Explanation:
The addiction cycle has four components: craving where the main hormone is dopamine, compulsion with low serotonin levels, loss of control (impairment of the prefrontal cortex), continued use despite consequences (broader impairment of the prefrontal cortex).
Tolerance is a state in which an organism no longer responds to a drug. Thus, a higher dose is required to achieve the same effect. Withdrawal is manifested as a physical disturbance when the drug is removed,
General risk factors are psychological, behavioural, social, demographic, family and genetics.
Nicotine is the psychoactive drug in tobacco products that produces dependence. Research suggests that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol. The most common diseases associated with the use of nicotine are cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, impotence and cancer. There are nicotine replacement nicotine patches, gum or lozenge, as well as nicotine inhaler and/or spray. The most commonly used medications are bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), varenicline (Chantix).
Alcohol is a legal substance, but highly addictive substance. It is recommended not to drink more than fourteen units of alcohol per week. There are three drugs approved by the FDA in the treatment of alcohol addiction: disulfiram (Antabuse), naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol), acamprosate (Campral).
Cocaine (benzoyl-methyl-ecgonine) is a crystalline alkaloid prepared from the leaves of the Erythroxyl coca plant. Cocaine is a bitter, white, odourless, crystalline drug. Cocaine binds to dopamine re-uptake transporters on the presynaptic membranes of dopaminergic neurons. This binding inhibits the removal of dopamine from the synaptic cleft and its subsequent degradation by monoamine oxidase in the nerve terminal. This increased activation of the dopaminergic reward pathway leads to the feelings of euphoria and the 'high' linked to cocaine use. The additional symptoms are euphoria, sense of well beings, impaired reaction time and attention span, impaired learning of new skills. The physical effects are seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, stroke or respiratory arrest. There are several treatment modalities such as intervention, abstinence-based AA/NA model, individuals, group and family therapy and pharmacotherapy. The following medications are used in the treatment of cocaine dependence: modafinil, propranolol, baclofen, topiramate, disulfiram and cocaine vaccine (blocks euphoria).
Heroin is diacetylmorphine or morphine diacetate. It is also known as diamorphine. It is an opioid analgesic. It is found naturally from the opium plant. In the treatment of heroin addiction, drug buprenorphine is used. Buprenorphine has the same mechanism of action as a methadone drug. Buprenorphine avoids heroin from getting you "high" and blocks withdrawal symptoms and heroin appetite.
