Substance Related Disorders Basic Concepts

Question 1

What is abuse?

Answer 1

• self administration of any drug in a manner that diverts from the approved medical or social patterns within a culture
• non medical self administration of a substance to produce psychoactive effects, intoxication or altered body image, despite knowledge risks involved

Question 2

Why do people take drugs initially?

Answer 2

To feel good, to feel better, to do good, and curiosity or peer pressure

Question 3

What factors put people at a higher risk for development of substance related disorders?

Answer 3

Situational factors, psychosocial factors, biological factors and practical factors.

Question 4

What are some situational factors that put people at a higher risk for development of substance related disorders?

Answer 4

Prisons, competitive sports, parties, raves.

Question 5

What are some psychosocial factors that put people at a higher risk for development of substance related disorders?

Answer 5

Bereavement, loneliness, boredom, low income, lower educational level, social anxiety, stress, peer pressure, experimentation, role modelling by parent/sibling.

Question 6

What are some biological factors that put people at a higher risk for development of substance related disorders?

Answer 6

Chronic pain, mental health disorders, genetic vulnerability.

Question 7

What are some practical factors that put people at a higher risk for development of substance related disorders?

Answer 7

Availability of a substance, nature of the drug, and route of administration.

Question 8

What are adverse consequences associated with substance abuse?

Answer 8

• physical illness (infections, irritant effects, decreased personal hygiene, weight gain)
• mental illness (hallucinations, depression, anxiety, mania)
• accidents
• education and employment difficulties
• housing instability
• social difficulties
• legal problems

Question 9

Explain the Johnson Theory of Addiction.

Answer 9

People have low, normal or high mood. With repeated exposure, users go from high to low instead of from high to normal. Cravings is a part of it, and withdrawal is huge. This explains why individuals continue to use.

Question 10

What is the biological explanation for why individuals continue to use?

Answer 10

All drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine, motivating us to do it again and again.
Over time, the brain adjusts by producing less dopamine or down regulating receptors. So the reward circuit becomes hypo functional and the ability to experience any pleasure is reduced.
Now users have to take drugs to get a normal amount of dopamine function, and over time need larger amounts of drugs to create the dopamine high.

Question 11

Define abstinence.

Answer 11

Voluntary restraint from using a substance, including alcohol.

Question 12

Define addiction.

Answer 12

Intense persistent drug use associated with a strong desire to continue to use, with disregard to consequences or personal harm.

Question 13

Define blackout.

Answer 13

An event that occurred during a period of heaving drinking which cannot be recalled by the individual.

Question 14

Define dependence.

Answer 14

An inappropriate compulsion to take a substance regularly, which may cause physical or psychological impairment.
The user takes the drug ignored to feel and function in a way they feel is acceptable.
The user has lost control over their behaviour and now gives the drug greater priority over previously more important behaviours.

Question 15

Define physical dependence.

Answer 15

A state in which the body has become dependent on the presence of the drug at a particular concentration, so that when the concentration falls, the user experiences physiological withdrawal signs and symptoms.

Question 16

Define psychological dependence.

Answer 16

A state in which stopping or abruptly reducing the dose of a drug produces a continuous or intermittent craving for the substance to avoid a dsyphoric state.

Question 17

Define detoxification.

Answer 17

The slow tapering of a drug that has caused dependence and would cause withdrawal if stopped too suddenly.

Question 18

Define flashbacks.

Answer 18

Psychedelic effects that occur long after the drug has been eliminated from the body (most common w/ LSD).

Question 19

Define harm reduction.

Answer 19

Strategies to prevent/minimize short and long term negative consequences associated with substance abuse (i.e., needle exchange).

Question 20

Define intoxication.

Answer 20

A characteristic, transient pattern of behavioural, mental and physical changes caused by the administration of a psychoactive drug.

Question 21

Define positive reinforcement.

Answer 21

The ability of a drug to produce pleasurable effects that make a user want to take it again.

Question 22

Define negative reinforcement.

Answer 22

Repeated administration of a drug to avoid an undesirable effect or withdrawal.

Question 23

Define tolerance.

Answer 23

Tolerance occurs when repeated administration of a drug eventually produces a reduced effect, such that larger doses are required to achieve the same response.

Question 24

Define cross tolerance.

Answer 24

The ability of one drug to suppress the manifestations of physical dependence produced by another drug.

Question 25

Define rebound.

Answer 25

The exaggerated expression of the original condition sometimes experienced by patients immediately after cessation of an effective treatment.

Question 26

Define relapse.

Answer 26

The reoccurrence following discontinuation of effective treatment of the original condition fro which the patient suffered.

Question 27

Define rehabilitation.

Answer 27

A treatment process designed to allow persons dependent on substances of abuse to learn to live effectively and comfortably without using.
Treatment includes withdrawal and restoration of physical health, followed by education regarding relapse and prevention.

Question 28

Define sobriety.

Answer 28

A period of abstinence, not usually used until individual has abstained for a week or longer.

Question 29

Define withdrawal.

Answer 29

The physiological and psychological reactions to abrupt cessation of a dependence-producing drug. May also occur upon administration of an antagonist or if the dose is reduced suddenly.

Question 30

What ate the 4 basic methods by which drugs of abuse get into the body?

Answer 30

1. Oral administration
2. Injection
3. Inhalation
4. Mucous membranes and skin

Question 31

Which method of administering a drug provides the quickest access to the circulation and the brain?

Answer 31

Injection.

Question 32

How are drugs administered via mucous membranes?

Answer 32

Dry powdered drug can be inhaled into the nose and are absorbed across mucous membranes of the nose and sinus cavities.