RJA #10a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

Genetic Basis for Drug Abuse." Psych Central 19 Novemeber 2007, Print.
Kenneth S. Kendler, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and human genetics is the lead researcher in a study done on genetics and drug abuse. Kendler states that this study also confirmed the strong role that genetic factors play in influencing our vulnerability to drug abuse and dependence. In the past studies that were conducted were only males, and this was one of the first ones to be done on both sexes which gives us more information. This study also goes a step further with revealing information on other substances such as caffeine and nicotine and the correlation it has with illicit substances.

Anderson, David. "Trauma-Related Substance Abuse Persists After Mental Health Symptoms Abate." National Institute of Drug Abuse. 20.2 (2006): Print.
Dr. David Vlahov and his colleagues at the New York Academy of Medicine conducted research on figuring out if mental health symptoms such as depression had an influence of their substance abuse. He conducted surverys and interviews with individuals who lived close to the world trade center during the September 11th attack and a large number of random adults to compare his findings. He notes that symptoms of depression were more common among those who increased substance use compared with those who did not as well as more findings related to smoking. This explains the reasons why peope use substances during hard times.

Maldonado, Rafael . Molecular biology of drug addiction. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, 2003. 3-5. Print.

Rafael Maldonado discovers the physiology of how a drug works in the body and how it effects an organism. In the specific pages that I listed he's talking about opiod addiction and gives us background information on what the drug is and where it comes from. He talks about the chemical properties and how the body can become dependant on it. He notes that the Central Nervous System has a huge influence on how one becomes dependant on the drug. He also does a study on mice to show that his findings are true which is part of his supporting evidence.