Question

1. Explain the major characteristics of abuse, dependence, tolerance, and approaches for treatment in the following drug classes: alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, hallucinogens, CNS stimulants, sedatives, and opioids.   Contrast and compare drug abuse, drug dependence, and drug tolerance.

2.Identify the three classes of medications used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates) used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, and the effects of these medications on the brain and give examples of the medications. (Choose one medication out of each category)

Answer 1

Drug abuse

repeated use of any substance like drug or alcohol which may interfere health, social and professional life.

Drug dependency

due to repeated use of certain substance results in withdrawal symptoms after cessation.

drug tolerance

tolerance is when a person no longer responds to the same dose they initially take.

Alcohol abuse

social and professional problems

Alcohol dependency

• continuous cravings for alcohol
• cannot stop alcoholism because of it may lead to insomnia, nauseous feeling diaphoresis, seizures and hallucinations

alcohol tolerance

• need to increase the quantity to get " kick"

treatment approaches

• counselling
• rehabilitation therapy techniques
• administer drugs to reduce alcohol cravings(eg. Naltrexone)
• administer medication to induce aversion while taking alcohol (eg. Disulfiram)

nicotine abuse

• stimulates body by immediate release of glucose, also increases heart rate, breathing activity and blood pressure and reduces anxiety.

nicotine tolerance

• increases the amount and need higher doses to enjoy the initial effect.

nicotine dependency

• when stopping suddenly, they show, cravings, sense of emptiness, anxiety, depression, moody behaviour, irritation, difficulty to concentrate

approaches for treatment

• behavioural therapy
• motivational interview
• nicotine replacement therapy
• non-nicotine medication
• counselling

hallucinogens abuse

• alter the thinking process
• hallucinations
• altered sense of time
• dissociative experience( feeling like not living in a body)

hallucinogen dependency

not proved, because it has less evidence about the effect on physical dependency.

hallucinogen tolerance

some hallucinogen causes tolerance, needs higher doses for the same effect.

treatment approach

there is no government-approved medication for the treatment of hallucinogen abuse. still, researches are progressing to find behavioural therapies are effective or not.