SUBSTANCE USE PDF

Thursday, November 7, 2024 3:09 PM SUBSTANCE USE Psychoactive drugs: - Chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioural functioning Psychedelics (hallucinogens): - Drugs that act on various neurotransmitters to produce visual hallucinations and out-of-body experienc...

Thursday, November 7, 2024 3:09 PM SUBSTANCE USE Psychoactive drugs: - Chemical substances that modify mental, emotional, or behavioural functioning Psychedelics (hallucinogens): - Drugs that act on various neurotransmitters to produce visual hallucinations and out-of-body experiences - Primary psycho-biological action: ○ Marked alterations in cortical functioning including cognition, perception and mood - Heightened awareness (and distortion) of sensory input often accompanied by enhanced sense of clarity and diminished control over experience - Sometimes called "psychotomimetic" - mimic psychotic state Opioid Analgesics: - Pain killers, mimic analgesic actions of endorphins - Inhibit release of pain-inducing transmitters ○ Highly addictive Opioids (defined): - Natural or synthetic substances that are capable of relieving pain Sedatives: - Sleep-inducing drugs that tend to decrease central nervous system (CNS) activation and behavioural activity Ethyl Alcohol: - Sedative-hypnotic, Psycho-active drug - Affects CNS (central nervous system) - stimulant AND depressant  - Sleep-inducing drugs that tend to decrease central nervous system (CNS) activation and behavioural activity Ethyl Alcohol: - Sedative-hypnotic, Psycho-active drug - Affects CNS (central nervous system) - stimulant AND depressant *Alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen ○ 0 drinks per week: § Not drinking has benefits, such as better health, and better sleep ○ 2 standard drinks or less per week: § You are likely to avoid alcohol-related consequences for yourself or others at this level ○ 3-6 standard drinks per week: § Your risk of developing several types of cancer, including colon and breast cancer, increases at this level ○ 7 standard drinks or more per week: § Your risk of heart disease or stroke increases significantly at this level Benzodiazepines: - Produces a sense of calm and well-being - Tranquilizing, sedating - Anxiety and sleep disorders Stimulants: - Drugs that tend to increase central nervous system activation and behavioural activity - Excite or stimulate CNS functioning (psychostimulant) ○ Increase dopaminergic energy, Elevate mood, Increase motor activity, Increase alertness, Reduce/allay sleep, Sense of well-being Popular combos: - Alcohol and (any) other drug - "speed balls" - cocaine and heroin - "Ts and Rs" - pentazocine (talwin) and methylphenidate (ritalin) T's and R's: - Talwin (pain relief) and Ritalin (stimulant) - Injected - "High" followed by "low" (depressive effects) - Unpleasant effects: ○ Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shakiness, confusion, constipation,  - Injected - "High" followed by "low" (depressive effects) - Unpleasant effects: ○ Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, shakiness, confusion, constipation, anorexia, insomnia, paranoia - High doses of Talwin and Ritalin: ○ Increased blood pressure, Hallucinations, Coma, Death Club Drugs: - Crystal meth, MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), "Date rape" drugs, Ketamine Antagonistic therapies - "Antagonists" ○ Reverses or prevents the effects of opiates - Naloxone (Narcan) ○ Duration - 3 minutes Drug replacement therapy: - "Agonist", Replaces the problematic drug - Binds to receptor cells, eliminates withdrawal symptoms - Clinical examples: ○ Methadone, Naltrexone, Buprenorphine Substance use in Canada: - Costs of alcohol and tobacco use have diverged - Costs of opioids increased 66% - Tobacco use still causes the most deaths - Opioids, alcohol responsible for most productive years of life lost ○ Grade 7 and 8 students: ○ Regular cannabis use greatest risk of physical harm ○ High school students: ○ Cocaine greatest risk of harm Sub-group differences: - Males are more likely than females to use: ○ Energy drinks, Cough/cold medication, Tobacco cigarettes, Smokeless tobacco ADHD drugs (non-medicinal), Synthetic cannabis, Mushrooms, Cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD - Females are more likely than males to use:  - Males are more likely than females to use: ○ Energy drinks, Cough/cold medication, Tobacco cigarettes, Smokeless tobacco ADHD drugs (non-medicinal), Synthetic cannabis, Mushrooms, Cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD - Females are more likely than males to use: ○ Inhalants Perceived availability of drugs: - Alcohol is perceived as the most readily available ○ 60% report "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain - Perceived availability of most drugs has declines over the decades