
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10
Q

Factors that influence drug effects

A
  • Pharmacological properties (composition)
  • Dose-response function (Intensity)
  • Time-action function (lag time)
  • Drug use history
  • Route of administration
  • Physical factors (weight)
  • Psychological factors (setting)
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11
Q

Stimulants

A

Speed up the activity of the nervous and/or muscular system

Ex. Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine

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12
Q

Caffeine

A

Most popular psychoactive drug
Ex. coffee, Tea

Excess consumption can cause shaking, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irregular heartbeat

Withdrawal can cause irritability, drowsiness, headaches

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13
Q

Nicotine

A

Stimulant drug in e-cigs and cigarettes

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death

Smoking strongly associated with CVD and lung cancer

Carcinogens in smoke damage DNA, poisons weaken tumour fighters

Chronic smoking may cause bronchitis, emphysema, and reproductive complications

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14
Q

E-Cigarettes & Vaping

A

Unknown to be safer than traditional cigarettes

Vapour still may contain harmful chemicals or unsafe levels of nicotine

May help quit smoking or perpetuate addiction

WHO does not recommend using them until confirmed to be safe

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15
Q

Short-term affects of smoking

A
  • Nicotine stimulates brain to release chemicals that alter mood
  • Nicotine constricts blood vessels
  • Nicotine accelerates heart rate, elevates blood pressure
  • Nicotine depresses hunger contractions
  • Nicotine prohibits production of urine in kidneys
  • Nicotine causes liver to release glycogen, raising blood sugar level
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16
Q

Long term effects of smoking

A

Damage to lungs, bronchioles

17
Q

Cocaine

A

Potent CNS stimulant

  • Rapid heart/breathing rate, decreased appetite
  • Users may experience feeling of euphoria, alertnedness, competency, power, invincibility (short-lasting)

possible for overdose

‘Crack’ is a less pure form of cocaine

18
Q

Some effects of Cocaine use

A

CNS: Repeated or high doses may cause severe psychological problems

CVS: Increasing blood pressure by constricting blood vessels

Respiratory system: Freebasing causes lung damage

Reproductive system: Affects ability to maintain erections and ejaculate: also causes sperm abnormalities

19
Q

Amphetamines

A

Powerful stimulants; highly addictive

Cheap ingredients: can be made from household ingredients

Promote tolerance, very high relapse rate

Chronic use may result in severe weight loss, heart attack, stroke, violent behaviour

20
Q

MDMA/Ecstasy

A

Stimulant and mild hallucinogen

  • Mood elevator
  • Euphoria, increased energy, heightened sense of belonging
21
Q

Hallucinogens

A

A group of psychoactive drugs that alter perceptions, feelings and thoughts

last ~8+ hours

Can produce ‘good trip’ (positive experience) or ‘bad trip’ (negative experience)

  • Generally less addictive
    Ex. LSD, Psyliocibin, MDMA
22
Q

Opioids

A

Class of drugs that relieve pain, cause drowsiness and euphoria

Some prescribed for pain, but most are powerfully addicitve

Relaxation, euphoria, slowed breathing
Ex. Opium, heroin, morphine

23
Q

Cannabis

A

Classified as CNS depressant, hallucinogen or stimulant

Acute effects: mild euphoria, heightened perception, drowsiness

Chronic effects: Interferes with memory, reproductive dysfunction, health risk on airways

24
Q

negative long term affects of Cannabis

A
  • Bad for Brain and Nervous System; dulls cognitive skills
  • Negative impact on Cardiovascular system
  • Negative impact on respiratory system
  • BAd for reproductive system
25
Q

Positive short-term therapeutic effects of cannabis

A

CNS: euphoria, minimize pain
* Improves vision
* Good for digestive system
* good for muscular system

26
Q

Alcohol (Ethanol)

A

CNS depressant

  • Most highly abused psychoactive substance

Acute effects: Mild euphoria, relaxation, impaired motor skills

Binge drinking and/or chronic use is asoociated with many health risks

Maximum intake for females: 9-10 drinks per week

Maximum drinks for males: 14-15 drinks per week

Anything beyond these numbers is excess drinking and poses serious health risks

27
Q

Alcohol absorption

A

It is absorbed, not digested directly into the blood through the stomach or small intestinal wall

Several factors affect rate of alcohol absorption and metabolism:

  • Sex
  • Size (BMI)
  • Fruit sugar
  • Food in stomach
  • Liver enzyme activity
28
Q

Short-Term Risks of Alcohol Use

A
  • Affects judgement and mood
  • Conumption (usually excess) can result in:
  • memory loss
  • decreased blood sugar levels (sweating)
  • Impaired motor skills
  • Increased likelihood of violence, risky behaviours
  • Hangover; withdrawal symptoms
  • Alcohol poisoning (death in extreme cases)
29
Q

Long-Term Risks of Alcohol Use/Abuse

A
  • Addiction
  • Cancers
  • Mentall Illness
  • Impaired immune function
  • Brain damage
  • Negative social effects
  • Increased chance of harm
30
Q

Risk Factors for Addiction

A

Mental conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia

  • Genetics, physiology, personality, lifestyle, environment
  • Stress, low self-esteem, and easy access
31
Q

Treatment for addiction

A

User needs to realize problem and address the cause

Treatment option examples:

  • Medication
  • Treatment centres
  • Group and peer counselling

Prevention is preferable to treatment