Question

The Brain on Mind Altering Drugs

Psychoactive drugs alter brain function by acting at synapses in the brain, where they may mimic, enhance, or block the effects of natural signaling molecules (neurotransmitters). The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a particularly important role in creating the dependency aspect of both drug and behavioral addictions. Natural behaviors which enhance survival and/or reproduction, such as eating or engaging in sex, result in a surge of dopamine. Normally, this response helps individuals learn to repeat beneficial behaviors. However, when an addict uses a drug or behavior to cause dopamine release, they are using this learning pathway to teach themselves that this behavior is essential to their well-being. These circuits become a lifelong plague which makes the addict more prone to relapse.

Brain imaging studies from drug-addicted individuals show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decision-making, learning and memory, and behavior control. Psychoactive drugs affect signal transmission in the brain by encouraging or inhibiting release of a neurotransmitter, blocking or mimicking its action, or affecting its reuptake. The effect of a particular neurotransmitter on a postsynaptic cell depends on the type of neurotransmitter and the type of receptor it binds to. The neurotransmitter ACh affects alertness and plays a role in memory. Norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) prepare the body to respond to stress or excitement. Dopamine influences reward-based learning and acts in fine motor control. Serotonin influences mood and memory. Glutamate is the main excitatory signal in the central nervous system. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers.

Important Concepts from Chapter 13:

• Section 13.3: How Neurons Communicate The region where an axon terminal sends chemical signals to a neuron, a muscle fiber, or a gland cell is a chemical synapse. Axon terminals have synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitter, a signaling molecule that relays messages between cells at a synapse. The plasma membrane of a postsynaptic cell has receptor proteins that reversibly bind neurotransmitter. How a receiving cell responds depends on the type and amount of the neurotransmitter, the kinds of receptors, and other factors. Certain drugs can block reuptake of neurotransmitters.
• Section 13.13: The Brain on Mind Altering Drugs Drugs such as morphine and heroin mimic a neurotransmitter’s effect on a postsynaptic cell; they bind to receptors for endorphins (natural pain relievers), and elicit pain relief and feelings of well-being. Caffeine binds and inactivates receptors for adenosine, a neurotransmitter that causes drowsiness. Alcohol encourages drowsiness by releasing adenosine. Other drugs interfere with reuptake of neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft. For example, cocaine slows reuptake of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine.

Assignment:

1. Visit the NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse and read the article Drugs, Brains and Behavior: The Science of Drug Addiction.

2. Go to Indiana University and read an article on Addictive Behaviors.

Prompt : - Using the sources provided, briefly describe one factor that can increase the risk of drug addiction, and one protective factor that can reduce the risk of drug addiction. - Why do you think Americans use so many legal drugs (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and OTC drugs)?

Answer 1

Drug Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain condition that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain in terms of its structure and working. These brain changes can be long-lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviours. With continued use of drugs, the ability to exert self-control can become seriously impaired which is the hallmark of addiction.

People start taking drugs for a variety of reasons like to feel good, suppress sad feelings, to perform better, and sometimes out of curiosity.

Common Characteristics Among Addictive Behaviors

1. The person becomes obsessed the object, activity, or substance.

2. They will seek it out, or engage in the behaivor even though it is causing harm.

3. Upon cessation of the activity, withdrawal symptoms often occur like irritability, craving, restlessness or depression.

4. Loss of control, denies problem, hides the behavior or report a blackout for the time, depression, low self esteem, feel anxious etc.

Susceptibility to addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines risk of addiction to drugs. In general, more risk factors associated with a person, greater the chance of drug use and abuse.

Factor that can increase the risk of drug addiction

• Lack of parental supervision
• Poor social skills
• Drug experimentation
• Availability of drugs at school
• Community poverty
• Genetic predisposition
• Psychological factors (Aggressive behaviour, stress, personality traits like high impulsivity or sensation seeking, depression, anxiety)
• Environmental influences (e.g., exposure to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or traum

Lack of parental supervision and role of school

Home and Family influence the home environment, especially during childhood and it is a very important factor. Parents or older family members who abuse alcohol or drugs, or who engage in criminal behavior, can increase children’s risks of developing their own drug problems.

Peer and school friends or acquaintances can have an increasingly strong influence during adolescence. Drug-using peers can sway even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Academic failure or poor social skills can put a child at further risk for using or becoming addicted to drugs.

Protective factor that can reduce the risk of drug addiction

• Good self-control in childhood
• Positive relationships
• Parental monitoring and support
• Academic competence
• School anti-drug policies
• Neighborhood pride

Positive relationships

Strong and positive family bonds, parental monitoring of children's activities have positive influence on children which reduces their chance of getting exposed to risk factors. The clear rules of conduct that are consistently enforced within the family shape behaviour and ensure smooth functioning of activities within family. Involvement of parents in the lives of their children is very important for their success in school, performance and prevention of drug addiction.

Why Americans use so many legal drugs (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, and OTC drugs)?

Americans use many legal drugs because they are readily available, legal and somewhat promoted in the form of commercialized ads like Super Bowl ads, relaxation ads. According to CDC, 48.5 million Americans in 2016, used illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs.

Many Americans use legal drugs since they believe that such drugs will make them fit in, have more fun, and even study effectively e.g. use of caffeine on a daily basis to function normally is a form of addiction. Americans use over-the-counter drugs often as they do not consider it as a big deal. These drugs alleviate pains, minor aches, inflammation, fevers, and joint and muscle stiffness

It is also linked with thoughts of social uplifting and desire for approval of certain behaviour by society. Legal drugs, such as OTC drugs are easier to gain access to and hence preferred. People like to consume mind-altering substances despite of associated serious health implications. The criminal element is also associated with the drugs addiction. Similarly, many Americans have the notion that legal drugs are less addictive and safer than illegal drugs.

NIH National Institute article- Drug Abuse and read the article Drugs, Brains and Behavior: The Science of Drug Addiction. (Link to article below)

https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/soa_2014.pdf

Indiana University - article on Addictive Behaviours (Link to article close the mentioned title)

https://www.indiana.edu/~engs/hints/addictiveb.html