Biological Key question

• How effective is drug therapy for treating addiction, such as heroin addiction?
• Addiction has such a high impact on society and the individual; drugs like heroin are extremely addictive because they increase the release of dopamine and flood the brain with it
• Drug-taking is initially voluntary, but when addicted, it is a compulsion (at the expense of everything else), it’s regarded as an illness, as prolonged exposure alters brain structure, neurochemical balance and leads to brain disease
• Called physical dependence, as ‘addiction’ is too broad to cover all aspects of drug behaviour/experience, terminology surrounding drug use needs to be precise, as not all individuals would be considered addicts or at risk
• Called physical dependence, as ‘addiction’ is too broad to cover all aspects of drug behaviour/experience, terminology surrounding drug use needs to be precise, as not all individuals would be considered addicts or at risk
• Biological, psychological and social problem, effective treatment tackles all these areas: Drugs stabilise them, and prevent withdrawal by negative reinforcement, then addiction causes are addressed by CBT, group therapy, self-help groups, etc
• Drug use is influenced by peers, culture, and media; the social situation plays a significant role in associating specific people, places, and times with this behaviour, so to change it, the social context must change
• Drug use is influenced by peers, culture, and media; the social situation plays a significant role in associating specific people, places, and times with this behaviour, so to change it, the social context must change