UNIT #2 Flashcards
(92 cards)
The DSM-IV classifies substance-related disorders into two major categories:
substance use disorders and substance-induced disorders.
substance-induced disorders
Disorders, such as intoxication, that can be induced by using psychoactive substances
Substance use disorders
are patterns of maladaptive use of psychoactive substances. These disorders, which include substance abuse and substance dependence
substance abuse
(5)
(1) is a pattern of recurrent use that leads to damaging consequences.
(2) Damaging consequences may involve failure to meet one’s major role responsibilities (e.g., as student, worker, or parent), (3) putting oneself in situations where substance use is physically dangerous (e.g., mixing driving and substance use), (4) encountering repeated problems with the law arising from substance use (e.g., multiple arrests for substance-related behavior), or
(5) having recurring social or interpersonal problems because of substance use (e.g., repeatedly getting into fights when drinking
substance dependence
(3)
(1) Substance abuse continues for a long period of time or progresses
(2) a more severe disorder associated with physiological signs of dependence (tolerance or withdrawal syndrome) or compulsive use of a substance.
(3) People who become compulsive users lack control over their drug use. They may be aware of how their drug use is disrupting their lives or damaging their health, but feel helpless or powerless to stop using drugs, even though they may want to.
Diagnostic Features of Substance Dependence
(7)
(1) Tolerance for the substance
(2) Withdrawal symptoms
(3) Taking larger amounts of the substance or for longer periods of time than the individual intended
(4) Persistent desire to cut down or control intake of substance or lack of success in trying to exercise self-control.
(5) Spending a good deal of time in activities directed toward obtaining the substance
(6) The individual has reduced or given up important social, occupational, or recreational activities due to substance use
(7) Substance use is continued despite evidence of persistent or recurrent psychological or physical problems either caused or exacerbated by its use
Tolerance
is a state of physical habituation to a drug, resulting from frequent use, such that higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect.
withdrawal syndrome (also called an abstinence syndrome)
(3)
(1) is a cluster of symptoms that occur when a dependent person abruptly stops using a particular substance following heavy, prolonged use.
(2) People who experience a withdrawal syndrome often return to using the substance to relieve the discomfort associated with withdrawal, which thus serves to maintain the addictive pattern.
(3) Withdrawal symptoms vary with the particular type of drug.
addiction
(3)
(1) is compulsive use of a drug accompanied by signs of physiological dependence.
(2) People become compulsive users when they have impaired control over their use of a drug.
(3) In effect, they feel compelled to continue using the drug despite the negative consequences that continued use of the drug entails.
physiological dependence. (2)
(1) A condition in which the drug user’s body comes to depend on a steady supply of the substance.
(2) The major signs of physiological dependence are the development of tolerance and a withdrawal syndrome.
psychological dependence
Compulsive use of a substance to meet a psychological need
Although the progression to substance dependence varies from person to person, one common pathway involves a progression through the following stages:
(2)
(1) Experimentation
(2) Routine use
Experimentation
(1) the drug temporarily makes users feel good, even euphoric.
(2) Users feel in control and believe they can stop at any time.
Routine Use
(4)
(1) people begin to structure their lives around the pursuit and use of drugs.
(2) Denial plays a major role at this stage, as users mask the negative consequences of their behavior to themselves and others.
(3) Values change.
(4) What had formerly been important, such as family and work, comes to matter less than the drugs.
Drugs of abuse are generally classified within three major groupings:
(a) depressants, such as alcohol and opioids; (b) stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine; and (c) hallucinogens
depressant
(2)
(1) is a drug that slows down or curbs the activity of the central nervous system.
(2) It reduces feelings of tension and anxiety, slows movement, and impairs cognitive processes.
Risk Factors for Alcoholism
(5)
(1) gender
(2) age
(3) antisocial personality disorder
(4) family history
(5) Sociodemographic factors
barbiturates
Sedative drugs which are depressants with high addictive potential
narcotics
Drugs that are used medically for pain relief but that have strong addictive potential.
stimulants
Psychoactive substances that increase the activity of the nervous system.
amphetamines
A class of stimulants that activate the central nervous system, producing heightened states of arousal and feelings of pleasure.
major theoretical perspectives on substance abuse and dependence
(5)
(1) Biological Perspectives
- Neurotransmitters
- genetic factors
(2) Learning Perspectives
- Operant Conditioning
- Alcohol and Tension Reduction
- Negative Reinforcement and Withdrawal
- The Conditioning Model of Cravings
- Observational Learning
(3) Cognitive Perspectives
(4) Psychodynamic Perspectives
(5) Sociocultural Perspectives
Neurotransmitters
(4)
(1) Many psychoactive drugs, including nicotine, alcohol, heroin, marijuana, and especially cocaine and amphetamines, increase levels of the neuro-transmitter dopamine in the brain’s pleasure or reward circuits—the networks of neurons responsible for producing feelings of pleasure or states of euphoria
(2) Consequently, the brain’s natural reward system—the “feel good” circuitry that produces states of pleasure associated with the ordinarily rewarding activities of life,—becomes blunted
(3) the addict’s brain comes to depend on having the drug available to produce feelings of pleasure or satisfaction
(4) Endorphins and opiates dock at the same receptor sites in the brain. Normally, the brain produces a certain level of endorphins that maintains a psychological steady state of comfort and potential to experience pleasure. However, when the body becomes habituated to a supply of opioids, it may stop producing endorphins. This makes the user dependent on opiates for comfort, relief from pain, and pleasure.
Biological perspectives (2)
(1) focuses on uncovering the biological pathways that may explain mechanisms of physiological dependence.
(2) spawns the disease model, which posits that alcoholism and other forms of substance dependence are disease processes.