Drugs of Abuse Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is Abuse vs. Misuse?
Hedonism, social pressure, and vanity vs. Misguided therapeutics
Willful chemical manipulation of mood or behavior circumventing normal behavioral reinforcements is perceived as _____ when there is a cost to the society at large. (abuse, misuse)
ABUSE
What are the types of tolerance?
(1) Metabolic- nothing in why it is a drug of abuse
(2) Functional- part of the cycle of drug use and dependence (it is initially reinforcing and then you require the drug just to feel normal again)
(3) Behavioral- (psychological) the pattern of life becomes accustomed to the drug; people are impaired but don’t seem intoxicated
T/F Physical dependence arises from a behavioral tolerance.
FALSE; functional tolerance
What are the 2 types of dependence?
(1) Physical- abstinence syndrome
(2) Psychological- compulsive behavior
Addiction vs. Habit
What people are willing to do for addiction as opposed to a habit. (feel free to e-mail me to add more to this flashcard)
T/F Drugs of abuse is a social term, not a scientific one.
TRUE
What drugs are not desirable at first? What drugs are desirable from the first time?
- Not desirable: ethanol, heroin
- Desirable: cocaine, amphetamine
T/F There is a specific mechanism of action for drugs of abuse.
FALSE; there is no single mechanism of action or neural substrate or brain region involved.
How do many drugs of abuse work?
By increases the effects of dopamine in a “reward circuit” involving the midbrain and limbic system.
T/F The more physical dependence, the worse the withdrawal.
TRUE
T/F Tolerance is variable among classes, but not among actions for a single class.
FALSE, although the first part is true, the tolerance is variable even among actions for a single class (i.e. amphetamines)
<p>
| Genetics vs. Environment in abuse potential</p>
<p>
Both have been implicated. Environmental factors are hard to discern from genetics, but animal models suggest genetics links. Also, kids of alcoholics are 4X more likely to become alcoholics (could be genes and modeling behavior).</p>
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Opioids: Mechanism of Action
(Heroin, Morphine, Methadone, Codeine)
- increases mu opioite receptors in the brain- endorphin (natural neurochemicals that stimulate these receptors and are part of our endogenous reward system)
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Sympathomimetics: Mechanism of Action
(Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Cocaine)
- increases catecholamine transmission (specifically dopamine and NE for an intrinsic reward mechanism)
(caffeine- espresso)
- decreases adenosine (increases cAMP, increases Ca2+) you get a stimulatory effects
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Depressants: Mechanism of Action
(Ethanol, Pentobarbital, Diazepam)
- increases GABA
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Nicotine: Mechanism of Action
(Tobacco products)
- Acetylcholine (CNS pre-synaptic )- nicotinic Ach receptors in the CNS like the dopaminergic nerve terminals which increases the dopamine activity in the reward system (very subtle)
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Psychedelics: Mechanism of Action
(LSD, Mescaline)- blur the line between your waking brain and sleeping brain
- decrease serotonin transmission
(PCP- phencyclidine; Ketamine)- works with one of the main types of glutamate receptors (will make people have a separation on what is happening to what they think is happening)
- Sigma receptors?/ decrease NMDA
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Inhalants: Mechanism of Action
(Nitrous oxide, Amyl nitrite, Butyl nitrite)
- likely to work though GABA (really not well known)
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Designer drugs: Mechanism of Action
(MDMA- ecstasy)
- alters Serotonin
- catecholamines (like amphetamines)
Drugs of Potential Abuse- Cannabinoids: Mechanism of Action
(THC- Marijuana) -cannabinoid ligands
- high affinity receptor (G-protein coupled)
- retrograde signal between neurons in the brain
What are the multiple simultaneous variables affecting onset and continuation of drug abuse and addiction? (6)
(1) Availability
(2) Perceived Risk
(3) Cost
(4) Purity/Potency
(5) Mode of administration (Chewing- absorption via oral mucous membranes, GI, Intranasal, Subcutaneous and intramuscular, IV, Inhalation)
(6) Speed of onset and termination of effects (Pharmacokinetics: combination of agent and host)
Host (user): Variables affecting onset and continuation of drug abuse and addiction (4)
(1) Heredity (innate tolerance, speed of developing acquired tolerance, likelihood of experiencing intoxication as pleasure)
(2) Psychiatric symptoms
(3) Prior experiences/expectations
(4) Propensity for risk-taking behavior
Environment: Variables affecting onset and continuation of drug abuse and addiction (3)
(1) Social setting
(2) Community attitudes (peer influence, role models, availability of other reinforcers (sources of pleasure or recreation)
(3) Employment or educational opportunities
