Jekaterina takes an illegal drug. At first, she only took the drug a couple of times a week, but she now takes the drug daily. She finds that she needs to take twice as much of the illegal drug compared to when she first took it in order to feel the same effects. When she does not take the drug Jekaterina often gets severe headaches. She now thinks that she cannot cope with her stressful job if she does not take the illegal drug. Discuss issues around drug taking with reference to Jekaterina's drug use. You must make reference to the context in your answer.

A-Level AQA Psychology Neural & Hormonal Mechanisms in Aggression: Jekaterina takes an illegal drug

Jekaterina takes an illegal drug - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 17 - 2022 - Paper 2

Question 17

Jekaterina takes an illegal drug. At first, she only took the drug a couple of times a week, but she now takes the drug daily. She finds that she needs to take twice... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Jekaterina takes an illegal drug - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 17 - 2022 - Paper 2

Step 1

Define physical dependence on drugs

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Answer

A person is said to be physically dependent on a drug when they have developed tolerance and experience withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance refers to the phenomenon where the body has adapted to the drug, requiring increased amounts to achieve the same effects as initially felt.

Step 2

Explain tolerance and withdrawal

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Answer

When an individual stops taking the drug, they experience a decrease in the effects of the drug as their body is accustomed to it. Withdrawal symptoms can manifest when the body lacks the drug, indicating a physical dependence.

Step 3

Discuss Jekaterina's drug use

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Answer

Jekaterina demonstrates physical dependence as she experiences withdrawal symptoms, such as severe headaches, when she does not consume the drug. Additionally, she has become tolerant to the drug, needing to take twice as much daily to achieve the same effects as initially.

Step 4

Analyze psychological dependency

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Answer

Furthermore, Jekaterina exhibits signs of psychological dependency, believing that she cannot manage her stressful job without the drug. This highlights the mental reliance on the drug to cope with daily challenges, further complicating her situation.

Jekaterina takes an illegal drug - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 17 - 2022 - Paper 2

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Jekaterina takes an illegal drug - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 17 - 2022 - Paper 2

Define physical dependence on drugs

Explain tolerance and withdrawal

Discuss Jekaterina's drug use

Analyze psychological dependency

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