Transcript Health Psychology

Addiction
Objective 3.1 and 3.2
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Take the addiction quiz
Objective 3.1 and 3.2
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How did you score
If you scored...Then...
S50 & up: Net addiction likely
S35 – 49: Net addiction possible
S21-34: Borderline 'Net addiction
S20: No 'Net addiction
Prologue Discussion:
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What is
S Addiction is a condition that results when a person
ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or
engages in an activity (gambling, tweeting, internet
surfing, etc.) that can be pleasurable but the
continued use of which becomes compulsive and
interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such
as work or relationships, even health.
S Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of
control and causing problems for themselves and
others.
What is
S The word addiction is used in several different ways-It has
biopsychosocial implications.
S The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for
substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include
psychological components as well.
What is
S Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance
addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and
process addictions (for example: gambling, social media, spending,
shopping, eating, and sexual activity).
S There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as drug
abusers, are addicted to more than one substance or process.
S In other words… It is a complicated problem.
What is
S Some researchers speak of two types of addictions: substance
addictions (for example, alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking); and
process addictions (for example: gambling, social media, spending,
shopping, eating, and sexual activity).
S There is a growing recognition that many addicts, such as drug
abusers, are addicted to more than one substance or process.
S In other words… It is a complicated problem.
Discussion #1:
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Objective 3.1
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Risk Factors
Biopsychosocial Factors:
S Genetic Predispositions/Pleasure centers in the brain
S Mental Illness
S Social Learning
Discussion #2
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Genes and addictions
S Geneticists believe that the reason some people try substances or
processes and do not become addicts, while others do so very
quickly is probably linked to the type of genes we inherit from
our parents.
S For example, some people can smoke once in a while,
throughout their lives, and never seem to become addicted,
while others are unable to stop smoking without experiencing
the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Genes and addictions
S Geneticists believe that the reason some people try substances or
processes and do not become addicts, while others do so very
quickly is probably linked to the type of genes we inherit from
our parents.
S For example, some people can smoke once in a while,
throughout their lives, and never seem to become addicted,
while others are unable to stop smoking without experiencing
the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Addictive Gene?
S The physiology of addiction is that the way the brain becomes
addicted to a drug or process is related to how a drug or process
increases levels of the naturally-occurring neurotransmitter
dopamine, which modulates the brain's ability to perceive reward
reinforcement.
S Several brain-imaging studies suggest that people addicted to such
drugs as cocaine, heroin and alcohol have fewer dopamine
receptors in the brain’s reward pathways than non-addicts. The
level of D2 receptors that each person has is genetically
dependent.
Alcoholism and D2 receptors
S Addiction researchers have found that alcoholics’ brains contain
significantly fewer D2 dopamine receptors than normal drinkers.
This type of research suggest that at the genetic level, some people
are genetically vulnerable to certain addictive behavior.
S People with this altered D2 genetic makeup experience life less
intensely because the neurons in their Reward Systems are innately
under-stimulated (thus they seek pleasure). They sometimes selfmedicate to compensate for a lack of pleasure they find in normal
activities. These people describe their first drug-taking experience
as filling a hole they’d always felt.
The importance of Dopamine
and Pleasure Seeking
Understanding Dopamine and Reward Centers
Shttp://youtu.be/Ql_wAovRKO8
The importance of Dopamine
and Pleasure Seeking
S In certain areas of the brain when dopamine is released it gives
one the feeling of pleasure or satisfaction. These feelings of
satisfaction become desired, and the person will grow a desire for
the satisfaction.
S To satisfy that desire the person will repeat behaviors that
cause the release of dopamine.
The importance of Dopamine
and Pleasure Seeking
S For example food and sex release dopamine. That is why people want food
even though their body does not need it and why people sometimes feel the
need sex.
S These two behaviors scientifically make sense since the body needs food to
survive, and humans need to have sex to allow the race to survive.
S However, other, less natural behaviors have the same effect on one's
dopamine levels, and at times can even be more powerful (which is why
one may feel the same physiological drive to “tweet” that they feel to eat).
Often these behaviors can result in addiction due their effect on dopamine.
Substance abuse and Dopamine
S Cocaine is by far the more severe dose of perceived dopamine that
one can experience in the brain’s reward center. Cocaine chemically
inhibits the natural dopamine cycle.
S Normally, after dopamine is released, it is recycled back into a
dopamine transmitting neuron. However, cocaine binds to the
dopamine, and does not allow it to be recycled.
S Thus there is a buildup of dopamine, and it floods certain neural
areas. The flood ends after about 30 minutes, and the person is left
yearning to feel as he or she once did. This is the physiological
basis of substance addiction.
The Brain and Addictions
Addiction in a physiological nutshell:
Addictive drugs provide a shortcut to the
brain’s reward system by flooding the
nucleus accumbens with dopamine.
The hippocampus lays down memories of
this rapid sense of satisfaction, and the
amygdala creates a conditioned response to
certain stimuli.
The Brain and Addictions
The nucleus accumbens, seems to
be flooded with dopamine (which
carries the message of pleasure to
other parts of the reward system)
in people with various addictions,
these reward centers appear active
under an fmri scan.
Discussion #2:
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Peer Pressure and Addiction
The Importance of Peer Pressure in Substance Abuse
S A common motive for first time drug and alcohol use is peer
pressure. This desire to fit in ensures that there is a constant
pool of new recruits who may later develop an addiction.
S Membership of a social group that supports substance or
process use encourages people to keep on using these
substances.
S Many of us are socially drawn to pick up addictive behaviors
like social media to feel included in our social groups.
Social Learning and Addiction
The Importance of Peer Pressure in Substance Abuse
SSocial learning theory describes how people learn from
watching others. Many addictive substances and processes are
often socially learned from watching others “have fun” from
using and/or abusing the substance or process.
SIn other words…If the individual observes that other people
appear to receive rewards for certain behaviors they will be
tempted to model these behaviors..
Social Learning and Addiction
For example, if you notice attractive people drinking or smoking,
and you watch them being rewarded for this behavior (e.g., they
attract positive attention), then there’s a strong chance that you’ll
also choose to drink or smoke the next time you are in a similar
environment.
Discussion Question
Are your peers “drawn” to certain behaviors because it
appears pleasurable? What are real world examples?
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Final Notes:
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What role can culture play in addictive behavior?
Can the social situation play a role in substance abuse?
Can values, beliefs, and other cognitive factors influence addictive
behavior?
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Tomorrow
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Examine prevention strategies and treatments
for substance abuse and addictive behavior
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