Addiction

Question 1

How does someone get diagnosed with substance dependance?

Answer 1

3/6 in the last 12 months

• desire to take substance
• tolerance
• persistence to take despite negative harm
• neglect of alternative pleasures
• physiological withdrawal state
• difficulties in controlling substance use

Question 2

What pathway in the brain is activated with dopamine and is responsible for addiction?

What drugs affect dopamine?

Answer 2

Mesolimbic pathway

All drugs have some affect on dopamine

Question 3

In addiction, how many dopamine receptors are present as compared to control group?

Answer 3

Decreased

Question 4

How does stress lead to drug seeking behaviours in?

Answer 4

Acute stress -> dopamine release

Chronic stress -> dampening of dopaminergic activity

Seek drugs to get same reward

Question 5

What part of the brain can help to suppress the mesolimbic system and combat addiction?

Answer 5

Pre-frontal cortex

doesn’t stop developing until your 20s -> starting early can affect development