Terms
Maturing Out
-
The changing of one's reactions to, need for, and style of drug use as one's
values and place in society change through his or her lifestyle.
Addiction
-
As defined by Jaffe, "A behavioral pattern of drug use characterized by overwhelming involvement with the compulsive use of a drug, securing its supply, and associated with a high tendency to relapse after withdrawal."
Euphoria
-
An exaggerated feeling of well-being or mild elation.
Habituation
-
The act of becoming accustomed to the use of a drug; the mental equivalent of
physical tolerance and dependence on drugs.
Compulsion
-
A repetitive act to relieve fear connected with obsession and driven by one's
subconscious against one's wishes; if denied causes increasing anxiety.
Endorphins
-
Naturally occurring substances in the body that act as an endogenous source of
pain killers.
Family Studies
-
Genetic studies that involve evaluating families to ascertain whether a
particular phenotype runs in the family.
Adoption Studies
-
Genetic studies that evaluate behavioral traits of adopted siblings.
Twins-reared-apart studies
-
Genetic studies that evaluate the behavioral traits of twins separated at birth.
Twin Studies
-
Genetic studies that evaluate the behavioral traits of twins reared together.
Tolerance
-
When the regular use of a drug increases the threshold needed to achieve the
desired effect.
Cross-tolerance
-
When the regular use of one drug increases the threshold needed to achieve the
desired effect of another drug.
Desensitization
-
The condition where an organism, after multiple injections of the same drug, no
longer responds to the pharmacological effects of that drug; a product of
tolerance.
Peer Group
-
A group of individuals that are closely associated within a particular
environment and exert behavioral effects over other members of the group.
Methadone
-
A synthetic analgesic drug with potency equal to that of morphine, but with a
narcotic action weaker than morphine. Often used for withdrawal from heroin
addictions.
Neuron
-
A nerve cell, the structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
Contains a body, axon, and dendrite.
Neurosis
-
A mental or psychic disorder irrespective of etiology.
Neurotransmitter
-
A biochemical substance released from the neuron that is responsible for
inter-neuron signal transduction.
Placebo
-
An inactive substance given to patients to satisfy a patient's demand for
medicine or to evaluate the efficacy of a study drug.
Addictive Inheritance
-
The genetic theory of addiction that attempts to separate the genetic and
environmental factors of addictive behavior.
Asian Flushing
-
A characteristic flushing that occurs in people of Asian decent when drinking
alcohol; a result of deficiency in the production of acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde
-
An enzyme important in the metabolism of alcohol.
Schizophrenia
-
A psychosis characterized by loss of contact with the environment and by
disintegration of personality.
Manic-depression
-
Cyclic psychosis in which there are alternating moods of depression and mania.
Hallucinogen
-
An intoxicant and narcotic that produces telepathy, fantastical visions,
hallucinations, and other psychic effects.
Axon
-
A process of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body.
Dendrite
-
A process of a neuron that conducts impulses towards the cell body.
Pre-synaptic terminal
-
The distal portion of the neuron that is anatomically proximal to the
synaptic junction.
Post-synaptic terminal
-
The proximal portion of the neuron that is anatomically distal to the
synaptic junction.
Synaptic Junction
-
The point of junction in a neural pathway that is between two neurons.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
-
A compound containing adenine, ribose and phosphate (3 phosphoric acids)
that serves as
an energy source within the body.
Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP)
-
A compound containing adenine, ribose and phosphate (2 phosphoric acids)
that serves as
and energy source within the body.
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate
-
A cyclic compound containing adenine, ribose and phosphate (1 phosphoric
acid) that is
important in cellular signaling.
Dopamine
-
A neurotransmitter that is found in abundance in areas of the brain that
moderate behavior.
Monoamine Oxidases
-
Enzymes in the pre-synaptic terminal that degrade dopamine and other
neurotransmitters.
