Smoking - biological approach

• Nicotine addiction

  A biological addiction is when a substance (i.e. nicotine) has been incorporated into the normal functioning of the individual's body
• Nicotine

  Highly addictive nature makes it difficult for most smokers & vapers to quit.
• Nicotine

  The body has been altered and is expecting nicotine to fulfil certain requirements
• Reward pathway

  Circuit in the limbic system involved in processing and regulating emotions, i.e., pleasure when smoking
• Receptor

  Part of the nerve which receives and reads signals from other nerves helping transfer information around the brain
• Dopamine

  A neurotransmitter (i.e., body's chemical messengers that carry messages from one nerve cell across a space to the next nerve, muscle or gland cell) that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres.
• Neuron


  A specialised nerve cell that receives, processes and transmits information to other cells in the body
• Genetic predisposition


  The increased chance of developing a disease or pattern of behaviour based on inherited genes from biological parents
• Desensitisation (tolerance)


  A treatment that reduces emotional responsiveness (i.e., pleasure) to a stimulus (i.e., nicotine) after repeated exposure to it.
• What is nicotine?

  A psychoactive drug which stimulates brain activity - e.g., producing a calming effect when in stressful situations
• What does nicotine do?

  Causes the pleasure centres of the brain to be activated through the reward pathway. Effecting the dopamine receptors due to nicotine and acetylcholine binding to receptors causing a release of dopamine, causing pleasure.
• What happens to dopamine receptors over time when using nicotine?

  The binding of nicotine to the acetylcholine receptor results in a decrease of dopamine receptors (dopamine is no longer needed to provide pleasure as nicotine fulfils this function)
• When does addiction occur?

  When natural dopamine is no longer there to stimulate feelings of pleasure and nicotine needs to be taken to maintain the same effect.
• What does it mean to be desensitised to something?


  You get used to the dose of something which then means more of a substance is needed to achieve the same effects or feelings.
• What happens when you're asleep?

  Nicotine receptors become unregulated (limited dopamine in the brain) which causes withdrawal symptoms (anxiety or restlessness)
• How can you alleviate withdrawal symptoms?


  By taking the substance such as a cigarette or vape. Causes pleasure as withdrawal symptoms decrease.
• What withdrawal symptoms can happen? (physiological and psychological)


  Physiological

  • Cravings
  • shaking
  • headaches

  Psychological

  • low mood
  • short temper
• What are some treatments to help manage withdrawal effects?

  • Hypnotism
  • Nicotine patches
  • chewing gum
• When does relapse happen?


  When ex-smokers return to the source of the pleasure, to alleviate unpleasant withdrawals.
• What environmental factors can lead to relapse?


  • Stressful employment
  • stressful family experiences
  • exams
• What is genetic disposition? (susceptibility)


  The probability of developing a particular disease due to an individual's genetic makeup (inherited from biological parents)
• Evaluation (strengths)


  Real world application - A range of treatments, therapies (aversion therapy) and support medication is available to help people quit.

  Scientifically measure and prove changes in brain neurochemistry and the existence of genetic disposition to addiction.
• Evaluation (weaknesses)


  It's reductionist (Trying to explain something complicated with only one view/theory) as it only focuses on certain explanatory aspects such as genetics