Addiction Theory

PLAGARISM CHECK

Introduction

The question posed in this research task is to determine if addiction is caused by genetics or by the environmental factors that one experiences throughout their lifetime. In order for one to debate the various causes of addiction one must first know and understand what addiction is in the first place.

Addiction is a compulsive repetition of behaviour or behaviours that gives an individual temporary pleasure and relief but in the long-term causes problems and negative consequences, but regardless of this the individual still persists and relapses with the behaviour or behaviours.

When talking about addiction there are a few things that usually come to mind. The main thing that comes to mind is usually drugs

But people can also be addicted to an activity or behaviour so how does this come into play?

Some people believe that the genetic code that individuals contain predetermines whether that individual will be an addict or if they will be inherently more susceptible to the addiction of a certain or many substances or activities.

Others believe that the chance of an individual developing addictive behaviours is based only upon their environmental factors and emotional experiences.

Then there are the people who believe that the substance are in themselves addictive, and these particular substances contain a specific “chemical hook” that is the root of people becoming addicted to these substances.

The final group of people believe that it is a combination of 2 or more of these factors that creates the stem from which all forms of addiction occurs.

The aim of this research project is to demystify the stigmas behind addiction and to determine which of the factors being: genetic, environmental or chemical, or what combination of these factors and in approximately what proportions of each are accountable for addiction as a

________

They ran this experiment several times and they eventually concluded that in every case the rats in solitary confinement consumed a much higher amount of the drug laced water than the rats in Rat Park, consuming little to none of the drug laced water.

This experiment disproved the theory that drug themselves were addictive and rather the environment the individual is in contributes largely to the chances of an individual forming an addiction.

At the same time this experiment was being done there was a human equivalent to it, and that human equivalent was called the Vietnam War. About 20% of the American soldiers that fought in the war were addicted to heroin. Heroin use was________

This occurred due to the soldiers being placed in a very harsh and stressful environment such like the rats in the solitary cage. When the war was over and the soldiers were due to come home, there was panic because people thought that there would be a massive influx of heroin addicts but instead when the soldiers transitioned from the “solitary cage” to “Rat Park” (Their comforting and happy environment) somewhat 95% of the soldiers addicted to heroin suddenly dropped their addiction with little to no