Substance Abuse

• excessive use of a chemical substance, such as drugs and alcohol, and the resulting physical and psychological dependence that interferes with life's activities.
• 1. losing control in use of the drug
• 2. ingesting the drug even though the drug has caused adverse conditions in the body
• 3. demonstrating cognitive, behavioral, physiologic disturbances with the abuse of drugs or inhalants

• condition that causes habitual, compulsive, and uncontrollable urge to use a substance
• without it, the body has sever physical, psychological, and emotional disturbances

• Use: taking chemicals for pleasure without dependence
• Misuse: using chemicals for reasons other than their intended action

• causes negative outcomes after abusers stop using the substances
• a disease caused by changes in the brain that affect human behavior
• manifested by substance craving, seeking, and subsequent use

• may result if the drug is eliminated suddenly
• ex. hallucinations, severe irritability, hyperactivity

• five or more for men
• four or more for women
• a. 12oz beer
• b. 5oz wine
• c. 1.5 oz 80-proof spirits

• disease in which patient:
• has a strong need (craving) or compulsion to consume alcohol
• unable to limit alcohol consumption once drinking has begun (loss of control)
• experiences physical dependence
• has a need to increase the amt of alcohol to get the desired effect (tolerance)

a person does not have a stron craving loss of control, or physical dependence but has problems resulting from alcohol use. (one or more events within a year)

• hallucinations
• acute confusion/disorientation
• restlessness/agitation
• hyperactivity of ANS (tachycardia, hypertension, fever)
• pronounced diaphoresis
• (give benzodiazepines to prevent seizures and DTs)

• excite the cerebral cortex of the brain, stimulates increase in body activity
• Examples: nicotine, caffiene, amphetamines, methamphetamines
• Illicit and Abused: crack, cocaine, illegal meths
• Therapeutic Effects: sense of well-being, increased mental alertness, increased capacity to work, improved motor skills, stim general metabolism
• Large Amount SX: insomnia, tremor, restlessness, loss of motor fxn
• Overdose: hallucination, seizure, cardiac dysrhythmia, resp distress, ataxia, fever, coma, MI

• chemical substances that produce mind altering or mental perception-altering properties
• * Lysergic acid (LSD)
• * Phencyclidine (PCP)
• * 3, 4-methylenedioxymethoamphetamine (MDMA)
• * Marijuana

Thrill seeking effects and alteration in perception d/t changes in the NTs in the brain

alterations in mood, sensory distortions, delusions, and depersonalization, elevated vital signs, dilated pupils, psychological dependence, suicidal or psychotic stats, flashbacks

• prototype and major hallucinogenic drug
• iterrupts interaction of nerve cells and NT seretonin
• seretonin usually regulates mood, hunger, hody temp, sexual behavior, muscle control, and sensory perception
• colorful absorbent paper
• effects are unpredictable (good trip/bad trip), can last up to 12 hours
• Bizarre thoughts and feelings can lead to suicide, schizophrenia
• SNS stimulation causes tremors and hyperreflexia
• Strong tolerance, but does not cause drug-seeking behaviors

• drugs that reduce the activity of the CNS
• Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates
• therapeutic use: treat anxiety and emotional disorders, adjuncts to sleep, for situational tension
• route: oral or injection
• Effects: decreased anxiety, improves sense of well-being, lower inhibitions, decreased HR/BP/RR, fatigue, confusion, impaired coordination/memory/judgement
• Long Term: addiction, respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, death.
• Treatment: symptomatic relief and comfort measures

• broad term, all drugs that are made from the Asian poppy or a synthetic drug with same effects of the opium plant.
• therapeutic fx: decrease pain perception
• codeine, morphine, heroin, methadone, hydromorphone (dilaudid), meperidine (demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin)
• Dependency d/t analgesia and euphoria
• Effects in CNS and GI system (depression)

• breathable chemical vapors that produce psychoactive effects
• popular in children, adolescents, and young adults
• Solvents: exhilarating high (paint thinners, gasoline, glues, paper correction fluid, felt-tip markers)
• Gases: (butane lighters, propane tanks, whipping cream aerosols, spray paints, hair and deodorant sprays, chloroform, ether, nitrous oxide)
• Nitrites: (cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite)
• produce anesthetic effects, slow body fxn, feel intoxicated, lessinhibited, less control
• can cause death from cardiac failure, suffocation
• Irreversible Effects: hearing losses, limb spasms, brain damage, bone marrow suppression

• anabolic-androngenic steroids (muscle building, increased masculinity)
• synthetic substances, mimic actions of testosterone
• boost athletic performance, but with complications