Neuroscience and addiction
The human nervous system is involved in every aspect of humans functioning (Wright et al., 2008). Every thought and action by an individual is controlled by the nervous system, which is split into two parts (Wright et al., 2008). The first part of the nervous system is known as the central nervous system, which can be described as a part of the nervous system that is primarily made up of the brain and spinal cord (Wright et al., 2008). The other part of the nervous system is known as the peripheral nervous system, which is made up of neurons, nerves, and connects the body to the central nervous system (Wright et al., 2008). The peripheral nervous is communication network that involve the sending and receiving of electrical signals that are communicated across a network of neurons, synapses, and neurotransmitters (Wright et al., 2008). Additionally, the peripheral is the part of nervous system that is primarily attributed to drug addiction.
The human brain in made up of a system of billions nerve cells called neurons (Beaver, 2013). Each person has an estimated 100 billion neurons working in unison in their nervous system
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Furthermore, there are neurotransmitters that can be attributed directly to antisocial behaviors and drug use (Wright et al., 2008). Neurotransmitters are categorized into two categories: excitation and inhabitation (Wright et al., 2008). Additionally, there are five neurotransmitters that are primarily associated with addiction and antisocial behaviors: gamma aminobutyric acid otherwise known as GABA, acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (Wright et al., 2008). Gamma aminobutyric is a neurotransmitter that influences an individual’s inhibitions (Wright et al., 2008). Furthermore, low levels of gamma aminobutyric can be attributed to increased aggression and a propensity for violence (Wright et al.,
Koob, G. F. (2011, Winter -). Neurobiology of Addiction. Retrieved from Focus: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry: http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/data/Journals/FOCUS/4266/foc00111000055.pdf
Addiction is a complex psychiatric disorder that consists of social and psychological factors, but at its most basic level it is a biological process. Addiction may come in many forms, but its primary choice of substance is drugs. In particular, prescription medications in the form of pills have become a major health problem, not only to those addicted but the clinicians who prescribe them. In order to fully understand this disorder, considering what brain mechanisms and functions are involved with addiction, the next area to look into is the factors that make the prescription drugs so addictive, along with long term effects, and to discover any new treatment options out in practice today, whether it be through medicine and/or counseling.
There are many biological factors that are involved with the addicted brain. "The addicted brain is distinctly different from the nonaddicted brain, as manifested by changes in brain metabolic activity, receptor availability, gene expression, and responsiveness to environmental cues." (2) In the brain, there are many changes that take place when drugs enter a person's blood stream. The pathway in the brain that the drugs take is first to the ventral tegmentum to the nucleus accumbens, and the drugs also go to the limbic system and the orbitofrontal cortex, which is called the mesolimbic reward system. The activation of this reward system seems to be the common element in what hooks drug users on drugs (2).
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Addiction is normally thought of as drug abuse and alcoholism but people can also be addicted to things such as gambling and sex as well. The controversy on if addiction is a disease or a choice is a continuous debate. Everyone has an opinion on this topic, one side believes it’s a disease, while the other believes it is a choice. Although addiction has been assumed to be a lack of willpower and a weakness, addiction is actually a complex disease that changes the wiring of the brain. Addiction is a brain disease expressed in the form of compulsive behavior (Leshner.) Both devolping
The most commonly abused substances are Nicotine, Inhalants, Alcohol, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Prescription medications, Heroin, Ecstasy and Marijuana. 1a(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011) Initially, a person may find themselves using substances voluntarily and with confidence that they will be able to dictate their personal use. However, over the period of time that drug use is repeated, changes are taking place throughout the brain, whether it is functionally or structurally. Drugs contain chemicals that enter the communication system of the brain and disturb the way in which nerve cells would typically send, receive, and process information. The chemicals within these drugs will cause a disruption to the communication system by either imitating the brain’s natural chemical messengers or by over-stimulating the brains “reward system” by sending mass amounts of dopamine. As an individual prolongs his or her use of these substances, they may develop an addiction.
My Strange Addiction. My strange addiction is a show that showcases those whom have a weird obsession that in some way affects their everyday lives and those around them lives also. In the episode observed, a 53-year-old woman was obsessed with consuming her own urine. I say consume, because this woman would consume in what the show stated “nearly all her urine” in anyway possible (Violet Media 2012). This women would drink her own urine, she would age the urine and use it as lotion, she would brush her teeth with her urine, drink it through her nostrils, and she would even consume it through her eyeballs, by putting little eyes cups full of urine over them.
According to Leshner, drug addiction is a chronic brain disease that is expressed in the form of compulsive behaviors (Leshner, 2001). He believes that drug addiction is influence by both biological, and behavioral factors, and to solve this addiction problem we need to focus on these same factors. On the other hand, Neil Levy argues that addiction is not a brain disease rather it is a behavioral disorder embedded in social context (Levy, 2013). I believe, drug addiction is a recurring brain disease that can be healed when we alter and eliminate all the factors that are reinforcing drug addiction.
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...
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These neurotransmitters are responsible for the activation of behavioral patterns and tendencies in specific areas of the brain. When a neuron releases the neurotransmitter chemicals, healthy synapse are needed to pass the electric message across the gaps correctly. All of this is important in an individual’s criminal behavior because the transportation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotine control a person’s emotions and therefore their behavior. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression.” (Jones, C. M.).
The biology of addiction helps us understand why people consume drugs and their effects on the brain and other parts of the body. When some people think of addiction, alcohol comes to their mind. Nevertheless, there are other things that people can get
Leshner, A. (2011) Addiction Is a Brain Disease, and it Matters. Frontiers in Neuroscience: The Science of Substance Abuse.
Addiction has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, from my earliest memories of my father, until now as I am a licensed professional in the field of addiction as well as a person in long term recovery myself.
The nervous system is composed of all nerve tissue in the body. This organ system forms a communication and coordination network between all parts of the body. It plays a major role in everyday activities such as breathing, walking even blinking. It is made up of nerve tissues to receive and transmit stimuli to nervous centers and initiate response. Neurons are nerve cells that transmit signals from one location of the body to another. With damage to the nervous system the body would not be able to function properly. The body has to be well taken care of in order to insure proper regulation. The two anatomical divisions that work hand in hand to help regulate the nervous system are the central and peripheral nervous system. According to the Campbell’s seventh edition biology book the nervous system is the most intricately organized data processing system on earth. It is a complex collection of nerves and specialized cells.
Drug addiction is a very big problem in today’s society. Many people have had their lives ruined due to drug addiction. The people that use the drugs don’t even realize that they have an addiction. They continue to use the drug not even realizing that their whole world is crashing down around them. Drug addicts normally lose their family and friends due to drug addiction.