Key Question for Society - BIOLOGICAL

Question 1

What do you have to consider when dealing with a key question?

Answer 1

What is the question and why does it matter (Knowledge and Understanding)

What did psychology contribute to the better understanding of the issue? (Analysis)

How helpful is psychology in resolving the issue? (Critical Thinking & Evaluation)

Question 2

What is the key question for biological psychology?

Answer 2

Should we use drugs to treat drug addiction?

Question 3

How many adults were taking opiates in 2013/2014?

Answer 3

293,879

Question 4

How many adults were taking drug therapy in 2013/2014?

Answer 4

29,150

Question 5

How many adults were taking alcohol treatments in 2013/2014?

Answer 5

114,920

Question 6

Why is drug addiction an illness?

Answer 6

drug addiction is an addiction and therefore an illness: the effects on the brain are what make drug taking an addiction and an addict’s behaviour is difficult to control

Question 7

Why is it beneficial for society if they tackle drug addiction?

Answer 7

In Britain, the NHS is paid for by the taxpayers and overdoses/ill-health caused by drug taking are paid for by the tax payers money - it would be cheaper to just ‘cure’ their addiction.

On the NHS, the cheapest treatment is prescribed which may not be effective and the money will then be wasted as the effectiveness of DRT is down to the individual

If they are ‘cured’ of their addiction, they can become a normal functioning member of society, and contribute to the economy and therefore the country which is beneficial to all who live within it

Question 8

How should treatment for drug addicts be approached?

Answer 8

It must tackle all aspects of an addict’s life as these cues could lead to relapse.

It isn’t a one size fits all solution - therapy must be tailored to an individual

Question 9

What is one common drug therapy treatment?

Answer 9

Substitution of drugs that are used to treat heroin and other similar drug addiction

Question 10

How is DRT used to treat heroin addicts?

Answer 10

Doctors prescribe either methadone or buprenorphine to help with withdrawal symptoms and give the individual space to change any cues that may lead to a relapse

Question 11

What is an alternative therapy to DRT?

Answer 11

Psychotherapy which includes treatment clinics, focus on motivation and behavioural therapy

Question 12

How is DRT necessary for drug rehabilitation?

Answer 12

Dr Willenburg (NYC Times Article) stated to be worried about heroin addicts as they aren’t given suboxone as a maintenance treatment

Question 13

What is buprenorphine like as a drug for DRT?

Answer 13

It’s effectiveness as an opiate is higher than the side effects an individual can experience whilst going through withdrawal symptoms - it produces a lessened euphoric feeling when used, in comparison to heroin or methadone with a ceiling effect

Question 14

What are some of the side effects of buprenorphine?

Answer 14

drowsiness, headaches, sickness, slower breathing rates with no known effect on pregnant individuals

Question 15

Can buprenorphine be abused?

Answer 15

Yes, but with coupling it with naloxone, it reduces the likelihood of addiction

Question 16

What is meant by buprenorphine having a ceiling effect?

Answer 16

Higher doses does not increases the euphoric feeling, which allows for a lower rate of abuse - once reached a certain amount of euphoria, this doesn’t increase

Question 17

What is methadone?

Answer 17

A more effective DRT to those suffering from heroin addiction, as it’s classed as a mimic drug

Question 18

How does Li et al. (2014) suggest cues to be an important part of drug rehabilitation?

Answer 18

Li et al. (2014) showed cues for heroin were linked to the activation and connectivity between certain areas of the brain (i.e. the prefrontal cortex, and the limbic system) - it suggests that cues affect brain functioning and therefore drug therapy may not be enough if cues around the addict are not addressed.

Question 19

How does Van de Oever (2008) suggest cues to be an important part of drug rehabilitation?

Answer 19

Van de Oever (2008) showed animals who experience cues associated with heroin addiction have synaptic changes due to this: This may help with relapses from exposure to cues.

Question 20

How is group therapy effective for drug rehabilitation?

Answer 20

It could prove effective as people can get support from one another (vicarious reinforcement) and the rewarded individual’s behaviour is imitated by the rest of the group

Question 21

What are some research methods used in the biological key question?

Answer 21

Much of what we know of the actions of different drugs comes from research using different animal models.

Studies of the impact of drugs make heavy use of secondary data i.e. by the NHS

Question 22

How does methadone work?

Answer 22

It diminishes cravings for heroin whilst staying for a longer period of time in the body by binding to its receptors so that, even if heroin is taken, it won’t have an effect - helps addicts to stabilise and retake control over their lives

Question 23

does methadone have a ceiling effect?

Answer 23

No - it’s a highly addictive drug which can be abused as it’s a full opioid antagonist

Question 24

What is a study that supports DRT’s effectiveness?

Answer 24

in 2004, the Australian Department of Health and Safety found this therapy helped 75-90% of patients reduce their usage and 40-65% abstain completely for the length of the study