Assignment on Chronic Disease

HEALTH CARE 0
Psychology of Addiction
[Pick the date]
[Year]

HEALTH CARE 1
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 cannabis has 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 CARE 2
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,
and immediate changes in mood (Hendrika H.van Hella, 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