Drug Addiction Flashcards
(16 cards)
How does the DSM-5 classify substance-related and addictive disorders?
• Combines substance use and substance-induced disorders
• Includes 9 drug classes (e.g., alcohol, opioids, stimulants)
• Adds non-substance behavioural addictions (e.g., gambling)
What are the four main symptom clusters for substance use disorder (DSM-5 Criterion A)?
- Impaired control: Craving, unsuccessful attempts to cut down, excessive time spent using
- Social impairment: Failure to meet obligations, interpersonal problems, withdrawal from activities
- Risky use: Use in hazardous situations, continued use despite harm
- Pharmacological indicators: Tolerance and withdrawal
How is the severity of substance use disorder determined in DSM-5?
• Mild: 2–3 symptoms
• Moderate: 4–5 symptoms
• Severe: 6+ symptoms
What are the main routes of drug administration and their speed of effect?
• Inhalation: Fastest (e.g., smoking, snorting)
• Intravenous: Rapid (direct to bloodstream)
• Oral: Slowest (digestion delays effect)
What are key principles of effective addiction treatment?
- No single treatment suits all
- Treatment must be accessible
- Address psychological, medical, and social needs
- Treat co-occurring disorders together
- Treatment doesn’t need to be voluntary
- Recovery is long-term and may require multiple episodes
Why is emotional sobriety as important as physical sobriety?
• Removing the substance amplifies emotions
• Therapy must address underlying emotional pain and attachment issues
• Emotional regulation is key to long-term recovery
What is the role of craving in addiction and recovery?
• Craving persists even after substance removal
• Managing craving is central to relapse prevention
• Anti-craving medications and therapy can help
What is the significance of relapse in addiction treatment?
• Relapse is expected and part of the recovery process
• It provides insight into triggers and vulnerabilities
• Planning for relapse reduces shame and improves outcomes
What are the stages of readiness for change in addiction therapy?
- Pre-contemplative: Not acknowledging a problem
- Contemplative: Aware but ambivalent
- Ready for change: Willing to act and engage
Why is the therapeutic alliance crucial in addiction treatment?
• Many clients have attachment issues and struggle with trust
• Establishing safety and empathy enables vulnerability and change
• Connection is the antidote to addiction
What is the role of group therapy in addiction treatment?
• Enhances connection and accountability
• Exposes interpersonal patterns and blind spots
• Complements individual therapy for deeper healing
What psychological therapies are commonly used in addiction treatment?
• CBT: Identifies and restructures maladaptive thoughts
• ACT: Builds psychological flexibility and values-based living
• IPT: Addresses interpersonal issues
• Family therapy: Engages the system around the client
What is the biological basis of addiction?
• 40–60% of addiction risk is genetic
• Twin studies show high concordance for various substances
• Addiction is often non-specific—vulnerability applies across substances
What is the diathesis-stress model in addiction?
• Biological vulnerability (e.g., genetics) + environmental stressors (e.g., trauma, poor attachment) → addiction onset
How does stigma affect people with addiction?
• Leads to shame, secrecy, and delayed help-seeking
• Clients internalise blame and feel weak or broken
• Psychoeducation reframes addiction as a chronic, treatable condition
What is the role of digital tools in addiction support?
• Apps offer accessible, self-guided support
• Useful for early intervention and relapse prevention
• Best used alongside professional care
