Risk Factors In Addiction

Question 1

Define Risk Factor

Answer 1

anything Internal or external that increases likelihood of an individual starting to use drugs or engage in addictive behaviour 💊

Question 2

What is Genetic Vulnerability

Answer 2

1. Possibility we may inherit predisposition that ⬆️ risk of disorder (addiction)

explains why others become dependant and others aren’t

Question 3

How is Genetic Vulnerability explained

Answer 3

Interaction bw genes and environmental factors as an individual will not be addicted unless exposed to substance or opportunity

Question 4

How does D2 Receptor cause GV

Answer 4

D2 Receptors responsible for communicating with Dopamine (NT)

the number of D2 receptors determined by genetics

fewer of these associated w addiction = leads to experiencing pleasure from everyday activities eg 🍫

they turn to more addictive substances such as nictotine to exp same feeling of pleasure and compensate for this deficiency

Question 5

How doe’s metabolism cause addiction

Answer 5

1. Some individuals able to metabolise (break down) certain addictive substances faster than others
   = easier for them to be addicted nay need more to have same effects.

Rate of Metabolism inherited through genes

eg Pianezza ppl lack fully functioning CYP2A6 enzyme which metabolises nictotine = less likely to smoke than those w fully functioning CYP2A6

expression of gene genetically determined

Question 6

Whats RTS for GV

Answer 6

P - Kendler using data from National Swedish Adoption Study

E - looked at adults who had been adopted as children from biological fams where atleast 1 parent had an Addiction

E - these children had greater risk of developing A

L - supports GV as risk factor dor A

Question 7

What is Stress?

Answer 7

I experiences state of arousal (psychs and psych) state that occurs when they believe they do not have ability to cope with perceived threats

Question 8

How is Stress a risk factor of addiction

Answer 8

1. Ppl who exp stress turn to addictive substances/bh as a form of self medication for stress to avoid pain/to cope
2. Periods of long lasting chronic stress and traumatic life events in childhood have been linked with increased risk of dev A

Question 9

What did Anderson and Teacher (2008) find stress?

Answer 9

1. early experiences of severe stress have damaging effects on a young brain in a sensitive period of development

more vulnerable to later stress

further stressful experiences could trigger vulnerability make it more likely the a person may self medicate w substance/bh A’s

Question 10

How can we criticise Stress A03

Answer 10

P - Based on Correlational R C + E cannot be established

E - R shown link bw risk facts such as stress and addiction does not show which came first

E - A caused I to become stressed (loss of money, lack of sleep) rather than stress causing A

L - R lacks IV as doesn’t allow us to conclude that STRESS does make someone more at risk of A

D - Could have GV

Question 11

What did psychs proposed about addictive personality

Answer 11

correlation bw certain traits and addiction

Question 12

How is personality a risk factor

Answer 12

• Is is suggested that anti-social personality disorder leads to high v to A including neurotic and psychotic personality traits (Eyesenck)

Question 13

What does high levels of neuroticism lead to

Answer 13

high levels of anxiety , irritability and low self efficacy

Question 14

What does high levels of psychotics lead to

Answer 14

aggressive , impulsive sometimes emotionally detached leading to risk tasking and sensation seeking bh

Question 15

What is it about these I

Answer 15

I who have these pathological personalities are more likely to become addicts as bh/substance helps them and offers relief

Question 16

Give a strength of personality as a RF in A bh

Answer 16

P - Eysenck & Gossop supporting R

E - assessed personality of a sample of 221 drug addicts and 310 non-addicted ppts using Eysencks personality Q

E - found evidence of high neuroticism and psychotism in addicted ppts compared to non addicted ppts

L - supports role of neuroticism + psych personality traits as RF in A bh giving validity to RF

Question 17

How is Family Influences a RF

Answer 17

• perceived parental approval
• if an adolescent believes their parents show positive attitudes towards particular addictive bh/substance then they will be more v to dev A themselves

Question 18

What did Livingstone find?

Answer 18

• final year hs students who were allowed to drink by their parents alcohol at home were sig more likely to develop A the following year by drinking excessively in uni

Question 19

What happens when parents show little interest in monitoring adolescents

Answer 19

• peer relations and internt use
• are sig more likely to develop A

Question 20

How does SLT play a role in developing A in FI

Answer 20

• exposure within family life to substance/bh creates risk of developing A
• I observes family member (role model) engaging in addictive bh and imitate this bh as they identify with them and want to be like them

Question 21

Give RTS for FI

Answer 21

P - Madras (2019)

E - She studies families w adolescents whose parents used cannabis and the adolescents use cannabis alcohol nicotine and opioids

E - this may show that ad perceived that parents were accepting of drug use went on to use drugs themselves

observes parents using cannabis meddles bh

L - supports FI as RF for A

Question 22

how is peers a RF ao1?

Answer 22

• peers can influence I dev during adolescence as they spend more time w them than family
• O conell suggests that adolescents are at risk of dev alcohol addiction due to influence of peers of 3 major elements

Question 23

What are O conelles 3 major elements

Answer 23

1. Attitudes and Norms to drinking alcohol - influenced by associating w peers who drink alcohol ISI/NSI
2. Opportunities to drink alcohol - experienced peers provide more opps to drink
3. Individuals perception - overestimate how much drink drinking more to ‘keep up w em’

Question 24

Give a limitation of Peer review

Answer 24

P - correlational R C + E not established

E - R shown link be peers and A often does not show which comes first

E - could be A that seeks out peers w same addictive bh eg drug/alcohol use rather than their peers and norms engaging them in A bh

L - Therefore lacks IV does not allow us to conclude PEERS make someone more of risk of A