Psy331 Substance Abuse Research Paper

Averting Alcohol and Drug Abuse through Aversion
Laverne Lobley
PSY331: Psychology of Learning
Instructor: Anna Ruggirello
July, 17, 2013

There are many facets to learned behavior, with a major aspect being the methodical processes of learning. There are many theories about learning, and many of them have been scientifically proven by using experimental studies. One such study has shaped and paved a path that many have duplicated and modeled experiments and studies from. Today, this study is known as Pavlov’s dog. A physiologist by the name of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov measured the salvation of dogs that was an automatic reflex that was brought about by the sight of food that was eventually paired with the ringing of a bell of which the
The devastation is increased by the inability to successfully and consistently treat this ever growing pandemonium. This world’s saving grace from this particular travesty come in the form of behavioral science. There exists many other facets of science that has equally contributed to the knowledge and success of many (if not all) treatment strategies in substance addiction such as; neuroscience, physiology, anthropology, pharmacology, etc…, but the actual application of the most promising possible solutions comes in the form of behavioral therapy. The use of behavioral therapy in the treatment of substance addiction is somewhat controversial yet it has been proven
Individuals who carry a low-activity ALDH2 (ALDH2*2) display high blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol consumption, which leads to dysphoric effects, such as facial flushing, nausea, dizziness, and headache ("Asian alcohol phenotype"), which result in an aversion to alcohol and protection against alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Mimicking this phenotype may reduce alcohol consumption in alcoholics (Cortínez, & Sapag,