Please use you in class journal to answer the following question.
~Do you agree with the idea of Evolution? Why or why not? Give informative and creative examples.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Addiction Information
Addiction in Prescription Drugs
Which Drugs Are Abused?
The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classes:
1. Opioids
Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol)
Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea.
How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.
2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
Examples: pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax)
Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result is a drowsy or calming effect.
3. Stimulants
Examples: methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD.
How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy.
Which Drugs Are Abused?
The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classes:
1. Opioids
Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol)
Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea.
How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.
2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
Examples: pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax)
Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result is a drowsy or calming effect.
3. Stimulants
Examples: methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD.
How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy.
Types of Reinforcement
Reinforcement is defined as a consequence that follows an operant response that increase (or attempts to increase) the likelihood of that response occurring in the future.
Positive Reinforcement
In an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the presentation of an appetitive stimulus. This is positive reinforcement.
If you stroke a cat's fur in a manner that is pleasing to the cat it will purr. The cat's purring may act as a positive reinforcer, causing you to stroke the cat's fur in the same manner in the future.
Negative Reinforcement
In an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus. This is negative reinforcement.
When a child says "please" and "thank you" to his/her mother, the child may not have to engage in his/her dreaded chore of setting the table. Therefore, not having to set the table will act as a negative reinforcer and increase the likelihood of the child saying "please" and "thank you" in the future.
http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/Faculty/Wasserman/Glossary/reinforcement.html
Positive Reinforcement
In an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the presentation of an appetitive stimulus. This is positive reinforcement.
If you stroke a cat's fur in a manner that is pleasing to the cat it will purr. The cat's purring may act as a positive reinforcer, causing you to stroke the cat's fur in the same manner in the future.
Negative Reinforcement
In an attempt to increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future, an operant response is followed by the removal of an aversive stimulus. This is negative reinforcement.
When a child says "please" and "thank you" to his/her mother, the child may not have to engage in his/her dreaded chore of setting the table. Therefore, not having to set the table will act as a negative reinforcer and increase the likelihood of the child saying "please" and "thank you" in the future.
http://www.psychology.uiowa.edu/Faculty/Wasserman/Glossary/reinforcement.html
Depression
Can depression be treated successfully?
Absolutely. Depression is highly treatable when an individual receives competent care. Psychologists are among the licensed and highly trained mental health providers with years of experience studying depression and helping patients recover from it.
There is still some stigma, or reluctance, associated with seeking help for emotional and mental problems, including depression. Unfortunately, feelings of depression often are viewed as a sign of weakness rather than as a signal that something is out of balance. The fact is that people with depression can not simply "snap out of it" and feel better spontaneously.
Persons with depression who do not seek help suffer needlessly. Unexpressed feelings and concerns accompanied by a sense of isolation can worsen a depression. The importance of obtaining quality professional health care can not be overemphasized.
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=49
Absolutely. Depression is highly treatable when an individual receives competent care. Psychologists are among the licensed and highly trained mental health providers with years of experience studying depression and helping patients recover from it.
There is still some stigma, or reluctance, associated with seeking help for emotional and mental problems, including depression. Unfortunately, feelings of depression often are viewed as a sign of weakness rather than as a signal that something is out of balance. The fact is that people with depression can not simply "snap out of it" and feel better spontaneously.
Persons with depression who do not seek help suffer needlessly. Unexpressed feelings and concerns accompanied by a sense of isolation can worsen a depression. The importance of obtaining quality professional health care can not be overemphasized.
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=49
Psychology Video Links!
Here are some great links to educational videos from the web!
~This video explains was in which current companies are using the psychology of marketing tools to still have customers in the current recession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJqcC9d675Q
~This is a great video that helps to explain how B.F. Skinner's Theory of Reinforcement. It shows an interview with Skinner himself, and also some footage of his experiments with pigeon subjects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepqpTtKbwo
~This video explains how Psychologist Pavlov, used dogs in his experiments on Conditioning and it's connections with stimulus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxEN54ho&feature=related
~This video explains was in which current companies are using the psychology of marketing tools to still have customers in the current recession.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJqcC9d675Q
~This is a great video that helps to explain how B.F. Skinner's Theory of Reinforcement. It shows an interview with Skinner himself, and also some footage of his experiments with pigeon subjects.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepqpTtKbwo
~This video explains how Psychologist Pavlov, used dogs in his experiments on Conditioning and it's connections with stimulus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpoLxEN54ho&feature=related
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
