Effects of Substance Use/Abuse/Dependence in Abnormal Psychology

This assignment, focusing on abnormal psychology, examines the short and long-term effects of various substance use disorders. The document provides a detailed table outlining the impact of substances like barbiturates, benzodiazepines, opiates, amphetamines, and cannabis. It covers both the immediate and prolonged consequences, including physiological, psychological, and cognitive effects. The assignment considers the effects of these substances on the central nervous system, mental health, and overall well-being. The assignment also references relevant literature including research papers and studies to support the information. The document aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted nature of substance use disorders, emphasizing the importance of understanding the range of effects associated with different substances.

Running head: ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
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1ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Short and Long-term Effects of Substance Use/Abuse/Dependence
Type of Substance Short-term effects Long-term effects of prolonged use
and abuse
Barbituates and
Benzodiazepines
i.e. tranquilizers,
hypnotics, sedative
(Nembutal, valium,
zanax, halcyon)
Short-term effects:
 Relief from Anxiety
 Relief from Insomnia and
sleeplessness
 Increased feelings of
relaxation
 Depression of the central
nervous system leading to
decreased inhibitions and
feelings of euphoria or
increased happiness
(Michelucci & Pasini,
2015).
Long-term effects
 Unpleasant emotions of
irritability, anger and
annoyance upon withdrawal.
As noted by Walsh and Katz (2016),
additional long term effects include:
 Increased levels of fatigue or
lethargy
 Loss of consciousness in high
doses or prolonged use
resulting in damage to the
brain or organs and coma
 Difficulties in breathing that
can develop into pneumonia or
bronchitis
 Irregularities in the menstrual
cycle
 Loss of memory for short even
longer time periods
 Renal or hepatic diseases
 Lack of controlled body
movements resulting in
twitching or uncoordinated
motor functions
 Reductions in the span of
attention
 Increased risk of
cardiovascular diseases
 Sexual dysfunction
 Gradual slowing of reflex
movements
 Increased possibility of
developing a physical
dependency
 Feelings of vomiting and
nausea
 Gastrointestinal disorders
such as diarrhoea or
constipation

2ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Type of Substance Short-term effects Long-term effects of prolonged use
and abuse
 Blurring of vision
 Vertigo and headache
Chronic usage can further result in
(Alghamdi et al., 2018):
 Increased sweating,
palpitations and sensitivities to
pain and sound.
 Suicidal thoughts and ideation
towards suicide
 Slurring of speech or stupour
Opiates
i.e. heroin,
morphine, codeine
Short-term effects
 Relief from pain
 Feelings of Happiness
and Euphoria
 Feelings of drowsiness
 Sedative effects (Beltran-
Campos et al., 2015)
Long-term effects
As noted by Cruz and Granados-Soto
(2016), long term effects include:
 Feelings of vomiting and
nausea
 Gastrointestinal disturbances
such as bloating, constipation
and distension of the abdomen
 Damage to the liver (increased
susceptibility in situations of
combined usage of opiates and
acetaminophen
 Prolonged use may result in
reduced oxygen supply
resulting in hypoxia, depressed
respiratory functioning and
damage to the brain
 Increased levels of tolerance
and dependence with
prolonged use
 Increased feelings of paranoia
Amphetamine and
Cocaine
i.e.speed, ice, crack
Short-term Effects
 Elevated levels of Arousal
 Quick and sudden
elevations in energy
levels
As noted by Fischman and Foltin
(2016), short term effects
include:
Long-term Effects
 Prolonged use may result in
Amphetamine psychosis –
which produces symptoms of
hallucination, mistrust and
paranoia similar to paranoid
schizophrenia
 Increased levels of tolerance
resulting in feelings of
cravings towards the drugs

3ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Type of Substance Short-term effects Long-term effects of prolonged use
and abuse
 Quickening of reaction
times
 Feelings of high elevated
levels of wakefulness
 Increased feelings of
excitement, excessive
happiness and euphoria
 Elevated levels of
concentration and
attention
 Drying of mouth,
headaches, giddiness,
nausea and loss of
appetite
 Increased feelings of
anxiety and hostility
 Increase in body
temperature and blood
pressure resulting in
hypertension
 Impaired cognitive
functions
 Increased rate of
breathing, palpitations
and heartbeat
 Constriction of blood
vessels
 Disturbances in sleep
 Dilation of pupils
As noted by Knapp et al., (2015), long
term effects include:
 Increased conductance of
behaviours which are violent
 Difficulties in breathing and
respiration
 Frequent states of
hallucinations
 Increased drug-usage
behaviours which are
compulsive
 Increase conductance of
obsessive behaviours
 Lack of coordination in motor
movements
 Frequent occurrences of
convulsions
 Irreversible damage to the
blood vessels of the brain and
heart
 Damage to tissues in the nose
 Loss of weight and
malnutrition
 Severe symptom of depression
 Decaying of the teeth and
damage to the oral cavity
 Prolonged use can lead to
hypertension and
cardiovascular diseases such
as stroke and myocardial
infarction
Cannabis
i.e. marijuana,
hashish
Short-term Effects
As noted by Volkow et al.,
(2016), short term effects
include:
 Slowing down of reaction
time
 Loss of short term
memory
 Feelings of mistrust and
paranoia
 Losing one’s sense of
Long-term Effects
 Long term use may rarely
result in withdrawal and
tolerance
As noted by Green, K. M., Doherty, E.
E., & Ensminger, M. E. (2017), long
term effects include:
 Severe losses in cognitive
abilities of learning and
thinking

4ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Type of Substance Short-term effects Long-term effects of prolonged use
and abuse
personality, concept of
time and self-perception
 Loss of coordination in
motor activities
 Elevations in heart rate
 Symptoms of psychosis
resulting in difficulty
isolate reality from
imagination and
occurrences of
hallucinations
 Reduction in anxiety
 Reduced abilities of
logical thinking and
problem solving
 Increased appetite and
hunger after use
 Reduced perceptions of
pain
 Increased feelings of
calmness and euphoria
 Increased drowsiness
 Occurrences of mood
swings resulting in panic
attacks, impulsivity or
even inhibitions or
feelings of melancholy
 Increased dizziness, or
feelings of nausea and
migraine
 Difficulties in respiration
 Decrease in one’s intelligence
quotient if used from an early
age
 Increased tendencies of
engagement in antisocial acts
 Decreased perception of
optimism and satisfaction in
towards life
 Increased conflicts in
relationships, resulting in
intimate partner violence
 Loss of ability to perform tasks
which are difficult or complex
 Loss of functioning of
receptors regulating mood and
emotions in the brain resulting
in decreased recognition of
exhibition of emotions such as
happiness and sadness
 Increased apathetic emotions
and loss of motivation towards
life
 Loss in abilities of decision-
making, planning and
formulation of concepts
 Loss of optimal functioning of
the immune system

5ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
References
Alghamdi, B., Zrari, M., Elahi, A., Alwagdani, M., Alghamdi, E., Moafa, H., ... & Jaafari, M.
(2018). Substance abuse and its psychiatric effect on adolescence. International Journal
Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(7), 2642-2646.
Beltran-Campos, V., Silva-Vera, M., Garcia-Campos, M. L., & Diaz-Cintra, S. (2015). Effects of
morphine on brain plasticity. Neurología (English Edition), 30(3), 176-180.
Cruz, S. L., & Granados-Soto, V. (2016). Opioids and opiates: Pharmacology, abuse, and
addiction. Neuroscience in the 21st Century, 1-33.
Fischman, M. W., & Foltin, R. W. (2016). Cocaine and the amphetamines. The International
Handbook of Addiction Behaviour.
Green, K. M., Doherty, E. E., & Ensminger, M. E. (2017). Long-term consequences of
adolescent cannabis use: Examining intermediary processes. The American journal of
drug and alcohol abuse, 43(5), 567-575.
Knapp, W. P., Soares, B. G., Farrell, M. F., & Silva de Lima, M. (2015). WITHDRAWN:
Psychosocial interventions for cocaine and psychostimulant amphetamines related
disorders. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 4, CD003023-CD003023.
Michelucci, R., & Pasini, E. (2015). Phenobarbital, primidone and other barbiturates. The
treatment of epilepsy, 555-573.
Volkow, N. D., Swanson, J. M., Evins, A. E., DeLisi, L. E., Meier, M. H., Gonzalez, R., ... &
Baler, R. (2016). Effects of cannabis use on human behavior, including cognition,
motivation, and psychosis: a review. JAMA psychiatry, 73(3), 292-297.

6ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Walsh, S. J., & Katz, K. D. (2016). Barbiturates. Critical Care Toxicology, 1-10.