Class notes
Drug misuse and Addiction
- Course
- PHAR100 (PHAR100)
- Institution
- Queen’s University (QU )
Drug misuse and Addiction
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
PHARM Module 2 – Drug misuse and AddictionSECTION 1 – Substance use disorder
Introduction to the opioid crisis and substance use disorder:
- From Jan 2016 to Sept 2020, 19,355CADs died of apparent opioid overdose
o 94% accidental
what is substance use disorder (SUD)?
- Clinically diagnosed by a number of criteria. Once an individual meets a minimum of two
of the criteria, they are classified as having a mild SUD. The more criteria an individual
meets, the more severe the SUD. The various criteria can be generalized into sub
groups:
Social impairments:
- Individual fails to fulfill major roles (school, work) and/or has persistent social or
interpersonal problems. Additionally, social, occupational, or recreational activities may
be given up or reduced.
Risky use:
- The individual may use the substance in physically hazardous situations or use the
substance despite physiological or psychological problems caused by the use.
Impaired control:
- The individual may have persistent craving for the substance (i.e. addiction)
Withdrawal:
- The individual may experience a withdrawal syndrome after stopping use of the
substance
Tolerance:
- The individual may develop tolerance to the substance
Addiction
- The impaired control associated with SUD manifests as emotional and mental
preoccupation with the drug’s effects and by a persistent craving for the drug,
regardless of the consequences.
The dopamine hypothesis
Effect on reward systems:
- Commonly misused drugs increase dopamine in the reward systems of the brain (i.e.
limbic system)
- Other neurotransmitter systems are involved in substance misuse, but the increase in
dopamine appears to be a key component of the brain’s reward system.
Dopamine increase:
- These dopaminergic systems are also responsible for natural rewards such as food and
sex, as well as for stimulus-related rewards such as video games and gambling
,Characteristics of addictive drugs
Increase dopamine
- central nervous system stimulants:
o cocaine
o amphetamines
o nicotine
o caffeine
- opioids
o morphine
o heroin
o oxycotin
- and other drugs like alcohol and cannabis
Produce novelty
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
- Ecstasy, also known as MDMA
Reduce anxiety
- CNS depressants:
o Benzodiazepines
o Barbiturates
Drug withdrawal
- An abnormal psychological state produced by repeated administration of a drug that
leads to the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome when drug administration is
discontinued or the dose is decreased
- Severity of withdrawal increases with the speed of drug withdrawal, as the biological
processes that have accommodated to the presence of the drug do not have time to
reverse themselves
- Fear of withdrawal is one factor that contributes to the continuing of drug behaviour
Drugs and their withdrawal symptoms
Stimulants
Two common stimulants are cocaine and amphetamines. Their withdrawal symptoms:
- Sleepiness
- Muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Tremors
- Low mood
- Suicidal ideations (sometimes)
- CVD (sometimes)
Opioids
Common drugs are heroin, morphine and prescription drugs like oxycodone. Their withdrawal
symptoms:
- Sweating
, - Muscle aches
- Agitation
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Vomiting
Drug tolerance
- Repeated administration of a given dose of a drug has progressively less
pharmacological effect, or a state in which the dose of a drug must be increased to
obtain the same magnitude of pharmacological effect as was produced by the original
drug dose
- Usually expressed as a shortened duration of action and a decreased magnitude of
effect
- The extent and rate of development of tolerance is specific for each drug
- Drug tolerance is reversible upon drug discontinuation
Cross tolerance
- Cross tolerance can occur between pharmacologically similar drugs. Cross tolerance is
defined as the resistance or tolerance to one drug because of the resistance or
tolerance to a pharmacologically similar drug. This is displayed in the dose response
curve.
- E.g. if a person is tolerant to the CNS depressant alcohol, they will also be tolerant to the
CNS depressant benzodiazepines, even if they have never taken a benzo before in their
life.
Factors influencing SUD
Certain environments can increase the likelihood of drug misuse and SUD:
Genetic factors
- Can predispose you to an SUD
Pre-existing disorders
- Those with major affective disorder (depression, BPD), anxiety or schizophrenia are at
higher risk for SUD than the general population
Environmental factors
- Exposure to environments that promote drug use, family dynamics, trauma, and
social/work groups
- Spouses and siblings of those with SUD are at a higher risk of developing SUD
Developmental factors
- More vulnerable during certain developmental timeframes
o Adolescence and early adulthood
Stigma of SUD
- People with SUDs have been stigmatized by medical professionals and society
- This can lead to low self-esteem and isolation, a consequence of this is individuals not
receiving the medical or social help that they need.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller kianabrown1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for CA$21.52. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
78121 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now