PsychosocialTest 6 Flashcards
(117 cards)
define substance
drug of abuse, a medication, or a toxin
define substance abuse
- -the ingesting (by eating, drinking, injecting, or inhaling) of any chemical that affects the body.
- -includes legal, illegal, and medicinal substances
- -culturally and socially defined
define abused substances
chemicals that alter an individual’s perception by affecting the CNS
- -often called mind-altering drugs
- ability to enhance or depress moods/emotions
define substance (drug) abuse
the excessive use of a substance that differs from societal norms
define habituation
occurs when an individual depends on a substance to provided pleasure or relief
define substance (chemical) dependency
occurs when a user must take usual dose of the drug to prevent the onset of withdrawal signs/symptoms
how drugs affect pregnancy
- first trimester of pregnancy, developing fetus is highly sensitive
- -may alter the placenta
- -ability to perform life-promoting functions
Fetal alcohol syndrome
- -result of excessive alcohol use during pregnancy
- -1 child/1000 live births
- -smaller at birth
- -small heads (microcephaly)
- -fail to develop normally
- -CNS deficits, mental retardation, hyperactivity
- -irritability, poor feeding habits
- -slow growth rates, developmental delays
- -behavioral problems, intellectual impairment
- -poor judgement
- -facial features (low nasal bridge, epicanthic folds, short eyelid tissues, short nose, small midface, indistinct infranal depression, thin upper lip)
how infants are affected when exposed to cocaine in utero
sleeping and eating problems. unusual levels of irritability, high pitched cries
children of parents who use both legal and illegal chemicals are likely to:
- -do poorly in school
- -have difficulty controlling their emotions
- -exhibit low self-esteem
- -repeat the cycle of substance abuse as they age
what is most frequently abused drug of adolescents
- -alcohol
- -alcohol related accidents are the leading cause of death
adolescents experiment with drugs for what reasons
- -recreational ways
- -social setting
- -relaxation
- -intoxication
define dual diagnosis
- -people with serious mental illness who also are addicted to or use chemicals or have other mental health problems
- -estimated 75% of the mentally ill has a dual diagnosis
- -ppl with personality disorders very likely to have co-occurring mental disorder (include anxiety, mood, and impulse control disorders)
how is alcohol metabolized and excreted
metabolized by the liver
excreted by the kidneys and lungs
effects of alcohol
- -low dose=rise in PH and HR
- -large dose=cardiac irregularities, blood vessels dilate (flushing of the skin)
- -rapid loss of body heat
- -numbness of the hands and feet
- -false sense of warmth
- -can actually reduce body T
define narcotics
- -CNS depressants
- -occur naturally, semi-synthetically, synthetically
- -often called opioids or opiates
semisynthetic narcotics include:
heroin
hydromorphone
thebaine derivatives
define heroin
- -white
- -bitter tasting powder
- -put in solution and injected
- -can be white to dark brown
- -black tar heroin=processed form of heroin. made in Mexico. 80% impurities
stimulants include
caffeine cocaine certain prescription drugs (amphetamines) appetite suppressants, methylphenidate (Ritalin)
large amounts of caffeine produce:
tremors tachycardia nervousness insomnia most prominent withdrawal symptom is headache
summarize cocaine
- -potent natural stimulant
- -relieve fatigue and hunger
- -available on the street as a white, crystalline powder
- -often contaminated with anesthetics or sugar
- -either injected or snorted
- -rush of energy, vigor, feelings of well being
- -last less than 1 hour
- -mental dependency can occur trying to reach initial high
- -overstimulates the nervous system
- -can dissolve the nasal septum, resulting in collapsed nose
summarize crack
- -type of processed cocaine
- -combining cocaine with ammonia or baking soda and heating it
- -produces chips or chunks of highly addicting cocaine
- -called rocks
- -usually vaporized in a pipe or smoked
summarize amphetamines
- -originally pharmaceutically manufactured
- -treat depression, narcolepsy, hyperactivity in children, obesity
- -strong stimulants with addictive properties
- -only available by prescription
summarize hallucinogens
- -natural and synthetic substances
- -alter one’s perception of reality
- -peyote cactus contains mescaline
- -LSD=ergot fungus, orally or inhaled
- -heighten awareness of reality, distortions in time, space, and body image
- -feelings of depersonalization loss sense of reality
- -flashbacks may occur after drug has worn off
- -can lead to various mental health problems