28 Mar 03
I spent two years researching the neurobiological basis of addiction and some of the molecular events that lead to drug tolerance and drug seeking behavior. If you can tell me more specifically what questions you are trying to address I would be glad to help you answer some of them. Either post back in here or send me a private message.
-mike
28 Mar 03
Originally posted by legionnairejust basic stuff, like what you can do to prevent others from useing drugs, how to stay away from them, why people use them and what causes the addiction
I spent two years researching the neurobiological basis of addiction and some of the molecular events that lead to drug tolerance and drug seeking behavior. If you can tell me more specifically what questions you are trying to address I would be glad to help you answer some of them. Either post back in here or send me a private message.
-mike
28 Mar 03
Originally posted by UncleAdamSince you used "Drugs" (capital "D"😉, I assume you are talking about illegal narcotics, rather than Pharmaceuticals. According to Nancy Reagan, all you have to do to prevent illegal drug use is "just say no". However, if you're looking for a more thought out approach to the problem, look at www.harmreduction.org.
I have a report on How to prevent Drugs
does anyone have any ideas to help?
thanks,
-Adam
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by UncleAdamWell, unfortunately all I'm really qualified to address is what causes the addiction. The other questions you asked are more public policy questions, which are outside my area of expertise.
just basic stuff, like what you can do to prevent others from useing drugs, how to stay away from them, why people use them and what causes the addiction
Your brain is essentially 'wired' to reward you for engaging in behavior that is beneficial to you and to the species in general. This is why things like eating, exercise (to some extent) and having sex 'feel' good. It's your body's way of saying 'good job, do it again.' Most known drugs of abuse (with the exception of hallucinogens like LSD) act through a common pathway in brain called the Limbic system. Directly stimulating particular neurons (those that release the neurotransmitter dopamine) in the limbic system with implanted electrodes causes intensely pleasurable sensations - rats with electrodes implanted in this area will prefer pressing a lever that activates this electrode over all other activities including eating food and drinking water.
When you ingest a drug of abuse, your brain is artifiically stimulated into believing that it has engaged in something good for it, hence the pleasurable response. This pathway is engaged, and you begin to psychologically associate the ingestion of that substance with the good feeling that accompanies it. This is the behavioral component of addiction, of the reason why people will associate other people, places and objects they were near when taking drugs with the pleasure of the drug itself. Additionally, as you use the drug more often, your body believes that it is making too much of the neurotransmitter responsible for this good feeling, and so to compensate for that it stops producing as much dopamine (or receptors that bind dopamine). The result of this is that you feel bad in the absence of the drug, because the baseline level of dopamine that you would normally have is now gone. This constitues the main physiological component of addiction. In order to make yourself feel normal again, you need to administer the drug to restore the levels of dopamine in the limbic system (specifically the nucleus accumbens), so the 'good' feelings are now gone, and you now need the drug just to function.
I can give you more specific details if you want them, but I figure I would spare you the technical jargon for now if you don't really need it.
-mike
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by legionnaireThank you very much😀 and everyone else who gave me ideas and places to to.
Well, unfortunately all I'm really qualified to address is what causes the addiction. The other questions you asked are more public policy questions, which are outside my area of expertise.
Your brain is essentially 'wired' to reward you for engaging in behavior that is beneficial to you and to the species in general. This is why things like ea ...[text shortened]... t I figure I would spare you the technical jargon for now if you don't really need it.
-mike
that helped alot, I'll tell you what grade I get, I'm sure it will be a good one, like a B+ to a A+😀
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by UncleAdamIn terms of how to prevent someone from using drugs, you can't. Look into AA or Al-anon. Go to an open meeting and talk to some people in recovery. Kirk
Thank you very much😀 and everyone else who gave me ideas and places to to.
that helped alot, I'll tell you what grade I get, I'm sure it will be a good one, like a B+ to a A+😀
29 Mar 03
I feel it is important to consider that the level of usage of any drug is the moderator of when and how much a person becomes addicted. I firmly believe that most drugs (and Drugs) are not so "harmful" in nature as is commonly posed in mass media. As with most things in life, moderation is the key.😉
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by OmnislashAgreed. I think these days most of the harm caused by illegal drugs stems from their illegality. I don't think taking narcotics to excess is evil, just stupid and/or desperate, like playing Russian Roulette or Chicken.
I feel it is important to consider that the level of usage of any drug is the moderator of when and how much a person becomes addicted. I firmly believe that most drugs (and Drugs) are not so "harmful" in nature as is commonly posed in mass media. As with most things in life, moderation is the key.😉
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by AcolyteI have had many friends in my life that have used illegal drugs in a recreational manner, the primary being marajuana. Of all of the people I know that smoke pot, the mass majority of them that have had a negative impact from it is due to the illegal status of their habit. Very few are the percentage that have become addicted to it. Many more have suffered legal reprecusions. It is very sad to me, as many of the people I know that got busted were fine individuals, and in many cases the people that they support financially suffered. I don't do the stuff, but I believe that the laws cause a lot of harm to innocent people. Moreover, I have a problem with anything that is a "consentual" crime, drugs being a forefront of that issue.
Agreed. I think these days most of the harm caused by illegal drugs stems from their illegality. I don't think taking narcotics to excess is evil, just stupid and/or desperate, like playing Russian Roulette or Chicken.
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by legionnaireMike, do you accept the premise that addiction/alcoholism is a "disease." Would be interested in your thoughts. Kirk
Well, unfortunately all I'm really qualified to address is what causes the addiction. The other questions you asked are more public policy questions, which are outside my area of expertise.
Your brain is essentially 'wired' to reward you for engaging in behavior that is beneficial to you and to the species in general. This is why things like ea ...[text shortened]... t I figure I would spare you the technical jargon for now if you don't really need it.
-mike
29 Mar 03
Originally posted by UncleAdami know someone that did a project on mixing alcoholic beverages...i have no idea what use this could be to you, but still, they got to mess around with vodka in chemistry-kool person!!!
I have a report on How to prevent Drugs
does anyone have any ideas to help?
thanks,
-Adam