Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Cognitive training might prevent drug abuse
By Staff Writer
Most people understand that drug use can lead to addiction. Some are even aware that they might have to seek substance abuse help if their drug abuse continues. Despite this, many individuals continue to engage in this potentially destructive behavior.
This is due in part to the fact that people who are prone to developing substance abuse disorders might also exhibit a trait known as delay discounting. This cognitive function causes an individual to devalue the harmful consequences of drug use and instead focus on a substance’s more rewarding effects.
However, researchers believe that having drug abusers perform a working memory task might lead to a new treatment option for addiction. Though this approach is typically used for rehabilitation purposes following a stroke or traumatic brain injury, the researchers feel that this type of cognitive training might prevent drug use.
Oftentimes, when an individual is about to take a drug, their mind becomes excited by the pleasures that they believe they will soon experience. Training one’s brain to think about the potential legal punishments and health damage that could follow drug use might prevent one’s imagination from taking control.
