Biological explanations of drug misuse
- Created by: sarah_mocha
- Created on: 23-05-16 14:52
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- Biological explanations for substance misuse
- When someone takes a drug that alters the availability of one or more neurotransmitters, it affects mood or behaviour
- Depressant drugs slow the brain's activity, whereas stimulants speed it up
- Repeated use of any drug has the potential to change chemical balances within the brain
- this is because the level of neurotransmitters in regulated by feedback systems to prevent over or under production
- when a person takes a psychoactive drug which artificially changes these levels, the brain adjusts the level of natural production
- the person then needs to carry on taking the drug so they can function normally, by maintaining neuro-transmitter substances within the normal range
- when a person takes a psychoactive drug which artificially changes these levels, the brain adjusts the level of natural production
- this is because the level of neurotransmitters in regulated by feedback systems to prevent over or under production
- Evaluation:
- Withdrawal symptoms support the biological explanation as symptoms are of a severe deficit of the relevant neuro-transmitter
- Strong positive correlation between diagnosis of psychosis and heavy use of cocaine and/or amphetamines, suggesting drugs are inducing psychosis
- Self-report evidence from drug users shows that development of psychological need correlates positively with physiological measurements of dependency
- Large individual differences that decide whether or not someone becomes an addict
- Cultural norms and peer-group influences play a major role in the likelihood of misuse occurring
- If biological factors were what determine the amount required for a fix, overdosing due to context dependency wouldn't occur
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