Addiction is vicious cycle. Some individuals are addicted
to shopping, others to gambling, video games, the internet… and the
list goes on and on. My focus for this blog is on the type of addiction we so
often read about in tabloids and magazines: substance abuse. In our society
today, we often read about celebrities who have tragically died from an
“accidental” drug overdose (ex. Cory Monteith, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse) to
others who are currently in rehab trying to overcome and defeat their addiction
to a specific substance (ex. Zac Efron and Eric Dane). Substance abuse is
affecting millions throughout the world. However, what causes addiction
and how do so many individuals become addicted so quickly, losing complete
control?
Addiction is the inability to abstain from the consumption
of a substance after repeated exposures (National Institute of Drug Abuse). It is when an individual becomes so
dependent on a substance that was once only initiated to seek pleasure from.
How exactly does this work? According to Volkow, both the environment and genetic variables act
together to increase the chance of an individual becoming addicted.
During the initial stage, dopamine, the “pleasure” chemical, is released at an
extremely high level making the individual “crave” and “want” the substance
such as, heroin by activating a brain circuit (the same circuit that is linked
for behaviors of survival or used in targeting the brain’s reward system) (National Institute of Drug Abuse). After the
initial use, the brain wants the pleasure to continue to be repeated because it
sees the substance as a “reward” that needs to be remembered, usually linked to the environment. However over
time and repeated exposure, instead of the brain using the substance for pleasure, the substance is now needed for
relieving distress. This is because the brain is producing a lower amount of dopamine and in order to reach the pleasure wanted and is considered a “normal” level, a substance is needed. From this point on, the start of a vicious downward cycle begins leading to many tragic
consequences such as, death. Are the treatments working effectively?
Many times individuals who are battling an addiction, go to
rehab several times in order to try to defeat their addiction. One study by Marhe, Waters, van de
Wetering, and Fraken showed how implicit and explicit drug-related cognitions
during treatment were associated with a drug relapse. It was found that usually
50% of individuals who start detox with a substance abuse were likely not to
complete treatment and relapse shortly after. But, why does this occur? They
believed that many times our implicit (automatic and faster) and explicit
(controlled and slower) cognitive processors can tremendously contribute to a
relapse especially when an individual is experiencing positive temptations. The
more positive and severe implicit and explicit attitudes to substances during
these temptations periods, the more likely they were at early risk for relapse
or using again because they were more “driven” toward the substance due to
greater cravings and wanting of the drug. Current research must focus on
finding better methods (medications, treatments etc.) to help individuals overcome their
temptations and beat their addiction!
Resource:
Ingamar H. A. Franken, et al. "Implicit
And Explicit Drug-Related Cognition During Detoxification Treatment Are
Associated With Drug Relapse: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study."
Journal of Consulting And Clinical Psychology 81.1 (2013): 1-12. Eric. Web.
09 Oct. 2 2013.
Volkow, Nora D., M.D.
"Addiction and the Brain's Pleasure Pathway: Beyond Willpower." HBO:
Addiction: Understanding Addiction:. HBO, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.hbo.com/addiction/understanding_addiction/12_pleasure_pathway.html>.
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