Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Substance Abuse

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay
Karisa Kruger - Baumgarten
Rockwall Heath High School Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and Drugs Throughout the book, Dr. Jekyll shows the effects of drug abuse on the human body; both mentally and physically. He begins to show his alter ego, Mr. Hyde, as the substance starts to bring out his evil side. This story shows the moralistic attitudes of addiction.
Dr. Jekyll begins to let the drug take over his physical appearance. “He did not rise up to meet his visitor, but held out a cold hand, and bade him unwelcome in a unchanged voice,” (Stevenson, 1886, p. 29), this shows how his addiction begins to publicly alter how he presents himself. Because of the lack of drug, it has created a depressing period until he takes

Utterson, & Poole) may feel like they do not recognize Dr. Hyde anymore. Dr. Jekyll is becoming addicted to the chemicals his brain released, rather than the substance that causes the release. People are more likely to repeat behaviors that are pleasurable, “most drugs of abuse directly or indirectly target the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine”. ( NIDA, 2014). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that acts as messenger in regions of the brain. It plays a role in how we move, eat- it also plays a role in addiction. The substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental areas both produce dopamine. The dopamine produced in these areas relays the signal that are traveling throughout the brain. The dopamine from the ventral tegmental area sends dopamine when a person expects a reward. For example, when Dr. Jekyll wanted to release the evil side of him, Mr. Hyde, he intakes his drug to have a sense of freedom (his reward). He was losing control of his “original and better self, and becoming slowly incorporated with [his] second and worse”. (Stevenson, 1886, p. 47). Psychological effects of drug addiction can also occur when someone does not want to deal with stress and or uncomfortable situations. In this

Past family history of any drug abuse can be a leading factor of personal drug abuse. If Dr. Jekyll had a family history of addiction it would be an underlying factor of his addiction to his handmade potion. If it was already coded in his genes, it would explain his choice. The American Society of Addictions Medicine states that “genetics accounts for nearly 50% of the likelihood that someone will develop an addiction.”( Cascade Mental Health, 1999). However, biology will not completely control Dr. Jekyll’s behavior, if he wanted to choose recovery; he was fully capable of doing so. An addiction does not develop because a person is weak, people do not get to choose what contributes to their genetics; therefore, they cannot control their risk for becoming addicted to something. Dr. Jekyll’s addiction could have altered his brain homeostasis, chemistry, communication pattern’s, and the structure’s functioning. When Dr. Jekyll was under the influence of the drug, he became very aggressive; “And then all of the sudden he broke out in a great flame of anger… like a madman”. (Stevenson, 1886, p.16). His aggressiveness was a result of his changing cerebral cortex. Changes to this area can cause “impaired decision-making, impulsivity, and compulsivity.” (Cascade Mental Health, 1999). This will also make him feel more encouraged to take the drug rather than resisting it. Since we are more likely to repeat pleasurable