Health Sciences 1001A/B Lecture Notes - Behavioral Addiction, Opiate, Methamphetamine

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 1001A/B
• Professor: Shauna Burke

Document Summary

Addiction disease of the brain, which causes abnormal behaviour. Most addiction starts between ages 18-25 (barely ever starts after 30) They are the result of adaptations in the brain that affect the ability to control behaviour and control over intake of drug. The area of the brain for making free choices does not work properly. There is an interaction between genes and the environment: some people are more vulnerable. High risk environments include: stress, abuse, accessibility to drugs, and no supervision. Many addicted people do not feel good about taking drugs anymore. All drugs activate dopamine a naturally occurring opiate: addicted brain decreases natural production of dopamine. Brain has a natural reward system to learn essential behaviour for survival: drugs activate this, but this activation is stronger and long-lasting, deprivation body feels they need the drug for survival.