[quote=Endocrinology]
[b]Addiction[/b]

Addiction is the continued repetition of a behaviour despite adverse consequences, or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviours. Classic hallmarks of addiction include impaired control over substances or behaviour, preoccupation with substance or behaviour, continued use despite consequences, and denial. Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterised by immediate gratification (short-term reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).

Physiological dependence occurs when the body has to adjust to the substance by incorporating the substance into its "normal" functioning. This state creates the conditions of tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the process by which the body continually adapts to the substance and requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects. Withdrawal refers to physical and psychological symptoms experienced when reducing or discontinuing a substance that the body has become dependent on. Symptoms of withdrawal generally include but are not limited to anxiety, irritability, intense cravings for the substance, nausea, hallucinations, headaches, cold sweats, and tremors.

Several brain regions are also involved in the biological mechanisms of addiction. Most notably, the release of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens, which is triggered by a wide variety of drugs in a wide variety of ways, plays a role in the reinforcing qualities of stimuli. Since dopamine secretion is also characteristic of natural reinforcing stimuli such as food, water, and sex, it's evident that the addictive nature of drug involves processes that hijack these mechanisms. Research indicates that this process begins in the limbic dopaminergic system and subsequently modifies other parts of the brain that receive input from the affected neurons. Among these areas is the ventral tegmental area.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are the primary sites where drugs of abuse act. The following are commonly considered abused drugs: heroin, cocaine, alcohol, opiates, marijuana, nicotine, amphetamine, and their synthetic analogues. These drugs alter the neuromodulatory influence of dopamine on the processing of reinforcement signals by prolonging the action of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens or by potentiating the activation of neurons in the VTA and NAc. The most common drugs of abuse stimulate the release of dopamine, which creates both their rewarding and the psychomotor effects. Compulsive drug-taking behaviours are a result of the permanent functional changes in the mesolimbic dopamine system arising from repetitive dopamine stimulation. Molecular and cellular adaptations are responsible for a sensitised dopamine activity in the VTA and along the mesolimbic dopamine projection in response to drug abuse. In the VTA of addicted individuals, the activity of the dopamine-synthesising enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase increases, as does the ability of these neurons to respond to excitatory inputs. The latter effect is secondary to increases in the activity of the transcription factor CREB and the up regulation of GluR1, an important subunit of AMPA receptors for glutamate. These alterations in neural processing could account for the waning influence of adaptive emotional signals in the operation of decision making faculties as drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviours become habitual and compulsive.

The withdrawal phenomenon occurs because the deficit in reward functioning causes the organism to enter a distress cycle wherein the drugs become necessary to restore the normal homoeostatic state. Recent research has shown that even after the final stages of withdrawal have been passed, an organism will reinstate the drug-seeking behaviour if exposed to the drug or drug-related stimuli.[/quote]

Today Zachary had brought along supplies so he could spend the night in this workshop, keeping it safe and reducing the need for travel. This included a mattress, rations, water-core shower and a fresh change of clothes. Zachary looked at his rations and realised that they were running very low. Tomorrow the military were holding their weekly handout of rations, so he would have to make that trip tomorrow. As he set about eating dinner Kaa'is sparked up a conversation.

[b][i]We had a pretty close call with that gang this morning,[/i][/b] Kaa'is commented.

"Yes, that could have gone much worse," Zachary replied casually.

[b][i]We were armed with the wind cannon, but at such close ranges it would have been awkward to use. What normally ends up happening is we clobber them metal objects, like the wind cannon or their own weapons,[/i][/b] Kaa'is continued.

Zachary sighed. "Where are you going with this?"

[b][i]I'm thinking that it is about time we were armed with something suited for hand-to-hand combat, rather than having to improvise with things not designed for clobbering,[/i][/b] Kaa'is said.

Zachary stopped to consider this for a few moments. Eventually he cautiously suggested, "So, something like brass knuckles. Except bulkier."

[b][i]Exactly! That shouldn't be hard, just a piece of metal which sits in your hand around your fingers.[/i][/b]

Zachary moved over to his scrap heap and picked out some metal bars and bar-like scraps. A little time with a blowtorch, grinder and welder was enough to produce a pair of iron knuckles. The main feature of these were the heavy metal bar placed to hit things which Zachary punched. He could move the iron knuckles using his powers, allowing him to deliver blows of great force. As an additional feature he had padded the grip so that punches would be less likely to shatter his own hand. Zachary punched the air a few times experimentally and seemed satisfied with the weight. He slipped them into his jacket pockets, where he would be able to easily draw them on a moment's notice, either by his magnetic powers or by hand. Zachary practised drawing them and giving a few gabs several times.

When he finished, Zachary put the iron knuckles back, washed his hands and ate the remainder of his dinner. He then brushed his teeth and settled down to read. He was learning lots of interesting things from the textbook. Eventually he finished a chapter, put the book down, turned off the lights and lay down on his mattress to sleep. He would need to get an early start next morning if he wanted to have the most success in collecting rations.