Morales 1

Vianca Morales
STS #50
Essays for LT2
October 30, 2019

1.) Briefly outline the Reward Pathway of the brain. Explain the difference between Dependence,
Tolerance, and Addiction. How is the Reward Pathway altered by Dependence, Tolerance,
and Addiction? (10 points)

The limbic system, which lies below the outer layer of the brain, contains the brain’s reward
pathway. The reward circuit links together a number of brain structures that enable us to feel pleasure
and makes us repeat behaviors that induce that feeling of pleasure. Receiving “rewards” activates cells
in the ventral tegmental area, which sets off a chain reaction of activation in the reward circuit.
Activation of cells quickly reaches a key part of the ventral striatum called the nucleus accumbens—
the pleasure center of the brain. When activated, each cell generates an electrical signal, which causes
the cell to release molecules of neurotransmitter, which act as chemical messengers, which is then
received by another cell. In the reward pathway, dopamine neurons release the neurotransmitter
dopamine, which then drift across the synapse. They link up with proteins called dopamine receptors
on the surface of the receiving cell. When dopamine binds in the receptor's exterior part, it triggers a
cascade of events inside the receiving cell. When there is excess dopamine and as these molecules
drop off receptors, they are free in the synapse again. Some dopamine molecules re-enter the sending
cell via a special protein called a dopamine transporter (DAT), on the sending cell's membrane. In a
healthy brain, there is always a moderate level of dopamine in the synaptic space, even in the absence
of rewarding stimuli. When a reward is encountered, the pre-synaptic cell releases a larger amount of
dopamine in a sudden burst, and dopamine transporters will then quickly remove the excess,
returning the amount of dopamine to the original level. Normal activation of the reward system
creates a physical imprint on the brain that links certain stimuli with rewards that satisfy biological
needs, such as food, which makes us want to fulfill those needs by seeking out those rewards (“Brain
Reward”)1.

Three things that may affect the normal activation of the reward pathway of the brain are
dependence, tolerance, and addiction. The most important distinction between these three is that
tolerance and dependence refer to the physical consequences of drug use, while addiction is a
descriptive term that refers to a need to engage in harmful behavior such as drug use. To define,
tolerance is defined as a person’s diminished response to a drug that is result of repeated use.
Dependence specifically refers to a physical condition in which the body has adapted to the presence
of a drug. If an individual with drug dependence stops taking that drug suddenly, that person will
experience predictable symptoms, known as a withdrawal syndrome. Addiction is an uncontrollable
or overwhelming need to use a drug, and this compulsion is long-lasting and can return unexpectedly
after periods of improvement (MacLaren)2.

All addictive drugs affect the dopamine system in the brain’s reward pathway. Within seconds to
minutes of entering the body, drugs cause dramatic changes to synapses in the brain, delivering a jolt

1 Brain Reward: Understanding How the Brain Responds to Natural Rewards and Drugs of Abuse, YouTube, 15 July 2014,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VUlKP4LDyQ..
2 MacLaren, Erik. “What Is Tolerance, Dependence & Addiction?: Drug Abuse.” DrugAbuse.com, 23 Nov. 2018,

https://drugabuse.com/addiction/.
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of intense pleasure. Drugs of abuse affect the brain much more dramatically than natural rewards. To
bring stimulation down to a more manageable level, the brain must try to adapt. One way the brain
compensates is to reduce the number of dopamine receptors at the synapse. In addition, sending
neurons increase their number of dopamine transporters, more quickly clearing dopamine from the
synapse. These changes make the brain less responsive to the drug, but they also decrease the brain’s
response to natural rewards. Because of these changes, after the user has "come down," they will need
more of the drug next time they want to get high. This response is commonly referred to as
"tolerance.”

As the brain continues to adapt to the presence of the drug, regions outside of the reward pathway
are also affected. Over time, brain regions responsible for judgment, decision-making, learning, and
memory begin to physically change, making certain behaviors “hard-wired.” In some brain regions,
connections between neurons are pruned back. In others, neurons form more connections. Once these
changes take place, drug-seeking behavior becomes driven by habit, almost reflex. The drug user
becomes a drug addict (“Drug Use”)3.

3“Drug Use Changes The Brain Over Time.” Drug Use Changes the Brain Over Time,
https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/brainchange/.
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2.) Compare the theories above with those expressed by Johann Hari in the TECx video
“Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong”. How does he see the problem (10
Points)

The main difference between the theories stated above and those of Johann Hari is the fact that
the theories in the former are highly technical, and mainly focuses on the scientific aspects and/or
explanations of addiction without taking into consideration the other factors that may or may not
affect addiction. The theories expounded upon in the previous question has one clear-cut explanation
as to how addiction comes about.

However, for Johann Hari, he chose to view addiction in a different light, and tried to explain its
cause by looking into other external factors. According to Johann Hari, the opposite of addiction is not
sobriety, but connection. In this statement alone, we can already summarize the main point of Hari’s
theory—that addiction is not just about the chemicals in the brain but is also highly affected by the
connections and the relationships one has in his/her life.

He was able to support these claims by using Portugal as an example. In Portugal, after seeing that
their criminalization and punishment of drug addicts have only served to make the issue much worse,
they held a panel with scientists in order to come up with a real solution. A scientist stated that they
should decriminalize drug use, and that they should instead use all the money they spend in getting
rid of drugs into reconnecting addicts with the society they belong in, by way of creating jobs and
micro loans for business start-ups. With the adaptation of this solution, Portugal saw the decrease of
the cases of drug addiction by 50% in just 15 years (“Everything You Think You Know about
Addiction”)4.

4Everything You Think You Know about Addiction Is Wrong, YouTube, 9 July 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs.
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3.) In light of the video in Question 2, discuss the implications of the current drug war policies of
the Philippines. What does this mean for us? Is it effective? Is it moral? Will it work? (10
Points)

In my opinion, the drug war in the Philippines is one extreme example of the disconnection Johann
Hari talked about in his video. The drug war does not only imprison and press criminal charges against
the addicts (i.e isolating them from society)—no, the drug war in the Philippines severs the
connections between an addict and his/her loved ones permanently, as evidenced by the alarming
rates of extrajudicial killings that were executed in the name of this drug war.

Even worse, this war is seemingly waged against the poor alone, seeing as a lot of high ranking
and wealthy officials who have been accused of drug use often get away scot-free. The implication of
this for our country is jarring: that this war would continuously be waged, but only the powerless
would suffer. Our drug war is even worse than the “drug wars” of other countries; in the US and in the
UK, addicts are imprisoned, due process is followed before charges are taken against drug users.
There is an effort to rehabilitate them while in prison, an effort for them to see psychologists in order
to help them withdraw from drug use.

In the Philippines, addicts are killed, with the measly excuse of “nanlaban eh”. There is no chance
for rehabilitation, no chance for recovery. So, in my opinion, it is not effective. All it does is instill fear
in drug addicts, while they find more secretive ways of keeping their drug use under the radar for fear
of getting discovered. And for the powerful, the many cases in which wealthy drug-lords had their
cases dismissed just strokes their confidence that they would never be part of the people who are
felled by the drug war. A disconnection is also established within society because of this, with the
ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor of the country getting bigger and bigger.
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4.) Many things we eat, drink, or take, as well as our usual habits, are reasonable in moderation.
Yet some things or habits are risky or dangerous anytime, especially in excess. Discuss three
examples of such highly risky decisions that you might have to decide about in your life now.
(10 points)

The first habit that has become such a regular part of my life is sleep deprivation. My body has
become so accustomed to staying up until late and barely reaching 3 hours of sleep. The effects of this
are highly apparent to me; I’m always irritable, I have trouble focusing, my body always feels out of
energy, and I have more difficulty understanding things that used to be easy for me. Maybe at times
sleeping late is really a necessity with the amount of work I must do, but even when I find myself free
of any tasks, I lie awake in bed and toss and turn until I give up on sleeping and choose to do other
things instead. I have made my body used to being sleep deprived, and I know that this has detrimental
effects to my overall health.

The other thing that has become a regular part of my life as of late is alcohol consumption. I have
started drinking little amounts of alcohol since I was in 9th grade, but ever since I went into college,
I’ve noticed that drinking has become one of the most common coping mechanisms of college students
for extreme stress, and I find myself not being an exception to this. Especially during my first year, I
found myself heavily intoxicated every Friday night, and sometimes even during a weekday. It has
lessened a little during my second year, but it’s more of the fact that I don’t have enough time to go
out than a conscious choice to stop doing so. I know that getting drunk week after the other is not at
all healthy, and in a way, I am glad that I am busy enough lately to not have time to indulge on this
unhealthy habit.

Lastly, the one habit I have become so accustomed to, but I know is very, very unhealthy is
smoking. I started when I was in 10th grade, and it was more of peer pressure and curiosity that led
me to try it then. However, after a few more “tries”, I found myself craving the feel of smoke coating
my lungs and making me lightheaded. I have tried to stop a lot of times but doing so is so much easier
said than done. Even now, as hard as I try to stop, each time I get extremely stressed, I find myself
reaching for a smoke to cope with it. I know that smoking is really bad, and that I would have to make
a conscious decision to really stop, before it affects my health even further.