19722 - Understanding Prescription Drugs, Interactions and Addiction

Course Overview

According to a 2018 NIH study, about one million adults 65 and over live with substance use disorder (SUD). While SUD declines after adolescence, the neurological and pharmacological mechanisms of drug addiction are especially concerning for older adults and may be exacerbated by misconceptions about drug use, interactions with prescription drugs and aging. We’ll discuss the classification of drugs by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the definition of addiction according to the DSM-5 Manual of Mental Disorders. Three classes of drugs will be overviewed: Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine); Narcotics (morphine, heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone); Central Nervous System depressants (antianxiety drugs, sleep medications, ethanol). The concepts of drug tolerance, withdrawal and craving will be emphasized. Medical uses of these drugs and pharmacological treatments for drug addiction will be presented.