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Discussion 3-4
[Name of the Writer]
[Name of the Institution]
Discussion 3-4
Q.1 Decreased Dopamine in Addicted Brains : Read the "Did You Know" Section on page 113 and after researching this a bit more on your own, post what additionally you learned.
There are numerous neurotransmitters in the brain that serve different purposes. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that is released in the brain when we experience a pleasure (Koob & Volkow, 2016). During proper functioning of the brain, dopamine is stimulated and a positive reward is associated with different activities that give pleasure (Koob & Volkow, 2016). These activities may be having sex, eating a favorite food, drinking your favorite beverage.
Each time, dopamine is stimulated and attached to the activity. Cocaine bears a negative impact on the dopamine system of the brain (Volkow & Morales, 2015). Cocaine impedes the movement of dopamine back into its home cell after being released during pleasure activity (Volkow & Morales, 2015). When the dopamine finds nowhere to go back into its home, it stays outside.
While outside, dopamine interacts with other receptors. During this interaction, dopamine binds with other cells (Volkow & Morales, 2015). This binding generates a perpetual pleasure signal in the brain. That is why cocaine addicts after using drugs feel high (Volkow & Morales, 2015).
Q.2 Cannabis is still listed as a Schedule I Substance. Research why this may be and post your response.
Some 50 years ago, the US government approved the Controlled Substance Act. This act laid down a classification system (Nutt, King & Nichols, 2013). The US government holds the prerogative to prescribe any drug on any one of the schedules devised in the act. There are five schedules in the act (Nutt, King & Nichols, 2013). Many drugs and controlled substances are placed on these schedules.
The schedule I of the Controlled Substance Act is dedicated to the most lethal drugs. Cannabis has been placed on the schedule I. It is interesting to note that certain drugs are considered more dangerous than cannabis is placed on schedule II. Also, the drugs on the schedule I do not have any proven medical use. Contrarily, the medical usage of cannabis has been approved widely (Hasin et.al, 2017).
Additionally, numerous states within the US have granted permission for its medical usage. However, due to its high potential for abuse, the US government seems reluctant to remove it from the schedule I (Hasin et.al, 2017).
References
Hasin, D. S., Sarvet, A. L., Cerdá, M., Keyes, K. M., Stohl, M., Galea, S., & Wall, M. M. (2017). US adult illicit cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, and medical marijuana laws: 1991-1992 to 2012-2013. Jama Psychiatry, 74(6), 579-588.
Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: a neurocircuitry analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 760-773.
Nutt, D. J., King, L. A., & Nichols, D. E. (2013). Effects of Schedule I drug laws on neuroscience research and treatment innovation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(8), 577.
Volkow, N., & Morales, M. (2015). The brain on drugs: from reward to addiction. Cell, 162(4), 712-725.
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