Chapter 4 Psych 4250 Depressants

Withdrawal effects of

- opiates -body aches and pains caused by a reduction in natural endorphins - insomnia - intestinal/ bowel problems - cramping/ hyperactivity in muscles -chills, fever, sweating, etc - increased blood pressure - decreased dopamine levels long term

Tolerance to pain medication

-develops rapidly as much as 10 x prescribed amount needed for the same effect just 10 days - " Unlimited tolerance" there is no limit to the amount the body and liver can metabolize resulting in extreme intake levels

Typical process of addiction

-initial injury leads to otc prescription

Benzodiapenes

Characteristics -developed in the 1960's - developed in response Barbiturates many high profiles in the 1950's and 1960's -Lower therapeutic index ( 30x more more needed for overdose compared to Barbiturates

Benzo increase what neurotransmitter

GABA

They mimic endorphins and increase the body's ability to tolerate pain

Heroin and Morphine

false

Heroin and morphine are considered long acting opioids

false

Heroin was first developed to be a non addictive medical alternatives to morphine

true

Historically speaking most drug laws were made for political rather than medical considerations.

GABA

a neurotransmitter responsible of slowing down neuronal firings -means less brain activity and a feeling of relaxation - increase GABA and slows down Neural firings

Allodynia

a painful response to a normally pain free stimulus often as a result of long term use of opiates/opiods

Hyperalgesia

a temporary increase in the sensitivity to painful stimuli that is experienced during the long term use of opiates/opioids used to treat pain

pain reduction leads to

abuse

true

acute withdrawal from heroin is not as life threatening as acute withdrawal from alcohol or sedative hypnotics.

correctly lists the three major classes of depressants

alcohol, opiates, sedative hypotics

Nociceptive o means pain cause by

external stimuli of pain receptors

the majority of heroin available in the united states comes from Afghanistan

false

the stop switch in the brain, which tell your mind and body that it has had enough and functions to turn the brain go switch, is located in the brain stem

false

How long can withdrawal symptoms following detoxification and abstinence from long acting opioids such as methadone persist?

for 14 days or more after detoxification

which of the following statements is true about opioids

most heroin abusers began by abusing prescription opioids

endorphins are responsible for what

numbing the body pain

Opiates

second oldest psychoactive drug (after alcohol) - opium was eventually refined to (10 x stronger)and Codeine (2 x stronger) -morphine was eventually refined into Heroin ( 5 x stronger than morphine)

Consumption of opiates

smoking is very popular - injection is very common as well ( primarily heroin) - Snorting ( 50% of those in treatment started snorting first) - Orally ( taking pills)

What happens when no pain is present when taking opiates

the numbing sensations turn into euphoria

Which of the following is true about opioids

there is almost no limit to the level of opioid tolerance a human can develop.

complications of benzodiazepines

traffic accidents are 50 percent higher among those who drive within 7 hours after dose -may result in blackouts( anterograde insomnia) - may result in neurological impairments months after discontinuation - may increase thoughts of suicide -should never be combined with other depressants

Human beings have naturally occurring endogenous opioids, which cause many of the same effects as those caused by taking opioids drugs ( exogenous opioids)

true

Opiates limit the release of and block receptors for substance P, which is the name of the neurotransmitter that transmits pain messages from nerve cell to nerve cell"

true

Most common Benzo's

vallium , xanax, klonopin , lorazapem

What was Heroin originally developed for

was originally developed by the bayer company in an effort to make pain medication that was not addictive

opiates

also known as narcotics - common types include - Codene - hydrocodene -oxycodone, Fenotyl, Heroin, Dilaudid

Tolerance of Benzodiazepines

can happen rapidly -not necessarily physical it is more psychological - eight weeks is the recommended continual use -some users reportedly use 100x the initial use

opiates numb what

physical and emotional pain - abuser will seek additional prescription - individual will start buying pill individually - abuser will not likely be able to afford pills which will lead to resort to heroin use

withdrawal metabolites

produced by benzodiapenes -end up affecting withdrawal - because of metabolites , and the fact that benzos get stored in body tissues, withdrawal can be severe. -Benzos should always be tapered down - withdrawal can lead to death and seizures - symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, confusion, nightmares, agitation, psychosis - 50 percent of individuals experience withdrawal symptoms

Most common withdrawal symptom from benzodiazepines

rebound anxiety process where anxiety increases to higher than initial levels as drugs exits the body -with increase of neural communication and anxiety, most individuals will consume benzos more often, and for longer than initially intended.