Biology Of Cocaine Addiction

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Recommended: Biological influences of cocaine

Marisol Muneton
Professor Muller
BIOS 104
TA: Monica Farfan
The Biology of Cocaine Addiction Drugs are addictive substances that produce pleasant states such as euphoria or relieve distress. Drugs are classified into categories which include: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Depending on the type of drug and the way it is used, referring to if it is sniffed, swallowed, injected, or smoked depends the effect the addiction of that drug has on the body. Scientists such as Koob and Le Moal argue that drug addiction is caused by the dysregulation of the reward mechanism and subsequent allostasis which is the ability to achieve stability through change (Cami and Farre, 2003). Drug addiction produces adaptive changes in the central nervous …show more content…

According to Gawin (1991), cocaine addicts report that during binges everything including: nourishment, sleep, money, family, responsibilities, and survival, are all focused on cocaine. After long-term cocaine use, cocaine addicts can develop digestive disorders, weight loss, physical deterioration, deterioration of the nervous system, increase heart rate and blood pressure which can lead to heart attack and stroke (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2013). Cocaine produces its effect of euphoria when an accumulation of dopamine is form in the synapse (NIDA, …show more content…

Cocaine addiction causes various changes to develop in the body of an addict especially most resulting in the brain. One of the effects of cocaine is that it blocks pain sensation and it stimulates the central nervous system causing changes in cell signaling and brain circuitry to develop. Some of the changes cocaine addiction causes in the brain is cognitive impairments which result in deficits in decision-making, abstract reasoning, and nonverbal problem solving. Cocaine also causes affective dysfunctions such as depressive disorders and attention deficit disorder. Other problems cocaine addicts can develop due to their cocaine addiction is digestive disorders, weight loss, and physical deterioration. The use of cocaine accelerates the heart rate and increases blood pressure which can led to an addict suffering a heart attack or stroke which can become

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