01:830:364 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Child Abuse, Euphoria, Maternal Deprivation
Document Summary
Factors such as spirituality and fulfillment and empathy, that contribute to addiction vulnerability are difficult to assess in animals. Most users who experiment with drugs do not become drug addicts. Only some individuals who experiment with drugs become addicted. These psychological problems of addicts existed prior to addiction. For the addict, life is too painful to endure. Drugs medicate their suffering by blunting their awareness of reality. The most commonly reported factor self-reported by drug addicts that drove them into addiction is the psychological pain of the feeling of emptiness. The psychological pain of the feeling of emptiness the spiritual void. Humans need to feel a sense of purpose, a sense of connection, a sense of growth, a sense of becoming, that gives meaning to their life. Feeling lost in a state of meaningless existence sets the stage for drug addiction.
