Question

What are the three major causal factors in the development of opiate abuse and dependence?

Answer 1

Opiate is a drug. Like any other drug it has mind altering effects. Opiate's effect on the brain is like other drugs including morphine, cocaine or heroin which has effects that can make individuals addicted to it. People try drugs for various reasons. Individuals first try drugs usually at an adolescent stage.

Most people use drugs during that age because they succumb to Peer Pressure. Not just at an early age are people victim to succumbing to peer pressure but also later in life when co-workers decide on partying on a fine Friday night, and when a person refuses to do drugs or says "Thanks, but I don't do drugs", he is made fun of and demeaned if he does not do it with them.

The Reward Pathway plays a very important role in understanding the effects of drugs on the brain. It is a pathway that involves different parts of the brain namely; the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), Nucleus Accumbens and Prefrontal Cortex which are stimulated when cocaine, opiate or heroin is injected, snorted or smoked. When activated by any rewarding stimulus, the information is first received at VTA, then travels from Nucleus Accumbens to the Prefrontal Cortex and then dopamine is released.

The action of cocaine, opiate and heroine on the brains reward system is very similar. Opiate stimulates the Nuclues Accumbens for release of Dopamine which is also known as the happy hormone. It is majorly responsible for an individual to feel ecstatic and euphoric. In the absence of opiate, the Nucleus Accumbens is activated with increased impulses, which means it craves for a stimulator (opiate) in order to achieve trance. When the body gets used to this drug, an individual can no longer experience pleasure and positive reinforcement through natural rewards which are capable of making any person happy. In order to experience the same high an individual keeps going back to it. Depression is one of the major symptoms of withdrawal syndrome when a person is trying to stay clean and off opiate.

All addictive drugs work by causing release of dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens. The brain reacts to all kinds of pleasures the same way, be it from an addictive drug like opiate, cocaine, heroin or morphine to monetary pleasures, sexual encounters or maybe even a big nice satisfying meal. The Nucleus Accumbens is also known as the brain's "pleasure center". It is responsible in releasing Dopamine everytime an individual indulges in any kind of pleasurable activity.