Reducing Addiction

Question 1

Drug therapy for nicotine addiction NRT AIM

Answer 1

Provide nicotine in a less harmful source

Question 2

How NRT works

Answer 2

Stimulates nicotine receptors and activates brains reward pathways through release of dopamine to stimulate receptors in nucelas accumbens

Creating same pleasurable feeling as smoking a cigarette does

Reduction in nicotine and withdrawal symptoms and stops cravings

Reduction in withdrawal symptoms removes unpleasant circumstances of quitting smoking

So continuing NRT in negatively reinforced

Question 3

What does NRT also do ?

Answer 3

Desensitised nictoine receptors in brain by releasing small amounts of nictoine

Thus overtime number of nictoine receptors reduce , in turn reducing cravings thus relapse is less likely to occur

Addict can gradually reduce dosage of nicotine as tolerance to nictoine is reduced

Question 4

Drug therapy for gambling addiction

Answer 4

AIM - reduce pleasurable feeling associated with gambling

Opioid antagonist enhance release of neurotransmitter GABA in mesombolic pathway

Increase in GABA activity reduces release of dophmaime activity in nucleas accumbems reducing urge to gamble

Some research has linked this with reductions in gambling behaviour

Question 5

Reducing addiction drug therapy Ao3 strength

Answer 5

Stead el al carried out research to support effectiveness of NRT

Reviewed 150 high quality studies that compared use of NRT with placebo

Found all forms of NRT were significantly more effective in helping smokers quit than placebos

Supports drug therapy as it shows reducing withdrawal symptoms and desensitising nictoine receptors it can reduce smoking addiction

Increasing validity of use of drug therapy to reduce addiction

Question 6

Reducing addiction drug therapy Ao3 strength

Answer 6

Strength of drug therapy reducing addiction requires little motivation

Patient must wear patch or chew gum

Unlike CBT with requires effort and motivation as patient must commit to sessions over months

Drug therapy may be seen as more of a appropriate treatment for reducing addiction that other such as CBT

Question 7

Reducing addiction drug therapy Ao3

Answer 7

NRT and opoid antagonists are negative side effects

Common side effects include stomach problems and head aches unlike CBT

Is non invasive as this works on identifying and challenging irrational thoughts

Around addictive behaviour

Side effects may cause individual to stop taking treatment

Resulting in relapse thus drug therapy may be ineffective at treating addiction