PCL201H1 Lecture : Lecture 30 The Pharmacology of Reward and Drug Misuse

• School: UTSG
• Department: Pharmacology
• Course: PCL201H1
• Professor: Worlsey

Document Summary

Lecture 30 the pharmacology of reward and drug misuse. Importance of reward: regulates, controls behavior by inducing pleasurable effects, reward = reinforces behavior, increases intensity, mesolimbic dopamine system. Problematic drug use: maladaptive pattern of use impairment/distress, associated with non-medicinal use, opposite of responsible drug use, not dependency, both licit, illict (legal, illegal) Spectrum of psychoactive substance use: beneficial, positive health, spiritual, social impact, casual/non-problematic, recreational, casual, with negligible health/social effects, problematic, negative consequences, chronic dependence, habitual despite negative health/social effects. How problematic drug use happens: drug prescribed initially as therapeutic agent, exposure in recreational settings. Drug addiction: chronic relapsing disorder: persistent drug-seeking, drug taking behavior, cycle of craving/relapse, route of administration, physiological effects of drug play role in addiction, associated with activation of reward pathway in brain euphoria. Substance abuse: theories, hypotheses: activation of brain reward system, maladaptive learning: long-term potentiation, long-term depression, physical dependence, genetic, behavioral/environmental cues (associations)