Addiction: Definition, Epidemiology, and Neurobiology

Author(s):  
Matthew Torrington

This chapter discusses the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders and identifies addiction as a disease of reward, motivation, and memory rooted in complex biologic changes. It explains the epidemiology of addiction and identifies the rise and fall of specific drug use and behaviors. It then moves to the neurobiology of addiction, naming the numerous survival systems that are intertwined with addiction’s genetics, early brain development, and learning pathways. Finally, it looks at why some people become addicts, describing it as a pro-inflammatory, bio-psycho-social-environmental-spiritual disease state. Addicted persons often engage in this behavior, no longer to obtain pleasure, but to relieve discomfort created by withdrawal from the drug and the negative life consequences of addiction. The chapter concludes by addressing what needs to be done in both the short- and long-term, noting that applying the disease model to addiction has been the most effective method of saving lives.

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1155-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Arora ◽  
Ian Grey

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about profound changes to social behaviour. While calls to identify mental health effects that may stem from these changes should be heeded, there is also a need to examine potential changes with respect to health behaviours. Media reports have signalled dramatic shifts in sleep, substance use, physical activity and diet, which may have subsequent downstream mental health consequences. We briefly discuss the interplay between health behaviours and mental health, and the possible changes in these areas resulting from anti-pandemic measures. We also highlight a call for greater research efforts to address the short and long-term consequences of changes to health behaviours.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 680-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Palombi ◽  
Amanda N. Hawthorne ◽  
Andrew Irish ◽  
Emily Becher ◽  
Elizabeth Bowen

Substance use and associated fatalities are disproportionately experienced by rural communities. This study used consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze focus group data from individuals in short- and long-term recovery in rural Michigan and Minnesota. Coding was conducted within a recovery capital framework to improve understanding of the resources and barriers participants experienced in their recovery. Key findings included barriers related to transportation, as well as access to and availability of sober meetings and sober living activities. Participants perceived connections to culturally appropriate treatment as particularly important. A reconstruction of social networks from those promoting addiction to those supporting recovery was also prominently emphasized. Recovery capital appears to be a useful framework for assessing how rural communities are experiencing substance use crises, in addition to identifying areas of low capital and high need in supporting long-term recovery.


Author(s):  
Celeste M. Malone ◽  
Tierra T. Ellis ◽  
DeLon Isom

Substance use affects more than the individual user; all those who have relationships with the person using are impacted and suffer the consequences of substance use. Parental substance use places children at risk for a wide range of adverse physical, psychological, social-emotional, and behavioral outcomes at all stages of the developmental continuum. However, schools can help mitigate those adverse outcomes by providing children with access to social support and helping them to develop coping skills. This chapter provides an overview of the short- and long-term effects of parental substance use and its impact on youth functioning and provides educators with strategies and resources to support these students and meet their needs.


Swiss Surgery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert ◽  
Mariéthoz ◽  
Pache ◽  
Bertin ◽  
Caulfield ◽  
...  

Objective: Approximately one out of five patients with Graves' disease (GD) undergoes a thyroidectomy after a mean period of 18 months of medical treatment. This retrospective and non-randomized study from a teaching hospital compares short- and long-term results of total (TT) and subtotal thyroidectomies (ST) for this disease. Methods: From 1987 to 1997, 94 patients were operated for GD. Thirty-three patients underwent a TT (mostly since 1993) and 61 a ST (keeping 4 to 8 grams of thyroid tissue - mean 6 g). All patients had received propylthiouracil and/or neo-mercazole and were in a euthyroid state at the time of surgery; they also took potassium iodide (lugol) for ten days before surgery. Results: There were no deaths. Transient hypocalcemia (< 3 months) occurred in 32 patients (15 TT and 17 ST) and persistent hypocalcemia in 8 having had TT. Two patients developed transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy after ST (< 3 months). After a median follow-up period of seven years (1-15) with five patients lost to follow-up, 41 patients having had a ST are in a hypothyroid state (73%), thirteen are euthyroid (23%), and two suffered recurrent hyperthyroidism, requiring completion of thyroidectomy. All 33 patients having had TT - with follow-ups averaging two years (0.5-8) - are receiving thyroxin substitution. Conclusions: There were no instances of persistent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in either group, but persistent hypoparathyroidism occurred more frequently after TT. Long after ST, hypothyroidism developed in nearly three of four cases, whereas euthyroidy was maintained in only one-fourth; recurrent hyperthyroidy was rare.


Author(s):  
Ian Neath ◽  
Jean Saint-Aubin ◽  
Tamra J. Bireta ◽  
Andrew J. Gabel ◽  
Chelsea G. Hudson ◽  
...  

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