Peer Responses on Diversity Topics in Substance Abuse Issues

Peer Responses on Diversity Topics in Substance Abuse Issues

Responding to Peer 1

Hello,

This is a good analysis of your selected articles. It is quite interesting how far behavioral addictions can go. It is evident that anything that a person does that triggers the feel-good brain chemicals, such as dopamine, significantly affects the brain’s reward system. Therefore, such activities or events can lead to the development of dependencies. I believe this is why food or eating behaviors can be addictive. Of concern is that food addiction shares comorbidity with other types of behavioral addictions and disorders, such as exercise addiction, compulsive shopping, and mood disorders (Alderson, 2021). Compulsive eating behaviors, majorly inclusive of binge eating, risk overconsumption of foods, which can lead to significant weight gain and obesity. Notably, obesity and uncontrolled eating habits can risk the development of other complications such as diabetes, kidney complications, and body image-related issues.

References

Alderson, K. G. (2021). Addictions counseling today: Substances and addictive behaviors. In Addictions Counseling Today: Substances and Addictive Behaviors. SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781544392349

Responding to Peer 2

Hello,

This is a good selection and analysis of articles that clearly explain and expand on the understanding of how drug addictions develop and some of the risks associated with drug addiction. You have also gone ahead to identify why a neuro-centric perspective is important to understanding the etiology and treatment of behavioral addiction. Based on the conclusion you have drawn from the reviewed articles, I believe that a neuro-centric perspective on addiction explains the neural mechanisms that underlie various addictive behaviors. Heightened drug-induced experiences of pleasure mean that the individual will continuously use such drugs with the aim of reliving such high experiences. Developing evidence shows that addictions are heritable and may progress slowly as the individual is exposed to substances causing changes in neural circuitry (Bogdan et al., 2023). Although not conclusive, it can be argued that some people may be more predisposed to drug use and addiction than others.

References

Bogdan, R., Hatoum, A. S., Johnson, E. C., & Agrawal, A. (2023). The Genetically Informed Neurobiology of Addiction (GINA) model. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-022-00656-8

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Peer 1. “Food Addiction: The idea that you can be addicted to food has recently gained increasing support. That comes from brain imaging and other studies of the effects of compulsive overeating on pleasure centers in the brain. Experiments in animals and humans show that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin are also activated by food”. (Ashley Gerhardt, Yale University, American Psychology Association)

“Compulsive overeating is a type of behavioral addiction, meaning that you can become preoccupied with a behavior that triggers intense pleasure. When you have a food addiction, you lose control over your eating behavior and spend excessive amounts of time involved with food and overeating or anticipating the emotional effects of compulsive overeating”. (Brenda Goodman, MA)

“Foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt can trigger feel-good brain chemicals, including dopamine. Once you experience pleasure associated with increased dopamine transmission in your brain’s reward pathway from eating certain foods, you may quickly feel the need to eat again. Reward signals from these highly palatable foods may override your signals of fullness and satisfaction. As a result, you may keep eating, even when you’re not hungry”. (RC Adams, National Institutes of Health, 2019 Sep 11 (9): 2086)

Peer 2. Getting high on crystal myth
Article -1: Volkow, N. D., & Wise, R. A. (2005). How can drug addiction help us understand obesity? Nature Neuroscience, 8(5), 555-560.
Summary: In this article, the authors examine the neuro-centric perspective of addiction, drawing parallels between drug addiction and obesity. “The brain’s reward circuitry, particularly the mesolimbic dopamine system, drives addictive behaviors” (Volkow & Wise, 2005).” This work expounds the common neural mechanisms underlying various forms of addiction and sheds light on potential treatments for behavioral addictions stemming from a neurological standpoint. Neurologically, crystal meth affects the brain function, and its ability to hijack the brain’s reward system plays a significant role in the etiology of addiction.

Article-2: Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: A neurocircuitry analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 760-773.
Summary: Koob and Volkow present a comprehensive neuro-centric analysis of addiction, covering a wide range of substance and behavioral addictions. They focus on neurocircuitry, highlighting the central role of the basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex in addiction processes. The authors suggest that understanding the underlying neural mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments. Crystal meth is a man-made central nervous system stimulant. The drug affects the neurocircuitry. Chronic meth use causes neuroadaptations in the brain, leading to tolerance (requiring higher doses for the same effect) and withdrawal symptoms when not using. “These changes are primarily neuro-centric and involve alterations in various neurotransmitter systems, especially dopamine and norepinephrine” (Koob & Volkow, 2016).

Article-3: Everitt, B. J., & Robbins, T. W. (2005). Neural systems of reinforcement for drug addiction: from actions to habits to compulsion. Nature Neuroscience, 8(11), 1481-1489.
Summary: This article explores the transition from voluntary actions to compulsive behaviors in drug addiction, emphasizing the role of neural systems. Everitt & Robbins (2005) describe how the brain’s reward and habit circuits become increasingly engaged in addiction, leading to a loss of control (para. 20). This neuro-centric perspective on addiction offers insights into potential treatments targeting these neural pathways to combat addictive behaviors. Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, is a powerful stimulant that significantly affects the central nervous system. Its use has been associated with substantial alterations in brain function and structure.
These articles collectively underscore the significance of the neuro-centric perspective in understanding the etiology and treatment of behavioral addiction, offering valuable insights into the shared neural mechanisms that underlie various addictive behaviors.

References:
Everitt, B. J., & Robbins, T. W. (2005). Neural systems of reinforcement for drug addiction: from actions to habits to compulsion. Nature Neuroscience, 8(11), 1481–1489. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1579
Volkow, N. D., & Wise, R. A. (2005). How can drug addiction help us understand obesity? Nature Neuroscience, 8(5), 555–560. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1452
Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: A neurocircuitry analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 760-773.