Is Calling Alcohol Addiction An Illness Or Disease Appropria

Is Calling Alcohol Addiction An Illnessdisease Appropriate Should

Is calling alcohol addiction an illness/disease appropriate? Should alcohol addiction be called a bad habit? Is alcohol addiction as an illness comparable to lung cancer as an illness? Explain (see DSM-5). I believe calling alcohol addiction an illness/disease is appropriate because it interrupts normal functioning of the body. There are behavioral, cognitive, and physiological symptoms that accompany this addiction, which can negatively affect an individual. While I feel alcohol addiction is not a healthy habit, to label it as “bad” may not be accurate due to the impact alcohol has on an individual’s brain circuits, which can result in repeated relapses and intense drug craving. Alcohol addiction and lung cancer are comparable as an illness because the illness can spread in the body, which can impede body functions and systems.

According to Sanja Gupta (CNN video), addictions alter the brain. Explain the difference between an individual that has been using alcohol for a long period of time and someone that hasn’t (i.e., euphoria). The difference is someone who is a true addict needs a lot of that particular substance to experience the same euphoria as someone who has not been using alcohol for a long period of time. An addict uses alcohol to feel good, however, that good feeling does not last long so they need to have more of that substance to experience that euphoria again.

Why is it so difficult for someone with an addiction to just simply decide not to partake in the addiction (see Inside Addiction video)? In the video, the woman states there are essentially two competing brain systems in the final decision whether to use or not to use a substance. Activity in important areas of the brain that are critical in decision making is very low in addicts, which helps explain why it is difficult for an addict to simply decide not to partake in the addiction.

According to the Valenzuela (1997) article, alcohol is a depressant by decreasing inhibitory neurotransmitters. a. Identify 1 inhibitory neurotransmitter and 1 excitatory neurotransmitter according to the article. Explain the function of each neurotransmitter. According to the article, the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA acts through the receptor subtype GABAA, and leads to a state of sedation and anxiety. The amino acid aspartate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Acting through both NMDA receptors, intoxicating concentrations of alcohol inhibit NMDA and non-NMDA receptor activity, which results in sedation.

Even though Billy has been sober for 10 years, he still calls himself an alcoholic. Why do you think this is so (see Reinforcement and Addiction section in Valenzuela, 1997 article)? As the article states, reinforcement is significant to the development of addiction to alcohol. Prior to Billy becoming sober, drinking alcohol created feelings of pleasure, which positively reinforced this behavior and therefore the behavior became repetitive. Due to the effect alcohol consumption has on the brain, the discomfort and craving Billy continues to feel because of the absence of alcohol in his life has caused him to refer to himself as an alcoholic.