Shadowing Practice: What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to treat? - Judy Grisel - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
As of 2021, more than 36 million people worldwide were estimated to be experiencing substance abuse disorder.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences39 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
As of 2021, more than 36 million people worldwide were estimated to be experiencing substance abuse disorder.
2
This condition spans a spectrum of patterned drug use that causes issues in a person’s life.
3
At the more severe end of the spectrum is substance addiction.
4
To understand why some people are more susceptible to addiction and why it can be so difficult to treat, let’s take a look at how addictive drugs affect the body.
5
When someone repeatedly uses an addictive substance, their brain may adjust to account for its regular presence.
6
This is called tolerance; it diminishes the drug’s effect and means more is required to produce the same experience.
7
Alcohol, for instance, increases the transmission of chemical messengers like endorphin and GABA, which promote sensations of pleasure and calmness.
8
When someone uses alcohol frequently, their brain will adapt to its presence.
9
So when they don’t use it, their brain receives fewer signals from those pleasure- and calm-inducing neurotransmitters, which impacts their energy and mood.
10
In addition to the unique effects each addictive substance has, all of them alter the release of dopamine in a brain region called the nucleus accumbens.
11
This area is part of the brain’s reward pathway, which is sensitive to experiences that give us pleasure and drives us to repeatedly seek them out.
12
The reward pathway is essential to our well-being— but addictive substances also exploit it.
13
When someone is repeatedly using a substance and their body has adapted to its presence, they may develop dependence where the drug is necessary for them to function comfortably.
14
Meanwhile, repeated use can decrease the influence of the brain’s cortex, which is responsible for driving deliberate decision-making and limiting impulsive behaviors.
15
And it can increase the influence of the brain’s subcortex, which is crucial in habit-learning and impulsivity.
16
Together, these changes can make someone feel a lack of control over how they’re using a substance.
17
This can mean suffering in other facets of their life and taking risks to continue using it.
18
If the substance leaves their system, their body's equilibrium is disrupted, so they may experience cravings that motivate thoughts and behaviors of seeking and using the drug.
19
And if they continue without the substance, they may experience withdrawal.
20
Opioids, for example, relieve pain and induce sedation.
21
Withdrawal from them causes heightened pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
22
The faster a drug reaches the brain and stimulates the reward pathway, the more addictive it is.
23
For example, heroin and morphine have similar effects, but heroin’s chemical structure enhances its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and bind to specific receptors.
24
This makes it faster acting and more addictive than morphine.
25
Meanwhile, compared to nicotine patches and gum, regular and electronic cigarettes are more addictive because smoking and vaping deliver nicotine to the brain fastest.
26
Depending on their chemical structure and mode of delivery, drugs vary in how addictive they are— but people also vary in how susceptible they are to substance use disorder.
27
Scientists think this is due to a mix of life experiences and genetically inherited traits, though neither predetermines addiction.
28
Trauma and mental health conditions appear to make people more susceptible.
29
And, overall, using addictive substances before 18 is considered a strong risk factor.
30
This is in part because the reward pathways of younger brains are especially sensitive.
31
Many of the genetic factors at play remain unknown, but some genes do seem to track with certain substance use disorders.
32
For example, specific genes increase the risk for nicotine addiction by making certain receptors more sensitive to nicotine and withdrawal from it more difficult.
33
At the same time, some genes actually make people more resistant to substance use disorders, such as genes that slow the breakdown of alcohol, leading to unpleasant side effects that make people less interested in drinking.
34
In fact, one drug that treats alcohol use disorder operates with this very mechanism.
35
Detoxing from a substance the body has become dependent on can be extremely difficult.
36
And in some cases, abruptly quitting can also be physically risky, so it isn’t always advised.
37
Beyond detoxing, quitting is often a long-term process.
38
It’s aided by treatment plans that prioritize addressing underlying conditions; developing new associations with experiences previously linked with drug use; and creating safe, supportive environments.
39
Ultimately, both addiction and recovery are the results of a brain with an incredible ability to adapt from experience.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

4.9/5 on App Store & Google Play

Shadowing English On Mobile

Learn English anytime, anywhere with the Shadowing English app. Improve your communication skills today!

Track your learning progress
AI grading and error correction
Rich video library
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play
Shadowing English Mobile App

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking through the video "What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to treat?" provides a rich context for English learners interested in understanding complex topics. The discussion revolves around addiction and its psychological impact, making it an excellent resource for developing nuanced vocabulary and improving fluency. By using this video, learners can engage with real-life language as it is spoken, enhancing their understanding of both the subject matter and the language.

The shadowspeak technique allows learners to replicate the speaker's intonation and rhythm, which is critical for developing a natural way of speaking. This video encourages learners to think critically about addiction, enabling deep conversational skills that can be applied in various contexts, from academic discussions to everyday conversations. Reflecting on such heavy topics also cultivates empathy and a larger vocabulary, essential tools for effective communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

This video employs several grammatical structures and expressions that are valuable for English learners:

  • "This condition spans a spectrum of patterned drug use..." - The phrase highlights the use of present simple tense to describe ongoing situations. This structure is useful for discussing broad categories or definitions.
  • "...when someone repeatedly uses an addictive substance..." - This sentence uses the present continuous tense, which can indicate ongoing actions. Learners can practice forming sentences that describe habits or tendencies.
  • "If the substance leaves their system..." - The conditional "if" structure is important in English for discussing hypothetical situations. Mastery of this structure aids in expressing possibilities.
  • "...the faster a drug reaches the brain..." - Using comparative structures like "faster" gives learners a tool to make comparisons, essential for fluent speaking. Practicing these comparisons helps in discussing differences and preferences.

Common Pronunciation Traps

English learners often face challenges with specific words and phrases. In this video, certain terms might be tricky:

  • "addiction" - The stress falls on the second syllable (ad-DIC-tion), which can be confusing. Practicing this word can help improve English pronunciation overall.
  • "substance" - This word can sometimes be pronounced too quickly, leading to misunderstandings. Learners should focus on enunciating each syllable clearly.
  • "withdrawal" - The "drawal" part can be a pronunciation trap, as learners may forget to articulate the 'w' sound properly. Emphasizing this part can enhance clarity in discussions about the topic.

By practicing these elements through the shadowing technique, learners can significantly improve their pronunciation and fluency, allowing them to speak more confidently and clearly. Engaging with this video will enhance both understanding and articulation, making the challenging topic of addiction more accessible in conversation.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

☕ Buy us a coffee