What do all abused substances have in common? What are some ...

[jman1234]

What do all abused substances have in common? What are some inherited factors that might lead to an increased
  vulnerability to substance abuse?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Unlike the person with paranoid schizophrenia, the person with paranoid personality disorder
 
  A) has persistent loss of reality contact.
  B) tends to confide in others and assume the loyalty of his or her friends.
  C) becomes delusional in response to an actual betrayal or hurtful incident with another person.
  D) are in contact with reality, although they may have transient psychotic symptoms.

[honnalora]

Answer to Question 1

It would be expected that abused substances would share some common effects on the brain and there is
evidence of this. It appears that drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, and opium all act on a system in the brain that is
involved in pleasure. Thus, these drugs act on a system in the brain that normally serves to reward behaviors that
are beneficial. While psychoactive drugs may have similar effects in the brain of everyone, there is evidence that
those with a genetic predisposition for substance abuse may show an altered response to drugs. Males who are
genetically predisposed to develop alcoholism, for example, appear to feel greater stress reduction than others
when they drink alcohol and show other physiological differences in how they respond to alcohol. It is believed
that these differences can explain the observed role of genes in the development of substance use disorders.
Altered drug responsiveness, as well as personality traits, may be inherited and result in a greater risk of
substance abuse and dependence.

Answer to Question 2

D