Social, personality and abnormal psychology session 8: drug addiction
DSM-5: Substance-related & addictive disorders
Alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogen, opioid, sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic,
stimulant, tobacco, inhalant …
…-related disorders!
Non-substance related disorders: Gambling disorder
“Other excessive behavioral patterns, such as Internet gaming, have also been
described, but the research on these and other behavioral syndromes is less clear.
Thus, groups of repetitive behaviors, which some term behavioral addictions, with
such subcategories as "sex addiction," "exercise addiction," or "shopping addiction,"
are not included because at this time there is insufficient peer-reviewed evidence to
establish the diagnostic criteria and course descriptions needed to identify these
behaviors as mental disorders.” (p.481)
DSM-5: Alcohol-related disorders
Alcohol use disorder
Criterion A. A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress, as manifested by at least two of the following, occurring
within a 12-month period:
2. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol
use.
3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, … or recover
from its effects.
5. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work,
school, or home.
…
10. Tolerance: need more for same effect.
11. Withdrawal symptoms: e.g. ‘cold turkey’ from heroin use.
Scythians
Scythians: 9th-1st cent. BC West Eurasian Steppe Nomads.
Herodotus (450BC): describes Scythian funeral rites:
“…they make a booth by fixing in the ground three sticks inclined towards one
another, and stretching around them woolen felts, which they arrange so as to fit as
close as possible: creeping under the felt coverings, inside the booth a dish is placed
upon the ground, into which they place red hot stones and then add some hemp
seed. Immediately it smokes, and produces such a steam, that no Grecian vapour
surpass it. The Scythians, delighted by the vapour, shout for joy.”
Belinski (2016): unearthed rare Scythian goldware. Asked criminologists in nearby
Stavropol to analyze a black residue found inside the vessels. The results came back
positive for opium and cannabis.
A historical case of addiction?
Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.): took the precaution of a daily dose of
theriac, a concoction based on 'mithridatum' originally developed by 'The Poison
King' Mithridates VI of Pontus (120-63BC) to offset the effects of poisoning attempts.
Theriac contained opium, for anti-anxiety purposes according to Galen.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of
thinking.”
DSM-5: Substance-related & addictive disorders
Alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogen, opioid, sedative/hypnotic/anxiolytic,
stimulant, tobacco, inhalant …
…-related disorders!
Non-substance related disorders: Gambling disorder
“Other excessive behavioral patterns, such as Internet gaming, have also been
described, but the research on these and other behavioral syndromes is less clear.
Thus, groups of repetitive behaviors, which some term behavioral addictions, with
such subcategories as "sex addiction," "exercise addiction," or "shopping addiction,"
are not included because at this time there is insufficient peer-reviewed evidence to
establish the diagnostic criteria and course descriptions needed to identify these
behaviors as mental disorders.” (p.481)
DSM-5: Alcohol-related disorders
Alcohol use disorder
Criterion A. A problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant
impairment or distress, as manifested by at least two of the following, occurring
within a 12-month period:
2. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control alcohol
use.
3. A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol, … or recover
from its effects.
5. Recurrent alcohol use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work,
school, or home.
…
10. Tolerance: need more for same effect.
11. Withdrawal symptoms: e.g. ‘cold turkey’ from heroin use.
Scythians
Scythians: 9th-1st cent. BC West Eurasian Steppe Nomads.
Herodotus (450BC): describes Scythian funeral rites:
“…they make a booth by fixing in the ground three sticks inclined towards one
another, and stretching around them woolen felts, which they arrange so as to fit as
close as possible: creeping under the felt coverings, inside the booth a dish is placed
upon the ground, into which they place red hot stones and then add some hemp
seed. Immediately it smokes, and produces such a steam, that no Grecian vapour
surpass it. The Scythians, delighted by the vapour, shout for joy.”
Belinski (2016): unearthed rare Scythian goldware. Asked criminologists in nearby
Stavropol to analyze a black residue found inside the vessels. The results came back
positive for opium and cannabis.
A historical case of addiction?
Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.): took the precaution of a daily dose of
theriac, a concoction based on 'mithridatum' originally developed by 'The Poison
King' Mithridates VI of Pontus (120-63BC) to offset the effects of poisoning attempts.
Theriac contained opium, for anti-anxiety purposes according to Galen.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of
thinking.”
