PSYC 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Opiate, Anandamide, Naltrexone
9 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSYC 350
April 26,2018
• Updates
o Final is optional
Substance Abuse
• What causes alcohol abuse/dependence?
o Biological factors:
â–Ş Alcohol more reinforcing for some individuals
• Dopamine receptors (D2) – genetics, childhood abuse/neglect
o Genetics can cause a loss of D2 receptors
o Social isolation can also cause this lack of D2 receptors
o Lower amount of D2 receptors leads to addiction faster
• When addicted, low dopamine response to everyday highs
o Supposed to feel reward for everyday activities like
completing tasks, however; alcohol cuts these dopamine
releasements
o The average person gets these small bursts of reward from
the reward circuits from small things like having a good
meal, the sun shining, your friend smiling at you, etc.
o When people have these addiction, they do not have these
everyday reward feelings. They can only have this happy
feeling unless the consume the addictive drug. The drug
has hacked into the brain and rewired it.
▪ Toxic metabolites (acetaldehyde) more “punishing” for some
▪ “AA Model” – alcoholism as uncontrollable disease
o Sociocultural factors – cultures vary dramatically in % alcohol use problems
o Personality factors – two risks: antisocial or neurotic (trait anxious)
• Treatments for Alcohol Use Problems:
o 10% of those with problems enter treatment per year
o 50% dropout rate
o 30% of completers recovered at 1 year follow up (this recovery is abstinent
meaning not using any alcohol)
o Among alcohol abusers, high spontaneous recovery rate
â–Ş Abuser vs Addict: for abusers, alcohol causes issues in their life however
they aren’t living with the absolute need for alcohol
▪ Many college students have the status of “alcohol abusers” but recover
after college
• Pharmacological Interventions:
o Naltrexone (Vivitrol injection)
▪ When the addictive drug is taken it just isn’t as satisfying and rewarding
o Antabuse
