A "Dope" by Coincidence ?

A “Dope” by Coincidence ?

By Rev. Dan White

It’s no mere coincidence that one who uses “dope” acts like a dope. Sitting here and reading up on the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine I began to think about how dopamine is the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. It acts in the brain and its release produces a feeling of joy, and makes one feel good. Hence, ‘lets have a party’ or hey, its Friday!’ That is to say I had a rough week and it’s time to feel good, party time. However it is interesting in how the prefix ‘dopa’ is derived from a Dutch word, ‘doop’ which means ‘sauce’. The term dope later took on similar meaning in the 19th century with one understanding of a thick pasty substance. It also became a slang term used in medicine. However at the time it’s correlation with dopamine and neurotransmitters was not known.

Now here is the correlation. Dopamine makes one feel good. It is the feel good neurotransmitter, or the joy chemical. Drugs and alcohol when consumed increase dopamine, hence over use of the drug or alcohol can increase the need for higher doses of dopamine that in turn leads to dependence and addiction. Individuals with ADHD suffer with the blockage of transmitting dopamine between neurons, so in some instances without receiving the proper medication to flood the synapse with extra dopamine so that it makes it across the synaptic gap and into the post synaptic neuron the individual has learned to instead flood it with the use of mostly alcohol. This we know can be debilitating and often times with ADHD begins at a young age. Think about it, who doesn’t want to feel well? Who wants to feel bad or sad? I believe more studies and screenings are needed amidst the sober houses, AA, rescue missions, detox centers and certainly in primary grades to catch this neurological disorder early. Studies have shown and changed lives have shown that the majority of those in treatment for ADHD become normalized with medication alone. This shows us that it is a neurological disorder and not strictly an issue of poor parenting and behavioral issues. It also shows us there is hope for those who have struggled with ADHD and ADHD with substance abuse issues. It also shows the church that we have much to learn. Christ can set the captives free, but many times today He does so with those who have an understanding heart and the compassion from a Christ like character to come alongside and help to nurse them back to health and onto the narrow path, with joy. So, is he or she a dope? Well, sometimes I’m a dope and I can’t even use dope as an excuse, it’s rather my sin nature, threaded through us all yet also manifested in different ways.