Risk Factors: Stress

Question 1

What are the ethical issues in researching addiction?

Answer 1

Threat of sanction

This is the possibility that research may reveal something incriminating in some way e.g. people with drug addictions may reveal illegal behaviour as part of an interview

Researchers must therefore weigh up the potential benefits and risks of doing the research e.g. possibilites for intervention vs futher discrimination

Question 2

Risk Factors: Stress
Everyday Stress
Key Studies

Answer 2

NIDA, 1999

Question 3

Risk Factors: Stress

Everyday Stress

Answer 3

People report that they drink, smoke, use drugs, gamble etc as a means of coping with daily hassles, such as relationship problems, money worries and workplace stress. Such stressors may contribute to initiation and continuation of addictions, as well as to relapse even after long periods of abstinence NIDA 1999

Question 4

Risk Factors: Stress
Traumatic Stress
Key Studies

Answer 4

Driessen et al 2008

Question 5

Risk Factors: Stress

Traumatic Stress

Answer 5

People exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to addictions, especially children who have experienced, for example, parental loss or child abuse. PTSD is also linked to addiction. For example, Driessen et al 2008 found that 30% of drug addicts and 15% of alcoholics also suffered from PTSD

Question 6

Risk Factors: Stress
Do addictions actually decrease stress?
Key Studies

Answer 6

Hajek et al 2010

Question 7

Risk Factors: Stress

Do addictions actually decrease stress?

Answer 7

Despite the fact that many smokers say they smoke to reduce stress, smoking actually increases stress levels. So stress may be a risk factor for smoking addiction but the addiction doesnt have the desired effect. Although, paradoxically, once a smoker has taken up smoking it may become stress reducing because the desire to have another cigarette is stressful and therefore when the smoker has one, stress is reduced (Hajek et al 2010)

Question 8

Risk Factors: Stress
Individual differences
Key Studies

Answer 8

Cloniger 1987

Question 9

Risk Factors: Stress

Individual differences

Answer 9

Stress may create vulnerability in some but not all people. Cloniger 1987 suggested that there were two different kinds of alcoholics: type 1 individuals primarily drink to reduce tension (and are more likely to be female and prone to anxiety/depression), type 2 alcoholics drink primarily to reliece boredom (and have a tendency towards risk taking). Therefore, stress may explain vulnerability for some (the type 1s) but not all people