Risk factors in the development of addiction

Question 1

What are risk factors?

Answer 1

• Internal/external influences that increase the likelihood that someone will start using addictive substances/engage in addictive behaviours

Question 2

What is genetic vulnerability?

Answer 2

Any inherited predisposition that increases risk of a disorder or condition

Question 3

What is the role of the D2 receptor in addiction?

Answer 3

• Number of dopamine receptors affect dopamine transmission
• Addicted individuals= low number of D2 receptors
• Less dopamine transmission, which drug taking compensates for

Question 4

What is the role of the nicotine enzyme (CYP2A6) in addiction?

Answer 4

• Pianezza et al says some people lack the fully functioning nicotine enzyme (metabolises nicotine) so they smoke less than those with the fully functioning enzyme
• Some people are more able to metabolise substances than others

Question 5

What are the 2 main factors in genetic vulnerability?

Answer 5

1) D2 receptors
2) Nicotine enzyme (CYP2A6)

Question 6

How does stress effect addiction?

Answer 6

• Anderson and Teicher highlight the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in addiction
• Early stressful experiences have damaging effects on a young brain during the sensitive period of development- creates vulnerability to later stress
• Adolescent/adult stress triggers early vulnerability, increases chances of self-medication with drugs

Question 7

What is the role of personality in addiction?

Answer 7

• Perry says most people with antisocial personality disorder (APD) are addicted substance users
• Robins suggests APD is a causal risk factor, as APD means people break norms, are impulsive and may behave criminally
• It is almost inevitable that people with APD will try drugs at a young age

Question 8

What is the role of family influences on addiction?

Answer 8

• Livingston et al found final year high school students who were allowed to drink at home were significantly more likely to drink excessively at college
• Teens who believe their parents have no interest in monitoring their behaviour are more likely to develop an addiction

Question 9

What is the role of peers in addicition?

Answer 9

• O’Connell et al suggest 3 elements to peer influence as a risk factor:
  1) Attitudes and norms influenced by associating with peers who drink alcohol
  2) Experienced peers provide opportunities to drink
  3) Individual overestimates how much peers are drinking, so drink more to match perceived norm

Question 10

Strength-
I- Support from adoption studies

Genetic vulnerability

Answer 10

D- Kendler et al use data from National Swedish Adoption Study. Studied adults adopted as kids from bio families with at least one addicted parent. They had a significantly greater risk of addiction than adopted kids with no addicted bio parent
E- Supports role of GV as a risk factor, and is supported by other studies (twin studies)

Question 11

Limitation-
I- Issues of causation

Stress

Answer 11

D- Many studies fail to show a strong positive correlation between stress and addiction. This doesn’t mean stress isn’t a risk factor. Some people become addicted despite experiencing little stress (addiction causes greater stress levels due to -ve effects of lifestyle). This produces a positive correlation but in this case, it is addicition causing stress
E- Cannot conclude that stress is a significant risk factor from correlational studies alone

Question 12

Strength-
I- Support for link between APD and addiction

Personality

Answer 12

D- Studies show APD and alcohol dependence is co-morbid. Bahlmann et al interviewed 55 alcohol-dependent people (18 had APD diagnosis). For these 18, APD develped approx 4 years before alcohol-dependency
E- Suggests APD is a personality-related risk factor for addiction

Question 13

Strength-
I- Research support

Family

Answer 13

D- Madras et al found a strong positive correlation between parents’ abuse of cannabis and teens use of canabis, nicotine, alcohol and opiods. Teens infer their parents approve of drug use and observe parents using drug and model this behaviour
E- Supports view that parental substance abuse is a potential risk factor for addiction in offspring

Question 14

Strength-
I- Real world application

Peers

Answer 14

D- Social norms marketing advertising (SNMA) is an intervention to change false beliefs about how much peers drink. Uses mass media advertising to provide messages/ stats on how much people really drink (via beer mats, posters, leaflets). E.g: student union bar leaflets saying ‘students overestimate what others drink by 44%’
E- Means identification of risk factors suggests ways to reduce risk of addiction