Door Of Hope Psychology

Relapses and drug taking are both heavily influenced by similar factors such as the drugs neurochemistry, the user’s history, environment, and dose of the pharmacokinetics. After a period of abstinence or non-use the drugs reinstating is more often an initiation of more than one factor, namely; re-exposure to drug, stress, cues in the environment, priming of the drug to user. In the user’s mind, neurochemical responses are commonly induced through these factors, in that they create a craving by mimicking the drug and this in turn prevents reinstatement and desire to use the drug (McGovern, Xie, Segal, Siembab, & Drake, 2006).

Brain chemistry is a detailed system that helps the brain to interact with the chemicals that moves important around the brain. Brain chemistry changes depending on what substance or how much of the substance is used. These changes can indicate signs of the beginning of an addiction over time if the drug use begins to get worst it can lead to dramatic changes in the brains over all chemistry. This example supports the theory of brain change ”‘when we elevated levels of ΔFosB in the NAc, the mice exhibited behaviors that are considered reliable indicators that exposing people to the same conditions would cause addiction: They showed more sensitivity to the drug (responded to doses one-third those required to produce a response in normal animals), self-administered more drug, and displayed greater drive (or craving) for cocaine (they worked two to three times as hard to get the drug) ().” The opposing side stated this as their disagreement “human psychology is simply the reflection of human neurophysiology. Thus, for instance, although the authors claim that their account of addiction is relatively 'skeptical,' and has less explanatory power than that of their opponents, they nevertheless seem to accept at least the possibility of a complete account, which will only come about as a result of 'further advances in biological and psychological science (Foxcroft, L. J.

Addictions are a diverse set of common and complex diseases that are to some extent tied together by shared genetic and environmental factors. Addiction includes alcohol use disorders, cannabis and cocaine use disorders, nicotine dependence, as well as non-substance–related behaviors. Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the use and abuse of addictive substances, which may eventually lead to addiction.

Genetic factors have been directly linked to the risk of an individual’s vulnerability to addiction (APA, 2008). In addition, other risk factors that play a

Chemical addiction has been impacted by both genetic and environmental risk factors (Eitan, Jaradat, Hulse, Tay, 2012). To make a better understanding of the process leading to addiction, one must determine genetic factors (Eitan et al., 2012). Chemical addiction is the result of the interaction of many genes related to the central nervous system (Eitan et al., 2012). According to Kovac, chemical addiction is viewed as a matter of collaboration of the environment, society, neurological and chemical mechanisms simultaneously working together in order to form behaviors extremely resistant to change.

No one’s genetic makeup is identical. This is part of what makes each individual unique. The biological and medical model takes into account genetics and individual differences when it comes to looking at the causes of addiction. Genetic factors, abnormal metabolism, and unique brain sensitivities and predispositions can all play a vital role in the cause of addiction. This model views addiction as an illness. People with addiction need to be treated with care and compassion. According to Ross and Peselow, “understanding the neurobiology of the addictive process allows for a theoretical psychopharmacological approach to treating addictive disorders, one that takes into account biological interventions aimed at particular stages of the illness” (2011). A person’s genetic makeup and family history can play a vital role in addiction. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (n.d.), research shows that genes are responsible for about half of the risk for alcoholism. Multiple genes play a role in a person’s risk for developing alcoholism. There are genes that increase a person’s risk, as well as those that may decrease that risk, directly or indirectly. The idea that genetics play a crucial role in addiction can be applied to any addictive substance or behavior, not just

The addict’s brain becomes overridden and continuously wants the substance which it craves. Help Guide.org produced an article titled “Understanding Addiction”. The article reads as following, “Addictive substances and behaviors stimulate the circuit then overload it. In nature rewards usually come only with time and effort. Addictive drugs and behaviors provide a shortcut, flooding the brain with dopamine and other neurotransmitters”(Understanding Addiction 1). In other words, when the brain is pleasured it feels rewarded. Normally rewards are earned, but the use of substances provides a rewarded feeling to the brain. Neurobiology is the biology of the nervous system.This research is what provides us with the information on the brain being taken over. The brain is broken up into several sections. Research has shown there to be certain genetic codes that vary from addiction to addiction. These codes can inform people what the brain’s drug of choice may or may not be. No one certain factor can determine if a person becomes addicted or not. For example, the AI allele of the dopamine receptor gene DRDR is mainly found in those addicted to alcohol or cocaine. Another example is that those with high stress level hormones have been noted to have an increased risk for addition. Individual differences have also shown to meter the effectiveness of a drug on a person. One study compared two sons, one of the son’s father's was a alcoholic and the other son’s father was not. Neither son drinks, but when given alcohol the son of the alcoholic seemed to have a higher tolerability to the alcohol than the son of the non alcoholic father. Obviously the son of the alcoholic has genes from his father that cause alcohol not to affect him as much, and this can lead to him over drinking and becoming an alcoholic

“The most intuitive explanation for addiction is the traditional view that drugs are taken first because they are pleasant, but with repeated drug use homeostatic neuroadaptations lead to tolerance and dependence, such that unpleasant withdrawal symptoms ensue upon the cessation of use. Compulsive drug taking is maintained, by this view, to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.” (2002, p. 27)

This first video called, The Mechanisms of Drug Addiction in the Brain (Alila Medical Media, 2014), was a very informative video of the brain structure. It showed us how different drugs react in our brain and showed us a great visual of how these drugs interact and lead to more production of dopamine (e.g. over stimulation of dopamine levels leading to euphoria/good feelings). The video explains this process as, the major reward pathways involved in the transmission of the neurotransmitter dopamine from the ventral tegmental area – the VTA - of the midbrain to the limbic system and the frontal cortex (Alila Medical Media, 2014). The text also explained this process as directly or indirectly targeting the brain’s rewards system by releasing

Addictions are known to activate the culmination of sites in the brain that make up the ‘reward centre’ which is responsible for feeling happiness or pleasure through the release of dopamine. After repeated exposures, receptors in the brain build a tolerance towards the addiction meaning that there is a need for increased stimulation to provide a similar ‘high’. Eventually behaviour patterns develop so as to avoid withdrawal. At this point addiction is occurring and symptoms should be observable. Unlike other addictions,

Over the last decades, addiction has been debated as an immoral, and deliberate choice wrecking the lives of the addicted and those around them. However, public health organizations, doctors, rehabs, and twelve step fellowships call it a disease. A disease that can occur in anyone's lives. It attacks our politicians, entertainers, family, friends, and ourselves. A debilitating disease that takes addicts well-beings, self-control, and even their lives. In the last few years research has shown scientific evidence of changes in the brain structure and function that parallel substance abuse. Genetics studies reveal heritable traits that predispose people to addiction. Addiction is a progressive, relapsing disease that requires intensive treatment,

Substance addiction can be defined by a loss over control over drug taking, compulsive drug taking and craving despite consequences and an increased risk of relapse despite long periods of abstinence (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The initial intake of a drug causes a pleasurable effect by increasing neurotransmitters in the reward circuitry in the brain, causing a positively reinforcing effect. But further abuse of the psychoactive stimulant can cause tolerance, reduced sensitivity to natural rewards, but sensitization for the drug and loss of control possibly leading to dependence. Drugs of abuse all differ in the initial effect of the body, but seems to lead to similar behavioural changes and symptoms of addiction. This leads

Activation of the dopaminergic system results in release of dopamine from presynaptic neurons into the synaptic cleft, which subsequently binds to receptors on postsynaptic neurons (36). This elicits changes in the post-synaptic neuron followed by dopamine transporters removing dopamine from the synapses, restoring it in the presynaptic vesicles for future use (37). Under normal conditions, an increased dopamine signalling within the reward system produces pleasure (17). Drugs of abuse hyperactivates the reward system, which triggers an abrupt and greater increase of dopamine signalling (38). This produces an intense sensations which enhances drug-seeking behaviours (38). With repeated and continued abuse of drugs, the brain responds to the

Biological psychology examines our behaviours and internal processes from a biological perspective and examines how psychological phenomena could have physiological bases. As the brain is composed of trillions of synaptic connections governed by the release of either excitatory (e.g. glutamate) or inhibitory (e.g. GABA) chemical neurotransmitters (NTs) by neurons, biological psychology proposes that the brain is where the explanation for behaviours can be found. Drug addiction is defined as both chronic and distinguished by compulsive use of drugs and seeking out that drug, even with harmful and negative consequences. A person’s addiction and susceptibility to addiction can be be explained by the levels and actions of NTs and chemical signals throughout the brain, specifically located in the limbic system or the brains “reward system”. This reward system (around the septal and lateral hypothalamus area) was accidently discovered when Olds & Milner (1954) found that rats remained in the corner of a box where they received stimulation, indicating that the rats found the stimulation pleasurable.

Continuous drug use alters the normal release of dopamine, thereby the brain produces less of it thus, reducing the ability of the cells to respond. When this happens, it decreases the heightened feeling of the individual which then leads to consuming more drugs at frequent and higher doses until the desired effect is achieved. This effect is referred to as tolerance. When tolerances steps in, this may lead to unresponsiveness to previously pleasurable situations or thoughts.