Understanding Addiction Essay - 1055 Words

Addiction is regarded by most as a social problem to be solved with social solutions, i.e. incarceration. But, scientific evidence argues otherwise: addiction is a brain disease. â€Å"The World Health Organization has defined addiction as ‘A state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting in the interaction between a living organism and a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses that always include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of its absences. Tolerance may or may not be present’† (4). Interestingly though, this clinical condition has both behavioral and social components that need to be attended to, just†¦show more content†¦A common misconception is that the withdrawal symptoms will be more severe for those drugs that are more highly addictive. Though this is not accurate, â€Å"the inherent abuse potential of a given substance is likely to reflect it’s ability to activate this reward pathway,† so that a drug’s â€Å"addiction level† can be seen directly in the mesolimbic reward pathway (2). For example, cocaine, a heavy-hitting drug, does not cause typical withdrawal symptoms when in demand. Instead, more complex and delicate symptoms are felt, but they are not as obvious as the symptoms characteristic of withdrawal. First, there is a mood swing of sorts(the crash), and then an energy plummet (withdrawal), which effects motivation and pleasurable experiences (3). Another example of an addictive substance is nicotine. If we accept addiction as a disease, then nicotine should be considered a drug. Referring to addiction as defined by the World Health Organization, seasoned smokers cannot go long periods of time without a cigarette or they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms: they shake, have headaches, and crave cigarettes. (Long term withdrawal symptoms include a craving for nicotine, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, sleep disturbances, decreased heart rate, and increased appetite or weight gain (4)). This â€Å"compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis† is well illustrated by chain smokers, who beginShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Addiction : How Addiction Develops The Brain Essay963 Words   |  4 Pagescerebral cortex (â€Å"Understanding Addiction: How Addiction Hijacks the Brain†). In â€Å"Violence in Movies, Music, and Media,† by Jeanne Nagle, dopamine is compare d to a shot of a heavy-duty amphetamine (38). The entertainment an individual finds in shooting another person on a TV screen is the same as one who watches a violent movie that interests them as well. As dopamine is released, the brain naturally wants more as it is very addictive by nature (â€Å"Understanding Addiction: How Addiction Hijacks the Brain†)Read MoreUnderstanding the Root of Addiction1256 Words   |  5 Pagesphysical ailments, and others with addiction. Addiction is absurd—it is a way of satisfying ourselves with every desire that ultimately strips us of the ability to function. The addict’s drug is subjective: alcohol, money, sex, controlled substances, food, or love, along with many others. Many people who struggle with the disease have difficulty uncovering the hidden wisdom of addiction. Doing so requires the daunting and often dangerous task of understanding where the problem came from, leadingRead MoreUnderstanding Sexual Addiction Essa y1268 Words   |  6 Pagesdiseases. Sexual addiction, although not always recognized, is a severe condition which affects many. Sexual addiction should be widely acknowledged as a severe issue because of its impact on the addicts nervous system, the root of its development, and its relevance to human behavior. What is sex addiction? The term sexual addiction is used to explain the behavior of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. Those suffering from sexual addiction can be sufferingRead MoreUnderstanding Depression And Anxiety, Addiction, And Dementia1099 Words   |  5 Pagesinterdependent and equally important (Toates, 2010, p13). This essay will evaluate this model ability to understand depression and anxiety, addiction, and dementia, and will show that in some cases of mental problems, the biopsychosocial perspective is not the appropriate tool for explaining these problems. Firstly, this approach is crucial for understanding depression and anxiety, and the case of Neha’s depression is an example. Socially, she suffered a divorce and her parents’ death (Toates, 2010Read MoreUnderstanding Sexual Addiction Essay890 Words   |  4 PagesBefore one can begin to understand the complexities of sexual addiction it must be adequately defined. The National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity has defined sexual addiction as â€Å"engaging in persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior acted out despite increasing negative consequences to self and others.† (Herkov) It is important to note that this means that sexual addiction isn’t just the desire to have sex more than normal but also that the addict engages in activitiesRead MoreUnderstanding Drug Use And Addiction. The National Institute1116 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Drug Use and Addiction The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as a, â€Å"chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences† (â€Å"Understanding Drug Use and Addiction,† 2016). Long-term use can effect and change a person’s ability to learn, judge, and make decisions. Stress, memory issues, and behavior problems are also common side effects of extended drug use. There is not one single factorRead MoreThe Video Opiate Addiction : Understanding Replacement Therapy Essay952 Words   |  4 PagesIn the video Opiate Addiction: Understanding Replacement Therapy, Scott Farnum talks about methadone replacement therapy. There were many topics covered in this video and the topics were introduced in a psychoeducational format. The topics covered included a brief history opioids, brain chemistry, post acute withdrawal syndrome, abstinence based treatment programs verses harm reduction, and how an individual asses the damages of opioids on the brain. As a counselor in training, I found all the informationRead MoreUnderstanding Addiction1317 Words   |  6 Pages Understanding Addiction Limestone College Abstract As early as 1939 with the publication of the first edition of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous the medical community was aware that addiction was more than a moral shortcoming. In the first addition of the book in the chapter The Doctor’s Opinion, Dr. William Silkworth (1939) wrote the following, â€Å"We believe, and so suggested a few years ago, that the action of alcohol on these chronic alcoholics is a manifestation of an allergy; thatRead MoreWhat Makes A Proper Course Of Treatment?896 Words   |  4 Pagesto have a more comprehensive understanding of how the client is able to function in their environment. The next part of her assessment will include basic information such as client description, relevant history, family history, legal history, past employment, suicidal/homicidal ideations, medical history, current medications, allergies, drug/alcohol use, and any previous mental health contacts. Through this I will be able to gain a much more comprehensive understanding of this clients past and allowRead MoreWhy Do We Do What You Do?1889 Words   |  8 Pages People can result in a better understanding of oneself by reflecting on themselves. In addition; people can conclude to actually understand how we act and how his or her attitudes reflect on oneself through those times. People can understand the basis of one’s opinions, beliefs and actions through reflecting on his or her own issues. I am going to view how these two authors, Fran Peavey and Noah Levine, address their method of coping and understanding of others perspectives. Moreover,