2. Drug Dependence
Dependence is a compulsive craving that develops as a result of repeated
administration of the drug.
As per WHO, A state psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting from interaction
between a living organism and a drug characterized by behavioural and other
changes that includes a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic
basis to avoid its psychic effects and sometimes to avoid the discomfort.
Drug abuse: compulsive and excessive use of habit forming drugs or substances,
leading to addiction or dependence, serious physiological injury.
All dependence producing drugs activates mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway.
3. TYPES OF DRUG DEPENDENCE:-
1.Psychic dependence:-A condition in which a drug produces
A feeling of satisfaction
A Psychic drive that require periodic or continuous administration of
the drug.
2.Physical dependence:- Its a state in which
A body achieves an adaptive state
Causes physical disturbances when the drug is withdrawn.
Withdrawal syndrome varies in type and intensity for different classes.
3.Combined dependence:-it involves both psychic and physical
dependence terms.
An overpowering desire to continue taking the drug in spite of
knowing its harmful effects.
A tendency to increase the dose.
A high tendency to withdrawal syndromes.
Drug
Dependence
Psychic
Dependence
Combined
Dependence
Physical
Dependence
4. Withdrawal Syndrome
withdrawal of the psychoactive drugs produces distorted homeostasis
leading to the development of a withdrawal syndrome.(discontinuation
syndrome).
It is a set of symptoms of variable degree of severity which occur on
cessation or reduction of psychoactive drugs.
A withdrawal syndrome is one of the indicators of a dependence syndrome.
Example, the alcohol withdrawal syndrome is characterized by tremor,
sweating, anxiety, depression, nausea and malaise.
5. DRUGS KNOWN TO CAUSE DEPENDENCE
I. Drugs that cause sever psychic and physical dependence:
Opiate or morphine type: Morphine and its congeners Codeine, Dihydromorphinone and Heroin,
synthetic morphine substituents like Meperidine.
Alcohol barbiturate type: Ethyl alcohol, Barbiturates, Paraldehyde, Benzodiazepines and
Meprobamate.
Nicotine (tobacco)
II. Drugs cause definite psychic but mild or questionable physical dependence:
Opiate antagonist type: Nalorphine (morphine antagonist)
Amphetamine type : Amphetamine, Methamphetamine and Phenmetrazine.
III. Drugs that cause only psychic dependence:
Cocaine, LSD, Cannabis and Caffeine.
6. Drugs of abuse and their target receptors
Drugs:
Opiates
Cocaine
Nicotine
Ethanol
Amphetamine
cannabinoids
Receptor
Agonists at mu, delta, and kappa receptors.
Indirect agonist of dopamine by inhibiting its
transporter
Nicotinic acetylcholine (Ach) receptors
GABA agonist and NMDA receptor antagonist
Indirect agonist of dopamine by stimulating its
release
CB1 and CB2 receptors
7. MESOLIMBIC PATHWAY
Mesolimbic pathway ( reward pathway) is a dopaminergic
pathway in the brain which connects ventral tegmental area
located in the midbrain to the nucleus accumbens.
The mesolimbic pathway releases dopamine into the nucleus
accumbens and stimulates rewarding system.
Abused drugs [alcohol, opiates, 9tetrahydrocannabinol (9-
THC), and psychostimulants, including nicotine] interact with
endogenous neural pathways in the brain.
In particular, they share the common property of activating
mesolimbic dopamine brain reward systems, and virtually all
abused drugs elevate dopamine levels in the nucleus
accumbens.
In nucleus accumbens, FosB functions as a master control
protein in the development of drug addiction.
Once it is overexpressed it triggers series of transcription
events that ultimately produce an adaptive state.
10. CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)
Cannabis is one of the oldest known psychoactive plant.
It is obtained from the Hemp plants,
Cannabis sativa
Cannabis indica
The active ingredients are present in the resinous exudate
of the tops of the female plants.
The psychoactive principle of cannabis is known as -9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Cannabinoids are less liable than opiates, nicotine and
alcohol to cause dependence having long term
psychological effects.
11. CANNABINOID RECEPTOR:
THC acts on the CB1 (central) and CB2 (immune cells) cannabinoid receptors.
Ligands for these receptors proteins include
- Endocannabinoids (produced naturally in the body by animals) eg. Anandamide, 2-
Arachidonoyl glycerol
- Phytocannabinoids (found in the cannabis species) eg. THC
- Synthetic cannabinoids (manufactured artificially) eg. Naphthoylindole, Phenacetylindole.
CB1 Receptor
Location: Basal ganglia,
limbic system,
hippocampus, male and
female reproductive
systems, anterior eye and
retina.
Involved in dependence
mechanism
CB2 Receptor
Location: Immune-derived
cells, spleen, peripheral
nervous system.
Not involved in
dependence mechanism
12. MECHANISM OF ACTION OF CANNABINOIDS
CB1R is a G protein-coupled receptor located in the central and
peripheral nervous system.
Activated by the endocannabinoid neurotransmitters Anandamide and
2- Arachidonoyl glycerol or by THC.
CB1R is linked via Gi protein it inhibits adenylate cyclase and voltage
operated calcium channels and activates G-protein-sensitive
inward-rectifying potassium channels(GIRK) causing
hyperpolarization and inhibits neurotransmitter release.
CB1R also influences gene expression both directly by activating
mitogen-activated protein kinase and indirectly by reducing the
activity of protein kinase A as a result of reduced adenylate cyclase
activity.
14. MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF CANNABINOID DEPENDENCE:
prolong exposure of cannabinoids on several components of the brain neuronal circuits lead to
cause dependence via
1)Synaptic plasticity:
Neuronal circuits and their elements undergo important adaptation due to addictive drugs by
- Modulating the number and strength of neuron-neuron connections
- Synaptic plasticity (the dynamic adjustment of synaptic efficacy occurring in response to
environmental or internal stimuli)
Endocannabinoids supresses presynaptic glutamate release leading to a depolarization-induced
suppression of excitation(DSE) and inhibit presynaptic GABA release leading to depolarization
suppression of inhibition (DSI), both effects lasts for 1 minute.
THC acts via presynaptic CB1 receptor to inhibit release of glutamate and GABA in the striatum
and cause long term form of synaptic plasticity like long term potentiation (LTP) and long term
depression(LTD). This effect can last for hours or weeks.
15. 2) Changes in CB1R density and function:
CB1R is coupled to G-proteins of the Gi class, which implies its activation and inhibits
adenylate cyclase and voltage gated Ca++ channels and activate K+ channel and
hinders synaptic transmission.
Uncoupling and downregulation of brain CB1R after prolonged THC exposure plays key
role in development of cannabinoid addiction and tolerance.
Repeated THC exposure reduces coupling efficacy of CB1R to Gi transduction proteins,
the receptors gets desensitized.
16. 3) Signalling cascades:
The MAPK/ERK pathway is a chain of proteins in the cell that communicates a
signal from a receptor on the surface of the cell to the DNA in the nucleus of the
cell.
The signal starts when a signalling molecule binds to the receptor on the cell
surface and ends when the DNA in the nucleus expresses a protein and produces
some change in the cell, such as cell division
The members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signalling system,
such as MEK1/2, JNK(c-Jun N-terminal kinase)and ERK (extracellular signal
regulated kinases) are major modulators of cell functions, including proliferation,
differentiation and survival.
Cannabinoids increase concentration of MAPK due to which this MAPK/ERK1/2
cascade pathway gets activated which alters gene expression.
17. signs of abuse/dependence
Anger or Aggression
Decreased Appetite / Weight Loss
Irritability
Nervousness / Anxiety
Restlessness
Sleep Difficulties / Strange Dreams
18. DRUGS USED FOR TREATMENT:
Dronabinol (Acts as an agonist & It reduces symptoms of withdrawal syndrome
and reduces use of cannabis)
Encaptone (It is used to decrease cannabis cravings)
Divalproex
Buspirone
Recent pre-clinical studies suggest the potential of FAAH inhibitors such as
URB597, endocannabinoid metabolising enzymes