| Date | November 2010 | Marks available | 6 | Reference code | 10N.3.HL.TZ0.6 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Discuss | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Discuss the causes of addiction, including genetic predisposition, social factors and dopamine secretion.
Markscheme
social and genetic: [3 max]
genetic:
a. genetic link found for (cocaine) addiction;
b. difficult to prove / multifactorial;
social:
c. alcohol/other drug problems among family members;
d. poor school performance;
e. poverty / family conflicts / chaos / stress;
f. having friends who drink/use other drugs;
g. not fitting in socially / being excluded because of race/ability/ethnicity/gender/age/sexual orientation / other factors;
dopamine and addiction: [3 max]
h. substances with addictive potential stimulate the release of dopamine;
i. dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is associated with reward and pleasure;
j. substance use brings a flood of dopamine, which alters the chemistry of the brain;
Examiners report
Generally question 3 was well-answered, although some candidates only wrote about cocaine and its effects, and weaker candidates discussed the effects of addiction rather than causes.
