Addiction

• Tolerance refers to the need for increased amounts of a substance to achieve the same effect over time.
• Withdrawal happens when a person stops using a substance for a period of time leading to physical and psychological symptoms.
• Withdrawal symptoms occur when an individual stops using a drug, such as tremors, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, and hallucinations.
• An agonist is a drug that binds to the receptor, producing a similar response to the intended chemical and receptor.
• Whereas an antagonist is a drug that binds to the receptor either on the primary site, or on another site, which all together stops the receptor from producing a response
• Disulfiram (Antabuse) is an agonistic drug which reacts with alcohol to produce an unpleasant reaction, including: nausea and vomiting. The effects can be felt as a severe hangover after just 5 minutes!
• Agonist (methadone) Bind to the receptor sites and activate them, producing similar effects (euphoria) to the drug themselves (Heroin). 

  Much cleaner substance, with less side effects. Can be used to control withdrawal and gradual reduction in dose and symptoms. 
• Antagonists (Naltraxone) Help to bind to the receptor site and blocking them so that the drug of dependence (heroine) cannot have its usual effect.
• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

  Nicotine is presented in alternate ways and although dependency can occur, it is far less harmful than smoking. NRT helps stop smoking in three key ways: 

  • Reduces withdrawal symptoms.
  • Provides positive reinforcement, in particular for inhalers and gum, due to their stress relieving properties.

  Desensitise the nicotine receptors in the brain
• 1st risk factor of addiction; Genetic vulnerability - predisposition (can't inherit addiction) , has to be gene-environment interaction (exposure), also genetic mechanisms involved e.g. D2 receptor levels are low.
• 5 risk factors of addiction; genetic vulnerability, stress, personality, family influence, peers
• 2nd risk factor of addiction; stress (inability to cope) increase= increase vulnerability. Maladaptive coping (e.g. alcohol). May be chronic stress or trauma related and stress of financing/quitting the addiction is stress maintenance.
• 3rd risk factor of addiction; Personality- Antisocial personality disorder, characteristics such as impulsivity, break social norms, behave criminally to satisfy own desires.
• 4th risk factor of addiction; Family influence - positive attitudes towards addictive substances, little to no monitoring of behaviour (more likely). SLT - exposure is a factor, parents are role models, kids learn through vicarious reinforcement.
• 5th risk factor of addiction; peers - positive attitudes towards substances, experimentation (increased risk of exposure). Blame of initiation & maintenance of peer pressure often. 3 factors of alcohol risk; associating with people who drink alcohol, experienced peers providing opportunities and overestimation of the amount of alcohol consumed.