Psyc 3507 Alcohol, Drugs & Behavior
Terms and Concepts Chapter 12
The following are major concepts you need to be familiar with from Chapter 12. Remember you need to
familiar with any relationships between terms and concepts as you will be expected to apply your
knowledge on exams. Be sure to ask questions if there is something that you don’t understand.
What is the main source of morphine?
Understand why heroin, although itself inactive, is a more powerful reinforcer than morphine.
How does codeine work?
Understand the differences and similarities in the routes of administration, absorption and distribution,
metabolism and excretion of morphine and heroin.
Why are there opiate receptors in the brain? What are the natural substrates for these receptors? What
do these natural substances do?
What are the different opiate receptor subtypes? What is so special about the distribution of these
receptors? Which receptor subtype is involved in the actions of virtually every opiate? What is the
relationship between effect produced and binding affinity (attraction) at this receptor?
Why is naloxone important to opiate research?
How do all opiates receptors have their effects?
What are the three ways that opiates produce their analgesic effects?
What are the three sensory components of pain? Be familiar with which groups of agonists affect each
of these components.
What three major brain centers are depressed by opiates?
Be familiar with opiates effects on physiology of the body (those specifically discussed in class).
Be familiar with opiates effects on behavior and other subjective measures (again, those discussed in
class).
Be familiar with different types of tolerance that develop to the effects of opiates. ALSO, to which
effects do complete tolerance develop? Partial tolerance? No tolerance?
Be familiar with symptoms of opiate withdrawal.
Be familiar with treatment options for opiate withdrawal. Be sure you understand the reasoning behind
use of each.
Be familiar with harmful effects of opiates (acute and chronic---specifically discussed in class).
