The Self Medication Hypothesis Of Drug Abuse And Drug...

Brendon Harrison Mrs.Duncan English X H 4.12.15 The Self Medication Hypothesis Most of the current thought regarding drug abuse and drug addiction is controlled by the â€Å"hijacked brain† concept, which states that a user’s brain is altered by a drug at exposure and can eventually lead to addiction. Such theories are only just that: theories, with little to no clinical evidence to support their claim. On the other hand, some clinicians believe that addicts use drugs in a continuing cycle of self regulation. The general model of addiction that supports how people use substances in a self-regulatory manner, the self-medication hypothesis, concludes that a person’s choice of substance is directly correlated to an underlying sign of distress or emotion they are trying to manage. Even though there is very little clinical proof, the majority of thought about drug addiction is still dominated by the â€Å"hijacked brain† theory. A completely different view of the perplexing concept behind addiction, the self-medication hypothesis, a much more recent theory, provides a logical explanation for addiction that is clinically acceptable. The theory was given life in the mid 1970’s by Edward J. Khantzian and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School. Khantzian had vast clinical experience in treating and evaluating heroin addicts. He noted that a striking number of his patients had problems with aggression, depression, and loneliness that far preceded their use of illegal drugs. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Homeless Conditions, Drug Abuse, And Mental Illness1464 Words   |  6 Pages A study of the Impact a Correlation of Homeless conditions, Drug Abuse, and Mental illness has on the Health and Wellbeing of Individuals Robin Mullineaux Salt Lake Community College Abstract This paper utilizes five peer reviewed articles for the purpose of identifying the interconnections between psychiatric conditions, self-medication and Homelessness. Depending on the severity of the psychiatric disorder, circumstances can lead to a homeless situation or nomadic lifestyle. ItRead MoreThe Drug Cocaine As My Research Topic1671 Words   |  7 Pagesresearch paper I chose the drug Cocaine as my research topic. Cocaine delivers an intensity of pleasure - and despair - beyond the bounds of normal human experience. Probably very few people aspire to be drug addicts. But it happens, every day. Why? What is so good about a drug that can potentially destroy a person s body? How does it work? What are its effects on the brain? Why is it so hard to quit? Cocaine (C17H21NO4) comes from the leaf of an Erythroxylon coca bush. It is a drug that affects the centralRead MoreAlcohol And Drug Abuse Are Not New Themes1525 Words   |  7 Pagesand Alcohol Abuse Treatment Stepheno Diaz Institutional Affiliation: Florida Institute of Technology EHC1103 | Section 2: Medical Ethics February 15, 2015 Abstract Alcohol and Drug abuse are not new themes. â€Å"Alcohol is such a big part of American life today that we rarely stop to consider our pattern of drinking. We drink wine with dinner, or have a few drinks after work, or even a few beers while watching a ball game, but when a pattern of drinking begins to emerge, it can become a problem†(SubstanceRead MoreOpioid Induced Hyperalgesia ( Oih )1532 Words   |  7 PagesPain medications result in complicated side effects beyond addiction and tolerance which is Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia (OIH). â€Å"There’s an unfortunate irony for people who rely on morphine, oxycodone, and other opioid painkillers: The drug that’s supposed to offer you relief can actually make you more sensitive to pain over time† (â€Å"Why Taking Morphine Makes Pain Worse†, 2016). This effect of the drug is known as hyperalgesia but in the presence of opioids; this is known as Opioid-induced hyperalgesiaRead MoreBorderline Personalit y Disorder and Substance Abuse Essay1650 Words   |  7 Pagesexamine the results of four studies: One is a prospective follow-up study, one is a prospective naturalistic study, one is a case control study and the last one is a randomized clinical trial. They are on borderline personality disorder and substance abuse articles by Walter et al. (2009), Zanarini et al. (2010), Gratz Tull, (2010), and by Linehan, Schmidt III, Dimeff, Craft, Kanter Comtois, (1999) respectively. The hypotheses, methods and results will be summarized. The future research areas suggestedRead MorePsychology 470 : Motivation With Stress Essay1258 Words   |  6 Pageswith the negative reactions (affect, behaviors) of stress. Behaviors associated with emotion-focused coping might include self-isolation, wishful thinking, and possibly addiction. Oftentimes, the stressor-stress relationship is significantly moderated (altered) by social support, or the network of helpful people during coping (Deckers, 20 14). According to the buffering hypothesis, social support protects an individual from the potential harms of stressors. I am personally interested in coping strategiesRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Addiction On The Body Essay1987 Words   |  8 Pages Humans have been recorded using drugs for over 9000 years. During this time, drugs have been used as home remedies for maladies and religious ceremonies, in addition to recreational drug use (Guerra-Doce, 2014). When opioids, hallucinogens, stimulants, inhalants, cannabinoids, depressants, or anabolic steroids appear in recorded history, abuse of these drugs also appear. Writings on ancient Egyptian scrolls show rehabilitation records. Sumerians have writings about opium, using a word that translatesRead MoreThe Addict By Michael Stein1746 Words   |  7 Pagesbuprenorphine as the primary prescribed drug for opiate users, he also refers to methadone treatment. The effectiveness of buprenorphine was shown through the book and how it is , with the help of adequate social and medical support, a viable option with regards to treating opiate addiction. Addiction to opiates is developing and continues to be a large problem in many countries. Substitution for such opiates in pharmacotherapy has shown to reduce the use of illicit drugs and the potential criminal behaviorRead MorePrinciples of Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment4567 Words   |  19 PagesRunning Head: Co-disorders of Substance Abuse Principles of Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment Abstract Addiction in general, but opioid dependence has become a billion dollar business for the treatment industry. Heroin used to be the only widespread opioid used. The new opioid users are those who are given pain pills by their family and ER physicians. What happened to the old adages that if it hurts take an aspirin? Today’s unusual mix includes cultural differences