Readings in Human Behavior

COURSE: MAED
SUBJECT: HUMAN BEHAVIOR

INSTRUCTOR: MERLIN T. PABELLAN
NAME: JOHN MECHAEL F. BAYNOSA
DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse

and Addiction
Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted
to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral
principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by
choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex
disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. In
fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug
abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Through
scientific advances, we know more about how drugs work in the brain than
ever, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to
help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive lives.
Drug abuse and addiction have negative consequences for individuals and
for society. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the
United States, including productivity and health- and crime-related costs,
exceed $600 billion annually. This includes approximately $193 billion for
illicit drugs,1 $193 billion for tobacco,2 and $235 billion for alcohol. 3 As
staggering as these numbers are, they do not fully describe the breadth of
destructive public health and safety implications of drug abuse and
addiction, such as family disintegration, loss of employment, failure in
school, domestic violence, and child abuse.
What Is Drug Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive
drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted
individual and to those around him or her. Although the initial decision to
take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over
time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her
ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.
Fortunately, treatments are available to help people counter addiction’s

powerful disruptive effects. Research shows that combining addiction
treatment medications with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure
success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to each
patient’s drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and
social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug
abuse.
Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or
heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And as with
other chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin
abusing drugs again. Relapse, however, does not signal treatment failure—
rather, it indicates that treatment should be reinstated or adjusted or that
an alternative treatment is needed to help the individual regain control and
recover.
What Happens to Your Brain When You

Take Drugs?
Drugs contain chemicals that tap into the brain’s communication system and
disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information.
There are at least two ways that drugs cause this disruption: (1) by imitating
the brain’s natural chemical messengers and (2) by overstimulating the
“reward circuit” of the brain.
Some drugs (e.g., marijuana and heroin) have a similar structure to

chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which are naturally produced
by the brain. This similarity allows the drugs to “fool” the brain’s receptors
and activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages.
Other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause the nerve

cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters
(mainly dopamine) or to prevent the normal recycling of these brain
chemicals, which is needed to shut off the signaling between neurons. The
result is a brain awash in dopamine, a neurotransmitter present in brain
regions that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of
pleasure. The overstimulation of this reward system, which normally
responds to natural behaviors linked to survival (eating, spending time with
loved ones, etc.), produces euphoric effects in response to psychoactive
drugs. This reaction sets in motion a reinforcing pattern that “teaches”
people to repeat the rewarding behavior of abusing drugs.
As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming

surges in dopamine by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number
of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. The result is a lessening of
dopamine’s impact on the reward circuit, which reduces the abuser’s ability
to enjoy not only the drugs but also other events in life that previously
brought pleasure. This decrease compels the addicted person to keep
abusing drugs in an attempt to bring the dopamine function back to normal,
but now larger amounts of the drug are required to achieve the same
dopamine high—an effect known as tolerance.
Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems and

circuits as well. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that influences the reward
circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate
is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate, which can
impair cognitive function. Brain imaging studies of drug-addicted individuals
show changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decision
making, learning and memory, and behavior control. Together, these
changes can drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively
despite adverse, even devastating consequences—that is the nature of
addiction.
Why Do Some People Become Addicted

While Others Do Not?
No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs.
Risk for addiction is influenced by a combination of factors that include
individual biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The
more risk factors an individual has, the greater the chance that taking drugs
can lead to addiction. For example:
 Biology. The genes that people are born with—in combination with environmental
influences—account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender,
ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse
and addiction.
 Environment. A person’s environment includes many different influences, from family
and friends to socioeconomic status and quality of life in general. Factors such as peer
pressure, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and quality of parenting can greatly influence
the occurrence of drug abuse and the escalation to addiction in a person’s life.
 Development. Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental
stages in a person’s life to affect addiction vulnerability. Although taking drugs at any
age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it will progress
to more serious abuse, which poses a special challenge to adolescents. Because areas in
their brains that govern decision making, judgment, and self-control are still developing,
adolescents may be especially prone to risk-taking behaviors, including trying drugs of
abuse.
Prevention Is the Key
Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Results from NIDA-funded research
have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools,
communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. Although
many events and cultural factors affect drug abuse trends, when youths
perceive drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking. Thus,
education and outreach are key in helping youth and the general public
understand the risks of drug abuse. Teachers, parents, and medical and
public health professionals must keep sending the message that drug
addiction can be prevented if one never abuses drugs.
COURSE: MAED
SUBJECT: HUMAN BEHAVIOR
INSTRUCTOR: MERLIN T. PABELLAN
NAME: JOHN MECHAEL F. BAYNOSA
What are psychological disorders?

Psychological disorders, also referred to as mental disorders, are
abnormalities of the mind that result in persistent behavior patterns that can
seriously affect your day-to-day function and life. Many different psychological
disorders have been identified and classified, including eating disorders, such
as anorexia nervosa; mood disorders, such as depression; personality
disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder; psychotic disorders, such
as schizophrenia; sexual disorders, such as sexual dysfunction; and others.
Multiple psychological disorders may exist in one person.
The specific causes of psychological disorders are not known, but contributing
factors may include chemical imbalances in the brain, childhood experiences,
heredity, illnesses, prenatal exposures, and stress. Some disorders, such as
borderline personality and depression, occur more frequently in women.
Others, such as intermittent explosive disorder and substance abuse, are
more common in men. Still other disorders, such as bipolar disorder and
schizophrenia, affect men and women in roughly equal proportions.
When a person experiences mood or cognitive problems or behavioral issues

for a long time, a psychological evaluation may be beneficial, and a diagnosis
of a psychological disorder may follow. Treatment frequently involves
psychotherapy to work on behaviors, skill development, and thought process.
A person may be hospitalized for coexisting medical problems, serious
complications, severe disorders, or substance abuse. Medications can be
quite helpful for some psychological disorders.
Properly treated, people who have psychological disorders often improve;

however, relapses are possible. Left untreated, some psychological problems
can lead to academic, legal, social and work problems. Alcohol poisoning,
drug overdose, suicide, and violent behavior are other potential complications.
Psychological disorders can have serious, even life-threating,

complications. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for inability to care
for one’s basic needs (food, water, shelter) or threatening, irrational or suicidal
behavior.
Seek prompt medical care if you think you might have a psychological
disorder or are being treated for one but symptoms recur or are persistent.

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Readings in Human Behavior

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COURSE: MAED

SUBJECT: HUMAN BEHAVIOR

DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse

What Is Drug Addiction?

Fortunately, treatments are available to help people counter addiction’s

What Happens to Your Brain When You

Some drugs (e.g., marijuana and heroin) have a similar structure to

Other drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine, can cause the nerve

As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming

Long-term abuse causes changes in other brain chemical systems and

Why Do Some People Become Addicted

What are psychological disorders?

When a person experiences mood or cognitive problems or behavioral issues

Properly treated, people who have psychological disorders often improve;

Psychological disorders can have serious, even life-threating,

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