What do all abused substances have in common? What are some inherited factors that might lead to an increased vulnerability to substance abuse?
What will be an ideal response?
It would be expected that abused substances would share some common effects on the brain, and there is evidence of this. It appears that drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, and opium all act on a system in the brain that is involved in pleasure. Thus, these drugs act on a system in the brain that normally serves to reward behaviors that are beneficial. While psychoactive drugs may have similar effects in the brain of everyone, there is evidence that those with a genetic predisposition for substance abuse may show an altered response to drugs. Males who are genetically predisposed to develop alcoholism, for example, appear to feel greater stress reduction than others when they drink alcohol and show other physiological differences in how they respond to alcohol. It is believed that these differences can explain the observed role of genes in the development of substance use disorders. Altered drug responsiveness, as well as personality traits, may be inherited and result in a greater risk of substance abuse and dependence. GRADING RUBRIC - 10 points total - 4 points for explanation of reward system involvement, 3 points for each of two inherited factors that increase vulnerability.
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