Health

Please watch “CBS News 60 Minutes” segment entitled “Hooked: Why Bad Habits are Hard to Break” from April 29, 2012 (This is the path: Go to “CBS News,” click on “60 Minutes” at the top of the page, search for “Hooked: Why bad habits are hard to break.”  It is an interview by Morley Safer with Dr. Nora Volkow).  You may watch the whole segment (13 minutes), however to get all of the questions answered you can stop when Morley Safer says, “Here our story takes a turn” at 8:35 minutes.  The rest of the segment is very interesting and has more information for your discussion, but the bulk of it is in the first 8 minutes.  Please take the time to submit thoughtful, complete responses, comments and insights to the questions attached.  1/2 page, single spaced typed minimum

QUESTIONS FROM THE CBS 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW WITH DR. NORA VOLKOW: “Hooked: Why bad habits are hard to break”

Typed, ½ page single spaced minimum

1. Dr. V. explains that addiction, in her view, is a disease due to the fact that the chemicals in alcohol (and other drugs) disrupt dopamine receptors so our brains beg for more stimulation. “And the more you have the more you NEED to feel normal.” The term for this is:_____________ (you can find this definition on p. 86 of your packet). What kind of behaviors show up in a person who HAS to have this stimulation in order to feel normal? (This information is also in your packet, but also comes from the segment. Please refer to both for your answer).

2. Dr. V. says: “If drugs damage the areas of the brain that we need in order to assert free will, then it’s like driving a car without brakes; if you don’t have brakes, how do you stop the car?” So, when someone is under the influence of alcohol/drugs, are they TRULY asserting free will? Why or why not? Discuss fully using Dr. V’s points.

3. Dr. V. demonstrates that just SHOWING IMAGES of drug or alcohol use stimulates dopamine in the brain of an addicted person…stimulating the drive for pleasure! Think of the advertisements, movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos you have seen that show people indulging in alcohol/getting drunk or high/etc. Thinking about the images, comment on the media’s responsibility in influencing peoples’ behavior. Also, can you give a specific example of a media image that portrays alcohol/drug use as fun, attractive, and/or desirable?

4. Here are the facts: over 210 million prescriptions a year are written for opiate, pain-relieving medications in the US. That is enough for every adult in the US to be medicated 24 hours a day, for one month. Over 15,000 deaths in the US are due to prescription drug overdoses. How did this epidemic happen? What can be done to curb the abuse of prescription drugs? Discuss your answers referring to Dr. V’s comments and solutions. Hers were very brief…how would you expand on her ideas???