risk factors in development of addiction

Question 1

definition of risk factors

Answer 1

internal or external influence that increase the likelihood of a person will start using addictive substances or engage in addictive behaviours

Question 2

definition of genetic vulnerability

Answer 2

any inherited predisposition that increases the risk of a disorder or condition

Question 3

definition of stress

Answer 3

stressful life events and traumatic experiences in childhood and adulthood are important risk factor for addiction

Question 4

definition of personality

Answer 4

various traits can increase an individuals risk of addiction, a significant one being impulsivity

Question 5

definition of family influences

Answer 5

how much the at-risk individual believed his or her parents approve of addictive substances or behaviour is an influential risk factor, along with others involving family relationships

Question 6

definition of peers

Answer 6

attituded of peers towards addictive substances/behaviours becomes highly influential in increase the risk of an addiction developing in adolescence

Question 7

what are the two plausible direct mechanisms for genetic vulnerability

Answer 7

-D2 receptor
-nicotine enzyme

Question 8

what is the D2 receptor in the genetic vulnerability of addiction

Answer 8

dopamine transmission is affected by the number of dopamine receptors you have which is genetically controlled. There different types of dopamine receptor, including the D2 receptor. People addicted have abnormally low number of D2 receptors, so less dopamine activity, so using drugs comprehend for this deficiency

Question 9

what is nicotine enzyme as a genetic vulnerability for addiction

Answer 9

some individuals are more able to metabolise certain substances which is linked to addiction. Pianezza et al found lack of functioning enzyme CYP2A6 (which metabolises nicotine). they smoke significantly less than those smokers with fully functioning version. Expression of CYP2A6 enzyme is genetically determined

Question 10

who highlighted role of adverse childhood experiences in later addiction

Answer 10

Anderson and Teicher (2008)

Question 11

how is stress risk factor for vulnerability to addiction

Answer 11

Anderson and Teicher (2008) highlighted role of adverse childhood experiences in later addiction. this is because early experiences of severe stress have damaging effects on young brain in a sensitive period of development, creating vulnerability to later stress. Further stressful experiences in adolescence and adulthood trigger early vulnerability and make it more likely a person will self-medicate with drugs or other behavioural actions

Question 12

why is stress a risk factor in addiction

Answer 12

more likely a person will self-medicate with drugs or other behavioural actions

Question 13

is there an addictive personality

Answer 13

no

Question 14

what type of personality is addiction linked to

Answer 14

disordered personality, most people with antisocial personality disorder are addicted substance users

Question 15

what disorder is linked with addiction

Answer 15

antisocial personality disorder (Petry 2002)

Question 16

what did Robins (1998) argue about antisocial personality disorder (APD) and addiction

Answer 16

APD is a casual risk factor for addiction as having APD emas the person breaks social norms, is impulsive and may behave criminally. Therefore, it is inevitable someone with APD will try drugs at a young age as drug-taking is has a combination of norm-breaking, criminal activity and satisfying own desires

Question 17

Livingston et al findings on family influences in addiction

Answer 17

Livingstone et al (2010) found final year high school students who were allowed to drink alcohol at home were significantly more likely to drink excessively the following year at college

Question 18

how is interest (family influences) a risk factor for addiction

Answer 18

adolescents believing their parents have little or no interest in monitoring behaviour are more likely to develop an addiction. the key determinant is the adolescent’s perception which is more important than is the parents really do monitor the behaviour

Question 19

who suggested there are 3 major elements to peer influence as a risk factor of alcohol addiction

Answer 19

O’Connell at al 2009

Question 20

what were O’Connell et al 3 major elements to alcohol addiction

Answer 20

-at risk adolescents’ attitudes and norms about drinking are influenced by associating with peers who use alcohol
-these experienced peers provide more opportunities for the at-risk individual to use alcohol
-individual overestimated how much their peers are drinking, which means they drink more to keep up with perceived norm

Question 21

what type of addiction risk factor are O’Connell’s 3 major element’s for

Answer 21

alcohol

Question 22

is the substance important in peers as a risk factors

Answer 22

no, peer attitudes are ultimately the influence of substance abuse and do not have to specifically concern the substances. what matters most is creation of group norm that favous rule-breaking generally, and substance abuse is just one instance of this

Question 23

strength of risk factors in development of addiction - genetic vulnerability

Answer 23

-risk factor for addiction is support form adoption studies
-Kendler et al 2012 used data from NAtional Swedish adoption Study. They looked especially at adults who have been adopted away, as children, from biological families in which at least one parent has an addiction. these children later had a significantly greater risk of developing an addiction themselves, compared with adopted-away individuals with no addicted parent in their biological families –> supports role of genetic vulnerability as an important risk factor, and is supported by other research

Question 24

limitation of risk factors in development of addiction - stress

Answer 24

-issue of causation
-many studies have shown a strong positive correlation between stressful experiences and addiction. however, this does not necessarily mean stress is the risk factor . what matters is the order in which the stress and addiction developed. Some may become addicted even if they have not experienced significant life stress. Their addictions then create greater levels of stress in lives because of negative effects of the lifestyle. this would still cause a positive correlation but in this case the addiction case the stress (not the other way round) –> cannot conclude stress is a significant risk factor based on only correlational studies alone

Question 25

strength of risk factors in development of addiction- personality

Answer 25

-link between addiction and APD
-several studies show Antisocial personality disorder (APD) and alcohol dependence are co-morbid so frequently occur together, but APD may not be a casual factor. Bahimann et al 2002 interviewed 55 alcohol dependent people which were also diagnosed with APD. for there 18 participants, researchers found that APD developed 4 years before alcohol dependency, on average –> finding suggest that APD is indeed a personality-related risk factor for alcohol addiction

Question 26

strength of risk factors in development of addiction- family influences

Answer 26

-research support
-Madras et al 2019 found string positive correlation between parents’ abuse of cannabis and adolescent children’s use of cannabis, nicotine, alcohol and opioids, it may be adolescents observe their parents using the drug and model the behaviour. or they may infer the parents approve of drug use generally, so go on to use other drugs –> supports view parental substance abuse is a potential risk factor for wider addiction in adolescent offspring

Question 27

strength of risk factors in development of addiction-peers

Answer 27

-real-world application
-social norms marketing advertising (SNMA) is an intervention to change mistaken beliefs about how much peers are drinking. uses mass media advertising to provide messages about statistics about how much people really drink. for example, beermats, posters and leaflets in a student union bar might carr messages such as students overestimate what others drink by 44%. students then get a more accurate picture to correct overestimates –> identification of risk factors can suggest ways to reduce influence of such factors