Discussions are fundamental to shared learning, so please be sure to participate early and often! After you have completed the Reading, and without reviewing your classmate's responses, post your initial response to the following Discussion. Your post should be at least 400–450 words in length and should extend the discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources. After you have submitted your initial post, review some of your classmate’s posts and respond to at least two of your classmates; your responses to others should be at least 100–150 words in length and substantive. Refer to your Discussion Board Rubric in Course Resources for specific grading explanation.

Substance Use Disorders

In society, many people link abusing drugs or alcohol to an individual’s lack of personal responsibility or morality. Prior to American model Anna Nicole Smith's death, which was from an apparently accidental overdose of several prescription medications, her son, Daniel, had died just months before from an apparent drug overdose. This incident poses the question of whether the son inherited a vulnerability to addiction from his mother or was the habit picked up from living with her over the years.

To prepare for this week’s Discussion, review the following sources in addition to this week’s assigned Reading.

• Harvard Health. (2011, July). How addiction hijacks the brain. Retrieved from http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain
• In the case studies in the Course Resources, read Case Study 3 Ellis: Substance Use Disorder: Opioid

Proceed with this week’s Discussion by addressing the following about the nature of substance use disorders:

1. Provide an overview of the biological, psychological, sociocultural theories surrounding the causes of substance use disorders.
2. Next, select one of the theories (biological causes, psychological causes, or sociocultural causes) and defend and support how the selected approach can explain why people use psychoactive drugs, such as the individual in this week’s case study.
3. Based on the selected cause, explain why it is difficult for a person to stop the drug or alcohol use and addiction.

The strongest answer will refer to the textbook and concepts from the Reading material or other credible sources.

Resourses

Case Study 3 Ellis: Substance Use Disorder: Opioid Retrieved from:

https://kapextmediassl-a.akamaihd.net/artsSCi/PS440-1404A/case_studies/ps440_cs03_substance_use_disorder.pdf

Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H. (01/2012). Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. [Purdue University Global Bookshelf]. Retrieved from:

https://purdueuniversityglobal.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781285708263/cfi/6/24!/4/70/14/10/2@0:0