Addiction Flashcards
(12 cards)
Define addiction
A repetitive habit pattern that increases the risk of disease and/or associated personal and social problems. Addictive behaviours are often described as a ‘loss of control’. These habit patterns are typically characteristsed by ST gratification with LT deleterious effects.
Define physical dependance
The long term chronic usage of makes you dependant physically on it, and you would experience intense unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you tried to stop.
What is the difference between addiction and physical dependence?
Having a physical dependency doesn’t correlate directly with addiction. You just feel better when you satisfy yourself as you are avoiding withdrawal symptoms with physical dependency. However you need psychological dependency also to be addicted
Define psychological dependence
It refers to the compulsion or desire to continually take the drug, usually because its effects lead to pleasure or lessening of discomfort. A person will engage in this behaviour until it becomes a habit even if there is harmful consequences.
Define tolerance
Refers to a state where the effectiveness of the drug has decreased due to chronic use. Meaning more of the drug will be required to achieve the same effects in the future.
Define physical tolerance
There is either a decreased amount of the substance reaching the target area or a decreased response to the drug by the body. In either case the person will not feel all of the same physical effects after repeated exposure and will need to increase the dosage to experience the same initial effect’s.
Define behavioural tolerance.
The person learns to adjust their behaviour in order to deal with the effects of the drug. Eg a person addicted to alcohol may learn to walk straight when drunk to avoid falling over.
Define cross tolerance
Refers to the development of a tolerance for one type of drug leads to the development of a tolerance to another.
Define withdrawal syndrome
A set of symptoms that occur when a person abstains from or reduces the use of a particular drug. The symptoms are often the opposite effects of the drug and indicate that a physical dependency has developed.
When a person is physically dependent on a substance they experience minor symptoms of withdrawal whenever they cannot get the drug. The motivation for obtaining the drug is often to avoid withdrawal symptoms. This is a secondary form of psychological dependence.
Name the risk factors in the development of addiction
Genetic vulnerability
Stress
Personality
Family influence
Peers
Explain the risk factors genetic vulnerability
Low numbers of dopamine (D2) receptors. Dopamine receptors on receiving neuron’s allow dopamine to bind to the neuron and the nerve to fire. There are different types of dopamine receptors but low levels of the D2 type are thought to be linked to addiction. The amount of receptors in our brain is also thought to be genetically determined.
Faster metabolism of addictive substances, studies show that people who are less able to break down nicotine, smoke significantly less than those with fully functioning enzymes. Because the expression of the enzyme is genetically determined we could argue that some smokers have a genetic vulnerability
Explain the risk factor of stress
Diathesis stress model
Engage in addictive behaviour in order to cope with everyday stresses such as money, relationships etc.
These stresses impact the beginning, maintenance and relapse of addictive behaviours
Traumatic stress can also leave people more vulnerable to addiction. Same with PTSD. Driessen et al found that 30% of drug addicts and 15% of alcoholics suffer from PTSD.
Epstein found a strong correlation between women’s childhood rape and adult alcohol addiction but only for those diagnosed with PTSD. It had been suggested that an early traumatic experience may have damaging effects on the brain during a sensitive period of development, thus creating a vulnerability to addiction later in life.
