Cost-Effective Screening of Addicted Persons for Significant Illness
Frank Lynn Iber in Alcohol and Drug Abuse as Encountered in Office Practice, 2020
Features of depression are common in long-standing addiction ends, and are particularly prominent after depressant abuse (including alcohol) and use of stimulants, including cocaine. This diagnosis is often overlooked by screening doctors. Although modest depression associated with withdrawal reverses in about three weeks, severe depression, usually existing prior to the substance abuse, will be worsened during the withdrawal period and immediately afterward. Panic reactions, anxiety that is not believed to be a part of withdrawal, delusions, or hallucinations, or paranoia are features that are highly significant. These are usually uncovered during the interview and subsequent examination. Abusers often have suicidal thoughts and direct questioning about such ideas is essential to plan appropriate treatment.
Central nervous system depressants
Ilana B. Crome, Richard Williams, Roger Bloor, Xenofon Sgouros in Substance Misuse and Young People, 2019
Alcohol (ethanol) is a CNS depressant believed to act on two main neurotransmitter systems (Crews, 2012): (1) The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system has a major inhibitory effect on the brain and is connected with receptors that are also affected by tranquillisers and sedatives. Substances that activate the GABA system are known to produce reduced brain activity and have a depressant effect on many functions.(2) The glutamate system has a significant excitatory neurotransmitter function and alcohol appears to block the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor involved in the glutamate system functions; this blockade results in a further depression of activity in brain function.
Consciousness, Sleep and Hypnosis, Meditation, and Psychoactive Drugs
Mohamed Ahmed Abd El-Hay in Understanding Psychology for Medicine and Nursing, 2019
Psychoactive drugs typically activate dopamine receptors in the reward pathway of the brain, particularly the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the nucleus accumbens. Psychoactive drugs can be categorized into four broad categories:Depressants (also known as hypnotics or sedatives): drugs that decrease alertness by slowing down the activity of the brain. Depressant drugs include alcohol, opiates and opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and inhalants (volatile solvents and aerosols). Opiates and opioids (also known as narcotics) are sometimes separated as a distinct category due to their specific action on opiate receptors in the brain, through it they mediate relief from pain.Stimulants: drugs that increase the body’s state of arousal by increasing the activity of the brain (e.g., caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine).Hallucinogens (also known as dissociative drugs or psychedelics): drugs that distort sensory perceptions (e.g., mescaline and LSD).Others: some drugs may have properties of more than one of the above categories (e.g., cannabis has depressive, hallucinogenic and some stimulant properties).
Sleep is something, not nothing: an interprofessional approach to sleep assessment and treatment to support substance use recovery
Published in Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 2023
Jennifer Gardner, Margaret Swarbrick, Robert H. Kitzinger
Do poor sleep patterns, sleep disturbances, and other sleep issues contribute to problematic substance usage, or does problematic substance usage result in poor sleep patterns, sleep disturbances, and other sleep issues? Research has suggested bidirectional effects between both substance use and circadian rhythm disturbance and increased potential for the development of substance dependence from circadian disturbance (Hasler et al., 2012). Disturbances in sleep are considered risk factors for development of a substance use disorder (APA, 2022). Sleep is also impacted in all stages of substance use, e.g., intoxication and withdrawal. During stimulant intoxication, an individual experiences light, restless and disrupted sleep (APA, 2022). During depressant and opiate intoxication, an individual experiences initial drowsiness and daytime sleepiness, followed by increased disruption of sleep at night due to acute withdrawal effects (APA, 2022; Hasler et al., 2012). Individuals seeking residential treatment for substance use disorders report sleep as a concern (Nettleton et al., 2017). Regardless of the research to support either claim, sleep disturbance is clearly problematic enough to demonstrate that professionals should remain aware of the need to assess and offer treatment to help people create sleep routines and habits as a component of treatment and on ongoing recovery support.
Prevalence and high-risk behaviors associated with non-fatal overdose among people who use illicit opioids: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Published in Journal of Substance Use, 2022
Bahram Armoon, Azadeh Bayani, Mark D. Griffiths, Amir-Hossein Bayat, Rasool Mohammadi, Ladan Fattah Moghaddam, Elahe Ahounbar
Witnessing others’ overdose has been reported as a key risk factor for self-overdose in prior research. Such experience (witnessing overdose) is highly prevalent in young PWIDUs (Ochoa et al., 2005).The findings suggested that the likelihood of experiencing a recent overdose experience was greater among those using methamphetamine, and in line with the results of some other empirical studies (Gossop et al., 2002; Kinner et al., 2012). In the present study, there were associations between non-fatal overdose and non-injection methamphetamine use among PWIDUs as has been reported in several studies (Coffin et al., 2003; Sergeev et al., 2003). There were also associations in the present study between overdose and opiates, alcohol, and benzodiazepines use among PWIDs as has been reported in several studies (Coffin et al., 2003; Sergeev et al., 2003). Such drugs are depressants of the central nervous system, therefore, the risk of overdose is increased following their use, in particular when consumed in combination with other psychoactive substances. Prior findings have indicated an association between a significantly-declined risk of overdose and non-injection use of any illicit substance (Brugal et al., 2002; Darke & Hall, 2003).
Suicidal behaviors among intravenous drug users: a meta-analysis
Published in Journal of Substance Use, 2022
Bahram Armoon, Marie-Josée Fleury, Azadeh Bayani, Rasool Mohammadi, Elaheh Ahounbar, Mark D. Griffiths
In the present study, suicidal behaviors were common among polysubstance users. This finding is in line with a previous meta-analysis (Armoon, Mohammadi, et al., 2021). Since polysubstance use may increase aggression, disinhibition, impaired cognitive function, and increased irritability, these may increase the potential for suicide behaviors (Culbreth et al., 2021). This finding concurs with the findings of the present study suggesting an independent association between sedative-hypnotics use and suicide attempts among IVDUs. One reason for increasing suicidal behavior risk might be that these drugs may drive aggressive behaviors (Waern, 2003). In addition, interactions between sedatives and hypnotics and alcohol might exacerbate impulsive behaviors tendencies, which may increase the risk of suicide (Ben-Porath & Taylor, 2002). Another explanation may be that IVDUs who use these drugs may have more access to suicide methods (Gunnell et al., 2000). Using them in combination with other depressants such as alcohol or opioids can cause lethal respiratory suppression and fatal drug overdoses (Armoon, Mohammadi, et al., 2021; Armoon et al., 2022; Dodds, 2017).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Alcohol
- Antidepressant
- Ataxia
- Neurotransmission
- Stimulant
- Stimulation
- Drug
- Arousal
- Drug Class
- Prescription Drug