Substance use and Medication

Substance use and Medication

Introduction

Neurotransmitter, also known as a chemical transmitter or messenger transmitter, refers to chemical agents released by nerve cells to stimulate bordering neurons hence allowing impulses to be transferred from one cell to another throughout the nervous system. The brain similarly records all pleasures, whether they are triggered with a psychoactive drug, sexual encounter, monetary reward, or a satisfying meal. The brain stimulates the nucleus accumbens to release the neurotransmitter dopamine. The dopamine released is tied with pleasure hence making the brain a pleasure center (Sanghavi et al., 2015).  Substance use has a powerful effect on the flow of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. Evidently, the use of a specific drug or involvement in a rewarding activity can lead to addiction. The addiction is directly related to the speed in which it influences dopamine release, its intensity, and finally, the reliability of the release.

Treatment

Although there is no clear cure for drug addiction, there are options that can help in managing substance use. Usually, the treatment depends on the level of substance use and the mental health disorders the user has. After the diagnosis and treatment, follow-ups are vital to prevent relapse. Some of the drugs used in treating substance use include naltrexone, Buprenorphine, disulfiram, acamprosate, and modafinil.

Naltrexone and Buprenorphine

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, naltrexone plays the role of blocking various receptors in the brain that are associated with opioids hence rendering the substance incapable of generating its addictive high. Naltrexone is recommended after the completion of detox medication because if used while opioids are still in the body might trigger severe withdrawal symptoms.  While naltrexone completely blocks the activation of opioid receptors, Buprenorphine plays the role of activating them partially. Therefore, in this case, naltrexone is called an opioid antagonist, whereas Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist.

Disulfiram

These are the drugs that are used to help individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. When a patient uses disulfiram, it produces a very unpleasant reaction in case the patient consumes any amount of alcohol. The drug releases this effect by blocking the enzymes essential in metabolizing ethanol. The reactions include chest pain, blurred vision, vomiting, and nausea. Therefore, with the thought of the uncomfortable symptoms, the patient will avoid drinking.

Acamprosate

The drug is also used to assist in treating alcoholism. It protects the brain from over-excitation that might occur when the patient tries to withdraw from the addictive substance. As a result, it reduces the chances of relapse while promoting abstinence.

Modafinil

It is a drug and a stimulant that promotes alertness. The drug is recommended for individuals who struggle to function due to irregular sleep patterns. The drug can also be used in the treatment of cocaine dependence. When the drug is used in combination with behavioral therapy, it can prolong abstinence, especially in people struggling with cocaine addiction.

Generally, the addictive nature of various substances is derived from how they control the brain’s pleasure center. However, the drugs mentioned are effective in restoring the balance to the neurochemical processes which are likely to be disrupted by substance use. The drugs can also be useful for people with eating disorders. Usually, people with eating disorders are associated with substance abuse, such as alcohol. It is so because a patient with eating disorders believes that drugs and alcohol are useful tools in their health.  Therefore, drugs can also be used to treat an eating disorder.

Personality disorder

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BDP) find it challenging to manage impulsive behaviors (Lieb et al., 2004). Impulsivity is a component that might trigger harm to oneself and those around. Impulsivity refers to the actions that are poorly perceived and unnecessarily risky.  It is usually associated with an undesirable outcome. There are no definite causes of impulsivity in personality disorder. However, there are some allegations that personality disorder is caused by post-traumatic stress disorder, mainly when the trauma occurred at an early age. Several studies demonstrate that SSRIs works well for the treatment of BDP.  Medication can help in reducing emotional instability, impulsivity, anger, and self-harm behaviors.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis for SSRIs argues that the medications do not influence mood by themselves but by increasing brain flexibility to render individuals more vulnerable to the pressure of the living condition (Godlewska et al., 2012).

Cluster B and C personality disorder

There are three main types of personality disorders. They include cluster A, cluster B, and Cluster C personality disorder. Cluster B personality disorder is categorized as dramatic, whereas cluster C as anxiety-driven. Cluster B disorder is associated with exciting, impulsive, and finally emotionally dysregulated behavior. Individuals with cluster B and C disorders share common traits such as antisocial personality, borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and histrionic personality disorder. The best-integrated therapy treatment plans for individuals with cluster B and C disorder is cognitive-behavioral therapy. The therapy will help the patients to change their negative perceptions about themselves and the people around them. The therapy is used alongside antidepressants during hospitalization to assist in improving patient health.