Question

What category/categories does drug use and drug abuse fall under? Genetic Predisposition, Physiological or Social?

I NEED TWO PARAGRAPHS. THANK YOU.

Answer 1

Drug abuse and use have genetic, physiological, and social basis which helps in understanding the causal factors for the addiction disorder.

Physiological Basis- Mammalian brains often are regulated by motivation systems- that is like and want. Like often depends upon the brain stem and opioid systems and it refers to pleasure that individuals get after receiving the rewards, whereas, want is meditated by cortico-mesolimbic dopaminergic system, often in anticipation to receive pleasure.

The drug for rewards theory explains that addiction is a disturbance in both the motivational systems. Various drugs stimulate diverse positive emotions. In this theory, dopamine is known to promote the state of addiction which often occurs through the cortico-mesolimbic system, all regulating reward-seeking behavior. It is also suggested to be involved in withdrawal from psychostimulants, which is the sudden response of chemical stimulants, leading to negative emotions in individuals.

Genetic Predisposition- Data from adoption, twin, and family studies suggests the significance of genetic factors in developing addictions such as gambling and SUD.

Hallucinogens have the lowest heritability and it is the highest for cocaine. Heritability estimates are found to be higher for addiction compared to substance use, moreover, " initiation of use " is also heritable indicating that genetic factors play a crucial role in initiation.

Social Basis- The nature of drug addiction depends on three factors- biological, psychological, and social dimensions.
It has been revealed that certain environmental variables are related to higher vulnerability.

Family dysfunction, poor parental circumstances, low social class, and other social conditions contribute to an individual; genetic predisposition to the addiction. Acute and chronic stresses are correlated with addiction and acute stress may be one of the influencing factors in the relapse of drug addicts.