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Addiction- Biological Not Sociological. MH. Sociology. The study of human social life, groups and societies Deals with your environment, friends, life issues More of the risk of taking drugs. Addiction.
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Sociology • The study of human social life, groups and societies • Deals with your environment, friends, life issues • More of the risk of taking drugs
Addiction • Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry • Changes in the brain resulting in a compulsive need to use drugs • Depends on two main biological factors: • Effects of drugs on the individual • Biological status of the individual (inherited characteristics)
The Brain • Made up of billions of neurons • They pass messages back and forth to different systems • These networks regulate what we feel, think and do • Neurotransmitters-chemicals that carry messages between neurons • Receptors-bind with certain neurotransmitters • Sending a message: • Neurotransmitter released • Jumps synapse • Attaches to receptor • Causes changes in receiving brain cell • Message delivered
The Brain’s “Reward” System • When we participate in life-sustaining activities our brain treats it with a pleasurable “reward” • The brain releases dopamine as a reward • Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation and feelings of pleasure • Drugs interfere the way nerve cells normally communicate • Drugs can target the reward system with dopamine • Drugs release 2-10 times more dopamine than natural rewards do and can last longer
How Drugs Effect the Brain; Examples • Drugs such as, heroin and marijuana, can activate neurons because their chemical structures mimic that of a natural neurotransmitter • Attaches to receptor and activates nerve cell in an unnatural way • Abnormal messages are transmitted • Drugs such as, cocaine and amphetamine, can cause nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent the normal recycling of these chemicals • Produce a greatly amplified message • Disrupts communication channels
Development • Prefrontal Cortex • a “pleasure centre” • Develops during adolescence • While developing there is a chemical imbalance • Substance use during this time can impair future decision making and other functions • A person who starts drinking at age 13 has a 43% chance of becoming an alcoholic • A person who starts drinking at age 21 has a 10% chance of becoming an alcoholic
Biological Status of the Individual (Inherited Characteristics)
Genetic Factors • Account for 40%-60% of the likelihood of developing an addiction • There are multiple genes that control various aspects of the biological response to drugs or the physiological predisposition to become an abuser • Genetic factors don’t ensure addiction, just as lack of them don’t prevent addiction • Certain genes make it harder for a user to stop using drugs • Diversity of molecular components involved in addiction • Neurotransmitters • Desensitization of targets for many drugs
Pedigrees • How researchers proved that addiction is hereditary • Constructed from large families with addiction problems • Shows recurring traits
Genes Linked to Addiction • Scientists have found more than 80 of these genes • Each of these genes contain clustered single nucleotide polymorphisms that display significant allele frequency differences between abusers and non-abusers • Implicated with many cellular functions, including adhesion • Establish and maintain neuronal connections of significance to addiction’s “memory” function
Mice Studies • Genetic factors contribute to alcohol preference • Smaller doses of alcohol affected mice with genetic factors more than ones without • Maybe due to inherited differences in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system – inherited increase response to this system (when exposed to alcohol) • Different levels of activity in other neurotransmitter system that moderate activity in the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system • When bred to lack a certain gene: • Cannabinoid receptor gene-reduced reward response to morphine • Serotonin receptor gene-more attracted to alcohol and cocaine • B2 subunits nicotinic cholinergic receptors-reduced reward response to cocaine • Lower levels of neurpeptide Y-drink more alcohol • Higher levels of neurpeptide-tend to abstain from alcohol • Creb gene-less likely to develop morphine addiction • Defective Per2 gen-drink 3X more alcohol
Future • Treatment of addiction genes • Modify activity • Transform them-reduce likelihood of addiction • Signals and pathways in the brain-returned to normal • Creating tamper-resistant drugs • When crushed, chewed or cut, release naltrexone which absorbs the morphine • When dissolved-gel-like substance forms, which makes it impossible to inject • Tamper-resistant oxycontin is already being produced • Creating a vaccine • Prevents addictive substances from ever reaching the brain • Opioid vaccine is being produced • A vaccine for drugs such as heroin and cocaine is the target
Work Cited • Defining Sociology. (2005). In The British Sociological Association. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from www.sociology.org.uk/as4def.doc • Definition of Addiction. (2011, April 19). In American Society of Addiction Medicine. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction • Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. (2010, August). In National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain • Genetic Science Learning Center. (2012). Genetics is an important factor in Addiction. In The University of Utah. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/genetics/ • Grucza, R. J. (2006). Co-Occurring Risk Factors for Alcohol Dependence and Habitual Smoking. Alcohol Research & Health, 29(3), 172-178. • Liu Q-R, Drgon T, Johnson C, Walther D, Hess J, Uhl GR. 2006. Addiction Molecular Genetics: 639,401 SNP Whole Genome Association Identifies Many “Cell Adhesion” Genes. Am J Med Genet Part B 141B:918–925. • Nestler, Eric J., and David Landsman. "Learning about addiction from the genome." Nature 2001. Web. 9 May 2012. <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v409/n6822/full/409834a0.html#top>. • Nurnberger, J. (2007). SEEKING THE CONNECTIONS: ALCOHOLISM AND OUR GENES. Scientific American, 296(4), 46-53. • The Pleasure Centers (n.d.). In The Brain From the Bottom to the Top. Retrieved April 25, 2012, from http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_cr/i_03_cr_que/i_03_cr_que.html • U.S. Congress, Mice of Technology Assessment, BioZogicaZ Components of • Substance Abuse and Addiction, OTA-BP-BBS-1 17 • Woods, T. L. (2010). Opioid abuse and dependence: Treatment review and future options. (cover story). Formulary, 45(9), 284-291.
Picture Links • http://www.parentingclan.com/talking-teen-drugs-alcohol.html • http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drugs-brain • http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/genetics/ • http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_cr/i_03_cr_que/i_03_cr_que.html • http://m.drugabuse.gov/publications/teaching-packets/brain-actions-cocaine-opiates-marijuana/section-iii-introduction-to-drugs-abuse-cocaine-opiat-1