SYC-4002-1,Brain and Behavior.

week 5 discussion

 

Learning Resources

Please read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week's assignments.

Readings

• Course Text: Garrett, B. (2015). Brain and Behavior: An Introduction to Biological Psychology, (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.
  
  
  • Chapter 5, " Drugs, Addiction, and Reward" (pp. 123–157)
  • Chapter 15, " Sleep and Consciousness" (pp. 481–517)
• An article from the Walden Library that discusses sleep habits or practices in at least one culture other than your own. The article must be a research report.

Web Site

• Brain Mechanisms of Sleep and Arousal (Brain and Behavior, Figure 15.9)
  http://www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study/animations/15.9.htmThis sequence traces brain mechanisms involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.

 

9Treating Drug Addiction

Substance abuse and addiction are difficult conditions to successfully treat. For example, the 12-month relapse rate among alcoholics is more than 60%, and it is nearly 75% for smokers and heroin users (see Figure 5.15 in Brain and Behavior). One possible reason for treatment failure is the powerful way in which addictive substances affect the brain. Most addictive drugs appear to tap into the brain's reward circuit, so that any behavior (taking a drug) preceding the psychological experience of reward is strongly reinforced. If addiction is a product of brain activity, it is logical that the treatment also must involve some change in brain activity. In fact, there are several forms of biologically-based drug treatments, including the use of agonist drugs that mimic some of the addictive drugs' effects (e.g. methadone for heroin addiction), as well as other substances that alter activity in the reward system (such as Baclofen).

Despite the potential for treating drug addiction more successfully than programs involving abstinence alone, many individuals believe that the drug addict is responsible for his or her condition and that using another drug to treat addiction is akin to "cheating." According to this philosophy, those who become addicted to drugs can be considered fully recovered only if they stop taking the drug and never relapse. There is a debate, then, about whether addiction is a biological/medical problem, and therefore largely outside of the person's control, or an inherent psychological problem which the individual needs to overcome by force of will.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review in Brain and Behavior the biological bases (including the role of genes) of addiction and treatment of addiction.
• Consider whether the evidence seems to indicate if addiction is more of a biological or psychological problem.
• Think about the implications of attributing addiction to biological versus psychological causes.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 an analysis of the extent to which addiction to psychoactive drugs is a biological versus a psychological phenomenon. Also support or refute the practice of using drug therapies for treating addiction. Include in your argument references to the advantages and disadvantages of relying on drug therapy to treat addiction.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and any outside resources you may wish to cite.

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.

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