PSYCHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANISATIONAL HEALH Essay

PSYCHOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANISATIONAL HEALH - Essay Example Therefore, it is important to understand how these common drugs work, its relation in history and to the economy as well as prevention and rehabilitation in the workplace. One of the most commonly used drugs in the workplace are the use of alcohol and tobacco products which are controlled substances regulated by the UK government and legislation. Alcohol is a depressant which depresses the central nervous system as well as other functions. Many people who are stressed turn to alcohol due to the wide variety of alcoholic substances that are available as well as the accessibility. Alcohol can act on multiple neurotransmitters in the body which affects the reinforcing behavior which can make it a liability in the workplace. Alcohol decreases the secretion of acetylcholine, can elevate GABA levels as well as increase dopamine and epinephrine (Light 1986). Acetylcholine is involved specifically with the regulation of the central nervous system which in turn under the influence of alcohol slows down reflexes, lowers concentration rate, blood pressure, etc. Increases in dopamine and GABA can also lead to a state of calmness. In contrast, many people find that they become tired at school and work as well. This has lead to a prevalence of tobacco in the workplace whether in the form of dip or in cigarettes. Nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant which acts on nicotinic receptors. It causes an increase in acetylcholine which is what causes the increased awareness and attention as well as keeps dopamine from breaking down as quickly by causing it to stay in the synapse longer. Also, with smoking you have the problem of positive reinforcement in that they associate the relief of stress when they smoke. Knowing the basic principles of human behavior and drug abuse is the first step in understanding why that pattern of behavior develops and what preventative measures can be taken to inhibit this behavior. It is also important to consider the personal factors that can make a pers on use a drug. Some of the main ones are hereditary factors, personality, psychological conditioning, and social class (Hanson et Al., 2006, p. 45). In genetics, it has been proven that certain people are more susceptible to drug use than others. In determining who is at risk for alcoholism, researchers discovered that genes encoding for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase play a role in determining a person’s susceptibility to alcoholism (Foroud et Al., 2010, p. 65). Personality and psychological conditioning are also important when determining susceptibility to drug use. Those that have what is considered to be an â€Å"addictive personality† may become fixed on drug use which then as a result can become an addiction based on psychological conditioning i.e. smoking. Social class and status may also play a role in drug use due to the type of budget that their income is based off of. The history of alcohol and tobacco use is also important in understanding their occurrence in the marketplace. There were a few key points in history that might have influenced the regulation of drugs and alcohol in the workplace and out as well. In the Victorian era, it was common for the gentleman to smoke and have a brandy while they discussed politics and other important matters. It was also common place for the users to engage in other elicit drugs such as cocaine and opium (Victorian Substance Abuse 2000). As both