HTW 318 EXAM 1

How alcohol intake may result in coma and/or death

"Acute alcohol poisoning" - dangerously high concentration of alcohol in the blood, high enough to induce coma or even death

Biphasic effect of alcohol

2 phases; body experiences an energizing/"positive" component followed by the introduction of the depressant, "negative" effects of alcohol

Complicit role of US government in 1980's crack epidemic

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Groups involved in manufacturing, distributing, and prohibiting drugs

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Groups vulnerable to substance abuse/addiction in relation to war

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What is Narcan?

A pure opioid antagonist; a medication used to counter the effects of opioid especially in overdose; may be injected in the muscle, vein or under the skin or sprayed into the nose

Tolerance

Ability or willingness to tolerate something

Which common prescription drugs are stimulants?

Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin

Aftercare services

Addiction therapy doesn't end with detox or rehab; recovery process will continue for weeks, months, or even years after you complete treatment

Where is most of the world's opium currently grown?

Afghanistan; accounts for 80% of world Opium growth (2014 World Drug Report)

Basic symptoms of withdrawal from opiates, heroin and prescription opioids

Agitation; anxiety; muscle aches; increased tearing; insomnia; runny nose; sweating; yawning; cramping; diarrhea; vomiting

Use of stimulant drugs in World War II

Amphetamine and methamphetamine were used extensively by both the Allied and Axis forces for their stimulant and performance-enhancing effects

How time and amount of alcohol consumed effect blood alcohol content (BAC) and intoxication

BAC continues to rise and effects on body worsen as more alcohol is consumed

What is the Central Nervous System made up of?

Brain and Spinal Cord

Basic physiological functions of the CNS

Breathing, heart rate, movement, sensation

Stimulant drugs

Cocaine, Amphetamines (speed, meth, "ice"), Amphetamine congeners (Adderall, diet pills), Plant stimulants (khat, betel nut, yohimbe), Caffeine, Nicotine (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco)

Disease concept of alcoholism and addiction

Condition resulting in medically significant symptoms, bodily dysfunction; some people reject the fact that addiction is a disease

Signs of alcohol poisoning or overdose

Confusion; vomiting; seizures; slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute); irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths); blue-tinged or pale skin; low body temperature (hypothermia); passing out (unconsciousness) and can't be awakened

Addiction counseling

Counseling sessions can take the form of one-on-one psychotherapy, peer support groups, or family therapy sessions

Effect of stimulant withdrawl

Decreased energy; decreased heart rate/blood pressure; decreased breathing, reflexes; sleepiness; lethargy; normal - pinpoint pupils; rebound appetite/thirst; depression

Stimulant drug effects on nervous system

Depends on the drug; amphetamine, cocaine, and methamphetamine all work by increasing levels of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine, this chemical is able to stimulate the brain; other stimulants also increase the levels of other chemicals such as serotonin, and norepinephrine, sometimes referred to as feel-good chemicals b/c they can produce a feeling of euphoria

Basic elements of effective treatment for addiction to opiates, including heroin, synthetic and semi-synthetic opiates

Detox; Addiction counseling; Medication therapy; Aftercare services

Detox

Detoxification is the first stage of treatment; drugs are safely removed from your body under medical supervision

What do the pupils of someone on a stimulant look like?

Dilated pupils: eyes will look like big black holes and eye color will be hard to see around the pupil; will make the eyes appear to be "popping" out of the head

How taking two depressants together may affect a person (e.g. heroin and alcohol)

Dizziness; drowsiness; loss of consciousness; shallow breathing; impaired coordination; overdose; slowed or irregular heart rate; tremors

Basic biological and physiological factors that affect how men and women process alcohol differently

Enzymes, body composition

Effects of excess dopamine surge

Excess Dopamine in synapse blocks reuptake; floods synapse with dopamine; reduces sensitivity to dopamine; dopamine receptors are destroyed

The relationship between drugs, governments, and economic interests

For centuries, drugs have been used as a commodity to fund wars, para-political groups, and governments; more drugs = more $

Biological

Gender, physical illness, disability, genetic vulnerability, immune function, neurochemistry, stress reactivity, medication effects

Formication

Hallucination involving the belief that something is crawling on the body or under the skin

Basic symptoms of alcohol withdrawal

Hangovers

Basic physiological effects of depressants

Horizontal Gaze and Nystagmus (HGN); Vertical Nystagmus (VN); drowsy; thick, slurred speech; uncoordinated, fumbling; flaccid muscle tone; sluggish; droopy eyelids; watery eyes; blood shot eyes; slow reflexes; wobbly legs

Self-medication

Human behavior in which an individual uses a substance or any exogenous influence to self-administer treatment for often unmanaged, undiagnosed physical or psychological ailments

Basic physiological effects of stimulants

Increase alertness/body activity; increased energy; increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, & reflexes; restlessness - excessive talking; hypersensitivity; dilated pupils; little appetite or thirst; overconfidence

What is the association between the Cold War and drug use/drug production?

Increased

Effects of mixing drugs

Increased effects; drug may affect you in a particular way that makes other drugs you take more dangerous than usual; one drug may mean you have to take higher levels of another type of drug to feel the effects and this can lead to overdose; the drugs might interact in completely unexpected ways

Routes of Administration (ROA)

Inhaling, snorting, injecting, orally, contact or transdermal

Long term use of stimulants and effect on body

Irritability; anxiety; excessive talking; long periods without eating/sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose; paranoia; disturbance of heart rhythm; chest pain; heart failure; strokes; seizures

Psychology

Learning/memory, attitudes/beliefs, personality, behaviors, emotions, coping skills, past trauma

How long does a high last for methamphetamine, cocaine?

Methamphetamine: 6-8 hours; cocaine: depends on how it's administered; snorting (lasts 60-90 minutes); injecting (lasts 20-60 minutes); smoking (lasts only 5-10 minutes)

Bio-Psycho-Social model of substance use and addictions

Model of 3 categories in which we describe substance use and addictions

Which drugs are depressants?

Opiates/opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, tranquilizers and alcohol

What are the three major classifications of depressants?

Opiates/opioids; sedative-hypnotics; alcohol

Basic elements of how Narcan works

Opioids will be knocked out of the opiate receptors in the brain; stronger than the Opiods

Why were the Opium Wars fought?

Opium Wars were fought between Britain and China to enforce the sale of opium in China by British companies

How do depressants impact the central nervous system (CNS)?

Pain signal transmitted through the nervous system causes a secondary terminal to release endorphins that then slot into receptor sites on the primary terminal and limit the release of the pain neurotransmitter substance P

Characteristics of phase 1 (enjoyment) and phase 2 (dysphoria)

People tend to feel better as their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises to .055 (phase 1); if people drink more and their BAC rises above .055, the negative effects of drinking increase and hangovers become worse (phase 2)

Basic genetic risk factors for alcoholism

People who have a parent or sibling with an addiction are 2-4 times more likely to become substance-dependent compared to somebody who does not have a relative with an addiction problem

What causes a blackout?

Phenomenon caused by the intake of any substance or medication in which long term memory creation is impaired, therefore causing a complete inability to recall the past

Cross-tolerance

Phenomenon that occurs when someone who is tolerant to the effects of a certain drug also develops a tolerance to another drug

What do the eyes of someone on opiates and heroin look like?

Pinpoint pupils

Why do people use psychoactive drugs?

Pleasure, friends/family use them, like the 'taste', to relieve tension and relax, to be part of a religious ceremony, they are lonely, to relieve boredom, pain relief, help cope with problems and forget worries, to do things that they usually could/would not do - it gives them courage

Basic trends of substance use in relation to war

Production increases, veterans need drugs for pain management and may ultimately depend on them; numbers rise drastically from 2003-2005 likely due to PTSD

Which ROA's get the brain fastest and slowest?

Quickest ROA means quickest for drug to be delivered to brain; take a shot, feel effect quickly b/c inside of mouth a lot like inside of nose, mouth full of blood vessels

Diseases associated with chronic heavy alcohol consumption

Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases (Anemia, Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, Dementia, Depression, Seizures, among many others)

Effects of alcohol on developing fetus and child e.g. sings of FAS.

Sleep/suckling difficulties; disproportionate facial features; stunted growth; speech/language/learning delays, poor memory; difficulty paying attention

Nicotine (tobacco) use effects on neurotransmitters

Smoke a cigarette or cigar, chew tobacco creates pleasant, calm and relaxed feelings Nicotine produces these effects by mimicking the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain Nicotine stimulates acetylcholine receptors on dopamine neurons, triggering the release of dopamine in the brain's reward center

Social

Social supports, family background, cultural traditions, social/economic status, education

Physical signs of intravenous (IV) drug use

Sudden neglect of responsibilities; neglect of personal hygiene; track marks on arms; wearing of long sleeves in warm weather (to hide marks); swollen or puffy hands and feet; extreme hyperactivity or lethargy; bloodstained water or tissues; knotted pantyhose or shoestring (used as a tourniquet); sudden withdrawal from usual activities; irritability/anxiety; borrowing or begging for money

What is the connection between war and drugs?

Those affected by war (soldiers, veterans, refugees, their families, and the countries involved), alcohol and other drugs are pursued as a refuge from suffering.

Medication therapy

Treatment programs remain one of the most effective approaches to helping addicts achieve long-term remission from this devastating disease