The Use Of Addiction And Its Effects On The Body

To understand addiction further, it is important to look at how drugs have neurological effects in a human body. Drugs can be ingested in various ways; while some are taken orally, some are smoked (cannabis) while others are injected directly into the blood stream (Heroin). Once in the body, they mainly affect the reward pathway in the brain, known as the dopaminergic pathway, which in turn gives pleasure. Even though all drugs affect the reward and motivation pathways in the brain, their speed depends on the way the drug has been consumed. Over constant use of drugs, the cognitive functions are impaired as the effects become more prominent in learning, memory

Addictions can form from using mood altering drugs such as, nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and caffeine, or behavioral processes as with gambling, eating, sex or shopping (Schwartz 21). Schwartz

Addiction knows no prejudice; it does not care what race, religion, sex or orientation. You can be addicted to drugs, gambling, x-box, shopping and eating. Addiction is an illness that requires, for most, professional help and that once you are an addict you are always an addict.

It is believed that certain individuals are predisposed or vulnerable to addiction based on biological, psychological and social influences. The euphoric high produced by many addictive substances is the result of overstimulation of the “pleasure center” of the brain. This is the same area that controls emotions, fear, self-control and overall feelings of wellness. The presence of these foreign chemicals creates a response that the brain will crave as soon as it fades. The brain’s chemistry works against its own health, as it rewires its decision making faculties around the primary goal of finding and taking more of the drug” (1). Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction is somehow less serious or real than physical addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction are much more challenging to repair and recover from than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction can last for years or even a lifetime.

However, usually, a multi-treatment approach is necessary. Psychological models focus on the emotion and the mind, while biological models, as discussed next, find that addictive behaviors depend on the structure and chemistry in the body’s genetic makeup.

Addiction is something that occurs when you become dependent on a substance or activity. When people are overwhelmed, things can become too hard to handle which can lead to addiction. The addiction then takes over their body and they can not control it, they are always craving what they are addicted to and using it to cope which makes them stop thinking straight. People are worried about things that are not in their control such as their environment, culture, friends and family which can make people develop an addiction. In the novel Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden, Elijah and Xavier turned to morphine when things got hard in the war. Both Elijah and Xavier were stressed with the pressures of the war. Many factors influenced Elijah and

Addiction comes from the Latin word addictiōn, which means a giving over or surrender. When one is addicted to something they give over their entire life and let it consume their thoughts, they will do anything to get and keep it. Although, most only think of an addiction as something of substance. Contrary to their beliefs, people can become addicted to power or being in a higher rank. The character in the book Our Twisted Hero by Yi Munyol, Om Sokdae, gets addicted to having power in the classroom and becomes manipulative towards his classmates in order to keep them under his thumb. Power is addictive.

Addiction is like all behaviours “the business of the brain”. Addictions are compulsive physical and psychological needs from habit-forming sustenances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Being occupied with or involved in such activities, leads a person who uses them again and again to become tolerant and dependent eventually experiencing withdrawal. (Molintas, 2006).

I've always wondered why do people get addicted and what causes the mood changes? Addiction could be towards alcoholism, drugs and etc. The topic I will be discussing mainly is addiction and what alters the perception and mood. As we discussed in class on Oct. 5th about Chapter 2 in The Compass of Pleasure, about what is addiction and some drugs what are extremely addictive. First I would like to address, what is addiction in my own words; addiction is a pleasure center of the brain which gives us a craving or feeling to use or do certain thing despite the negative consequences.

Addictions are strongholds and bondages that are more often than not difficult to overcome. The addiction holds a person’s well-being captive which result in unusual behavioral patterns. According to Gabor Maté and Arold Langeveld “addiction means be to a slave” relatively speaking when a person is addicted in reality they are a slave to the stimuli. Furthermore the outcome of addiction will result in behavioral patterns that will satisfy the addiction.

Among the numerous definitions for addiction, there lies yet another to define it from a biochemical perspective. Milkman (1983) defines it as “self-induced changes in neurotransmission that result in social problem behaviors." This definition encompasses the psychological, biochemical and social aspects of addictive processes. It is not limited to substance abuse and can be applied to any activity characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continuation of the substance despite harm. This has helped investigators gain a better understanding of the nature of addiction.

Substance addiction can hugely impact on a person’s thinking, functioning and behaviour. Whilst depressant drugs such as alcohol and opioids slow down your central nervous system (CNS), stimulants such as cocaine or amphetamine increase the activity of the CNS, leading to higher blood pressure, heart rate and increased alertness. Repeated abuse of the substance leads to tolerance and withdrawal, in turn this leads to the user showing signs of irrational behaviour. Another form of substance abuse is hallucinogens; they can cause powerful changes in sensory perceptions. It works by binding to the serotonin receptors, these neurons control visual information and emotions, and this can lead to various effects on the user. Neurobiology can help us understand the reasons for addiction and the effects they have on us. Groman and Jentsch (2012) discuss key issues of differentiating the causes and consequences of addiction through neuroimaging and behavioural research on monkeys, they found that the dysfunction of the dopamine

Emotions, an affective state of consciousness, different from cognitive and volitional states, in which fear, sadness, joy, anger, hate ect. is experienced. Emotions are a grand part of life when they include feelings of euphoria, happiness, content and satisfaction, but emotions such as loneliness, sadness, grief, bereavement, are not so welcome at the emotional door. Emotions seem to be a natural born part of life, adapted to what one has been taught throughout their life, while other emotions oftentimes seems inappropriate. Life has taught me that emotions are plentiful, often overwhelming, and understanding a reason for the emotion, and the best route to handle both the situation and the feelings that have come along with it, is incredibly important. I have encountered relationships of all kinds, starting with my parents and family then friends, employers, co-workers and neighbors. Each of these relationships has taught me different emotions and their appropriateness in the social realm. The emotional discussion journals made it quite obvious that emotions are dictated by culture, biology, nurture, and the reactions to these emotions were very similar across the board. I learned that many of the emotions I have had at different intervals in my life are shared with others as well. I grew up in a home that discouraged any emotion, sometimes even joy and satisfaction, which has resulted in a lifelong battle of emotions. Am I right to feel this, or am I wrong?

All types of addictions should be looked at from a philosophical and psychological point of view. Those in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and philosophy often compare their views to show the similarities of addictions whether they be substance induced or behavioral. “Behavioral science experts believe that all entities capable of stimulating a person can be addictive; and whenever a habit changes into an obligation, it can be considered as addiction” (Alaghemandan et al 290). Some addictions can affect people physically. Caffeine and nicotine provide prime examples. The body’s physical state becomes dependent on its effects and causes withdrawal symptoms without use. One of the main differences in behavioral and substance addictions is that behavioral addictions have no apparent physiological or physical withdrawal symptoms. It is not the physical body that is addicted, but the feeling that one gets mentally. The physical body is only affected by the

One can favor the result of their neuronet interaction to the point they become addicted to their emotions. For example the woman who connects love to hurt can become addicted to her emotions of hatred and sadness because these emotions allow her to form an impenetrable wall so that nobody will be able to hurt her and evokes pity from other people. However the side effect of her addiction is that she gets to a point where she can no longer control her emotion. Once you cannot control your emotion, this starts affecting your environment and your relationships with people. The woman mentioned above is Amanda from “What the Bleep Do You Know?” Amanda is addicted to her emotions of hatred and sadness and becomes blinded by them to the point it manifests in her reality. At a wedding she mistakes the groom cheating on his bride because she was once a bride cheated on by her husband. Emotions are richness of an experience. Addiction of an emotion hinders an experience and ultimately affects one’s reality.