Critical Reflection 3
Critical Reflection: Cravings Assignment
Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders, by Inaba and Cohen, is an excellent textbook about
pharmacology. It is replete with an overabundance of detail and presentation of the historical and
current situation regarding every conceivable psychoactive drug. The authors also delve deeply
into the neurochemistry and the physiology of addiction. What I find most striking is the fact that
many of the drugs we now consider to be "bad" were initially developed for good reasons and
with no inkling of the potential side effects and harmful consequences that could and have arisen.
For instance, the ancient Egyptians paid their workers with beer, not just for its inebriating
effects, but because it was an invaluable source of nutrition. And morphine injections were not
just given to Federal forces, but to Confederate soldiers as well, during the US Civil War. Our
"sop" to the ancient worker has, alas, a very dark and sinister potential. (Inaba & Cohen, 2014)
Inaba and Cohen's book, Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders, shares incredible insights
into the history and science of not just one, but all known psychoactive drugs. They manage to
condense that history and science into a book that is surprisingly easy to read and comprehend.
Not only do we get a clearer picture of what brain function looks like in a drug user's
neurochemistry, but we also are really forced to consider what environmental factors and levels
of use might mean in terms of human behavior and decision-making. Finally, all of this is
presented with what seems to me to be a noticeably clear "timeline" of sorts.
Synthesis and Application
The processes of synthesis and application are key to making sense of the reading
materials and thinking about what it all means in relation to smoking and my firsthand
experiences. Synthesis is what happens when one takes ideas and information from the reading
Critical Reflection 4
material—they are like little "bubbles of understanding"—and combines them with one's own
understanding to form a greater, more cohesive whole. To be an effective synthesizer means
being able to take apart (analyze) the different perspectives and arguments presented in the
reading material and use them to build a "view" or understanding of the topic being read about.
The "power" of synthesis comes in its real-life applications—like when I apply what I am
learning not just to my understanding of the material but also to my life and to problems within
it. Synthesis coupled with firsthand experiences can really highlight the significance of the
material being read and enable one to understand it in a deeper way.
Moreover, my direct knowledge gained from personal experience imparts powerful
insights into the social and psychological influences that lead to the formation and continuation
of the tobacco habit. This kind of understanding—rooted in not just a theoretical but also a lived
knowledge—helps me when I offer support and guidance to others who are trying, with great
difficulty, to become tobacco-free. Additionally, having had the experience of struggling to quit
tobacco makes me a more effective advocate for raising the awareness necessary to keep our
communities free of the ravages of tobacco.
For those caught in its web, the reality of addiction is grim. For those addicted, the
overpowering compulsion to use is just that—a compulsion, an urge that is beyond the control of
the addict. Matters are made worse by the fact that, for many substances, long-term use alters
brain chemistry in a way that makes resisting the using urge impossible. This is particularly the
case when the user is confronted with the use opportunity. And this using urge does not have a
'stop' signal that, when issued, allows the brain to return to a pre-addicted condition wherein the
individual is using just a portion of the amount that the compulsive user would use in each time.
Critical Reflection 5
The altered brain chemistry, especially in the areas of the brain responsible for pleasure
and reward, creates a powerful association between drug use and enjoyable experiences. This
potent mix of biology and behavior makes resisting the urge to use drugs extremely difficult for
many people (Inaba & Cohen, 2014). With every missed opportunity to regain control over their
lives, they tumble down the slippery slope of addiction a little bit more. What was once a hold on
them has now turned into several crushing leads of a hold that they cannot shake. They lose their
jobs. They lose their families. They suffer physically, mentally, and spiritually. Each day is
topped with a fresh batch of guilt and a new promise to themselves: "I will do anything to stop
using this stuff!" They will even put themselves through unpleasant and dangerous "cold turkey"
detoxification to pyrrhic effect for the promise that the next 24 hours will be without the drug.
