Drug Abuse-Pechnick

Question 1

What is one key characteristic of drug abuse?

Answer 1

Self-administration of drug (i.e. not as prescribed)

Question 2

What is tolerance?

Answer 2

The effects of a drug decrease when the same dose is given repeatedly

OR

Over time the dose needs to be increased to get the same effect

Question 3

What are the 3 mechanisms that underlie tolerance?

Answer 3

1. Dispositional (less drug reaches site of action)
2. Pharmacodynamic (once drug reaches site it has less of an effect)
3. Behavioral (organism learns how to adapt in presence of drug)

Question 4

What is important to differentiate in non-drug abuse instances of tolerance?

Answer 4

Is it really tolerance or progression of disease?

Question 5

What are the two types of dependence?

Answer 5

Physical and psychological

Question 6

What is the pattern of physical withdrawal from similar classes of drugs called?

Answer 6

Abstinence syndrome

Question 7

What is the biggest trademark of psychological dependence?

Answer 7

Drug seeking behavior

Question 8

What are 3 important characteristics of addiction?

Answer 8

1. Compulsive use
2. Lack of ability to control drug use
3. Continued use in the face of adverse consequences

Question 9

Once an individual has become drug-dependent can they go back to controlled use again? If no, why not?

Answer 9

NO because a “switch” has been thrown and the brain is permanently changed (neurobiology of addiction)