Addiction Flashcards
What are the three main substances that are abused? [3]
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Cannabis
What are the psychological mechanisms in drug use? [3]
Classical conditioning and operant learning
Personality and mental health factors contributing to individual vulnerability
Social and environmental factors
What is classical conditioning [1]
What is operant conditioning?
Classical conditioning
A neutral stimulus can elicit response if associated with unconditioned (biological) stimulus (Dog salivates at the sound of bell if it normally rings at feeding time)
Operant conditioning
Classical conditioning forms an association between two stimuli
Name three postive reinforcers in drug taking [3]
- Pleasurable sensation
- Satisfaction of biological needs (e.g. cocaine and nicotine reduce hunger)
- Social reinforcement, e.g. group membership
Link between distress and drug taking? [1]
Distress increases drug taking
Define negative reinforcement [1]
Name 4 negative reinforcers in drug taking [4]
Negatove reinforcement
Behaviour that stops or avoids negative sensations (fast) is likely to be repeated
Negative reinforcers in drug taking
* Reduction of habitual stress level
* Reduction of acute distress
* Reduction of pain (increased pain threshold)
* Reduction of withdrawal symptoms
How does neuroadaptation of continous drug use create withdrawal relief? update
Neuroadaptation may lead to withdrawal discomfort when the drug is not taken. This creates negative reinforcement for using the drug
Name 5 individual differences in vulnerability to drug dependence [5]
- Sensitivity to positive drug effects
- Sensitivity to negative drug effects
- Personality
- Mental health, childhood trauma
- Social circumstances: Poverty, social isolation
Explain impact of sensitivity to positivity on drug addiction? [1]
Absence of other sources of gratification
(if happy in lots of other aspects of life then less likely to take drugs)
Explain impact of sensitivity on adverse drug effects on drug addiction? [1]
Biological sensitivity to drug after-effects (hang-over)
Intensity of withdrawal discomfort
Reactions to withdrawal discomfort
Explain impact of personality and mental health on drug addiction [4]
Sensation seeking (readiness to try and appreciate drugs), impulsivity
Social deviance (insensitivity to social disapproval)
Anxiety and depression (+and- drug effects salient, co-morbidity common)
Ability to cope with withdrawal discomfort
Explain social and environmental impacts on drug addiction [3]
Access to drugs (availability and cost)
Social acceptability of drug use
Facilitation (group norms)
Name 4 factors that contribute to addictiveness of drugs [4]
Speed of delivery (cocaine vs crack cocaine; snorting vs injecting heroin)
Concentration (beer vs hard liquor)
Presence of other facilitating chemicals (NRT/e-cigarettes vs tobacco)
Prohibition/war on drugs’ unintended consequences: More concentrated drugs, 2 types of criminality, creation of misery that feeds drug use (Bootleggers and Baptists)
Name the 7 treatments for addiction [7]
‘Detoxification’
Aversion therapies (Antabuse – disulfiram, acute hang-over after ingesting alcohol via acetaldehyde)
Motivational therapies (groups, AA)
Cognitive-behavioural treatments (coping skills)
Drug substitutes (methadone, NRT)
Treatments for withdrawal relief (clonidine), antagonists (naltrexone), partial agonists (varenicline) etc.
Psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin) – promise in alcoholism
Name two future pyschedelic drugs that could be used for treatment for addiciton? [2]
LSD, Psilocybin
