Addictive Behaviors
Thomas G. Bowers, Ph.D.
Penn State Harrisburg
What is addiction?

Substance abuse
 Substance dependence
 These qualities are only related to
addiction
Addiction

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
Dependence

Symptoms (at least 3 of):
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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 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 Drugs

I. Stimulants
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“uppers”
Speed, meth
Amphetamines
Methylphenidate
Caffeine
Nicotine
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II. Depressants
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“downers”
Sedatives
Hypnotics
Ethanol
Minor tranquilizers
Barbiturates
Stimulants

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
Depressants

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 Drugs

Hallucinogens
 Methylated Hallucinogens
 Ketamines (as PCP)
 Marijuana
 Ethanol
 Nicotine
Hallucinogens

Relatively recent discovery
 D-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
Hallucinogens
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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
Hallucinogens

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
Hallucinogens

Subjective effects mimic schizophrenic
range disorders
 Synesthesia – overflow of one sensory
modality to the other
 Vibrant, intense colors and sensory
experiences
 Alteration of time experience
 Fragmentation of self
Hallucinogens

Mood can be labile and amplified
 Much greater sensitivity for stimulation
and feelings
 “Bad trips” occurred early in
experimentation, now quite rare
 Some rare individuals experience a
psychosis
Hallucinogens

Lethal dose estimated at ~ 14 mg in
humans
 Tolerance develops slowly, if at all
 For the curious: A. Huxley “Doors of
Perception”
Hallucinogens

More recent developments in
hallucinogens
 “Club” drugs
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Methylated hallucinogens
Ecstasy
MDA or MDMA
Methylenedioxyamphetamine
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Hallucinogens

“Club” drugs
– Reported to improve intimacy and insight,
improves interpersonal awareness, enhances
aesthetic awareness
– Some overdoses have occurred as have
severe toxic reactions
Hallucinogens

PCP
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Ketamine
“Angel dust”
Animal tranquilizer
Quite potent, can overdose
Extremely relaxing, violent or aggressive
actions can occur
Hallucinogens
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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%
Hallucinogens

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
Hallucinogens

Marijuana
– Some findings of adjustment difficulties
among marijuana smokers
– Somatic effects
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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
Hallucinogens

Marijuana
– Addictive Aspects?
• 1. Some evidence of tolerance to more potent
doses of marijuana
• 2. Doubtful of withdrawal symptoms
Hallucinogens

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”