Vocabulary Flashcards
(132 cards)
Addiction
Habitual, psychological and physiological dependence on a substance beyond one’s voluntary control.
Additive Effect
One mechanism of polydrug interaction. For a particular indicator of impairment, two drugs produce an additive effect if they both affect the indicator in the same way. For example, cocaine elevates pulse rate and PCP also elevates pulse rate. The combination of cocaine and PCP produces an additive effect on pulse rate.
Accommodation Reflex
The adjustment of the eyes for viewing at various distances. Meaning the pupils will automatically constrict as objects move closer and dilate as objects move further away.
Alkaloid
A chemical that is found in, and can be physically extracted from, some substance. For example, morphine is a natural alkaloid of opium. It does not require a chemical reaction to produce morphine from opium.
Analgesic
A drug that relieves or allays pain.
Analog of a Drug
An analog of a drug is a chemical that is very similar to the drug, both in terms of molecular structure and in terms of psychoactive effects. For example, the drug Ketamine is an analog of PCP.
Anesthetic
A drug that produces a general or local insensibility to pain and other sensation.
Insufflation
Snorting (nasal ingestion)
Bruxism
Grinding Teeth
Mydriasis
Abnormally large pupils (dilated)
Miosis
Abnormally small pupil (constricted)
Necrosis
Dead/Decaying body tissue
Rebound Dilation
A period of pupillary construction, followed by a period of pupillary dilation, where the pupil steadily increases in size and does not return to it’s original constricted size.
Drug
Any substance that, when taken into the human body, can impair the ability of a person to operate a vehicle safely.
Antagonistic Effect
One mechanism of polydrug interaction. For a particular indicator of impairment, two drugs produce an antagonistic effect if they affect the indicator in opposite ways. For example, heroin constricts pupils while cocaine dilates pupils. The combination of heroin and cocaine produces an antagonistic effect on pupil size. Depending on how much of each drug was taken, and on when they were taken, the suspect’s pupil could be constricted, or dilated, or within the DRE average range of pupil size.
Arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm.
Artery
The strong, elastic blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
Ataxia
A blocked ability to coordinate movements. A staggering walk and poor balance may be caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord. This can be the result of trauma, birth defect, infection, tumor or drug use.
Autonomic Nerve
A motor nerve that carries messages to the muscles and organs that we do not consciously control.
Axon
The part of a neuron (nerve cell) that sends out a transmitter
Blood Pressure
The force exerted by blood on the walls of the arteries.
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heart rate.
Bradypnea
Abnormally slow rate of breathing.
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Abnormal pattern of breathing. Marked by breathlessness and deep, fast breathing.