PHARMACOLOGY 2
Pharmacology
According to the Recovery Research Institute (n.d.), pharmacology is treatment of a
disorder or disease by using medication. With counseling there is healing, recovery, and
treatment for addiction and in this medication could be helpful to assisting in the disorders,
recovery, withdrawal, cravings, drug use. Pharmacology is the study of how medications affect
the human body biologically. Pharmacology controls the production of medication, their make
up, and how they affect a biological system, which can be chemical, biological, or therapeutic
(Doweiko, 10 edition). Pharmacology has two different terms which are pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics. Pharmacokinetics is when times impact on how a drug moves throughout
the body (Doweiko, 2019). Pharmacodynamics is when a drug impacts the body, in terms of how
long it lasts and how strong the drug is (Doweiko, 2019). Drugs are a wide variety of substances,
which can affect cells, tissue, or organs within the body. Pharmacy and pharmacology are distinct
fields even though they sound similar. Pharmacology is the study of identifying materials that
impact the body. Many of the drugs that people abuse were once used as pharmaceutical drugs or
still are used for that purpose. The purpose of pharmacology is to understand the side effects of
different compounds. Prime effect is the desired effect of the compound. Side effect is an
unintended effect of a chemical on the body (Doweiko, 2019). A compound needs to go into the
body with enough strength in order to have an effect. Which is called bioavailability, this is the
concentration of chemicals before they were changed and the action site. In addition,
bioavailability can be affected due to absorption, distribution, and elimination (Doweiko, 2019).
Classes of Drugs
The readings covered many classes of drugs which are narcotics, hallucinogens, anabolic
steroids, depressants, and stimulants. Because there are many classes of drugs they can be
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utilized for many different purposes in the body. Narcotics are separated into different groups
which are natural opiates such as codeine and morphine, then semisynthetic opiates such as
heroin, and lastly synthetic opioids such as methadone and propoxyphene (Doweiko, 2019).
Narcotics are used to control pain levels. Next, hallucinogens alter the neurotransmitters in their
brain, and dopamine levels are affected by the drug. The most common forms of this is LSD, and
MDMA (Doweiko, 2019).Hallucinogens have no known medical values. Both of these can have
an effect on the central nervous system as well as the individual’s overall health and well-being
(Doweiko & Evans, 2019). Anabolic steroids could be administered orally, injected into muscle
tissue, and delivered transdermally through a patch or gel (Doweiko & Evans, 2019). The
steroids are similar to testosterone, which a male sex hormone so when taken it could have a
masculinizing effect on the body. A drug that people often do not see as one any more is chewing
tobacco and cigar smoking because of its popularity, tobacco’s primary method of use is cigarette
smoking (Doweiko & Evans, 2019). The main psychoactive compound is nicotine, but there are
many other chemicals mixed into the tobacco. Another drug that may not be recognized as a drug
are over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics. These would be things like aspirin, ibuprofen,
acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Doweiko & Evans, 2019).
Depressants are used to help with anxiety like benzodiazepines (BZs). Which can be used to treat
muscle spasms, insomnia, anxiety, and seizures. These drugs are abused alone or in combination
with another drug (Doweiko, 2019). A few examples of these drugs are Xanax, Lorazepam,
Valium, and Temazepam. When people abuse the drug they have a feeling of euphoria. Lastly,
stimulants or uppers, the most common types of stimulants are cocaine and amphetamine
(Doweiko, 2019). Once stimulants are entered into the circulation of the body, it is transported
quickly to the brain. Routes of absorption can identify how a drug molecule moves from the
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entry site through the circulatory system. When addicts are in remission medications could be
helpful in assisting in their treatment. Therapists can use medications to decrease opiate use,
crimes involving substances, and improve pregnancy that have been affected due to substance
use (Recovery Research Institute, n.d.). Medications have been known to be effective when
treatmenting addiction, so as counselors it's important to know the science behind pharmacology,
the types of drugs that could be useful to us in our field, and the effects it can have on someone's
body. Pharmacology is usually applied with other therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) or 12-Step Facilitation (AA) (Recovery Research Institute, n.d.). Therefore,
understanding drug administration is important due to how it is absorbed through the body.
However, there are other factors that affect absorption because some are more easily absorbed
than others. For example, if a drug is taken orally, absorption is based on whether the drug was
ingested on an empty stomach or not, and if it was taken in combination with another (Doweiko,
2019). Although it will take years to understand the science behind pharmacology it is important
to know the basics to help clients going through addiction or that are in recovery.
Biblical Worldview
The information that was gained from the reading materials gave me a deeper
understanding of people struggling with addiction. I have never struggled with an addiction to
substances myself, however after reading the material, it gave me a further understanding of why
people struggle with addiction. It is a body’s response to fueling the satisfaction that people
crave. Scripture says to be satisfied in the Lord, and “God will supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19, ESV). We are satisfied by the Lord's
power and strength through his love. So when using all of our resources like pharmacology, God,
and counseling in conjunction it can have a positive effect on clients. There is also a lot of
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judgment when it comes to people using drugs because they feel it can be easily stopped and do
not fully understand what addiction is, the science behind it, the reason why people do it, and
how hard it is to stop taking drugs. God says for all healing no matter the addiction, it's important
to uplift others rather than judging. Luke 6:37 states, “Judge not, and you will not be judged;
condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” (King James
Version, 2017). God is willing to forgive and help those going through any form of addiction so
we as people should be able to do that as well.
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Reference
Doweiko, H.E. & Evans, A. L. (2019). Concepts of Chemical Dependency. 10th edition. Boston,
MA, USA: Cengage. Recovery Research Institute (n.d.). Pharmacotherapy – medications.
https://www.recoveryanswers.org/resource/pharmacotherapy-medication-assisted-treatme
nts/.
Enhancing Recovery Through Science: The Recovery Research Institute. (n.d.). Recovery
Research Institute. https://www.recoveryanswers.org/
King James Bible Online. (2017). OFFICIAL KING JAMES BIBLE ONLINE.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
Philippians 4:19 ESV - - Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Www.biblegateway.com.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A19&version=ESV
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