PSYC201 Test 2, Week 11

Question 1

How are mental health and drug addiction related?

Answer 1

Poor mental health can lead to drug abuse/addiction, and drug abuse can worsen mental health.

Question 2

How is “harm” from drugs defined?

Answer 2

Harm includes both personal and societal impacts, such as health risks and effects on others.

Question 3

What is the most harmful drug in terms of personal and societal impact?

Answer 3

Alcohol – mainly due to harm done to others and increased risk of many issues.

Question 4

What is the most addictive substance in the coca plant?

Answer 4

Cocaine.

Question 5

What is the most addictive substance in tobacco?

Answer 5

Nicotine.

Question 6

What is the most addictive substance in the poppy plant?

Answer 6

Opium; its most active substance is morphine, which can be converted into heroin.

Question 7

What is the addictive substance in the hemp plant?

Answer 7

THC.

Question 8

What is the effect of drug legalization in the Netherlands?

Answer 8

Legalization hasn’t significantly changed addiction rates.

Question 9

What was the impact of Portugal’s drug policy reform?

Answer 9

Drug use has less social impact; funds were reinvested in support services.

Question 10

What is a common emotional pattern after taking addictive substances?

Answer 10

A “happy feeling” is usually followed by an “unhappy feeling.”

Question 11

How is addiction studied in animals?

Answer 11

Using operant chambers with levers for drug infusion and conditioned place preference tests.

Question 12

What does persistent lever pressing in rats indicate?

Answer 12

High motivation and addiction-like behavior.

Question 13

What happens to dopamine levels after taking cocaine?

Answer 13

Sharp increase followed by a significant drop.

Question 14

What brain areas are involved in the reward system?

Answer 14

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and Nucleus Accumbens.

Question 15

What role does GABA play in dopamine regulation?

Answer 15

GABA in the VTA normally inhibits dopamine release in the Nucleus Accumbens.

Question 16

How do benzodiazepines affect dopamine?

Answer 16

Stimulate GABA receptors, reduce GABA firing, enhance dopamine firing.

Question 17

How does THC affect dopamine?

Answer 17

Stimulates CB1 receptors, reduces GABA release, enhances dopamine firing.

Question 18

How does nicotine affect dopamine?

Answer 18

Stimulates acetylcholine receptors, indirectly increases dopamine firing.

Question 19

How do psychostimulants like cocaine affect dopamine?

Answer 19

Block dopamine transporters (DAT), keeping dopamine levels high in the synapse.

Question 20

What is the abuse ratio of alcohol?

Answer 20

13% (85% used once, 11% abuse).

Question 21

What is the abuse ratio of cannabis?

Answer 21

18% (17% used once, 3% abuse).

Question 22

What is the abuse ratio of cocaine?

Answer 22

14% (2.9% used once, 0.4% abuse).

Question 23

What is the abuse ratio of amphetamines?

Answer 23

8% (2.6% used once, 0.2% abuse).

Question 24

What is the abuse ratio of opiates?

Answer 24

29% (0.7% used once, 0.2% abuse).

Question 25

What is craving in the context of addiction?

Answer 25

An intense desire to take the drug, which grows stronger over time and feels uncontrollable.

Question 26

What happens to the rewarding and aversive properties of drugs over time?

Answer 26

Both can intensify—rewarding effects increase craving, while aversive effects (like withdrawal) worsen.

Question 27

What does Melvin say about the development of addiction?

Answer 27

The “high” gets higher and/or the “low” gets lower.

Question 28

What is incentive sensitization?

Answer 28

A process where initial liking (euphoria) is replaced by wanting (craving), leading to compulsive use.

Question 29

What brain areas are involved in habit formation?

Answer 29

Substantia Nigra → Caudate/Putamen.

Question 30

How does drug use shift from recreational to compulsive?

Answer 30

From “I like it” (nucleus accumbens) to “I want it” (caudate/putamen).

Question 31

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in addiction?

Answer 31

It loses control over decision-making, focusing attention solely on the drug.

Question 32

What is negative allostasis?

Answer 32

A worsening of withdrawal symptoms over time, making sobriety feel worse than before.

Question 33

How does the limbic system contribute to addiction?

Answer 33

Reduced prefrontal control allows negative emotions to dominate, increasing drug-seeking behavior.

Question 34

How do genetics influence addiction?

Answer 34

Genetic markers (e.g., nicotine receptor mutations) increase susceptibility, shown in twin and animal studies.

Question 35

What did the MDMA self-administration study show?

Answer 35

Mice without serotonin transporters were more likely to get addicted to MDMA.

Question 36

What are gene-environment interactions in addiction?

Answer 36

Genetic predispositions interact with social factors (e.g., peer smoking, family stress) to influence addiction risk.

Question 37

What are common replacement strategies for addiction treatment?

Answer 37

Nicotine gum, patches, e-cigarettes, varenicline, and methadone.

Question 38

How do e-cigarettes work as a treatment?

Answer 38

They deliver nicotine without combustion, reducing exposure to harmful substances.

Question 39

What are concerns about e-cigarettes?

Answer 39

Unknown long-term effects and potential for high toxin exposure at higher temperatures.

Question 40

What is the trend in smoking and vaping among youth?

Answer 40

Smoking is declining, but vaping is increasing, especially among adolescents.

Question 41

What defines addiction in neuroscience terms?

Answer 41

Loss of control and inhibition, involving changes in the striatum, cortex, and limbic system.