HED 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Substance Abuse, Psychoactive Drug, Internet Addiction Disorder
Document Summary
Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance, despite ongoing negative consequences. There are two types of addictions: substance addictions (e. g. , alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking) Process addictions (e. g. , gambling, shopping, eating, and sex). Biochemical messengers that exert their influence at specific receptor sites on nerve cells. Progressively larger doses or more intense involvement are needed to obtain the desired effect. A drug or activity replaces an effect the body should provide on its own. Symptoms include psychological discomfort and preoccupation with or craving for the behavior. Proposes that addiction is caused not by a single influence, but by multiple biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors operating in complex interaction. People with low self-esteem, tendencies for risk-taking behavior, or poor coping skills are more likely to develop addictive behaviors. Brain processes controlling memory, motivation, and emotional state are subjects of genetic research into risk for addiction, particularly to mood-altering substances.
