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Biology of Substance Abuse: Drug Administration, Absorption, and Tolerance

This lecture explores the biology of substance abuse, including drug administration methods, absorption, and the development of drug tolerance. It also discusses the effects of addiction on addicts' health and social life, with a focus on tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and opiates. The lecture concludes with an overview of biopsychological theories of drug addiction, vulnerability factors, and treatment options for drug abusers.

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Biology of Substance Abuse: Drug Administration, Absorption, and Tolerance

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  1. Lecture 26 Biology of Substance Abuse

  2. Drug Administration and Absorption • Ingestion • Injection • Subcutaneously (SC) • Intramuscularly (IM) • Intravenously (IV) • Inhalation • Absorption through mucous membranes

  3. Drug Tolerance • Definition • Metabolic tolerance • Functional tolerance • Cross tolerance • No unitary mechanism

  4. Addicts • Habitual drug users • Adverse effects on their health, social life • May be linked to psychological dependence

  5. Tobacco • Nicotine • Acts on the nicotinic receptor (a type of acetylcholine receptor) • Increases blood pressure, heart rate, and release of epinephrine (adrenaline) • Addiction may have a genetic basis….? • Many side effects and withdrawal symptoms

  6. Alcohol • Most used and abused • Affects general nervous system • Activates a specific type of GABA and glutamate receptor • Addiction has a major genetic component • Long term use can cause irreversible damage to the brain, liver, heart, and stomach

  7. Marijuana • Active ingredient is THC • Intensifies sensory experiences, increases appetite • Lack of energy and ambition • Many medical uses • Binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, but the exact mechanisms of action are not clear

  8. Cocaine and Amphetamines • Crack cocaine • Extremely addictive, mild withdrawals • Blocks reuptake of NE and DA (catecholamines) • Effects are brief

  9. Opiates • Include morphine, heroin, codeine • Produces a pleasant state and decreases sensitivity to pain • Bad side effects • Attaches to endogenous receptors

  10. Biopsychological Theories of drug addiction • Moral model • Disease model • Physical-dependence theory • Positive-incentive theory

  11. Vulnerability to Drugs • Biological factors • Personal characteristics • Family situation • Social and community factors

  12. Treatment for Drug Abusers • Drugs for detoxification • Agonists of drugs that produce addiction states • Antagonists to the addictive drug • Anti-craving medications • Medication that blocks drug metabolism

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