Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Dependence

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quite similar substances, with enough overlap in molecular structure, mechanism of action and range of effects to blurs the differences of the two. These drugs are indeed very similar to each other in chemical structures. Both morphine and heroin belong to a class of drugs known as opioids – a group of substances that all interact similarly within the brain to reduce pain perception. Heroin is an addictive drug, although not all users become addicted. It  can be likely that one who uses heroin (or morphine) can be dependent but not addictive. The NIDA research shows that it is possible for someone to be dependent on a drug but not addicted. An example given in the research is of a patient who has been administered morphine who experiences withdrawal symptoms after treatment has ended. However, that person may not have an addiction that compels them to use or abuse the drug. Now this all correlates to the brain. Your brain. The thalamus; responds with motor and sensory signals to the cerebral cortex. Thus the brainstem; that controls the flow of messages sent to rest of the body are what makes your body dependent of a substance. Many if not all substances release happy endorphins or pleasure feelings into the nucleus accumbens that links to addictive behavior. Heroin produces another type of pleasure feelings called euphoria that can be a positive reinforcer by interacting with reward pathway in the brain. Parts of the cerebral cortex, the (VTA) ventral tegmental area. (Tegmentum is latin for covering.) Nucleus  accumbens, thalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord make up the reward pathway. They can bind when morphine is infused into the body where  it binds to opiate receptors that are concentrated in areas within the reward pathway. Morphine also binds to areas involved in the pain pain pathway that when binded the pain pathway leads to analgesia or loss of pain.

When someone injects or smokes heroin/morphine, the drug travels quickly to the brain through the bloodstream. Actually, heroin can’t reach the brain as fast if it was snorted but it effects last longer. Like heroin and morphine, snorting cocaine also has a slower yet longer lasting effect. Snorting vs. smoking cocaine has different addictive liabilities. For example, hydrochloride salt is process, freebase cocaine that can be smoked at high temperature without any interruption of the compound.Smoking getting the drug to the brain quicker than snorting. Snorting requires the cocaine to travel from the blood vessels in your nose to the heart where it goes through a pumping cycle. After absorption, morphine is mostly converted in the liver into two compounds (known as M6G and M3G). After absorption, morphine is rapidly and widely spreads and crosses the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain. Researchers have also found that a small amount of morphine is transformed to these compounds in the brain, itself. Both of these compounds can freely enter the brain.  The way heroin works in the body is very interrelated with morphine. Similar to morphine, heroin can also freely enter the brain – only faster. Once in the brain, heroin is converted into morphine.

Long term use of heroin has been found to change the physical structure and physiology of the brain, creating long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that are difficult to reverse. Studies show some deterioration of white matter in the brain; a deterioration which results in:

Decreased ability to make decisions.

Decreased ability to monitor one’s own behavior.

Poor ability to respond to stress.

Long term use of opioids such as these can result in the following:

Insomnia

Chronic constipation

Sexual dysfunction (both men and women)

Irregular menstrual cycles or spontaneous abortion (women)

Lung complications

Heart lining and valve infections

Addiction and tolerance

Kidney diseases

Physical damage as a result of snorting, smoking or injecting the drug

(HIV or hepatitis) as a result of sharing needles

Overdose and death

    All in all alcohol and substance abuse relates to addiction and dependence for they are all stages of the mental disorder. There are many other types of drugs than the one I have chosen for my research. Binge drinking often and puffing on tobacco products are a ticket early to death. These mental disorders are reliable to developing other mental disorders while in the process. Help can be provided for many treatments for