Download Donna Masterson, Neurobiology of Addiction

YOUR ADDICTION AINT GOT NO SMARTS
A PATHOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A MOOD
ALTERING EXPERIENCE WHICH RESULTS IN LIFEDAMAGING CONSEQUENCES.
A. PATHOLOGICAL - SICK RELATIONSHIP
B. MOOD ALTERING EXPERIENCES
1. SUBSTANCES
a. Illegal drugs (cocaine, marijuana,
hallucinogens, heroin,
methamphetamine)
b. Alcohol
c. Prescription sedative hypnotic drugs
d. Tobacco
2. PROCESSES
a. eating (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating,
exercise)
b. sex (including pornography)
c. gambling
d. anger
e. work
d. video (including games, internet, television)
e. spending
C. LIFE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES
1. LEGAL PROBLEMS
a. DWI/DUI
b. Possession
c. Manufacturing and Delivery
d. Crimes committed under the
influence or to gain money to buy drugs.
2. FAMILY AND MARTIAL PROBLEMS
a. Physical, sexual abuse
b. Neglect or failure to protect child from abuse
c. Divorce and child custody/support issues
d. Domestic violence
3. HEALTH PROBLEMS
a. brain, liver, kidney problems
b. dental problems – “meth mouth”
c. sexual problems
1.) hypersexuality resulting in STD’s,
unplanned pregnancy, rape
2.) prostitution to obtain drugs
3.) loss of libido
4. VOCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
a. Inability to pass drug tests
b. Missed days and poor performance at work
c. Money spent on addiction rather than bills
d. Eviction, foreclosure or bankruptcy
A. CEREBRAL CORTEX--sheet of neural tissue
that is outermost to the cerebrum of the
mammalian brain. It plays a key role in
memory, attention, perceptual
awareness, thought, language, and
consciousness.
B. LIMBIC SYSTEM
A set of structurally and
functionally related structures of
the brain which mediate
behaviorally 'primitive' functions
inherited from lower mammals,
particularly emotion and
motivational behavior.
1. Associated with various emotions
and feelings, such as anger, fear,
sexual arousal, pleasure and
sadness.
2. Unless the limbic system is
modulated by other cortical
areas,
periodic attacks of
uncontrollable
rage may occur in some
individuals.
3. Amygdala - fight or flight-can react
irrationally and destructively.
In the
adolescent brain, this area is
A bundle of nerves which connects the left and
right hemispheres of the brain.
1. Left brain is associated with language and
right brain lacks interpretive capacities of
the left brain and lacks problem solving
abilities.
2. Right brain has perceptual skills and the two
hemispheres work together to provide a
system
which is capable of accurately recalling details
while still allowing for elaboration and
inferences
about the world.
III. HOW SUBSTANCE ABUSE AFFECTS THE
FUNCTIONING OF THE BRAIN.
A. COGNITIVE FUNCTION--drugs and alcohol kill brain cells,
interrupting transmission of information between remaining
cells. As the brain shrinks from chronic use, brain damage
becomes irreversible.
1. Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine
deficiency
often seen in alcoholics.
2. Korsakoff's syndrome results from damage to
areas of the
brain involved with memory
3. Marijuana use causes memory loss and has been
shown to
produce symptoms of schizophrenia in chronic
users
4. Amphetamine and cocaine users may experience
symptoms
of schizophrenia associated with the release of
large amounts
of dopamine in the brain.
2,000%
"tweaking", "schitzing" and being paranoid.
a. Marijuana and alcohol increase dopamine levels by up
to 150%
b. Cocaine increase dopamine levels by
c. Methamphetamine increases dopamine
levels by
and results
2.
ADL's.
meth create
and mania
productive
5,000-15,000%
"Crashing" is caused by dopamine depletion
in extreme lethargy, inability to
care about hygiene, nutrition, and other
3.
Increased levels of adrenaline caused by
irritability, hypersexuality, aggressiveness
resulting in much activity with little or no
4. Damage to amygdala especially in adolescents prevents
ability to sort out and block triggers.
5. Damage to corpus collosum by trauma (drug use) affects
transition of information between left and right
hemispheres of the brain.
a. Right brain lead happens when a person has an
emotional reaction to what should be a
logical problem.
IV.TRIGGERS--An event which causes
increase in level of dopamine from the
limbic system resulting in a "rush" or
feelings of arousal associated with the
drug, such as commercials, music, or
other activities or feelings associated
with the drug.
A. Obsession--allowing oneself to fantasize about the effect of the
drug, thereby increasing level of dopamine.
B. BUD Syndrome--Building up to drink or drug which includes
justifying drug use by minimization or rationalization, increasing
levels of dopamine.
C. Compulsion--By this time, the brain is so intoxicated with
dopamine that all logical reason for abstaining from the drug is
overcome by the compulsion to use.
D. Acting Out--use followed by release of dopamine and
completion
of dopamine release.
E. Crashing--dopamine depletion accompanied by regret
and
remorse over having lost control. .
V. STRATEGIES FOR INTERVENTION.
A. HALT--never let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.
B. Support group--increase coping skills
C. Cognitive behavioral tools
1. Interject choice into obsession-compulsion-use cycle
2. Relaxation tools
3. Develop critical thinking skills
D. Spiritual Tools - prayer, meditation, confession, study.
REFERENCES:
Medicine Plus Medical Encyclopedia
Answers.com
Wikipedia
Human Relations Media "Rushing, Crashing, & Dying"