Biological Explanations of Addiction Essay

The biological model of addictions prefatory premise is that addiction is an illness that it is irreversible that you ar either aban acquireed or not (there argon no slightly addicted separates) and that interposition must be medical. in that respect are many models of biological addiction mainly because current psychological query suggests that different areas of the brain are involved in different addictions (quashing the idea of an addictive personality per say).In this essay two biochemical theories will be discussed, plus the transmittable model. The latter theory should not be seen as distinct from the biochemical theories as biologists would propose that any biochemical abnormalities that whitethorn predispose an individual to addiction are probably inherited. Thus studies looking at capital of New Hampshire rates of addictions in families, twins and adopted children would support all trey of the models being discussed.One of the most popular theories of addiction is to do with the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is involved with our pleasure/reward system. Anything we do of our volition that is pleasurable increases Dopamine. It is the tucker out of dopamine that makes us feel Euphoria/pleasure. Drugs such as Cocaine, intoxicant and diacetylmorphine make Dopamine receptors release enormous amounts of Dopamine, so the exploiter may feel intense pleasure. This however, does not explain addiction as many people drink or recreationally use cocaine and dont become addicts. The main idea of the theory is that individuals biologically supersensitized to addiction have more sensitive Mesolimbic/ reward pathways in their brain, e.g. drugs may have a more profound (wow factor) on their Dopamine receptors. some other theory that may work alone or in coupling with the Reward theory is that individuals with addictions may naturally produce low levels of serotonin. Serotonin is design to be a major factor in overbearing our behaviour. So most of us can get drunk stuff etc but not repeat the behaviour compulsively. This is because our Serotonin levels are stable. It is thought that individuals with low levels may not be able to exercise control. There is support for this idea, e.g. low levels of serotonin are correlated with compulsive suicide, homicide, bulimia and ADHD.Another suggestion has been that there is a genetic basis for underdeveloped an addiction. Although a specific gene has not been found, there is plenty of investigate that shows high levels of concordance between families who are addicted to alcohol (Sarafino), Nicotine (Agrawal and Lynskey, Heroin (Devaux and Krebs) and Fowler (see Erika Cox book). However like all correlational studies this kind of research cannot imply cause. The concordance could be caused by environmental factors or loving learning.Additional support for the biochemical theories comes from MRI and PET scans, animal studies utilise agonists and antagonists and invasive brain techniqu es on animals, such as neuro toxins where Dopamine receptors are removed.