Reducing addiction- biological

Question 1

introduction into drug therapy

Answer 1

• treatments involving drugs eg chemicals that have particular effect on fucntioning of brain
• drugs affect neurotransmitter levels with addiction

Question 2

3 drug therapies

Answer 2

1. agonist
2. antagonist
3. aversive

Question 3

what is an agonist?

Answer 3

• durg substitute (eg nicotine patches, gum, vapes) activating neuron receptors that give similiar effects to addictive substance eg methodone treating heroine addiction to satsify eurphoric craving
• stablises individual bc control withdrawal symptoms, allowing gradual dose reduction

Question 4

what is an antagonist?

Answer 4

• blocks receptor sites so dependence substance cant have usual effects eg euphoria .eg zyban
• other interventions used (therapy) used alongside to tackle psychological causes of addiction

Question 5

what is an aversive?

Answer 5

• produce unpleasant consequence eg vomit
• disulfiram drug therapy treat alcolholism creating hypersensitivity
• disulfiram + alcohol= severe hangover (nausea).
• association occurs - enjoyment into unpleasant outcome (classical conditioning)

Question 6

research support for drug therapy

Answer 6

• Hartmann- Boyce conducted metanalysis into effectiveness of NRT
• concluded that all forms of NRT were more effective helping smokers quit, increased rate of quitting up to 60%
• saves lives, effective, reduce cost of NHS
• counter-> not always work, 50% so may need CBT combined, have free will to not take tablets as motivation levels low

Question 7

limitation

what are the side effects of drug therapy?

Answer 7

• in drug therapy treatments like antagonist cause extreme side effects like depression + sucidial thoughts
• due to naltrexane blocking receptor sites + bc of risks of side effects discontinuing therapy
• side effects should be weighed up against benefits

Question 8

strength

how can drug therapy reduce the stigma of addiction

Answer 8

• many hold opinion that addiction is psychological weakness, stigma attached to addicition lead to self blame, depression, recovery difficult
• stigma slowly eroding by successful use of drug therapy
• percieving addiction as something that can be tested with drugs helps people with addiction. pos effects on economy

Question 9

limitation

do drug treatments address the underlying causes of addiction?

Answer 9

eg if someone is using addiction to deal with trauma eg abuse the abuse wont be dealt with, drugs elivate symptoms but may not e useful long term. CBT would be alternative as adresses underlying causes