Addictive BehaviorsAddictive Behaviors
Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.
Penn State Harrisburg
What is addiction?What is addiction?
Substance abuseSubstance dependenceThese qualities are only related to
addiction
AddictionAddiction
Refers to the use of a substance characterized by:– The development of tolerance– The presence of withdrawal symptoms– The characteristic use of substances across a
wide array of circumstances
Diagnosis of Substance Diagnosis of Substance DependenceDependence Symptoms (at least 3 of):
– Tolerance– Withdrawal symptoms– Uses more than intended– Unable to reduce use– Much of time spent to obtain substance or recover
from use– Use continues despite physical or health problems – Gives up many other activities
Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse
Diagnosis (1 of the following)– Failure to fulfill major obligations, as
absences from work or school– Exposure to physical danger– Legal problems (such as a DUI, disorderly
conduct)– Persistent social or interpersonal problems
Psychoactive DrugsPsychoactive Drugs
I. Stimulants– “uppers”
– Speed, meth
– Amphetamines
– Methylphenidate
– Caffeine
– Nicotine
II. Depressants– “downers”
– Sedatives
– Hypnotics
– Ethanol
– Minor tranquilizers
– Barbiturates
StimulantsStimulants
Increase heart rate, respiration, release or facilitate neurotransmitters
Increased speech, pace of motor behavior, alertness and concentration
Can yield agitation, anxiety, flood of ideas, euphoria
Extreme doses can lead to paranoia, suspiciousness, guardedness, excessive withdrawal
DepressantsDepressants
Reduce muscle tone, relax, sedate induce sleep
Reduced respiration, heart rate, gastric motility
Loss of judgment, higher cognitive processes
Loss of behavioral inhibition
Other Classes of DrugsOther Classes of Drugs
HallucinogensMethylated HallucinogensKetamines (as PCP)MarijuanaEthanolNicotine
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Relatively recent discoveryD-Lysergic Acid Diethlamide
– Hoffer discovered LSD 25 quite by accident in his laboratory in 1938
– Took, as a test, what was thought to be a very small dose, and had an extreme hallucinatory experience
– Initially felt likely to be consciousness expanding
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Early uncontrolled trials of experimental therapeutic use was described as “promising”
However, the work was poor controlled, lacked objective measures, no follow-up
A culture of “consciousness enhancement” followed
<3ng/ml yields intense psychic changes Poorly absorbed, only 1% to brain
HallucinogensHallucinogens
There has been culture use of peyote buttons (mescaline) in religious experiences among the southwestern native Americans
Enhanced hallucinations and the religious or spiritual nature of the experience
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Subjective effects mimic schizophrenic range disorders
Synesthesia – overflow of one sensory modality to the other
Vibrant, intense colors and sensory experiences
Alteration of time experienceFragmentation of self
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Mood can be labile and amplifiedMuch greater sensitivity for stimulation
and feelings“Bad trips” occurred early in
experimentation, now quite rareSome rare individuals experience a
psychosis
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Lethal dose estimated at ~ 14 mg in humans
Tolerance develops slowly, if at allFor the curious: A. Huxley “Doors of
Perception”
HallucinogensHallucinogens
More recent developments in hallucinogens
“Club” drugs– Methylated hallucinogens– Ecstasy– MDA or MDMA– Methylenedioxyamphetamine– Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
HallucinogensHallucinogens
“Club” drugs– Reported to improve intimacy and insight,
improves interpersonal awareness, enhances aesthetic awareness
– Some overdoses have occurred as have severe toxic reactions
HallucinogensHallucinogens
PCP– Ketamine– “Angel dust”– Animal tranquilizer– Quite potent, can overdose– Extremely relaxing, violent or aggressive
actions can occur
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Marijuana– Cannabis sativa– Hashish, a more potent form of cannabis– Use (18 year olds)
• Approximately 35% in past year
• Low rates about 25% to high of 40%
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Marijuana– Dosage difficult to anticipate– Active agent is delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) – Acute effects impair intellect and possibly
memory– Inconsistent evidence of persisting memory
impairment
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Marijuana– Some findings of adjustment difficulties
among marijuana smokers– Somatic effects
• 1. Dry mouth, red and itchy eyes• 2. Increased appetite• 3. Some blood pressure elevation• 4. Long term use impairs lung function• 5. Use patterns tend to amply effects
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Marijuana– Addictive Aspects?
• 1. Some evidence of tolerance to more potent doses of marijuana
• 2. Doubtful of withdrawal symptoms
HallucinogensHallucinogens
Marijuana– Learning aspects: Becker– “On becoming a marijuana user”– Noted the social learning process
• 1. Needs to learn how to smoke effectively
• 2. Needs to learn to attend to subtle changes of consciousness
• 3. Needs to learn to label changes as “high”
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