The introduction of psychoactive substances into human society dates back as far as humanity has kept records. Through the practice of medicine and spiritual perception of reality within society has moved mankind from altering the physical nature of the body or seeking a perceived understanding of self through a change introduced by chemicals, it was quickly found that mood and behavior are severely impacted as well. This process of change does not come from a physical change necessarily but through the change in brain chemistry. As an introduced chemical can change neuron transmissions in order to decrease pain, stimulate joy, calm down tension, and create a sense of perception that is not commonly experienced without a chemical introduction.
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This depressant class drug is the most commonly used substance in society and when abused like any other substance, can affect the dopamine receptor that provides stimulus to the reward pathway of the brain. As such, alcohol was used as a pain killer before the wide spread use of opiates. Other drugs within this class like benzodiazepines, non- benzodiazepines sleep medications, and barbiturates are medications used primarily for this class of drugs effect of inhibiting the brains activity through GABA transmission, in order to reduce stress, anxiety and promote sleep. As an example, Mirijello, et. al. (2015) notes that chronic exposure to alcohol produces adaptive changes in several neurotransmitter systems like GABA, glutamate, and norepinephrine in order to compensate for destabilization and restore neurochemical balance, hence building up a tolerance to the substance. This increasing tolerance requires a higher intake in order to achieve the desired effect, but unlike other substance classes, an abrupt reduction can be deadly. Special care is required when treating an individual that is addicted to depressants, as the severity of use can dictate potential hallucinations and autonomic hyperactivity when substance abuse is immediately disrupted. In consideration to the social acceptance of alcohol use, care must be given when prescribing sedatives of this class, as …show more content…
Over the centuries science has developed many opiate class drugs, prescribed for post-surgical needs to chronic pain management. Opiate class drugs, are substances that can be injected, snorted or ingested commonly to relieve pain associated to ailments of the body. Unlike their illegal counterpart, Heroin, they are often prescribed from a health care provider, but equally claim a comparable amount of lives as alcohol, depressants and stimulants every year. Opioid drug abusers experience more pronounced changes to fluctuations in the natural opioid-like neurotransmitters in the brain, endorphin and enkephalin; decreasing pain, alertness, and respiration (NIDA, 2007). When treating opiate addiction, withdrawal may not be fatal, it can however be very painful and as such, many individuals relapse rather than endure the painful process. According to Lin, et. al. (2015) chronic pain is common amongst addiction treatment patients and has been associated to poor treatment outcomes, including increased treatment dropout rates, and lower rates of abstinence post-treatment. With this consideration of chronic pain, there have been miscommunications in treating co-occurring disorders, and often when sedatives are prescribed to an individual using opiates, the combination of substances can cause respiratory failure as
This depressant class drug is the most commonly used substance in society and when abused like any other substance, can affect the dopamine receptor that provides stimulus to the reward pathway of the brain. As such, alcohol was used as a pain killer before the wide spread use of opiates. Other drugs within this class like benzodiazepines, non- benzodiazepines sleep medications, and barbiturates are medications used primarily for this class of drugs effect of inhibiting the brains activity through GABA transmission, in order to reduce stress, anxiety and promote sleep. As an example, Mirijello, et. al. (2015) notes that chronic exposure to alcohol produces adaptive changes in several neurotransmitter systems like GABA, glutamate, and norepinephrine in order to compensate for destabilization and restore neurochemical balance, hence building up a tolerance to the substance. This increasing tolerance requires a higher intake in order to achieve the desired effect, but unlike other substance classes, an abrupt reduction can be deadly. Special care is required when treating an individual that is addicted to depressants, as the severity of use can dictate potential hallucinations and autonomic hyperactivity when substance abuse is immediately disrupted. In consideration to the social acceptance of alcohol use, care must be given when prescribing sedatives of this class, as …show more content…
Over the centuries science has developed many opiate class drugs, prescribed for post-surgical needs to chronic pain management. Opiate class drugs, are substances that can be injected, snorted or ingested commonly to relieve pain associated to ailments of the body. Unlike their illegal counterpart, Heroin, they are often prescribed from a health care provider, but equally claim a comparable amount of lives as alcohol, depressants and stimulants every year. Opioid drug abusers experience more pronounced changes to fluctuations in the natural opioid-like neurotransmitters in the brain, endorphin and enkephalin; decreasing pain, alertness, and respiration (NIDA, 2007). When treating opiate addiction, withdrawal may not be fatal, it can however be very painful and as such, many individuals relapse rather than endure the painful process. According to Lin, et. al. (2015) chronic pain is common amongst addiction treatment patients and has been associated to poor treatment outcomes, including increased treatment dropout rates, and lower rates of abstinence post-treatment. With this consideration of chronic pain, there have been miscommunications in treating co-occurring disorders, and often when sedatives are prescribed to an individual using opiates, the combination of substances can cause respiratory failure as