Drug Dependence And Addiction Drugs - 1231 Words

It is an obvious assumption that drugs have an effect on the mind, but what exactly goes on and how do these substances affect your brain and change your state of consciousness? This is the question that interested me and brought me to want to write about this certain topic. Drugs alter the way people think, feel, and behave by disrupting neurotransmission, the process of communication between brain cells. Over the past few decades, studies have established that drug dependence and addiction are features of an organic brain disease caused by drugs overall impacts on neurotransmission. For example, the neurotransmitter dopamine, which controls the pleasure and reward, movement, attention, and memory functions of the brain, are affected by drugs such as Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Amphetamine. Virtually all drugs of abuse directly or indirectly increase dopamine in the reward pathway. A person s experiences when abusing a drug reflect the functional roles of the particular neurotran smitter whose activity it disrupts. Scientists continue to build on this basic understanding with experiments to further explain the physiological bases for drug abuse vulnerability as well as the full dimensions and progression of the disease. The findings provide strong leads to new medications and behavioral treatments. Drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine and heroine, affect the brain much more dramatically than natural rewards, such as food and social interactions. To bringShow MoreRelatedDrug Dependence And Addiction : Drugs1231 Words   |  5 Pagesobvious assumption that drugs have an effect on the mind, but what exactly goes on and how do these substances affect your brain and change your state of consciousness? This is the question that interested me and brought me to want to write about this certain topic. Drugs alter the way people think, feel, and behave by disrupting neurotransmission, the process of communication between brain cells. Over the past few decades, studies have established that drug dependence and addiction are features of anRead MoreDrugs -Tolerance,Dependence,Addiction and Treatment1184 Words   |  5 PagesDrugs -Tolerance,Dependence,Addiction and Treatment. There can be a great deal of confusion surrounding the words addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance. People will use these words as if they are referring to the exact thing, but there is a significant difference between them . Misunderstandings about these terms can not only be confusing for the general public but also many in the medical profession. One of the main culprits blamed for this confusion is the fact that the Diagnostic andRead MoreDiscuss the Importance and Interplay of Social, Psychological and Biological Factors in the Course of Heroin Addiction. What Therapeutic Approaches Can Be Used to Treat This Form of Drug Dependence?1583 Words   |  7 PagesDiscuss the importance and interplay of social, psychological and biological factors in the course of heroin addiction. What therapeutic approaches can be used to treat this form of drug dependence? Heroin exerts its main effects through psychological mechanisms of action, the user feels a sense of great warmth and well-being and views the world with greatly reduced anxiety and emotional distress. These feelings last for a relatively short period of time of around 4-6 hours. With repeated useRead MoreLove Is a Natural Drug1415 Words   |  6 PagesLove Is a Natural Drug John-Mark I. Chambers The University of the West Indies Mona Campus Abstract Love addiction and substance dependence have similar characteristics, namely, the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, the presence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, and the negative influences they have on a person’s life. Love addiction is similar to addictive drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and heroin because of the effects that dopamine have on the addict’s mind and bodyRead MoreHow The Brain Effects Cocaine Dependent Individuals And Treatment1468 Words   |  6 Pageswhich is a drug that generates several problems in the society and today’s health care programs. As a result of the increased use of this drug, users sometime develop cocaine addiction or dependence, which is a condition characterized by an overwhelming psychological desire to use the drug regularly. Despite its associated psychological impacts, people increasingly use cocaine and become addicted because it generates euphoria and high levels of energy similar to caffeine. Cocaine addiction or dependenceRead MoreAddiction: a Three Part Disease1072 Words   |  5 PagesWright, M.A. English 1301-Composition M-W 1:30 pm – 2:50 pm Ricardo Ballinas Addiction: A Three Part Disease October 1st, 2012 Sue Wright Addiction: A Three Part Disease Addiction can be separated into three categories: mind (neurological), body (physical), and spirit (psychological). Within in this breakdown addiction can possibly be explained and properly understood. In order to better understand addiction as a disease as opposed to a moral dilemma it first must be broken down. FirstRead MoreDrug Profile Paper1105 Words   |  5 PagesDrug Profile Paper University of Phoenix PSY/425 March 22th, 2012 Drug Profile Paper This paper will illustrate several aspects of how drugs affect our lives. Addiction philosophies including the psychology and physiology will be explained in an attempt to describe how drugs affect our bodies both physically and mentally. Secondly, different drug categories types will be covered including: stimulants, depressants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and cannabis. Each of these categories has differentRead MoreDrug Addiction982 Words   |  4 PagesDrug Addiction Drug addiction is a dependence on an illegal drug or medication. Many people confuse it with drug dependency, which is when a person needs a drug to function normally. The difference between drug addiction and drug dependence is drug dependence is when a person needs a drug to function normally, like some blood pressure medications can cause a physical dependence, but the person is not addicted to the drug. A person can have a physical dependence, but not be addicted. Many scientistRead MoreEssay Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Substance Abuse1125 Words   |  5 Pagesof contributions to the risk of addiction, specifically, genetic (nature) vs. environmental (nurture) contributions through a review of the existing literature. The nature-based view is that expression of addiction (phenotype) is based upon genetic predisposition (genotype). Numerous genetic studies on pedigree have been conducted over the years. The majority of the results of these studies indicate that monozygotic twins have higher concordance of addiction than dizygotic twins. More specificallyRead MoreDrug Addiction And Its Effect On The Reward Circuit1207 Words   |  5 Pagesthe reward circuit is examined. Specifically, the association of drug addiction, as a result of stimulants, in response to increased levels of dopamine. I will begin by examining what defines an addiction, and what factors influence an individual to become drug dependent, as a result of abuse. I will be focusing on the reinforcing properties of the drug as well as, physical dependence, psychological dependence, social factors, drug availability and furthermore, the vulnerability of the individual