Dope Habit a Marrow Ailment - Research Paper Example

Drug Addiction a Brain Disease Date: Affiliate Institution: Drug Addiction a Brain Disease Drugs misuse has been on the rise over an extended period of time. However, the use of drugs leads to addiction or difficulty to leave the usage. In fact three quarters of those people who use drugs currently are doing so because of addiction. Their brains are wired to such drugs hence terminating its usage is a hard nut to crack. Various researchers have tried to establish the existence of a link between drug addiction and brain. In reality, the brains of sober people did not seem to function the same way compared to the one of drunkard ones. The purpose of this research paper is to come up with a question for the myth that drug addiction is really a brain disease. Evolution of the topic Drug addiction can be traced back to ancient times where people used home-made beer and tobacco among other drugs. However, they found out that they could not stay without them. It is shocking to understand that one could sacrifice his or her belongings just to obtain drugs for personal consumption. Consumption which would threaten to interfere with the entire life processes and precariously damage the brain. According to Bettinardi-Angres and Angres, drug addiction concept as a brain disease emerged as early as the 19th Century. Since the discovery of such concept, it has continued to be pronounced in many books while scientists are working hard to bring meaning to this interesting topic. The authors went ahead to give an evidence of the correctness of the ongoing debate by basing on the fact that mesolimbic pathways connected to the brainstem which helps in running the general processes of the limbic areas belonging to the brain. In the 21st century, more than two thirds of all the people who are addicted to various drugs such as cocaine, bhang, cigarettes and beer visit a physician after every six months. However, to others, medical specialists meet with them to accord necessary support in getting out of the addiction. Compared to many years ago, the issue of drug abuse seems to be stronger nowadays hence threatening the labour force. Much addicted personnel appear to avoid working a lot while they drain their pockets following the expensive drugs that they obtain. All these are one to quench their unending thirst. Future consideration of the research area will be based on finding out how the brain causes facilitates addiction. However, it would be easier for the succeeding researchers because they would base on existing literature review while comparing their findings with existing ones. Such a case may not be comparable with those researches of 19th Century who were torn between understanding the relation between the brain and drug addiction as a fallacy and the reality. Social psychology would contribute to understanding this topic in future based on its complexity. Scientists should gear up to a period of numerous tests and qualitative analysis of the results at hand to reach a notable finding and agreement with past researches. Social Psychology Topic Analysis In social psychology, the study of the behaviors of human beings based on their thoughts and beliefs exemplifies it. There is a need to understand what actually goes on in one’s mind after taking an extremely addictive drug. In the initial steps, the person does not get addicted but with habitual use, addiction develops faster. According to Anton (2010), alcohol brings about change in the behavior of the partaker hence leading to the finding that it actually affects the brain. In many cases, drunkards become confused while they adopt unstable postures showing that some part of the brain has been affected by the alcohol. Also, alcoholics seem to be depressed a lot going against the myth that drinking of alcohol pushes away stress. People should accept to undergo the long process of rehabilitation to overcome the brain disease. However, they need to involve all their senses in order to arrive at working criteria. No matter what the physicians recommend, the addicts would continue exemplifying some behaviors because they are overtly connected to their brains. So, for them to get due help, dealing with the brain is the main way out. People are working very hard to ensure that the drug addiction does not seem like a brain disease. Such people include the ones with an interest in the non-physiological model which is applicable to the addictive human behavior. They hold a different perspective on social problems as applicable in social psychology. In the process, they herald a form of socio-political correctness as their main goal. However, they cannot go against the findings that link drug addiction to brain disease. In the United States, there are various programs that focus on helping people with drug addiction to cope with it. The people involved give counselling and accord mental needs to the victims in a bid to end the mysterious problems that they face day in day out. The fact that most of the programs do not serve the purpose that the proponents meant for because of the belief that philosophical and social factors are behind the addictive nature of the disease. Drug addiction, therefore, makes the victim view that he or she is alright while anyone else is facing numerous problems. Social psychology needs to make them understand that he or she also needs help as far as mental needs are concerned. However, this brings them to the realization of the fact that drug addiction is really a brain disease which requires specialized attention. In medicine, the topic “Drug addiction is a brain disease” is applicable in trying to find out how the drug substances that cause addiction really do so. It focuses on the chemical composition of these drugs and how they influence the brain stem hence causing impaired judgment and more so addiction. Medical personal link up with social psychologists so that they may prescribe a way out for the victims of drug addiction. According to Leshner (2003), prolonged use of drugs tends to modify the brain functioning hence tending to cause persuasive changes. Moreover, this seems to persist among individuals hence making it hard to quit. Occasionally, trying to stop after taking long in the usage of the drug is more difficult than stopping in the initial stages. Actually, the early stages of drug usage do not signal any form of addiction. The matter is that when one uses the drug more, the addiction aspect shoots up drastically. However, Leshner (2013) goes ahead to indicate the differences between the brain of addiction from that of a sober human being. However, he stands to the notion that propagates that addiction brings about changes in one’s brain functioning and the structure which would then make addiction be a brain disease. Also, according to Satel & Lilienfeld (2013), pharmacologists approach the treatment and diagnosis of drug addiction just like any other disease hence the conclusion that drug addiction is a brain disease. The prescriptions are also the same hence giving an overview of the seriousness of the matter. Initially, people found it difficult to distinguish between drug addiction from other behavioral changes or mental illness indicating that the topic was in existence only that it scientists had not documented them in the right manner. There was still a big indication that they still viewed such an argument as a fallacy rather that truth in itself. Ethics The research topic in question comes with various ethical issues that sober humans need to address. Some of them arise when other unauthorized researches have used alcohol in carrying out experiments to find out the impact of alcohol on the human brain. Researchers need not perform such tests on people because it goes against their will. It is unethical to do so hence brings complications to the topic at hand. According to US Department of Justice (1998), the burning issue of drug abuse is rising in various parts of the United States hence raising concern in many scholars and medical personnel. In America close to 19 million citizens consider themselves as users of far-reaching addictive and illegal substances hence making the quest to end addiction difficult. Researches can come up with recommendations which would require a lifetime to implement successfully. On the other hand, a whopping 22 million of the Americans are struggling to cope up with drug addiction problems. However, there is no distinct route to adopt when offering counselling services to students who participate in drug misuse or addiction. One has to provide mental counselling while according social support to them in a bid to stamp out the drug addiction which is a brain disease. There are ethical decision-making models which social psychologists and other personnel use to deal with drug addiction. Examples include Solutions To Ethical Problems in Schools (STEPS). Such a school-specific method applies to dealing with students and other teens who immerse themselves in a plethora of drug addiction and misuse (Leshner, 2003). Furthermore, ethical behaviours play a significant role in the topic that states that “Drug addiction is a brain disease”. People understand that they are taking part in illegal activity while they find it hard to stop it regardless of intervention from various well-wishers and other personnel. Alcohol, for example, brings unrest in society while making it hard for individuals to relate to the society. Hostility is a factor that takes over the mentality of the addicts hence making it tough to approach and help them. Drug addiction affects the mental stability of the users while in some cases like bhang may lead to permanent mental illnesses. Awareness Recent researches have been on point in helping one understand the underlying dangers of drug addiction. Social psychology, as a wide field helps one to know his or her role in stamping out drug addiction. However, the topic of drug addiction as a brain disease will increase the awareness of individuals such as medical personnel hence dealing with the issue becomes easier than in the earlier times when people used to refer to as a fallacy. Existing literature review is on point in giving an overview of the seriousness of drug addiction citing connection to brainstem where behavioral changes pop up in the users. There are various drugs which contribute to addiction. However, understanding the chemical composition of these drugs and their impact on human beings will help people desist from their use. Most of the users, especially in America, indulge in the use because of ignorance on the impending dangers of the drugs. Surprisingly, a good number are aware of the dangers but still risk abusing them courtesy of complex addiction problems. Alternatives to the use of such drugs may help in stamping out their usage. Furthermore, narcotic options would assist in replacing cigarettes smoking and other nicotine-related drugs which end up in massive drug addiction among the individuals. Furthermore, understanding the major concepts of addiction as a disease of the brain is crucial in social psychology. However, it would help individuals have a deeper understanding of the addicts and other people who are starting to use various addictive drugs. Such knowledge would help one to know that drug addicts any not be willing to use the drugs but the connection to the brain makes it difficult for them to stay without the drugs. Such an understanding is a basis for an effective counselling because the counsellors will pinpoint some behaviors that lead to an intensification of the matter at hand. However, they will connect with other medical personnel and brain experts in giving a guideline for dealing with addiction. In conclusion, drug addiction is a brain disease. Understanding such concepts will help in addressing the cause of the addiction. In social psychology, the brain plays a significant role in human behavior. Consequently, the use of drugs interferes with the functioning of the brain bringing about ethical problems in the users. Many researchers have tried to reveal the truth about the topic regardless of many critics arguing that the subject is a fallacy. Also, many drug addicts in the United States see a medical personnel hence showing that drug addiction is equivalent to any other kind of illness that need medical attention. Doctors and social psychologists work hand in hand in tackling the condition that is on the rise every single day on the global scene. References Anton, R. (2010). Substance Abuse is a Disease of the Human Brain: Focus on Alcohol. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 736-744. Bettinardi-Angres, K. & Angres, D. (n.d). Understanding the Disease of Addiction. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 1(2), 31-37. Leshner, A. (2003). Addiction is a Brain Disease and It Matters. The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 1(2), 45-47. Satel, S. & Lilienfeld, S. (2013). Addiction and the Brain-Disease Fallacy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4, 141 US Department of Justice (1998). Addiction is a brain disease and it matters. National institute of justice Journal Read More