An Invitation to Health
Chapter 11:
Avoiding Addictions
Prepared by: Andrew Owusu Ph.D.
© 2011 Cengage Higher Education
Chapter 11 Objectives
Name some of the risk factors for problem gambling.
Discuss reasons why people choose to use
or not to use drugs.
Give examples of appropriate and
inappropriate use of over-the-counter and
prescription medications.
Identify the types of drug dependence, and
discuss the factors affecting drug dependence.
Describe the effects and health risks of common
drug abuse.
Describe the treatment methods available for individuals seeking help for
drug dependence.
Review your drug history (legal and illegal) and assess the health risks
you chose to take.
Addictive Behaviors And The
Dimensions of Health
Physical Health
Psychological Health
Spiritual Health
Social Health
Intellectual Health
Environmental Health
Risk Factors For Problem Gambling
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Being male.
Gambling at an early age.
A big win earlier in one’s gambling career.
Consistently chasing losses.
Gambling alone.
Feeling depressed before gambling.
Feeling excited and aroused during gambling.
Poor grades at school.
Other addictive behaviors.
Lower socioeconomic class.
Parents with a gambling or other addiction problem.
History of delinquency or stealing money to fund
gambling.
Skipping class to go gambling.
Drug Use on Campus
Why Students Do Drugs
Why Students Don’t Do Drugs
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Spirituality and religion
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Academic engagement
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Perceived harmfulness
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Athletics
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Genetics and family history
Parental attitudes and
behaviors
Substance use in high school
Social norms
Positive expectations
Mental health problems
Social influences
Alcohol use
Race/ethnicity
Sexual identity
Understanding Drugs and Their Effects
Drug
Any substance, other than food, that affects bodily functions and structures when
taken into the body.
Drug Abuse
The excessive use of a drug in a manner inconsistent with accepted medical
practice.
Drug Dependence
A pattern of continuing substance use despite cognitive, behavioral, and physical
symptoms.
Drug Misuse
The use of a drug for a purpose (or person) other than that for which it was
medically intended.
Drug Diversion
The transfer of a medication from the individual to whom it was prescribed to
another person.
Understanding Drugs and Their Effects
Routes of Administration
Dosage and Toxicity
Individual Differences
Setting
Types of Actions
Interactions with Other Drugs or Alcohol
Routes of
Administration of
Drugs
Drug-Drug Interactions
Additive
Synergistic
Potentiating Antagonistic
Caffeine and Its Effects
Most widely used psychotropic (mind-affecting) drug.
 80% of Americans drink coffee–an average of 3.5 cups per day.
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 General
Bodily Effects
 Relieves
drowsiness, helps in performance of repetitive
tasks, and improves the capacity for work.
 Improves performance and endurance during
prolonged, exhaustive exercise
 Enhances short-term, high-intensity athletic
performance.
 Improves concentration, reduces fatigue, and sharpens
alertness.
Caffeine and Its Effects
Health
Effects
A few cups of coffee/day is safe.
Potential Benefits: lower risk for type 2 diabetes and
cardiovascular disease; protect against Alzheimer’s; reduce the
likelihood of gallstones, Parkinson’s disease, liver cirrhosis, and
colon cancer.
High
Dosage Effects
Dependence
Anxiety
Insomnia
Rapid breathing
Upset stomach and bowels
Dizziness
Commonly Misused
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drugs
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Aspirin
Nonsteroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs
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Ibuprofen
Nasal sprays
Laxatives
Eye drops
Sleep aids
Cough syrup
Prescription Drugs
Potential Complications
Nonadherence
Recurrent infections, serious medical complications, and emergency hospital
treatment.
Physical Side Effects
Heart failure, heart attack, seizures, kidney and liver failure, severe blood
disorders, birth defects, blindness, memory problems, and allergic reactions.
Psychological Side Effects
Depressive symptoms vs. agitation and anxiety.
Drug Interactions
OTC drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, vitamins and minerals, and food
components.
Generic Drugs
Have the same active ingredients as brand-name prescriptions, but their fillers
and binders, which can affect the absorption of a drug, may be different.
Buying Drugs On-line
Health and legal risks.
Prescription Stimulants
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Abuse of stimulants prescribed for attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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Most students who have tried stimulants do not feel
that the drugs had a positive effect on their academic
performance in the long run.
Prescription Drug Abuse on Campus
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Prescription Stimulants
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Prescription Painkillers
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Reasons for Use:
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Legitimate goal
Acceptibility
Self-diagnosed ADHD
Academic strain
Perceived harmlessness
Understanding Substance Use Disorders
Addiction
A
behavioral pattern characterized by compulsion, loss of
control, and continued repetition of a behavior or activity in
spite of adverse consequences.
Psychological
Dependence
The emotional or mental attachment to the use of a drug.
Physical
Dependence
The physiological attachment to, and need for, a drug.
Understanding Substance Use Disorders
Intoxication
Maladaptive
behavioral, psychological, and physiologic
changes that occur as a result of substance abuse.
Withdrawal
Development
of symptoms that cause significant
psychological and physical distress when an individual
reduces or stops drug use.
Polyabuse
The
misuse or abuse of more than one drug.
What Causes Drug Dependence and Abuse?
The Biology of Dependence
 Dopamine
The Psychology of Vulnerability
 Difficulty controlling impulses, a lack of values that may
constrain drug use, low self-esteem, feelings of
powerlessness, denial, and depression or anxiety.
Early Influences
 Lower socioeconomic backgrounds, family instability, a
lack of realistic, rewarding alternatives and role models,
and increased hopelessness.
Dopamine Levels for Cocaine
Drugs and Driving
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Alcohol affects perception, coordination, and
judgment.
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Marijuana affects a wide range of driving skills.
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Sedatives, sedative-hypnotics, and-anti anxiety
agents slow reaction time.
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Amphetamines, after repeated use, impair
coordination.
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Hallucinogens distort judgment.
Common Drugs of Abuse
Cannabis
Club
Drugs/
Designer
Drugs
Stimulants
Depressants
Opioids
Hallucinogens
Inhalants
Marijuana
MDMA
Amphetamines
Benzodiazepines
Heroin
LSD
Solvents
Hashish
GHB
Methamphetamine
Rohypnol
Morphine
PCP
Gases
Ketamine
Cocaine
Barbituates
Codeine
Nitrites
OxyContin
Vicodin
Cannabis
Marijuana and Hashish
The Facts
 Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the
United States (12 million Americans).
 Derived from the cannabis plant that contains the active
ingredient THC.
How Users Feel
 Mild sense of euphoria, a sense of slowed time, a
dreamy type of self-absorption, and some impairment in
thinking and communicating.
 Euphoria peaks within a half hour and usually lasts
about three hours.
Cannabis
Marijuana and Hashish
Risks
 Brain
 Lungs
 Heart
 Pregnancy
Withdrawal
 Potential for marijuana withdrawal syndrome
characterized by insomnia, restlessness, loss of
appetite, and irritability.
Club Drugs (Designer Drugs)
Ecstasy
The Facts
 Ecstasy is the common street name for
methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
 Has both stimulant and mildly hallucinogenic
properties.
Common Characteristics of Ecstasy Users
 More likely to use marijuana, binge drink,
spend more time socializing and less time
studying, have multiple sexual partners,
smoke cigarettes, rate parties as more
important than academics, and view religion
as less important.
Club Drugs (Designer Drugs)
Ecstasy
How Users Feel
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Peace with self and connectedness with others.
Risks
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Psychological difficulties such as confusion,
depression, and sleep problems.
Physical symptoms such as involuntary teeth
clenching, nausea, blurred vision, and rapid eye
movement.
Club Drugs (Designer Drugs)
GHB/GBL
The Facts
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GHB stimulates the release of human growth
hormone, but has no known effects on muscle
growth.
When GLB is ingested it is converted to GHB.
How Users Feel
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Smaller doses induce euphoria and enhance sex
due to a rise in dopamine in the brain.
Larger doses can cause individuals to pass out and
possibly fall into a coma.
Club Drugs
The Risks of GHB/GBL
Side Effects
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Nausea, amnesia, hallucinations, decreased heart rate,
convulsions, and sometimes blackouts/coma.
Long Term Side Effects
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Withdrawal reaction including rapid heartbeat, tremor,
insomnia, anxiety, and occasionally hallucinations that
last a few days to a week.
The danger is greatest when GHB is mixed with alcohol
or opiates.
Club Drugs
Ketamine (K)
The Facts
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Ketamine is an anesthetic used by veterinarians.
K blocks chemical messengers in the brain that carry
sensory input thereby leading to hallucinations.
Side Effects
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Low doses: impaired attention and memory, anxiety,
agitation, paranoia, and vomiting
High doses: K can cause delirium, amnesia, impaired
motor function, high blood pressure, depression, and
potentially fatal respiratory problems.
Other Common Club Drugs
Nitrites
Herbal Ecstasy
The Facts
 Clear, amber-colored liquids
 Used recreationally for a high
feeling, a slowed sense of
time, a carefree sense of wellbeing, and intensified sexual
experience.
The Facts
 A mixture of stimulants such as
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine,
and caffeine.
 Sold as a “nautral” and safe
alternative to ecstasy.
Side Effects
 Headache, dizziness, a drop in
blood pressure, changes in
heart rate, increased pressure
within the eye, and skin
flushing.
Side Effects
 Stroke, heart attack, and a
disfiguring skin condition.
Stimulants
Amphetamines & Methamphetamine
The Facts
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Amphetamines trigger the release of epinephrine
(adrenaline) which stimulates the central nervous system.
Methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant.
Meth remains in the central nervous system and the body,
producing prolonged stimulant effects.
How Users Feel
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Amphetamines produce a state of hyper-alertness and
energy.
Meth produces long-lasting toxic effects, including
psychosis, violence, seizures, and cardiovascular
abnormalities.
Stimulants
Amphetamines & Methamphetamine
Potential Side Effects
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Bingeing and crashing.
Feelings of grandiosity,
anxiety, tension, anger,
agitation, paranoia, and
impaired judgment.
Increased heart rate and blood
pressure.
Long Term Side Effects
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Malnutrition, skin disorders,
ulcers, insomnia, depression,
vitamin deficiencies, sexual
dysfunction, impaired
concentration or memory, and,
in some cases, brain damage.
Stimulants
Cocaine
Cocaine is a white crystalline powder extracted
from the leaves of the South American coca
plant.
Routes of Administration
 Sniffed/Snorted
 Injected intravenously (speedballing)
 Smoked (freebasing/crack)
How Users Feel
 Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system
producing feelings of soaring well-being and
boundless energy.
 After a brief period of euphoria, users slump into
depression.
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Stimulants
Cocaine
Risks
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Cocaine dependence is an easy habit to acquire.
Can cause blood vessels in the brain to clamp shut and
can trigger a stroke, bleeding in the brain, and potentially
fatal brain seizures.
Withdrawal
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Depression
Fatigue
Vivid and disturbing dreams
Excessive/too little sleep
Some Effects
Of Cocaine
On The Body
Khat
Other names
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Kat, Catha, Chat, Abyssinian Tea
Ingredients
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Its active ingredients are two controlled
substances, cathinone and cathine.
Effects
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Chewing alleviates fatigue and reduces appetite.
Compulsive use may result in manic behavior,
grandiose illusions, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Depressants
Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates
The Facts
 Benzodiazepines are sedative-hypnotics and have
largely replaced barbiturates.
 Commonly prescribed for tension, muscular strain,
sleep problems, anxiety, panic attacks, anesthesia,
and in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal.
 Rohypnol, the date rape drug.
How Users Feel
 Low doses reduce or relieve tension, but may cause
rapid mood changes, impaired judgment, and
impaired social and occupational functioning.
 High doses produce a loosening of sexual or
aggressive inhibitions.
Depressants
Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates
Side Effects
 Physical and psychological dependence within
two to four weeks.
 Risk of cross-tolerance.
 Mood and behavior changes, slurred speech,
poor coordination, unsteady gait, involuntary
eye movements, impaired attention or memory,
and stupor or coma.
 Synergistic effect when used in combination
with alcohol.
Depressants
Opioids (Opium, Morphine, Codeine, and Heroin)
Prescription Opioids (Hydromorphone and Oxycodone)
How Users Feel
 All opioids relax the user, and impart feelings of
euphoria while acting as powerful narcotics, or
painkillers.
Side Effects
 Addiction, lethargy, weight loss, loss of sex
drive, anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness.
 Long term injection of opioids: infections of the
heart lining and valves, skin abscesses, and
lung congestion.
Hallucinogens
Definition
Drugs that produce vivid and unusual changes in
thought, self-awareness, emotion, and perception.
Natural Sources of Hallucinogens
Morning glories, jimsonweed, nutmeg, mace, peyote
cactus, and psychedelic mushrooms.
Synthesized Hallucinogens
LSD: lysergic acid diethylamide, a psychedelic drug that
produces distorted reality.
PCP: an anesthetic that blocks nerve receptors from
pain and temperature without producing numbness; angel
dust.
Inhalants
Definition
Drugs that produce vapors that cause psychoactive effects
when inhaled or sniffed.
Examples
Model airplane glue, gasoline, paint thinner, transmission
fluid, lighter fluid, liquid shoe polish, and fingernail polish
remover.
Potential Side Effects
Gastroenteritis, depressed muscle tone, damage to the
liver and kidneys, nervous system dysfunction, and bone
marrow disorders.
Treating Drug
Dependence and Abuse
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Recognize the reality of the problem.
Consult a physician, counseling center, or local
mental health clinic.
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Intervention Modalities
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Medical care
Medication
Detoxification
Individual psychotherapy
Marital and family therapy
Behavior modification
12-step programs
Choosing an Addiction
Free Lifestyle
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Set goals for yourself.
Participate in drug-free activities.
Educate yourself.
Choose friends with a future.