Neurobiology of Addiction

Question 0

What’s the difference between dependence and addiction?

Answer 0

Dependence - if you stop, you’ll get withdrawal symptoms. Could be a drug used legitimately.
Addiction - Dependence from drug abuse, drug controls life, (and involves dopamine/nucleus accumbens).

Question 1

What’s the most important variable determining who gets addicted to substances and who doesn’t?

Answer 1

Genetics. (somewhat surprisingly. 60% of the variance for alcoholism appears to be hereditary)

Question 2

What ties together all “addictive” drugs? (not to be confused with drugs that cause dependence)

Answer 2

Activate dopaminergic systems in the nucleus accumbens.