HEALTH CARE1 Introduction Addiction refers to the dependence on a substance, it is a chronic disease. Addiction of any substance has short term and long term effects. Addiction also leads to personality change. Dependence on marijuana or any drug can cause serious health and life problems. This essay will highlight the cannabis (drug), also known as marijuana. Marijuana is prepared from dried cannabis flowers. Marijuana can be consumed in foods and beverages. Substance addiction or drug addiction can better be explained by psychological theories. There are five stages of substance addiction initiation and experimentation, regular use, tolerance, dependence, and treatment. Analysis of drug addiction or substance addiction has been done in detail. Cannabis and dopamine neurotransmitter system Cannabis or marijuana is a psychoactive drug. Medical marijuana is prepared from the dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. Marijuana can be used in different ways like smoking, added in food as an ingredient, e-cigarettes, and tablets. Consuming marijuana is illegal in almost every country with an exception of Canada. In some countries, it is allowed if prescribed by doctors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or hormone that plays an essential role in the body and the brain. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an ingredient in marijuana that makes changes in the brain. THC activates cannabinoid receptors in the limbic system, cerebellum and cerebral cortex (Michael A.P.Bloomfield, 2013). Consuming cannabishas short term and long term effects. It can weaken the senses of hearing, sight, and smell. Marijuana can harm the normal functioning of the cerebellum. Long term uses of marijuana are personality change, hallucinations, and a decrease in attention or ability to concentrate. Marijuana continues to have negative side effects.
HEALTH CARE2 Studies have also found out that young people who used marijuana has low verbal IQ’s(Rubin, 2011). Dopamine neurotransmitter system and marijuana A normal brain reads word and brain through eyes convert it as information. To convey a message a neurotransmitter sends the signal to neuron to a receiving nerve cell across space known as the synapse. Dopamine functions as a paracrine messenger. When marijuana enters the brain it causes neurotransmission to fluctuate dramatically.It functions as the neurotransmitter of the brain. Chemical released by nerve cells give signals to other neurons. Drugs like marijuana target cannabinoid receptor that are found in the brain and affects decision making and reward processing(Vaidya, Block, & O'leary, 2012). Marijuana effects on the brain Marijuana affects the pleasure centres in the brain same as alcohol. As soon as it enters the brain, the brain releases the chemical dopamine. Inhaling or smoking marijuana relaxes the muscles, andimmediatechangesinmood(HendrikaH.vanHella,Vink,&Ossewaardec,2010). Marijuana use effects may vary from person to person. Marijuana directly affects normal behaviour control of a human. In some cases, long term use of marijuana can create problems like lower verbal IQ, trouble in concentrating, lower ability to coordinate with others, and decreased interest in work. Smoking marijuana gives instant relaxation and euphoric feeling. Because of instant results, people get addicted to marijuana or any other drugs(Francesca M. Filbey, 2014).Drugs alter neurotransmission by interacting with molecular components of the sending and receiving process other than receptors. Dramatic increase and decrease in the nerve
HEALTH CARE3 cells cause addiction. A drug gives instant effects in the brain that make people excited and they start craving substances repeatedly(Sulzer, 2011). The cycle of relapse and addiction Drug use affects the brain’s memory, pleasure, and motivation. Addiction does not spring in one day. Like any other chronic disease, substance addiction has multiple stages. Though, multiple stages of addiction can happen in a short period. Attraction towards consuming drugs, loss of control of drug intake, irritability or emergence of drug intake, and dependence on substances defines drug addiction(Schwabe, 2011). The first stage of drug addiction is "initiation and experimentation". It generally happens during teenage. Teenagers or adults intake drugs out of curiosity, in friend's influence, and sometimes in mentalhealthconditionslikedepressionandanxietymakespeopleintakedrugs. Experimentation begins when the use of drugs is occasional or in specific situations like parties. The second stage is "regular use". In this stage, substance use is more frequent. In situations like stress, loneliness, or bored the brain starts demanding drugs. The third stage is "tolerance" at this stage original dosage or normal dosage of substance no longer produces the same mental effects. In this stage person using the drug increases the quantity of dosage. Slowly brain accepts the increase and after one increases the dosage keeps on increasing and that leads the person to enter the fourth stage "dependence". Dependence is a point when the brain and body are dependent on having the substance to be able to function. It becomes difficult for a person to behave normally or think normally. In simple words, a person using marijuana or any drug may find it impossible to perform day to day tasks without drugs and enters the "addiction" stage. Addiction is a mental disorder. In this stage,
Paraphrase This Document
Need a fresh take? Get an instant paraphrase of this document with our AI Paraphraser
HEALTH CARE4 the person uses more substance than they originally planned. It becomes hard or impossible to stop the usage of the substance. A person starts facing problems in meeting daily responsibilities. The body and brain start craving for the substance. The last stage is "treatment". There is the treatment of this chronic mental disorder but are only a few enters the last stage. The treatment of substance dependence is initial detox, behavioural therapy, and proper medication. Rehab centres give you the path to recovery and start your new journey towards back to health(Koob, 2011). Physiological theory regarding addiction Social psychology It is the study of people and groups behave and interact. Social psychology is a scientific study of whyimagined,actualandimpliedpresenceofsubstancesorothersinfluencespeople's behaviours, feelings, and thoughts. Social psychological theory helps in understanding individual behaviour and the influence behind the decision making. In the context of addiction, the influence behind the decision thought and feelings, when they enter into the first stage of substance dependence, can only be understood through social psychology theory(Berridge, 2016). Behaviourism Another psychological theory is behaviourism also known as behavioural theory. This theory explains human behaviours. To learn every human is unique behaviour study is essential. It is a study of emotions, mood, and cognition. Humans suffering from depression, loneliness, and anxiety are attracted to drugs or substance dependence more as compared to happy and busy
HEALTH CARE5 humans because of their unique thoughts and feelings. Individual thoughts or uniqueness can only be understood by behaviourism(Kirkby, 2013). Conclusion This report is concerned with cannabis or marijuana. Marijuana usage affects the dopamine neurotransmitter system and the changes it makes in the system form its repeated use. The disturbance of cannabis creates in the cycle of cell release. Repeated use of marijuana can lead to the cycle of relapse and addiction. Substance addiction can be treated through proper meditation and medication.
HEALTH CARE6 References Berridge, K. C. (2016). American Psychologist.Liking, wanting, and the incentive-sensitization theory of addiction, 670–679. Francesca M. Filbey, S. A. (2014). PNAS .Long-term effects of marijuana use on the brain, 16913-16918. HendrikaH.vanHella,V.H.,Vink,M.,&Ossewaardec,L.(2010).European Neuropsychopharmacology.Chronic effects of cannabis use on the human reward system: An fMRI study, 153-163. Kirkby, J. A. (2013).Theory of Addiction.UK: John Wiley & Sons. Koob, G. f. (2011). neurobiology.Neurobiology of addiction, 55-65. MichaelA.P.Bloomfield,C.J.(2013).BiologicalPsychiatry.DopaminergicFunctionin Cannabis Users and Its Relationship to Cannabis-Induced Psychotic Symptoms, 470-478. rubin, V. (2011).Cannabis and culture.Paris: walter de gruyter. Schwabe,L.D.(2011).Psychopharmacology.Stress,habits,anddrugaddiction:A psychoneuroendocrinological perspective., 53–63. Sulzer,D.(2011).Neuron.HowAddictiveDrugsDisruptPresynapticDopamine Neurotransmission, 628-649.
Secure Best Marks with AI Grader
Need help grading? Try our AI Grader for instant feedback on your assignments.
HEALTH CARE7 Vaidya, J. G., Block, r. I., & O'leary, D. S. (2012). Neuropsychopharmacology volume.Effects of Chronic Marijuana Use on Brain Activity During Monetary Decision-Making, 618-629.