Transcript Addiction

What is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition
characterized by compulsive drug seeking and
abuse, in spite of negative health, social and
behavioral consequences
 Addiction is a brain disease
 Sustained drug abuse leads to changes in both the
structure and function of the brain
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Neurons Talking
Dopamine
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Drug use activates the brain’s pleasure pathway
Drug use causes dopamine levels to spike high
Brain remembers this and looks forward to doing
it again
After spike dopamine levels go below baseline
Brain thinks it needs drug for survival
Person needs drug to feel normal
Dopamine Activity PET Scan
The end result: Cravings
Our brains are wired to pursue natural
rewards (food, love, sex)
 Drug use begins to activate these same
circuits
 This activation causes our brain to crave
the drug
 These cravings become even stronger
than those for food and love.
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The Pre-frontal Cortex
Located in the front of the brain
 Allows us to weigh risks and consequences
 Referred to as “The Seat of Sober Thought”
 Pre-Frontal Cortex still developing in teenagers
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“What are the implications of this information?”
How Addiction is Diagnosed
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For a person to be diagnosed as an addict at
least 3 of the following symptoms must be
present:
1.
Symptoms of tolerance
Symptoms of withdrawal
Use of substance in large amounts or for longer then intended
The desire or attempt to reduce or control use
Spending considerable time or effort to obtain the substance
A reduction in social, recreational or occupational activities because of
drug use
Continued use despite of health, social or economic problems
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Who Becomes Addicted ?
Anyone can become addicted to drugs or alcohol
 No single factor determines if a person will become
an addict
 Nature and nurture influence a person’s risk for
addiction
 Certain personality types and mental health
problems may make a person more susceptible to
addiction
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Risk Factors for Addiction
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Having parents or immediate family members who
are/were addicted to drugs or alcohol
Being depressed or anxious
Other mental disorders
Experiencing trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse
Stressful life events
Conflict at home
Exposure to drugs, or being pressured to use them
Using drugs or alcohol before the age of 15
Principles of Effective Treatment
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Not one size fits all
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Needs to meet the needs of the individual
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Must be long enough
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Counseling and behavior therapy are critical components
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Change people, places things ~What happens if they do
not do this?
Effective Treatment continued
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Co-occurring disorders should be treated
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Medications may be used
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Detoxification does little to change long term
use
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Recovery can be a long term process
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Be prepared for relapses
Routes of Administration
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Oral Administrationtaken in through the mouth
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Injection-drug delivered
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Inhalation-substance is
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Absorption-drug is
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with a hypodermic needle
smoked or huffed
absorbed through the skin
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Discussion Questions
How does the route of
administration affect the
addictive properties of the
substance ?
Can the route of
administration affect the
risks of using the drug?
Classification of Psychoactive Drugs
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Stimulants- Cocaine, Methamphetamine,
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Hallucinogens- LSD, PCP
Marijuana
Depressants- Alcohol, Barbiturates, Inhalants,
Opioids- Heroin, Morphine
Psycho-therapeutics- Prozac, Haldol, Xanax
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Nicotine
Marijuana
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The most widely used illegal drug in the US
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Dry shredded mix of flowers, stems and
leaves from the cannabis plant
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Smoked as a cigarette or in a pipe most
often.
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Active chemical in marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Effects of Marijuana
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Short Term
Distorted perception
Difficulty thinking and
problem solving
Loss of coordination
Increased heart rate
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Long Term
Respiratory problems
Negatively affect cells
that produce
dopamine
Fertility problems
Emotional problems
Connected to further
drug use
Addictive properties
Cocaine
Classified as a stimulant
 Several routes of administration
 Extremely addictive
 Interferes with the re-absorption of
dopamine
 Often produces wild and erratic behavior
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The Cocaine High
Effects of Cocaine
Short Term Effects
Mental alertness
 Increased energy
 Increased heart
rate/blood pressure
 Increased
temperature
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Long Term Effects
Number of
dopamine
receptors reduced
 Cardiovascular,
respiratory and
neurological
complications
 Paranoid psychosis
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Cocaine Abuse…Putting Your Life In
Your Own Hands
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use of crack or cocaine can
lead to death~ even the first time
 Alcohol
and cocaine can combine
in a person’s liver to produce
coca-ethylene
MDMA
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Also known as ecstasy
Taken in pill form
Classified as a stimulant
Also acts as a psychedelic
Affects neurons that use serotonin to
communicate
MDMA Health Risks
Interferes with temperature regulation
 Similar physical risks as other stimulants
 Long lasting psychological effects
 Possible neurotoxicity
 Unknown drug purity
 Interferes with cognitive ability
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Alcohol
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Classified as a depressant
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Has complicated effects on the nervous system
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The most commonly used and abused
psychoactive drug
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17,602 people killed in alcohol related crashes in
2006
Effects of Alcohol
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Short Term
Impairs judgment and
coordination
Linked to a variety of
aggressive acts
Blackouts
Hangovers
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Long Term
Brain Damage
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Liver Disorders
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Heart Disease
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Cancer
CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER
Prescription Drug Abuse
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Over 20% of
Americans report
misusing prescription
drugs
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In 2005 598,542 ER
visits due to misuse
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Misuse of prescription
drugs is illegal
Classes of Commonly
Abused Rx Drugs
 Opioids
 Central Nervous System
Depressants
 Stimulants
Dangers of Prescription Drug Abuse
Opioids can slow or stop breathing
 Stimulant use associated with high body
temperature, irregular heart rate and
seizure
 CNS Depressants can cause seizures, slow
heart rate and respiratory arrest
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Do prescription drug abusers always know
what they are taking?
Methamphetamine
10 million people 12 years and older
abused Meth in 2005
 Meth is extremely addictive
 Causes the brain to release excessive
amounts of dopamine.
 Crash after high often leads to increased
use
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Effects of Methamphetamine
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Short Term
Violent Behavior
Anxiety
Confusion
Paranoia
Hallucinations
Delusions
Long Term
 Damage to nerves
that produce
serotonin and
dopamine
 Cardiovascular system
damage
 Difficulty feeling
natural pleasure