🔑 Key Definitions
Addiction 💉: Brain disease model - changes in brain structure/function. Characterized by tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, loss of control. Chronic and relapsing.
AUDIT 📝: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - 10 questions, screens for hazardous drinking
🔗 5 Substance-Crime Connections
- Drug-related crimes - Possession, trafficking, supply
- Economic crimes - Theft/robbery to fund addiction
- Violence under influence - Intoxication reduces inhibitions
- Drug market violence - Competition in illegal trade
- High prevalence - MOST prisoners have substance problems
🍺 6 Types of Substances
- Alcohol 🍺 - MOST commonly linked to VIOLENT crime!
- Heroin/Opioids 💉 - Linked to acquisitive crime (theft)
- Cocaine/Crack ❄️ - Violence and dealing
- Amphetamines 💊 - Aggression and psychosis
- Cannabis 🌿 - Lower violence
- Novel substances - Unpredictable effects
🧠 5 Features of Addiction
- Tolerance - Needing MORE for same effect
- Dependence - Body NEEDS substance to function
- Withdrawal - Physical/psychological symptoms without it
- Loss of control - Cannot stop despite consequences
- Chronic/relapsing - Long-term condition
🧠 Brain Changes in Addiction
- Reward system - Dopamine pathways hijacked
- Prefrontal cortex - Decision-making impaired
- Cravings - Intense urges triggered by cues
- Anhedonia - Reduced pleasure from normal activities
📋 3 Assessment Tools
- AUDIT - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (10 questions)
- DAST - Drug Abuse Screening Test (10-28 items)
- ASI - Addiction Severity Index (comprehensive, multiple life areas)
💡 Exam Tips
- ALCOHOL = most commonly linked to VIOLENT crime!
- HEROIN = linked to acquisitive crime (theft to fund addiction)
- Brain disease model: tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, loss of control
- AUDIT = 10 questions for alcohol screening
- Most prisoners have substance problems - HIGH prevalence