1. Can people become addicted to chocolate or coffee? Why not?
2. Doesn’t having some withdrawal symptoms indicate the person is addicted?
3. The writers state: “…if we can stop when we must, we’re not addicted.” Do you believe that is true?
Why or why not?
4. The authors state that dopamine increases when we anticipate getting a reward, not for having received the reward. For example, seeing a line of cocaine increases dopamine production for a person with a SUD, not necessarily taking the drug itself. What implications would this have when we consider treatment for the person abusing cocaine?
5. What is the relationship between increased dopamine and memory of the experience of using and why is it important?
6. The authors suggest that when a person repeatedly abuses a substance, they become less interested in other things in their lives that previously brought them pleasure? What is the chemical rationale for this?
What is the term associated with the lack of pleasurable feelings?