Drug dependence

Kinds of drug dependence

Psychological Physical

Common drugs of abuse Alcohol (ethyl, liquor, drink, booze, sauce,

hooch) Amphethamines (speed, uppers, bennies) Barbiturates (downers, goofballs) Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) Cocaine (coke, crack, snow) Heroin (horse, junk, smack, scag, H) LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide, acid) Marijuana (Cannabis, grass, pot, dope, weed,

hash) Nicotine

Alcohol (ethyl, liquor, drink, booze, sauce, hooch)

Drug category – CNS depressant; sedative Short – term effects (in moderate quantities it gives a feeling

of relaxation and confidence, dilates small blood vessels, with increasing amounts concentration and judgments are progressively impaired)

Long term effects (liver diseases, coronary heart disease, high BP, strokes, peptic ulcers, dementia, depression, anxiety)

Signs of abuse: changes in drinking pattern, in drinking habits, personality changes, neglect of personal appearance, poor eating habits, memory “lapses”

Physical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, shaking in the morning, abdominal pain, cramps, weakness in the legs and hands, face redness, incontinence.

Amphethamines (speed, uppers, bennies)

Drug category: CNS stimulant Legitimate uses: appetite suppressants, for

attention deficit disorders Short – term effects: mental alertness, physical

energy (in small doses), tremor, sweating, anxiety,headache, palpitation (at high doses) delusions, seizures, coma (very large doses).

Long – term effects: weight loss, constipation, severe depression, suicide, heart failure, reduced resistance to infections

Signs of abuse: restlessness, agitation, lack of interest in food, unusual sleeping patterns

Barbiturates (downers, goofballs) Drug category: CNS depressant, sedative Legitimate uses: sleeping drugs, epilepsy

treatment Short – term effects: relaxation, impaired

coordination, slurred speech, confusion, coma, death

Long – term effects: irritability, nightmares, nausea, vomiting, weakness, tremor, chest infections

Signs of abuse: memory “lapses”, neglect of personal appearance, personality changes, episodes of severe depression

High doses taken with alcohol can lead to a fatal coma

Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers)

Drug category: CNS depressants Legitimate uses: for short – term treatment of anxiety,

for relief of sleeplessness, in anesthesia, management of alcohol withdrawal, control of seizures, relief of muscle spasms

Short – term effects: reduce mental activity and anxiety, slow body’s reaction, induce sleep

Long – term effects: they loose their sedative effect with long – term use

Withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, panic attacks, palpitations, shaking, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, aches and pains, nausea, loss of appetite, clumsiness

Cocaine (coke, crack, snow) Drug category: CNS stimulant, local anesthetic Legitimate uses: for topical anesthesia in the

mouth and throat prior top minor surgery Short – term effects: it overcomes fatigue,

appetite is reduced, produces feelings of well – being, increases heart rate and BP.

Long – term effects: restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, weight loss, paranoia, psychosis

Signs of abuse: disturbed eating and sleeping patterns, agitation, mood swings, aggressive behavior, suspiciousness of other people

Psychologic dependence may occur after the first use

Heroin (horse, junk, smack, scag, H) Drug category: CNS depressant Legitimate uses: exclusively for the

management of severe forms of pain Short – term effects: a feeling of well being

and contentment, pain is dulled Long – term effects:constipation, reduced

sexual drive, disruption of menstrual periods, poor eating habits.

Signs of abuse: apathy, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, loss of appetite and weight, loss of interest in former hobbies and social activities, personal changes.

LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide, acid)

Drug category: Hallucinogen Legitimate uses: can be used in

psychotherapy Short – term effects: restlessness,

dizziness, a feeling of coldness with shivering, uncontrollable desire to laugh, distortions in perception of sound and vision.

Long – term effects: mental disturbances and severe depression.

Signs of abuse: overexcitement, confusion.

Marijuana (Cannabis, grass, pot, dope, weed, hash)

Drug category: CNS depressant, hallucinogen, anti - emetic

Legitimate uses: for the relief of nausea and vomiting caused by treatment with anticancer drugs.

Short – term effects: a feeling of relaxation, well-being, it increases talkativeness, appetite is usually increased

Long – term effects: increases the risk of lung diseases, it reduces fertility in both men and women.

Signs of abuse: unusual talkativeness, increased appetite.

Nicotine Drug category: CNS stimulant Short – term effects: it increases

concentration, relieves tension and fatigue, increases in heart rate and blood pressure, it reduces in urine output.

Long – term effects: it cause a rise in fatty acids in the bloodstream, it increases the risk of heart diseases and stroke, peptic ulcers, it may cause chronic lung diseases and cancer

Signs of abuse: yellow, tobacco – stained fingers and teeth and bad breath

Interventions for substance related disorders

Hospitalization Pharmacotherapy Individual therapy Group therapy Self – help groups (Alcoholics

Anonymous, Alanon, Alateen) Employee assistance programs Family therapy