Neurological Consequences of Addiction Addictions are all around us, from celebrity tabloids, television shows and possibly an individuals family member or friend. According to Koob, “addiction can be defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder that has been characterized by (i) a compulsion to seek and take drugs, (ii) loss of control over drug intake, and (iii) emergence of a negative emotional state (e.g., dysphoria, anxiety, and irritability) that defines a motivational withdrawal syndrome when access to the drug is prevented”(Koob, 2013). Substance use disorders are among the largest sources of medical disability in the world and also represent a major public health concern globally (Mari, 2013). Substance abuse is associated with topics …show more content…
For example, “directors of the National Institute on Drug Abuse have argued that addiction is a ‘chronic relapsing brain disease’” (Meurk, 2014) whereas, some individuals suggest that modifications to epigenetic of the genome, make up addiction and the biological response to addictive substances (Wong, 2011). In a 2012 study done in Queensland, Australia, 1263 residents filled out a Queensland Social Survey (QSS), a computer-assisted telephone interview (Meurk, 2014) which included a series of questions that were used to examine individuals beliefs about the causes of addiction (Meurk, 2014). Results showed that the majority of participants believed that addiction has multiple causes and participants also see addiction as a symptom (Meurk, 2014). Participants identified stress, psychological problems and addictive personalities as the main causes of addiction (Meurk, 2014). Recent research has shown that genetics also play a role in addiction. In recent twin studies, results have shown that genes contribute to vulnerability to alcohol dependence (Ducci, 2008). According to Harrawood, the brainstem is related to an individuals drug cravings. The brainstem is a major part of a person’s motivational system that controls one’s arousal and drives for basic needs (Harrawood, 2011). Addictive substances are recognized by the brain as more pleasurable than food or sex; therefore, the brain stem will now motivate an individual to …show more content…
In an experiment with mice, ethanol exposure was found to impair 49 genes in the adolescent brain (Lacaille, 2015). Within Lacaille’s study, binge ethanol consumption was reported to induce important brain damages on structures such as the cortex, the hippocampus, or the thalamus. The data within this study suggest that adolescent humans should refrain from binge alcohol consumption due to adolescents being in a period of important vulnerability (Lacaille, 2015). Further research has proposed that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to neuronal damage which associates with mechanisms of developing an alcohol use disorder (Crews, 2015). It has also been reported that alcohol-induced cell death in the prefrontal cortex may lead to lack of inhibition in the striatum, which in turn may also reduce behavioral inhibition and increase the individuals motivation to drink (Crews,
There are many things one may do to control their addiction. Addiction was derived from a Latin term that means "enslaved by" or "bound to." Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of the brain. Anyone may become addicted to any particular substance, thing, or activity. Some common addictions are food, exercise, gambling, sex, shopping, work, internet, and drugs. A drug is any chemical that has a psychological effect on the brain when consumed. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin, and nicotine are all examples of drugs commonly used. One can become addicted to anything. From piercings, to music, to even plastic surgery. When a person becomes addicted to something, they cannot control how they use it, and they become dependent on it to cope with daily life. The way we survive is based on a reward system. When we do something that aids our survival as eating, or exercise, our brain releases a chemical called dopamine or "the feel good chemical." Particular drugs, activities, and things release dopamine. When one likes it a lot, the dopamine is released in higher doses. Since it releases high amounts of dopamine, our body builds a tolerance to the amount of dopamine, and it takes more and more to reach the desirable effect. To control addiction, one must change their environment, figure themselves out, and change their way of thinking.
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.
One of the major problems in society is alcoholism. The effects of this disease are very dangerous and serious. Alcohol can cause many problems in a person’s life without them even being aware of it. People who have been drinking large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time run the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. While several decades of research with adults have shown that chronic heavy drinking is associated with adverse consequences on the adult brain, this relationship has only recently been explored in the adolescent brain.
Alcohol has the ability to harmfully influence the brain’s development through various means. When exposed to alcohol, genes can be transcribed incorrectly, oxidative stress can occur, and oxygen can be deprived from tissues leading to cell death (Treit et al., 2013).
L., Wang, Yoast, and Zeigler, (2005) study suggests that alcohol consumption is shared among teenagers and grownups; furthermore, there is a misconception that minors who consume alcohol heavily recuperate from the lethal consequences of alcohol. These persons often undergo detrimental consequences compared to grown up and this is due to diminished body mass, heavy consumption of alcohol, including binge drinking, in addition to primarily absence of tolerance to alcohol (Dickinson et al, 2005). Alcohol consumption contributes to impairment and mortality in teenagers; furthermore, it is related to intensified physical and health illnesses (Dickinson et al, 2005). Alcohol consumption during adolescence enhances the danger of development to alcohol use illnesses (Dickinson et al, 2005). Animal research established that teenage brains are more vulnerable than mature brains to neurochemical instabilities, lifelong instabilities in practical actions, neurodegeneration, and injuries in spatial recollection execution (Dickinson et al, 2005). Additionally, research has established that binge interactions with alcohol throughout puberty intensifies vulnerability to the memory damaging as a result of alcohol (Dickinson et al, 2005). Investigations on humans validates that teenage alcohol consumption is linked with neurodegeneration; fluctuations in functional brain action; and neurocognitive damages, which include shortages in
When a fixation, craving, or an obsession comes to mind one usually thinks of intoxication, crapulence or drug abuse experiences or paragons of them . This is not always the case, it can be both a substance, or a behavioral addiction, that a person predisposes them to its devilish likeness. The scientific definition of an addiction is “an addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes people to lose their ability to resist an addiction”(addiction). Consequently, dipsomania or addictions are brain diseases that are hard to resist after you have been taken hold of them it is like trying to get out of a steel trap but just worsening the situation. By having an already drawn an image in your mind of what a craving is, the effects of addictions,
Biological addiction influences the workings of the brain and results in behavioral changes. For example, most students use phones for social media apps and games. Unfortunately, many mobile developers deliberately make their apps addicting in order to keep users hooked. Developers take advantage of the brain’s dopamine: a chemical associated with pleasure and reward. For drug addicts, drugs rapidly increase the amount of dopamine in the brain, giving them a pleasing sensation; afterwards, they experience an intense withdrawal when the effects wear off. In a similar fashion, many apps reward the user’s brain with a rush of dopamine, causing the user to crave more after the high; this increases the overall usage of the app and earns the developer
There is significant evidence that proves how damaging binge drinking can be to the development of an adolescent’s brain. The prefrontal cortex often continues to develop into a person’s mid 20’s which makes the brain more susceptible to damage from alcohol. The main problem with previous studies is that they only focused on adolescents who had already developed Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Up until now, researchers have been unable to identify the cause of AUD or determine how early a brain disorder can be detected in a teenage brain.
As a matter of fact, addiction is a much more complex disease to manage and possibly treat; quitting drug addiction takes the goodwill and intentions and more so a strong will. Lawrence and Melinda Smith’s article, “Drug Abuse and Addiction,” defines drug addiction as a chronic condition which usually results into relapse of the brain which can eventually lead to both compulsive drug seeking and use. The brain changes lead an addict to a lack of self-control and hamper his ability to resist drug use. This is in line with the consequences of drug use (Barker, 2008).
The world is filled with a wide variety of diseases that infect the people who live in it. These sicknesses can range from physical to mental or spiritual and each has its own special effect on people. Addiction is one of the most deadly diseases however it does not fall under one specific category but in fact under all of them. Addiction is defined under two basic symptoms: overindulgence of a substance or activity, and continuing to indulge in something despite the negative consequences. The American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization say that in order to be diagnosed as “addicted”, one must meet at least three of the following criteria: low tolerance, withdrawals, low self-control, repeated use through negative repercussions
From a biomedical perspective, adolescent alcohol use is shown to be both an immediate and long-term danger. The adolescent brain undergoes a significant and critical maturation process. Because of this process, the brain
A view of drug addiction has been changed from the ‘choices’ of the addicted individuals to the dysfunction of brain. The drug addiction may be regarded as the disease of the brain reward system. This system, closely related to the system of emotional arousal, is located predominantly in the limbic structures of the brain. (Vetulani, 2001) Within decades, the researchers got variety results about the underlying mechanism about drug addiction, however, factoring out how the drug addiction works is complex. We need to consider social and genetic mechanisms about the reasoning of drug addiction. It is fundamental to see how mechanisms and brain circuits are involved in the drug addiction for the future treatment and research.
According to the biological model, each person has their own sole composition and heredities that causes addiction. Since people are so different in which they can like or dislike a particular substance or activity, some may find bliss in a substance so much that it becomes very enticing and problematic to resist (Horvath, Misra, Epner, Morgan Cooper, & Zupanick, 2015). Another person may not experience this difficulty because they do not understand or have knowledge of a similar enjoyment. Similarly, the ability to anger thoughtless desires with balanced thought is a function of the brain that differs amongst different people. Some people may have an absence in their capability to resist these types of instincts thus, would be at higher risk for having an addiction due to their genetic susceptibility (McCabe, et al., 2007). Salvaging from this type of addiction usually consists of identifying and accepting the genetic vulnerability. Management of treatment provides tutelage that assists people in understanding and accepting their genetic tendency, once this is recognized, and it becomes essential to keep away from indulging in
Today, about 18 million people are addicted to alcohol and drinking it before the age of fifteen increases one’s likelihood for addiction later in life. Alcohol addiction causes the addict to be dependent on alcohol in order to function. Being entirely dependent on alcohol leads to aggressive, compulsive, and self-destructive behavior. This long term consumption of alcohol can also leads to health problems. One of these is the death of brain cells, which can lead to brain disorders as well as a lowered physical and/or mental function. This will not only affect one’s health but also their success in life. If the brain cannot perform at it’s full capacity then one’s success is limited. There is only so much that can be accomplished in a life with these restrictions. Over consumption of alcohol can also lead to liver failure and pancreatitis which can cause nerve damage. Another effect of alcoholism is a heightened tolerance. Alcohol abuse over a long period of time forces the body to become accustomed to higher doses of alcohol. This can cause the drinker to consume dangerous amounts
Addiction is a diverse set of common but intricate 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.