Bio Psy Key Question

• What is the biological psych key question

  How effective is drug therapy for treating addictions? E.g. methadone to treat heroin addiction​
• AO1 1 - general

  Heroin comes from the opium poppy, is a class A recreational drug. A more pure form of morphine, if smoked/ snorted/ injected, it reaches the brain much quicker and is more potent​
• AO1 2 - binds to receptors

  Heroin binds to opiate receptors which: Block messages from being passed around the body making it an effective pain killer and giving a state of relaxation and escapism. It triggers release of dopamine leading to euphoria
• AO1 3 - addictive

  • Is highly addictive. After just one use you can build up tolerance and physical dependency, causing withdrawal and dysphoria, so will need to take heroin again.​
• AO1 4 - problem

  • This causes many issues in society: Without enough oxygen reaching the brain there is risk of a coma and brain damage – adding costs to NHS/Social services. There is increased crime rates as addicts try to get funds for drugs, a decreased workforce, leading to problems across society and homelessness
• AO2 1 - Addiction

  • Addiction changes the biology of the brain, so needs to be treated in a biological way, so heroin should be treated using drugs such as methadone
• AO2 2 - methadone

  • Methadone mimics heroin by blocking dopamine receptors on the post synaptic neuron. This blocks the euphoric effects of heroin and also reduces side effects of not taking heroin​
• AO2 3 - ward

  • Ward et al (1994) suggest that methadone maintenance reduces heroin use. They found that methadone treatment is more effective when higher doses. Therefore, methadone can effectively reduce heroin use.  So this will lead to a increase in productivity in society​
• AO2 - 4

  • However, reduction of the methadone doses means the user will experience withdrawal symptoms such as cramps and vomiting so can lead to relapse and can lead to addiction to methadone