Addiction

Question 1

Define addiction.

Answer 1

‘Behaviour with harmful results, over which an individual has impaired control’, i.e. inability to stop.

Question 2

What is considered a deviant drug use depends on what three factors?

Answer 2

Social groupings
Geographical location
Time in history

Question 3

What are the three main psychological mechanisms in drug dependence?

Answer 3

Classical conditioning and operant learning
Personality and mental health (individual vulnerability)
Social and environmental factors

Question 4

Describe classical conditioning. How does this relate to addiction/relapse?

Answer 4

A neutral stimulus can elicit a response if associated with unconditioned (biological) stimulus. It works even when primary reinforcement is inconsistent.
Cues can trigger conditioned ‘craving’ and relapse.

Question 5

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Answer 5

Classical conditioning forms an association between two stimuli, whereas operant conditioning forms an association between a behaviour and its consequence.

Question 6

What is positive reinforcement? What could this be for drug users?

Answer 6

Behaviour that leads to pleasurable sensations is likely to be repeated.

Pleasurable sensation, satisfaction of biological needs (e.g. cocaine and nicotine reduce hunger), and social reinforcement.

Question 7

What is negative reinforcement? What could this be for drug users?

Answer 7

Behaviour that stops or avoids negative sensations is likely to be repeated.

Reduction of habitual stress level, distress and of withdrawal symptoms.

Question 8

What leads to withdrawal discomfort?

Answer 8

Neuro-adaptation

Question 9

Do positive/negative reinforcement require cognition?

Answer 9

No, positive and negative reinforcement and classical conditioning do not require any insight or conscious decision. They bypass cognition.

Question 10

What makes an individual more vulnerable to drug dependence? (4)

Answer 10

Sensitivity to positive drug effects
Sensitivity to negative drug effects
Personality
Mental health

Question 11

What makes an individual more sensitive to positive drug effects? (3)

Answer 11

Sensitivity to drugs (biological and genetic factors, but also expectancies)
High habitual stress levels
Absence of other sources of gratification

Question 12

What makes an individual more sensitive to negative drug effects? (3)

Answer 12

Biological sensitivity to drug after-effects
Intensity of withdrawal discomfort
Reactions to withdrawal discomfort

Question 13

What types of personalities are more vulnerable to drug dependence? (4)

Answer 13

Sensation seeking/impulsive
Social deviance
Anxiety and depression
Ability to cope with withdrawal discomfort

Question 14

What social/environmental factors make a person more vulnerable to addiction?

Answer 14

Access to drugs (availability and cost)
Social acceptability of drug use
Facilitation (group norms)

Question 15

What factors contribute to the addictiveness of a drug?

Answer 15

Speed of delivery
Concentration
Presence of other facilitating chemicals

Question 16

What treatments are available for addiction? (6)

Answer 16

Detoxification
Aversion therapies e.g. disulfiram for alcohol 
Motivational therapies e.g. AA/groups 
Cognitive-behavioural therapies 
Drug substitutes e.g. methadone
Treatments for withdrawal relief