PMCOL305 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mesolimbic Pathway, Methamphetamine, Nucleus Accumbens
1 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Understand mech of action of drugs of abuse. Provide experimental data that illustrates proof for drug mech models. Define what is considered a drug of abuse + addiction. Diff b/w acute and chronic effects of drug. Nicotine can act sometimes as a depressant (depends on the enviro) all listed have effects on cns but also outside. Use of a substance in a manner, amount or situation such that drug use causes problems or greatly increases chance of problems occurring ie legal, occupational, relationship probs. Are all drugs of abuse illegal? some are illegal. The 3 cs: consequences although presented with neg consequences, use continues, control loss inability to stop or use less, even if user wants to, compulsive drug seeking and abuse. Addition is facilitated by long-lasting changes in brain structure and neurochemistry. Addiction can be difficult to measure the above 3 criteria. Tolerance and dependence can be easier to quantify than addiction .
