Exam 1 Study Guide
Module 1
Branches/ definitions of pharmacology
o Pharmacology- Use, effects, and modes of actions of drugs
o Psychopharmacology- Influence of drugs on behavior and psychological
function
o Neuropharmacology- influence of drugs on brain function
o Neuropsychopharmacology- Influence of drugs on brain, behavior, and
psychological function
Different ways to classify drugs
1. Source (natural, synthetic, semisynthetic)
2. Behavioral/ psychological effects (including medical/ therapeutic
use)
3. Pharmacological action
4. Chemical structure
5. Legal status
Current U.S. use of illicit drugs? % of people using? Ages?
o In the last month, 13% of the U.S. population has used illicit drugs
(mostly marijuana)
59.3 Million people (21.4%)
o Drug use is most common in young adults- around 20-21 years old.
Alcohol use rates (What is binge or heavy drinking?
o Bing drinking: >5 drinks for men; >4 drinks for women
o Heavy drinking; >5 binge days out of last 30 days
Current drug use trends among college and high school students
o College-age students:
Daily marijuana use is on the rise
Bing alcohol use is higher in college students than non-college
peers
Marijuana vaping is increasing among college students
Nicotine vaping is increasing among college students
o High-school students:
Steady illicit drug use in 12th graders over the years
Decreased alcohol use
Decreased cigarette
But, increasing vaping for nicotine and THC
Types of drugs used by ancient peoples
o Many psychoactive substances, such as nicotine, caffeine, morphine,
cocaine, and THC, are made by plants are were available to ancient
peoples.
Factors affecting U.S. drug use and attitudes including the War on Drugs
, 1. The alcohol temperance movement (starting in 1820s), which
culminated in the prohibition (1920-1933) and equated drug use
with criminal behavior
2. Increased addictive potential of drugs due to advances in chemistry
and the development of hypodermic syringes
3. Increased drug availability and lack of drug control laws
4. Medicalization of drug addiction- addiction was a disease.
How do we currently define addiction?
o Addiction is defined by uncontrollable cravings, inability to control drug
use, compulsive drug use, and use despite doing harm to oneself or
others
Addiction is maladaptive and classified as a disease
o Addiction is NOT: physical dependence and withdrawal
o Addiction is: craving and relapse
“Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is
characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite
harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because
drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it
works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to
many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.”
“The initial decision to take drugs is mostly voluntary. However,
when addiction takes over, a person’s ability to exert self-control
can become seriously impaired.”
Module 2
Pharmacokinetics vs. pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
o Subfield of pharmacology dealing with the absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion of drugs
o How does a drug move through the body?
Pharmacodynamics
o Subfield of pharmacology dealing with the biochemical effects of drugs
and their mechanism of action
o How does a drug change the body?
Major factors of pharmacokinetics; define bioavailability
Pharmacokinetic factors affect bioavailability:
o The amount of drug available to bind to target sites and elicit drug
action.
Pharmacokinetics determines the drugs onset, duration, and peak
concentration.
Module 1
Branches/ definitions of pharmacology
o Pharmacology- Use, effects, and modes of actions of drugs
o Psychopharmacology- Influence of drugs on behavior and psychological
function
o Neuropharmacology- influence of drugs on brain function
o Neuropsychopharmacology- Influence of drugs on brain, behavior, and
psychological function
Different ways to classify drugs
1. Source (natural, synthetic, semisynthetic)
2. Behavioral/ psychological effects (including medical/ therapeutic
use)
3. Pharmacological action
4. Chemical structure
5. Legal status
Current U.S. use of illicit drugs? % of people using? Ages?
o In the last month, 13% of the U.S. population has used illicit drugs
(mostly marijuana)
59.3 Million people (21.4%)
o Drug use is most common in young adults- around 20-21 years old.
Alcohol use rates (What is binge or heavy drinking?
o Bing drinking: >5 drinks for men; >4 drinks for women
o Heavy drinking; >5 binge days out of last 30 days
Current drug use trends among college and high school students
o College-age students:
Daily marijuana use is on the rise
Bing alcohol use is higher in college students than non-college
peers
Marijuana vaping is increasing among college students
Nicotine vaping is increasing among college students
o High-school students:
Steady illicit drug use in 12th graders over the years
Decreased alcohol use
Decreased cigarette
But, increasing vaping for nicotine and THC
Types of drugs used by ancient peoples
o Many psychoactive substances, such as nicotine, caffeine, morphine,
cocaine, and THC, are made by plants are were available to ancient
peoples.
Factors affecting U.S. drug use and attitudes including the War on Drugs
, 1. The alcohol temperance movement (starting in 1820s), which
culminated in the prohibition (1920-1933) and equated drug use
with criminal behavior
2. Increased addictive potential of drugs due to advances in chemistry
and the development of hypodermic syringes
3. Increased drug availability and lack of drug control laws
4. Medicalization of drug addiction- addiction was a disease.
How do we currently define addiction?
o Addiction is defined by uncontrollable cravings, inability to control drug
use, compulsive drug use, and use despite doing harm to oneself or
others
Addiction is maladaptive and classified as a disease
o Addiction is NOT: physical dependence and withdrawal
o Addiction is: craving and relapse
“Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is
characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite
harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because
drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it
works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to
many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.”
“The initial decision to take drugs is mostly voluntary. However,
when addiction takes over, a person’s ability to exert self-control
can become seriously impaired.”
Module 2
Pharmacokinetics vs. pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
o Subfield of pharmacology dealing with the absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion of drugs
o How does a drug move through the body?
Pharmacodynamics
o Subfield of pharmacology dealing with the biochemical effects of drugs
and their mechanism of action
o How does a drug change the body?
Major factors of pharmacokinetics; define bioavailability
Pharmacokinetic factors affect bioavailability:
o The amount of drug available to bind to target sites and elicit drug
action.
Pharmacokinetics determines the drugs onset, duration, and peak
concentration.
