• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.75-84
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• 2019

Addicts pay more attention to addiction-related cues, such as substance or behavior. And increased attention to these cues is associated with craving. Methamphetamine is the most abused drug among domestic drug offenders, with continually increasing rates of recidivism. Of the total number of reported drug offenders in the last three years, 21.1 percent have been women. Even so, research on female drug offenders is inadequate, rendering policies and fundamental data for the development of psychotherapy programs insufficient. The present study intended to investigate whether female methamphetamine addicts displayed an attention bias towards drug cues. A dot probe task was conducted on 22 female methamphetamine addicts (addiction group) and 22 non-addicts (control group). The task allowed the correct response rates and correct reaction times of the participants to be calculated according to the positioning of the drug and neutral cues. The analysis results revealed that the control group displayed no difference in correct reaction rates and correct reaction times between the drug or neutral cues. While, the addiction group showed lower correct response rate and slower response time for drug cues in comparison to neutral cues. The results of this study are significant in that it identified the attention bias characteristics toward drug cues of female methamphetamine addicts who were disconnected from drugs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.98-112
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• 2018

In order to find out policy and practical implications to support recovering drug addicts in a holistic way, This study conducted in-depth interviews with five research participants using Giorgi's phenomenological study method to understand the meaning of spiritual experience of recovering drug addicts. According to data analysis, these spirituality experiences appeared as two thematic themes: 'experience of relationship with a divine being' and 'experience of inherent transcendence'. Three sub-themes of 'fear and scary existence', 'hanging object' and 'embracing existence' were derived from the essence theme of 'experience of relationship with a divine being' and 'immanent transcendental experience' was conceptualized into four sub-themes: 'facing existence', 'psychological reconstruction', 'mental maturity', and 'a way to go alone'. Based on this, spiritual experiences of recovery drug addicts showed that religion itself exerted a considerable influence on their spiritual experience and their spiritual experience was closely related to the recovery of humanity. Also, 'intrinsic transcendental experience' suggested that two essential themes of spiritual experience were closely interrelated in a mutual cyclical relationship. Based on the results, We discusses the major intervention plan for the recovery drug addicts that the social welfare system can consider.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.673-685
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to specifically investigate the factors that affect maintenance, relapse, and recovery after the abstinence of female drug addicts. For such purpose, ten females who repeated drug addiction and are currently in recovery were selected as the study participants to carry out in-depth interviews. The original materials were analyzed using descriptive phenomenological methods of Giorgi. The results of the analysis showed that most participants experienced discrimination and inhospitable treatment in their childhood. They began taking drugs as an escape from their difficult realities or out of curiosity and worked at adult entertainment establishments, living as a drug addict for a long time. Drugs gave them extreme sexual pleasure and it was difficult for them to recover as their body became dependent on drugs. However, as they experienced religious awakening or existential existence, they gained an opportunity for newly understanding themselves. Social support was an essential resource for their recovery. However, various kinds of trauma that they experienced in their lives acted as a factor to worsen drug addiction. Based on the study results, this study proposes spirituality, actual programs, and trauma treatment approaches that can contribute to the restructuring of life.

• 재활복지
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-111
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• 2016

This study is a qualitative case study of 5 substance abusers recovered from drug addiction. It is useful socially and practically to understand about the rehabilitation and its process of recovering from drug addiction. Since this study deals with very private and sensitive issues, qualitative research approach is suitable. Data were collected through one to one in-depth interviews, and were analyzed by using analysis within/cross cases suggested by Creswell(2007). 5 individual cases were presented including substance addicts experiences and recovery process through within-cases analysis. Based on the within-cases analysis, common themes were presented through cross-cases analysis. Total 19 themes, related with recovery from substance addicts, were derived from the five individual cases, and 4 common themes were classified. These 4 common themes were first, recovery of sense of reality, second, taking self-existing pattern, third, self reconstruction in the context of social network, fourth, self-love. Based on the study results and discussions, practical implications were suggested to help persons claiming recovery from substance addicts for their recovery and rehabilitation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2018

Objectives: To identify the associations of characteristics of the neighborhood environment with substance abuse among clients receiving treatment for drug abuse in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 1128 drug addicts from 28 neighborhoods who were receiving treatment at all 7 compulsory drug detention centers in Thailand. A trained interviewer conducted structured interviews with the subjects about substance use and the perceived neighborhood environment in their community. A multilevel logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effects of the neighborhood environment on substance use. Results: The majority of participants, 53.8% only used methamphetamine pills, 31.3% used other illicit drugs as well as methamphetamine pills, and 14.9% used an illicit drug other than methamphetamine. Three neighborhood characteristics were associated with substance use. A 1-unit increase in the perceived neighborhood cohesion score was associated with a 15% reduction in methamphetamine pill use and an 11% reduction of the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conversely, a 1-unit increase in perceived neighborhood crime predicted 19 and 14% increases in the use of methamphetamine pills and the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug, respectively. In addition, a 1-unit increase in the scores for stigma surrounding addiction corresponded to a 25% increase of the use of methamphetamine pills and a 12% increase in the use of both methamphetamine pills and another illicit drug. Conclusions: Substance use among drug addicts was influenced by characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, prevention and intervention strategies should be designed based on a consideration of the impact of neighborhood context on substance use behaviors.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.27-27
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• 2007

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.7 s.209
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• pp.1-21
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• 2005

The purposes of this study were to investigate the actual condition and to deal with the psychological characteristics of computer addicted adolescent using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The subjects of this study were 407(male 185, female 222) 2nd grade students in senior high school in Daegu. All participant were evaluated on the basis of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the upgraded Computer Addiction Inventory (CAI) scale which referred to the Young's Internet Addiction Self Diagnosis Scale and the Mind Test's Came Addiction. SPSS version 10.0 was used for data analysis. The scores of F, Hs, D, Pd, Pa, Pt, Sc of the MMPI scales showed that there were statistically significant differences between computer addicted adolescents and non-addicted adolescents. The rate of addicted adolescents was significantly higher than that of non-addicted adolescent in psychological problematic score ranges in the scales. The characteristics of the scores of computer addiction adolescents were similar to those of alcohol and drug addicts in the scales of D, Pd, and Pt. This survey revealed that the psychological disorders suffered by computer addiction adolescents may cause more serious social problems than alcohol and drug addicts.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.519-526
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• 2013

Dopamine (DA) regulates emotional and motivational behavior through the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Changes in DA signaling in mesolimbic neurotransmission are widely believed to modify reward-related behaviors and are therefore closely associated with drug addiction. Recent evidence now suggests that as with drug addiction, obesity with compulsive eating behaviors involves reward circuitry of the brain, particularly the circuitry involving dopaminergic neural substrates. Increasing amounts of data from human imaging studies, together with genetic analysis, have demonstrated that obese people and drug addicts tend to show altered expression of DA D2 receptors in specific brain areas, and that similar brain areas are activated by food-related and drug-related cues. This review focuses on the functions of the DA system, with specific focus on the physiological interpretation and the role of DA D2 receptor signaling in food addiction.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.172-178
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• 2018

In this paper, I tried to pursue health and social welfare together through medical convergence based on the main subject of a culture of convergence. Artists' drug accidents are never ending. Now Korea is also out of the drug cleansing country. it is impossible to get rid of them with the national public power. It is time for a treatment plan for these. They need a certain period of time and regular periods of rest and control over sports. Our humanities are researching to understand the changing human images of today. In parallel, medical convergence will also have to be transformed in various ways for human healing. Recently, we can see the case of healing with the combination of oriental medicine, natural healing and western medicine. Furthermore, the structure of medical convergence for the fight against disease can be analyzed as an example. South Korea is also preparing for various convergence programs focusing on natural sciences such as engineering, medical care, and the environment. In order to prevent drug addiction it is important to determine the department responsible for handling the problem of substance abuse. we need to improve the environment that they can be combined with Ondol therapy and natural healing therapies. Furthermore, I expect that fusion medicine will contribute to improving the quality of life of drug addicts and become a successful model to revitalize local economies in particular.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.18-34
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• 2004

This paper will review data obtained primarily from our preclinical investigations that show that exposure to stress has a significant impact on drug taking. Stress increases reward associated with psychomotor stimulants, possibly through a process similar to sensitization, and a growing clinical literature indicates that there is also a link between substance abuse and stress in human addicts. One explanation for the high concordance between stress-related disorders and drug addiction is the self-medication hypothesis, which suggests that a dually-diagnosed person often uses the abused substance to cope with tension associated with life stressors or to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression resulting from a traumatic event. However, another characteristic of drug self-administration is that drug delivery and its subsequent effects on the HPA axis are under the direct control of the individual. This controlled activation of the HPA axis may result in the production of an internal state of arousal or stimulation that is actually sought by the individual (i.e., the sensation-seeking hypothesis). During abstinence, however, exposure to stressors or drug-associated cues can stimulate the HP A axis to remind the individual about the effects of the abused substance, thus producing craving and promoting relapse. Stress reduction, either alone or in combination with pharmacotherapies targeting the HPA axis may prove beneficial in reducing cravings and promoting abstinence in individuals seeking treatment for addiction. Of primary importance is to reduce the impact of cocaine-associated environmental stimuli on the HPA axis so that they no longer function as triggers for relapse.