3.4 - key question Flashcards
what is the key question for biological psychology?
should drug replacement therapy (DRT) be used to treat addiction?
how does addiction impact the individual?
loss of job and therefore financial difficulties
strained relationships
mental and physical health problems
put themselves in risky situations (reduced inhibition) and may commit crimes
how does addiction impact those around the individual?
addict’s behaviour may be had to deal with ie. they may become violent
family have to make up for addict’s lost income and possibly fund their drug use
people’s relationship with the addict is affected
children may be neglected and there is increased risk of them becoming addicts
addict’s colleagues may have to make up for the work they haven’t done
how does addiction impact wider society?
more cost and pressure on NHS to treat addicts (physically and mentally)
increased crime rates from addicts affect others’ quality of life
people pay taxes some of which go towards dealing with addicts eg. NHS, prison service
what is drug replacement therapy (DRT)?
when someone addicted to a drug is given a different drug which is seen as less harmful
what is the effect of opioid drugs eg. heroin, fentanyl on the body?
they bind to opioid receptors (found on terminal of upstream neuron at GABA synapses) but have a much greater impact than the endorphins naturally released by the body which normally bind to those receptors
what is a common form of DRT?
using methadone, another opioid drug, to treat heroin addicts
strengths of methadone - withdrawal symptoms and cravings?
alleviates withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings
withdrawal symptoms are a barrier to recovery and cause many individuals to relapse
because methadone stays in receptors for a long time, its effects last much longer than heroin, allowing users to focus on rebuilding their lives eg. engaging with employment without this disruption
strengths of methadone - safe use?
methadone is much safer to use than heroin
it is pharmaceutical so it is clean and has a known purity, meaning its effects are predictable - this makes it hard to overdose on when given at therapeutic doses
it is swallowed as a syrup, rather injected as heroin often is
strengths of methadone - positive outcomes?
methadone maintenance therapy has lots of positive outcomes
people on these programmes are more likely to reduce illegal drug use, criminal activity and improve their psychosocial functioning
this stability then allows them to address other issues causing their addiction
strengths of methadone - dealing with addiction?
when methadone is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, it helps break the addiction cycle (as individuals are no longer using an illegal drug compulsively which has harmful consequences)
it does this by addressing physical dependence on opioids
weaknesses of methadone - risk of dependency transfer?
methadone is still an opioid, so its use could create a false sense of recovery even though users are still physically dependent on a drug
people argue that recovery from addiction shouldn’t involve any form of mind-altering substance
weaknesses of methadone - side effects?
while methadone is fairly safe when used under medical supervision, long-term use of any substance can be risky
weaknesses of methadone - diversion and misuse?
there are concerns that methadone clinics may become sources of diversion so the drug finds its way onto the illegal market
this would threaten public safety and also undermine the idea of using methadone to reduce opioid use
weaknesses of methadone - other aspects of addiction?
methadone can manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, but it doesn’t address the psychological reasons for substance abuse
effective treatment for addiction must also use comprehensive therapies which teach individuals to navigate lie without relying on any substance
