PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Homeostasis, Morphine, Dysfunctional Family
Module I: Introduction to Psychoactive Drugs, Behaviour, and the Brain
(Chapter Two
−
Drug Use as a Social Problem)
2.1 − Laissez-Faire
- Hands-off approach to government interference in the workings of the market
o If the seller wanted to sell, and buyer wanted to buy, let them do it
- Factors that precipitated creation of drug laws have varied from country to country
- Three concerns have led to the creation of laws
2.2 − Toxicity
- Toxic: poisonous or dangerous
o All drugs can be dangerous, depending on the dosage
▪ Alcohol in high doses can suppress respiration
- Behavioural Toxicity: toxicity resulting from behavioural effects of a drug
o Causes people to distort their behaviours
- Physiological Toxicity: damages to the body
- Categories of Toxicity
o Physiological toxicity is a social problem
▪ Impacts hospital ERs, increased health care costs, lost productivity, and the
social system suffers for it
o Acute vs. Chronic
▪ Acute: sharp/intense, sudden onset
• Effects from one single use of the drug
• Behavioural
o Intoxication from drug use that impairs behaviour and
increases danger to the individual
• Physiological
o Overdose of drug causing bodily functions to impair
▪ Chronic: long-lasting condition
• Result from long-term exposure of the drug
• Behavioural
o Personality changes because of alcohol use
• Physiological
o Cancer, lung and heart disease, etc.
- Determining the Toxicity of Drugs of Abuse and Misuse
o Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN): monitors toxicity of drugs in the US
▪ Collects data on drug-related information from emergency room visits
• Could be for a wide range of reasons (as long as drugs are involved)
▪ Not every ER uses the DAWN system
• Provides rough estimate for overall number of ER visits in entire country
▪ Collects information on death and injuries
▪ Alcohol is not recorded by DAWN system, unless combined with another drug
o Canada does not have a system like DAWN, but information is collected from Canam
dian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
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▪ Federally charted institution
▪ Collects information on all patient hospital separations
• Death, discharge, sign out, transfer
• Recorded based on International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes
▪ Collects data on diagnostic, therapeutic, and support intervention while in
the hospital
▪ Has means to obtain information from the ER, but has not yet
- How Dangerous is the Drug?
o DAWN and systems like it can determine relative toxicities of drugs of abuse and
misuse within society
o National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): publishes rates of current use of
alcohol and cocaine, alongside marijuana use for Americans between 19-25
▪ Population and sample between NSDUH and DAWN differ
o It is possible to gain a true measure of relative toxicities of drugs of abuse and
misuse in Canada
▪ CIHI and Canadian Vital statistics provide platform for data collection
- Intravenous Drug Use and the Spread of Blood-Borne Diseases
o Approximately 75,000 to 125,000 intravenous users
o Any liquefied drug can be injected
▪ Cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, Ritalin, and anabolic steroids are most
common
o Potential of contracting HIV/Aids and life-threatening diseases (Hepatitis C (HCV))
▪ Contracted through needle sharing
o 250,000 Canadians are infected with Hepatitis
▪ 65,000 with HIV
▪ About 60% with HCV and 17% with HIV were infected during drug injection
o Combination of IDU and HIV/HCV is a serious public health hazard
o Toxicity is not due to action of the drug, but from sharing needles
o Needle exchange programs help to alleviate/lower risks of infections
▪ First one started in Vancouver
2.3.a − Substance Dependence – What Is It?
- No clear line between someone who is a normal/recreational drug user and someone who
has developed a dependence/lost control over substance use
o Definition of an addict changes depending on the person
- Three Basic Processes – occur with repeated drug use
1. Tolerance
▪ Reduced effect after repeated use
▪ Body develops ways to compensate for chemical imbalance (reaching
homeostasis)
▪ Tolerance can be overcome by increasing dosage
2. Physical Dependence
▪ Defined by occurrence of withdrawal syndrome
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Module i: introduction to psychoactive drugs, behaviour, and the brain (chapter two drug use as a social problem) Hands-off approach to government interference in the workings of the market. If the seller wanted to sell, and buyer wanted to buy, let them do it. Factors that precipitated creation of drug laws have varied from country to country. Three concerns have led to the creation of laws. Toxic: poisonous or dangerous: all drugs can be dangerous, depending on the dosage, alcohol in high doses can suppress respiration. Behavioural toxicity: toxicity resulting from behavioural effects of a drug: causes people to distort their behaviours. Categories of toxicity: physiological toxicity is a social problem. Impacts hospital ers, increased health care costs, lost productivity, and the social system suffers for it: acute vs. Chronic: acute: sharp/intense, sudden onset, effects from one single use of the drug, behavioural.
