Addiction Heroin

Specification – Page 48 Define 1. b) Define and use psychological terminology appropriately and accurately including the terms: substance misuse i substance misuse tolerance ii tolerance physical dependence iii physical dependence psychological dependence iv psychological dependence withdrawal v withdrawal

Specification – Page 49 heroin 3. c) Describe, with reference to heroin and one other drug from alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, smoking/nicotine: i mode of action (e.g. at the synapse) ii effects tolerance iii tolerance physical and/or psychological dependencies iv physical and/or psychological dependencies withdrawal v withdrawal

What is Addiction? Doctors call a drug addictive if it makes you dependent on the drug. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms appear unless you take the drug. Addictive drugs also make you crave them - you have an overwhelming urge to continue taking the drug, even after withdrawal symptoms have disappeared.

Tolerance More More of the drug is needed to obtain the feelings that were produced at first. no A stage may be reached where no amount of the drug will achieve the resulting high. delay Simply take the drug to delay withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal Unpleasant symptoms Unpleasant symptoms occur when the drug is not taken, such as sickness and depression. taking Can get rid of the withdrawal symptoms by taking the drug again. cycle This leads to a cycle of drug taking where users may try to stop but then have to take it again to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

biological/physiological psychological What is the difference between biological/physiological addiction and psychological addiction?

Biological Addiction dependant The body becomes dependant on the drug. withdrawal symptoms Without it, severe withdrawal symptoms occur such as pain or sickness. physical Body becomes used to the drug and causes a physical reaction if the don’t receive it. tolerance Body develops a tolerance to the drug – require more of it to have an effect.

Psychological Addiction desire perceived need Conscious desire to obtain drug out of a perceived need for its affect. User might say it makes them “feel good” or “calm down”. escape May use drug to escape from real-life. cope Think it is the only way they can cope.

Matching Task definitionskey terms You need to know the definitions of these key terms

Addiction What is the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction? When does drug abuse become addiction?

Addiction Drug abuse is initially a voluntary behaviour Continuum of drug abuse and drug addiction Can reach addiction at different points depending on the individual No use Drug Abuse Drug Addiction

Abuse is voluntary; addiction is the continued compulsive drug use despite adverse health or social consequences.

Heroin Tolerance Physical and/or psychological dependencies Withdrawal

Heroin Tolerance activated - Reward circuit becomes highly activated - Over-production - Over-production of dopamine adapt homeostasis - The body has to adapt to the heroin – try and achieve homeostasis (balance) - Reduces - Reduces the amount of dopamine produced enzymesbreak it down - More enzymes are produced to break it down - Stifles less rewarding - Stifles the brain's reward circuit through inhibition- the same-old dose of drug is less rewarding

Heroin Tolerance rapidly - Heroin rapidly develops tolerance increasing - Users very quickly need increasing amounts of it to get the “high” delay - Eventually just take heroin to delay unpleasant withdrawal symptoms

Heroin Physical Dependence tolerance - Linked to tolerance – need increasing amounts to reach high so become physically dependent. normal functioning - Body is used to functioning with heroin – so needs it for normal functioning. endorphins - E.g. Brain of heroin users produce less endorphins so addicts will rely on heroin for pleasure and reduction of pain.

Heroin Psychological Dependence great importance - Heroin becomes a great importance in their life. mental state. - Important for person’s mental state. no self-esteem - Often taken by people with living difficulties, no self-esteem and employment problems pleasure dulls the senses - Heroin gives users a feeling of pleasure and dulls the senses – don’t despair as much.

Heroin Withdrawal 12 hours - Usually start within 12 hours of last fix. dependent - Severity of withdrawal is dependent on the level of addiction agitation restlessness - Starts with agitation and restlessness

Heroin Withdrawal agitated restless - After a day, become more agitated and restless skin crawl - Then “skin crawl” – itchy blood - Crampsvomiting - Cramps and vomiting - Diarrhoeasweating - Diarrhoea and sweating - Twitching shaking - Twitching and shaking - Muscle ache pain - Muscle ache and pain

Heroin Withdrawal week - Usually go after about a week. death - Sudden withdrawal after sustained use can cause death.

Diary of Heroin Addiction

Task tolerancewithdrawal physicalpsychological dependency In your case studies, try to pick out signs for tolerance, withdrawal and physical and psychological dependency

Task Have a go at the past paper questions on heroin addiction

Some startling statistics… Heroin overdoses have caused more deaths than traffic accidents in the past several years The use of Heroin has quadrupled in the last 15 years 1.2 million people in the UK use Heroin 300,000 children live with parents who have serious heroin addiction