More handpicked essays just for you.
Theoretical perspective on drug addiction
Perspective on humanistic theory
A paper on perspectives of addiction
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Theoretical perspective on drug addiction
Neuroscience Perspective- After the skiing accident, when she was first prescribed Oxycontin, Brenda’s body developed a need for the drug. Whenever Brenda attempts to come off of Oxycontin, her body experiences withdrawals, causing her to feel depressed and weak which then pushes her to get back on the drug.
Humanistic Perspective- Before taking Oxycontin, Brenda had been very stressed about taking her college exams. Eventually, Brenda felt like her life was only about her school work and it caused her to fall into a sense of worthlessness and unfulfillment. Taking Oxycontin made Brenda feel alive. So, in order to stay in this state of homeostasis, Brenda continued to take Oxycontin.
Behavior Genetics- There is a history of addictive tendencies in
…show more content…
Viewing these behaviors, made Brenda think that certain addictions were okay. When her family did not openly discuss the issues that were present Brenda learned not to share the more embarrassing things. This is why Brenda has never been to see anyone about her problem nor has she told her family.
Behavioral Perspective- In the past, Brenda has tried to come off the drug and she has looked for professional help in order to eliminate her addiction. However, her body experienced withdrawals when working to rid itself of the drugs and Brenda was greeted by judgement instead of understanding when talking to others about her problems. These reactions kept Brenda on the medication and crushed her desire to rid it.
Cognitive Perspective- Brenda has a belief that she must have this drug and that if she attempts to rid herself of it, she will automatically fail. This belief is incorrect. Through the use of the self-fulfillment prophecy, a prediction that causes itself to be true, Brenda has worried herself into a situation in which she inevitably will fail at demolishing her
The author uses his knowledge of the human brain to emphasize the importance of “Endorphins” when growing up and how the lack of the chemicals “in infancy and early childhood,[creates a greater need] for external sources” (289) such as drugs. Along with his scientific evidence, Mate also uses many of his patients traumatic childhood experiences such as having “dishwashing liquid poured down his throat . . . and was tied to a chair in a dark room to control to his hyperactivity” (289). These patients help create an image for the readers to be able to understand the feelings and the pain addict 's often face in their childhood, that leaves them feeling abandoned and neglected from the rest of the world. Mate even analysis the fact that addict 's can come from home where there is no abuse and the parents try their best to provide a loving and nurturing home. The problem in families like this is often a parent is the one who faced traumatic experience as a child and are not able to transmit the proper love to their child, because they lack the feeling themselves. The author uses the strategy of looking at both the child and the parent experiences to show that the root problem originates from the same outcome, wanting to feel “unconditionally [loved and be] fully accepted even when most ornery”
Drug addicts lie and steal from their families, lose jobs, and do not live stable lives. Abuse of Prescription medication and marijuana is among one of the greatest concerns in the United States, especially in young people because drugs are causing issues between families, money, etc. Addicts find ways to create different drugs. This is making drug abuse difficult to control and ultimately change. In addition, addiction is not only a physical dependence, but also mental. Drug abuse has various causes, effects, and treatments. Based on the pamphlet, “Another Look,” published by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc., states “If we can find greater agreement on what addiction is not, then perhaps what it is may appear with greater clarity” (3). If people can see drug addiction for what it really is, a sickness, then an addict’s family and friends would better understand that addicts do not choose to become addicted to drugs. Addiction is a routine of compulsive behavior (3). In addition, recovering addicts feel very restricted with freedom because they are afraid of abusing drugs again, but want to be free to do as they please at the same time (3). Addicts have a need to control everything because they fear there will be obstacles in life that they may not be able to handle (3). If addicts can find ways to deal with their problems, they may not use drugs as a way to escape reality. There are many ways for addicts to cope with life, such as, counseling, drug rehabilitation centers, family and friends support.
My source for my Psych written assignment is going to be on a show series called Mr. Robot. The show can be found on the USA network and on Amazon Prime Video. Specifically, I will be talking about season 1 episode 4 where the main character, who is addicted to morphine, decided to quit cold turkey in order to have the mental focus to hack a corporate facility. His accomplices were there to help hold him down if anything where to happen. During this time period, the main character experiences periods of heavy sweating and hallucination. The episode aired on July 15, 2015. The main lesson of this episode to show the dangers of taking drugs and how hard it is to quit taking them once you are addicted.
Lola’s urge for a larger dose of the mood enhancing street drug in order to feel its effects again can be classified as the withdraw effect. The withdraw effect occurs when a certain neurotransmitter is being duplicated by the chemical substance brought into the body. Which then causes less production of the body’s natural neurotransmitters. In Lola’s case the drug she is consuming has started to take the place of the remaining necessitated neurotransmitters. Thus, as she multiplies her dosage her body’s natural neurotransmitters are being substituted by the drug’s neurotransmitters. This activity is also identified as the accumulation of the body’s tolerance.
The synthetic Opioid OxyContin has become a drug of abuse, following in the steps of other prescription drugs that contain Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin. The level of abuse and the number of people who have died because of OxyContin abuse are growing. At first many pain specialist initially believed that the controlled-release oxycondone had a low potential for abuse, boy were they wrong. In recent years, this drug has exploded to the streets. The latest report from the DeA, the Drug enforcement Agency, states that Oxycontins have played a role in over 282 people since the beginning of 2002. (1) The DeA says that it is only a matter of time before every community in this country is confronted with the problem of Oxycontin abuse. No prescription drug in the last twenty years has been so widely abused after it's release. Oxycontin was pain reliever meant to do good, not bad. Oxycontin is prescribed to patients, who are chronic pain, patients who are dying of cancer, recovering from major surgery and or suffering from unbearable headaches. This pain reliever is known for its significant improvement over all other pain relieving medications. The time-release mechanisms allow the right amount of the medication to be released to keep sustained relief for people in severe pain for up to 12 hours. (McHugh) Not only street users become addicts, patients also become very addicted to their own medicine. Many patients go threw heavy withdrawal symptoms when their prescriptions have ended. No longer will insurance pay or doctors write prescriptions. So they too must turn to the black market to fulfill their addiction. In the worst cases some patients turn to heroin because Oxycontins to expensive.
When Jeanna became addicted so young she disrupted the normal development of the part of the brain that handles the abilities to plan ahead, handle complex tasks, and inhibit inappropriate behavior (Buzzed intro and Brain basics ppt slide 22). Jeanna showed the positive incentive theory of addiction. The hedonic value she gets from the methamphetamine does not equal the anticipated feeling. She expects the meth to make her feel numb, but she continuously has to take more and more of the drug to feel the same effect. As stated in our addiction powerpoint, “In chronic addicts, positive-incentive value of drug is out of proportion with pleasure actually derived from it” (Addiction ppt slide 9). This is important pertaining to the class because she is feeding her addiction more as she gains tolerance to the dosage of drug she initially took. The episode did not explain how severe her withdrawal was when Jeanna stopped using, but they did emphasize that she was using because of the pain of losing her son. I find this important because there is an emotional aspect to her drug abuse. She is numbing her emotional pain and this drives her to take more and more of the drug in order to reach the initial feeling she felt when she took meth the first time after her son
... behaviours that encourage survival and reproductive success are rewarded through positive emotions, whereas behaviours that threaten overall fitness are punished via negative emotions. What drugs do, as a result, is override the brain’s natural reward and punishment centers. The large pleasurable effects of drugs lead the user to believe that drug-use gives fitness advantages (Kacir, 2010). In addition, drugs block negative emotional states, preventing the brain from providing accurate information on the decrease in fitness resulting from substance abuse (Nesse & Berridge, 1997). In short, Mary thinks that by taking drugs it is helping her to survive (become fitter). Furthermore, the drugs are blocking the negative emotions thereby impairing the brain’s ability to warn Mary about the physilogical damage (decrease in fitness). With regards to Mary’s theivery
The physical and chemical properties make heroin a desirable drug. It is highly addictive and fast acting, which lure users in. The first time one uses the drug it is said to cause disagreeable feelings and nausea. But following further use it causes a sudden rush in your brain, lasting 1 to 2 minutes, that feels as if it is relieving all the tension one has, followed by a calm and relaxed state that can last a few hours (“Heroin in the Brain”, n.d.). These feelings of satisfaction and ease make this drug ...
... consideration, such as her age, family life style, religious belief, social economic and cultural differences, in conducting our assessment. The reasoning for a young girl to feel the need to use substances as an answer for life is a difficult challenge. Going forward with help start with the adolescent, she must have the desire to walk away from the atmosphere of drugs. Putting the necessary steps into action also begins with the family, their cooperation and willingness to walk the extra mile is another key to the recovery process. The adolescent and her family working with the social are instrumental in the social worker using all of the resources available to start them on the path to recovery.
This experience helped me to recognize the internal struggle that a substance abuser faces on a continuous basis. In addition, I know that an individual can have a difficult time changing their behavior even when they have a strong desire to change; the smallest thing can cause a person to relapse.
The patient may be able to sense if you have a negative opinion of them. Also, many patients with addiction may have ineffective coping, personal identity disturbance, and altered family coping along with many others. The patient will need support and access to resources. As nurses we must advocate for our patients, so in these situations we need to be actively doing this. The patient may need information about treatment and groups. During my observation at a rehabilitation facility, I saw firsthand that these patients need support. We need to provide the support and care that they need. (Observation, March 1,
Withdrawal includes both physiological and psychological changes that will occur when an individual stops using a substance (Whitbourne, 2017). The changes that an
The fact that addiction is a brain disorder is a new detail that I learnt from the HBO video. As pointed out by Dr. Volkow, addiction as a brain disease renders the addicts unable to control themselves in relation to curbing their addiction problem. In conceptualizing addiction as a brain disease, Volkow illustrates this standpoint with the fact that the brain has a “natural reward system” that facilitates the learning of “behaviors that are necessary for survival” (NIDA 2006). Learning that the abused drugs take over this system – the dopamine system of the brain - was pivotal in finally grasping the rationale behind referring to addiction as a brain disorder. The brain with time becomes dependent on the abused drugs. This arises from the fact that natural rewards no longer have the capability to produce “normal levels of dopamine or pleasure” (NIDA 2006). As time goes on, the continued intake of drugs subsequently makes the addict lose all control over their use and dependen...
The addiction cycle can be scary to witness, but people that have addiction problems should always know that someone is there to help, whether it is friends, parents, or even random strangers we are all here to support those in need. Most importantly, if we encounter someone with a serious addiction, it is highly recommended that people try to find professionals who can take care of the situation. As for Angie Bachmann, she had a gambling problem that she never took care of which resulted into losing most of her assets and the trust of her nearest and dearests.
Drug abuse and addiction not only has negative effects in the lives of the people involved, but also in the lives of their close relatives, friends and immediate society. It leads to disintegration, failure in school, loss of employment and violence. Although intake of drugs is a voluntary and conscious decision initially, continuous intake of drugs changes the brain and challenges the self-control of the “addicted person” and inhibits the ability to resist extreme desire for drug intake.