Transcription
Hello and welcome. Today we are studying the neurophysiology of addictions. Humans have always used psychoactive substances, originally as part of spiritual rituals. It was only at the end of the 19th century that some doctors became aware of their negative impact. That being said, an addiction is not always linked to the use of psychoactive substances. What's more, addictive behaviors are more widespread than they seem.
Let's first define the term addiction. The classic definition equates the term with drug addiction, that is, the consumption of psychoactive substances: hard drugs, soft drugs, and alcohol. This definition ignores other substances, such as sugar, which also alter the nervous system and can therefore cause addiction. However, another definition names all addictive behaviors as addictions. Some of these addictions, such as cyber addiction, have evolved alongside modern society.
There are a total of nine addictions: gambling, cyber addiction, compulsive shopping, food, sport, sex, work, psychoactive substances, and crime. These nine addictions are divided into two main categories: psychoactive substances and addictive behaviors.
The American Psychiatric Association defined addiction as an inability to resist the urge to satisfy one's impulses; a growing sense of need that becomes uncontrollable; pleasure and/or relief when one gives into the impulse; a feeling of confusion and/or despair once the impulse has been satisfied; addictive behavior or frequent crises for more than a month. The following behaviors or symptoms can also be observed: obsessive thinking about the addiction; unsuccessful attempts to quit; negative repercussions on all areas of life; the need to increase the intensity or frequency of the substance or behavior in order to obtain pleasure; physical and psychological suffering in the absence of the substance or behavior.
In your PDF course materials, you'll find a table grouping all addictions according to both the official classification and that of Goodman. Several neurotransmitters are involved in the onset of addictions: dopamine, GABA, noradrenaline, glutamate, and serotonin. Their effect is rapid, temporary, and triggers a brief feeling of joy or euphoria. Addictive substances and behaviors amplify this effect. Neural memory invites you to repeat this action, to repeat the pleasant sensation. But the body develops a tolerance, requiring higher doses for the same effect. This destabilizes the autonomic nervous system and the natural reward system, which is no longer regulated by the body but by the individual.
Let's take a closer look at some substances. In small doses, alcohol is euphoric, but at higher doses, it becomes a sedative and can lead to motor and emotional difficulties. Drinking in excess damages the body: alterations in cellular membranes and neurotransmitter receptors, as well as severe brain damage. The nicotine in tobacco mimics the functioning of acetylcholine, taking its place in the body. It feels relaxing in low doses and stimulating in high doses. The smoker becomes addicted because nicotine increases the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, activating the mechanisms of pleasure and reward, while inhibiting the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
As for cocaine, its main dangers, besides the high risk of addiction, are serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks. It can be fatal when combined with alcohol. Cocaine inhibits the dopamine transporter, causing a buildup of dopamine in the brain. This then causes a short euphoric effect that leads to addiction. Heroin is a particularly addictive and powerful drug, which converts into morphine in the body, blocking inhibitory neurotransmitters and leading to an overproduction of dopamine. This leads to extreme sensations of pleasure that the user will seek again and again. Heroin withdrawal is one of the hardest to go through: a physical and psychological torture. Many synthetic drugs are also highly addictive and can cause irreversible damage. Some can prove to be fatal within a year.
Let's now take a look at some addictive behaviors. Most of these are linked to past trauma in a person's life. Let's start with gambling. A pathological gambler will go through three phases: the gain phase, the financial loss phase, and the despair phase. In the last phase, they have the choice between four options: blindly continuing, that is to say, stubbornly trying to bail themselves out financially; abandonment and sometimes suicide; escape, for example, by moving often; calling for help from relatives or doctors, which would be their best option.
Another addiction related to money is compulsive shopping. For the addicted shopper, buying helps to reduce tension and stress. The more they spend, the better they feel. It is not the item that interests them, but the process of buying.
Let's move on to cyber addiction. This term encompasses all forms of addiction related to the virtual world: games, shopping, communication, social media, etc. This virtual world is both an escape from reality and an attempt to build a better world for oneself. A cyber addict has often experienced a significant loss from which they have difficulty recovering. For a cyber addict who works and plays in the virtual world, it is difficult to return to reality.
Let's end this part with a look at sports addiction. Sports addicts include people who have overcome difficulties through sport, former top athletes, and people aspiring to be recognized, such as bodybuilders. When they are not practicing their chosen sport, they show the same signs of withdrawal as a person addicted to psychoactive substances. You will find detailed descriptions of food, sex, and work addictions in your PDF course materials, as well as a reminder of psychoactive substances and their related behaviors.
The causes of addiction can be categorized as follows: genetics, some people are genetically more vulnerable; psychological, a desire to improve or escape one's reality; family and social, social pressure and the need to connect, both at the family and company levels; media, advertising, movies, series, and music videos encourage people to consume as much as possible. And let's not forget that in many cases, people suffering from addiction are stigmatized by society, and this causes them to hide their issues and avoid asking for help until it is too late.
With the growing number of addictions, the focus should be on prevention rather than on treatment alone. While addictions affect all people, genders, and age groups, teenagers and young adults, whose personalities are still in development, are the most affected. In our next video, we will look at how addictions are assessed and treated.