Introduction
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly referred to as Molly, is a synthetic drug that alters perception and mood. The chemical components found in MDMA are similar to the hallucinogens and stimulants because, upon its use, the person experiences increased energy levels (García-Pardo et al., 2017). It is prudent to note that the chemicals increase feelings of pleasure and distort perception. The drug was initially used for therapeutic purposes solving mental health issues but was later illegalized and currently, it has no acceptable medical use. However, clinical trials are underway to determine whether it can be used to treat mental illness. This research investigates the neurobiology of the drug and how its chemical composition affects the brain to cause addiction.
MDMA has the ability to alter three brain chemicals upon its intake, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The substances have a ripple effect on neurotransmitters’ production, likely affecting mood. However, upon wearing out, the drug causes huge depletion in the amounts of serotonin in the brain, which is expected to cause psychological impacts such as loss of memory and depression, which is experienced days after the drug has been used (Horseman & Meyer, 2019). The theory of negative reinforcement is used to investigate how the drug affects the person and the antidote being used to overcome the challenge. MDMA addiction has severe effects, and the affected people must seek a therapy tailored to their specific needs.
Negative Reinforcement Theory
Negative reinforcement is an antidote used to treat addiction by removing the stimulus to aid people from the cravings for the drug. In his operant conditioning research, Skinner described negative reinforcement as behavior or response to overcoming the adverse effects by removing or avoiding its use. An example of negative reinforcement is when a person takes an antacid before taking a spicy meal suspected to contain acidic elements (George, 2019). It is prudent to note that there is a difference between negative reinforcement and punishment in that punishment imposes a penalty on a person to discourage a behavior.
The main advantage of negative reinforcement is that it offers instant feedback, and the person abandons the negative behavior immediately after its commencement. Removal of the stimuli that cause people to indulge in behavior allows the person to respond positively to treatment. It is also prudent to note that treating addiction with negative reinforcement does not require constant follow-up, making the treatment more effective. However, negative reinforcement may offer negative results when the timing is not selected correctly (García-Pardo et al. 2017). Further, it seems to work best when immediately removing the negative consequence that follows the behavior.
How the Theory Is Used in the Research
The uptake of a drug and its addiction occur in two significant steps in the human brain. The drug interacts with the brain to cause compulsiveness and impulsiveness, which forces the person to seek the drug and consume it at all times. The negative impacts that a person faces when the drug is withdrawn are referred to as the characteristics of addiction (Horseman & Meyer, 2019). The termination of the drug use depends on how the compulsiveness to take the drug is removed by using negative reinforcement. May et al. (2020) associated MDMA use with substantive psychological, mental, and social problems in a person in response to their lives in society. When the aversive states of psychological and emotional health are removed, the behaviors associated with the drug are negatively reinforced. When a person abstains from MDMA, there is a high likelihood of returning to the original state. It is prudent to note that negative reinforcement forms a cycle that can motivate and maintain the factor of motivation for the behavior.
The brain-based experiments explored how negative reinforcement affects different brain cognitive regions, leading to diminished control. The enforcement works on the three major circuits in the brain, which helps in reducing the addiction levels. Basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and extended amygdala are the primary circuits that lead to addiction, and since negative reinforcement impacts their functioning, it helps reduce the dependence (Lanteri et al. 2014). It is judicious to note that negative reinforcement in MDMA use works on the brain’s neurology to bring the desired outcome in the discourse.
Ethical Behavior in Research
Ethical behavior is paramount in research as it is the prerequisite for reliable and verifiable data. When the participants are treated unethically, they may not offer positive results in the study. The research conducted to determine how negative reinforcement affects the MDMA addiction involved actual participants whose welfare was protected by research ethics. Open and honest communication was maintained as the participants were informed that the research was solely for clinical practice and protected their confidentiality (Koob, 2021). The principles of anonymity were used in cases where the participants did not want to disclose their identity, and it was granted. Human dignity, autonomy, and privacy were maintained as the participants only took part in the research after signing the consent form. The study further followed the principle of integrity as the purpose of the study was communicated to the participants before taking part in the research.
How the Ethical Behaviors Can Be Used in Life
As a prospect in research, I intend to use ethical principles to increase the validity of the results obtained. First and foremost, I will always adhere to integrity to ensure that the methods used are verifiable and reported in line with the required professional code of ethics. Going against the professional codes of ethics in research is likely to jeopardize the quality of the study. Further, since most analysis in the clinical setup uses humans as participants, I will treat the participants with respect, dignity, and autonomy. The principle of privacy will lead to taking care of the participant’s personal information. Under no circumstance will I share the participant’s personal information.
Further, I will ensure they sign the consent forms and offer rewards after completing the research to keep them motivated. I will respect their decisions even after changing their minds and allowing them to withdraw at will without penalty. Ethical considerations will be the backbone of my research to ensure effective results.
Conclusion
MDMA is a commonly abused drug that has similar effects to hallucinogens and stimulants. People using the drug are likely to suffer mental, physical, and social challenges, which leads to poor quality of life. The drug’s chemical structure makes it easy for it to reach the brain immediately after injection. Negative reinforcement is the antidote that can eradicate the drug’s effects and make people return to normalcy. The principle of negative reinforcement deals with the neurotransmitters in the brain to restore a person to their original conditions. Numerous research has been conducted on how negative reinforcement can be used to cure MDMA addiction. The success of the research can be accredited to the ethical principles used in the study. Ethical principles are integral to research and must always be observed to obtain better results.
References
García-Pardo, M. P., De la Rubia Ortí, J. E., & Calpe, M. A. A. (2017). Differential effects of MDMA and cocaine on inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tests in rodents. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 146, 1-11. Web.
George, O. (2019). Negative reinforcement mechanisms in addiction. In Neural mechanisms of addiction (pp. 179-188). Academic Press. Web.
Horseman, C., & Meyer, A. (2019). Neurobiology of addiction. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology, 62(1), 118-127. Web.
Koob, G. F. (2021). Drug addiction: hyperkatifeia/negative reinforcement as a framework for medications development. Pharmacological Reviews, 73(1), 163-201. Web.
Lanteri, C., Doucet, E. L., Hernandez Vallejo, S. J., Godeheu, G., Bobadilla, A. C., Salomon, L. & Tassin, J. P. (2014). Repeated exposure to MDMA triggers long-term plasticity of noradrenergic and serotonergic neurons. Molecular psychiatry, 19(7), 823-833. Web.
May, A. C., Aupperle, R. L., & Stewart, J. L. (2020). Dark times: the role of negative reinforcement in methamphetamine addiction. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 114. Web.