ch. 27: substance abuse and associated problems

Abused substances may be classified in many ways, including mode of action and source. Under mode of action, commonly abused psychoactive substances include the following:

1. Central nervous system depressants or tranquilizers, such as alcohol 2. Narcotics or painkillers, which cause euphoria and drowsiness 3. Stimulants, such as coffee or amphetamines 4. Psychedelics or hallucinogens, which alter a person's perception and awareness and produce illusions

euphoria

A feeling of great happiness or well-being

Cardiovascular Problems

Cocaine and other stimulants such as amphetamines affect the cardiovascular system, causing irregular heartbeat and increased blood pressure. This may lead to heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure at a young age.

special K

MDMA

ectasy

MDMA - a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

angel dust

Phencyclidine

ch. 27 summary

Substance abuse or chemical dependency in an individual complicates health care because diagnostic tests may be inaccurate, disease may be masked or aggravated, and drug interactions are likely to develop. • Dependency may be psychological, physiologic, or a combination of these factors. • Categories of abused substances include illegal street drugs, prescribed medications, alcohol, and household substances. • Effects of substances include CNS stimulation or depression or hallucinations. • Some indicators of substance abuse are behavioral changes; decreased regard for appearance, family, or work responsibilities; or specific physical characteristics. • Overdose or toxicity is a frequent outcome because the safety margin in the dose is often small, street drugs may be contaminated, and combinations of chemicals are dangerous. • Withdrawal is best accomplished with medical support. • Children of substance abusers are frequently born with congenital defects and a dependency to the substance. • Potential complications for substance abusers include infection, liver disease, malnutrition, CNS damage, and cardiovascular disorders.

chemical dependency

a condition in which drug use is compulsive and users are unable to stop because of physical and/or psychological dependency

psychological dependence

a continuing desire to take the drug so as to function

overdose

a strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug

speed

amphetamines

Hepatotoxins

chemicals that can cause liver damage; synthetic organic compounds and heavy metals

snow

cocaine

Synergism

combination of two drugs causes an effect that is greater than the sum of the individual effects of each drug alone

Alcoholic liver disease, or Laënnec cirrhosis

develops in persons with chronic alcoholism or long-term excessive alcohol intake. In 2010 there were 15,990 liver disease deaths due to alcoholism. Alcohol is a hepatotoxin, an irritant that causes metabolic changes in the liver cells, leading first to lipid accumulation in the cells (fatty liver), then to inflammation and necrosis (alcoholic hepatitis), and finally to fibrosis or scar tissue formation

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

describe the 3 stages of liver damage that may caused by excessive alcohol intake (laennec's cirrhosis)

first: lipid accumulation in the cells (fatty liver), second: inflammation and necrosis (alcoholic hepatitis), and third: fibrosis or scar tissue formation

name medications used to treat heroin addiction and alcohol addiction.

for heroin addiction, methadone; for alcohol addiction, disulfiram (Antabuse)

blow

heroin

tolerance

implies that because the body adapts to the substance, in time, the amount of the substance taken must be increased to achieve the same effect. The client who has tolerance to a substance will experience withdrawal if use of the substance is discontinued.

addiction

is an older term but is still in common use and is employed for the most serious form of substance abuse—the uncontrollable compulsion to use a substance, often with serious consequences for the individual, the family, and society. Substance abuse at this level often involves increased use of the substance and loss of control over use, leading to multidimensional issues including health, social, psychological, occupational, and legal problems.

treatment for substance abuse

long term therapy and support

weed

marijuana

habit

means a practice, often involuntary, of using drugs or other substances at regular and frequent intervals. Habit may be associated with either common customs such as constant coffee drinking or cigarette smoking or the use of illegal or street drugs. These terms do not apply to the occasional use on social occasions of a substance such as alcohol when the user feels no need to consume a large amount or to have a drink at regular short intervals.

ice

methamphetamine

substance abuse

or chemical dependency, is a broad term that refers to the inappropriate or unnecessary (nonmedical) use of drugs or chemicals that impairs a person's function in some way to some extent. The individual desires the substance because it may cause euphoria, a sense of pleasure ("high"), or may alter one's perception of reality or decrease one's awareness of people and the environment. Essentially the drug interferes with the brain's reward system, increasing the craving for the drug as well as promoting tolerance and dependence. Substance abuse is not limited to illegal or street drugs but may include prescribed drugs or other readily available substances.

Hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

according to present theories, what are the five causes of substance abuse?

psychological imbalances, personality deficits, biologic abnormalities, dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, or some combination of any of these factors

Physiologic dependence

the body has adapted to the drug so that discontinuing use will result in withdrawal signs such as tremors and/or cramps;

Withdrawl

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

addiction

the uncontrollable compulsion to use the substance often, with serious consequences for the individual, the family, and society— considered the most serious form of substance abuse

Substance abuse has been attributed to the following:

• Heredity or genetics • Family systems and practices • Disease • The ready availability of drugs • Stress and increased medical use of antianxiety agents • Increased acceptance of alcohol or marijuana as a recreational tool in all age groups