Chemistry of addiction research
After looking through several websites I started to write out some notes of information I found relating to the chemistry of addiction. I wanted to look more into the science behind addiction, as the other 2 a-levels I take are biology and chemistry, so its an area that interests me. I ran across a website (dirkhanson.org/neuroaddiction.html) and found it quite useful as it contained lots of information about the specific chemicals and how the brain becomes addicted to them. Personally, I find the science behind this intriguing, as it gives a physical meaning to something in the mind, an explanation.
I wrote out some notes about some specific additions and the chemicals behind them, and some on the stages of addiction.
These notes I wrote came from the website projectknow.com/research/chemical-dependancy/ about the stages of dependancy and how one can become addicted to things, which lead to damage to ones physical or mental health.
I began looking at this because I feel it was best to look at the physical side of addiction, like the things you can physically notice before I begin to look deeper into the chemistry of addiction. Like losing interest in once-loved activities, or becoming depressed or suicidal, and the feeling of losing control.
Looking at the same website I was looking at above, I discovered something called the reward pathway, and liking vs wanting. So the brain will feel a reward after receiving something it likes in this case, it would be drugs. Then the addiction stems from the brain causes behaviors motivated by the anticipation of wanted that reward. I find it quite interesting how the brain can crave a chemical so badly that it can cause one to act differently, and ultimately harm themselves in order to receive this reward.
The first actual substance I looked into was alcohol, and found how people can ask themselves questions to see if they have a problem with alcohol. Asking if they've ever been told to cut down, if others have been annoyed with the amount they drink, if they ever feel guilty about the amount the drink, or if someones ever had to have a talk with them about it, to 'open their eyes'.
The next chemical addiction I wanted to look at was nicotine, from smoking. I found that smoking is a behavioral marker for addiction. Nicotine satisfies the reward system instantly, meaning its highly addictive as the brain it rewarded right away. Nicotine causes an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine and has a complex effect on the serotonin system.
"in a lot of ways, nicotine in the brain is doing the same thing as cocaine or amphetamine is doing" - Dr Neal Benowitz
I learned the main science behind nicotine in the brain as follows:
Nicotine molecules bind to receptors meant for acetylcholine, (a neurotransmitter involved in arousal and heart rate). The brain craves this neurotransmitter and causes a nicotine rush.
The next 3 I looked at were THC (the chemical in weed), cocaine and caffeine.
Firstly, with THC there is little evidence for withdraw symptoms and tolerance, but to contradict this some people have admitted to becoming addicted, and have struggled with addictions to smoking weed. Even though the majority of medical research suggests that Marijuana is not addictive.
The next drug I looked at was cocaine, which works by blocking the receptors that hold dopamine molecules in the synaptic gap between the nerve cells. The dopamine then remains in the gap causing high stimulation which leads to higher concentrations of dopamine.
With caffeine, it causes a surge in dopamine in the brain, the caffeine blocks out the adenosine and causes higher levels of dopamine.
I wanted to look at the chemicals mentioned in more detail, so below is what I learned.
Ethanol- is a clear liquid which is rapidly absorbed by GI tract to be distributed throughout the body, it has depressant effects on the central nervous system, blood level of 0.5% can be fatal, blood level of 0.1% or less can cause intoxication.
Dopamine- increases heart rate and force of blood pumping through the body increases, its a stimulant and an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Norepinephrine- used to treat patients with vasodilatory shock states (septic/neurogenic shock). Its also shown to have benefits over dopamine.
Amphetamine- is a powerful CNS stimulant, and it blocks the uptake of dopamine.
Methamphetamine- is a CNS stimulant and an appetite suppressant, it increases the synaptic concentration of these neurotransmitters, and is therefore, a simulant.
Acetylcholine- is a neurotransmitter found at junction and in the CNS, it also affects the metabolism rates and also effects dopamine and serotonin.
Tetrahydrocannabinol- THC, it directly effects appetite, it binds to CBRs ( cannabinol receptors in the brain.
Cocaine- Alkaline ester from painkillers, a local anastatic and vasoconstrictor.
Here are the chemicals drawn out, on the left is the full structure, in the middle, is the skeletal formula, which is the most commonly used as its easiest to write out and understand, it's also quicker to write. On the right is the chemical formula, telling how many atoms of each element is in that certain chemical. C = carbon, H = Hydrogen, N = Nitrogen, O = Oxygen. These 4 chemicals are the chemicals that make up most of the substances in general.
Below is 2 more chemicals, cocaine and THC, which are visibly more complex in structure.
I wrote out some notes about some specific additions and the chemicals behind them, and some on the stages of addiction.
These notes I wrote came from the website projectknow.com/research/chemical-dependancy/ about the stages of dependancy and how one can become addicted to things, which lead to damage to ones physical or mental health.
I began looking at this because I feel it was best to look at the physical side of addiction, like the things you can physically notice before I begin to look deeper into the chemistry of addiction. Like losing interest in once-loved activities, or becoming depressed or suicidal, and the feeling of losing control.
The first actual substance I looked into was alcohol, and found how people can ask themselves questions to see if they have a problem with alcohol. Asking if they've ever been told to cut down, if others have been annoyed with the amount they drink, if they ever feel guilty about the amount the drink, or if someones ever had to have a talk with them about it, to 'open their eyes'.
The next chemical addiction I wanted to look at was nicotine, from smoking. I found that smoking is a behavioral marker for addiction. Nicotine satisfies the reward system instantly, meaning its highly addictive as the brain it rewarded right away. Nicotine causes an increase in dopamine and norepinephrine and has a complex effect on the serotonin system.
"in a lot of ways, nicotine in the brain is doing the same thing as cocaine or amphetamine is doing" - Dr Neal Benowitz
I learned the main science behind nicotine in the brain as follows:
Nicotine molecules bind to receptors meant for acetylcholine, (a neurotransmitter involved in arousal and heart rate). The brain craves this neurotransmitter and causes a nicotine rush.
Firstly, with THC there is little evidence for withdraw symptoms and tolerance, but to contradict this some people have admitted to becoming addicted, and have struggled with addictions to smoking weed. Even though the majority of medical research suggests that Marijuana is not addictive.
The next drug I looked at was cocaine, which works by blocking the receptors that hold dopamine molecules in the synaptic gap between the nerve cells. The dopamine then remains in the gap causing high stimulation which leads to higher concentrations of dopamine.
With caffeine, it causes a surge in dopamine in the brain, the caffeine blocks out the adenosine and causes higher levels of dopamine.
I wanted to look at the chemicals mentioned in more detail, so below is what I learned.
Ethanol- is a clear liquid which is rapidly absorbed by GI tract to be distributed throughout the body, it has depressant effects on the central nervous system, blood level of 0.5% can be fatal, blood level of 0.1% or less can cause intoxication.
Dopamine- increases heart rate and force of blood pumping through the body increases, its a stimulant and an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Norepinephrine- used to treat patients with vasodilatory shock states (septic/neurogenic shock). Its also shown to have benefits over dopamine.
Amphetamine- is a powerful CNS stimulant, and it blocks the uptake of dopamine.
Methamphetamine- is a CNS stimulant and an appetite suppressant, it increases the synaptic concentration of these neurotransmitters, and is therefore, a simulant.
Acetylcholine- is a neurotransmitter found at junction and in the CNS, it also affects the metabolism rates and also effects dopamine and serotonin.
Tetrahydrocannabinol- THC, it directly effects appetite, it binds to CBRs ( cannabinol receptors in the brain.
Cocaine- Alkaline ester from painkillers, a local anastatic and vasoconstrictor.
Here are the chemicals drawn out, on the left is the full structure, in the middle, is the skeletal formula, which is the most commonly used as its easiest to write out and understand, it's also quicker to write. On the right is the chemical formula, telling how many atoms of each element is in that certain chemical. C = carbon, H = Hydrogen, N = Nitrogen, O = Oxygen. These 4 chemicals are the chemicals that make up most of the substances in general.
Below is 2 more chemicals, cocaine and THC, which are visibly more complex in structure.
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