Maria Gosula
Gina Kuang
Rosalita Maldonado
Qi Zhang
COGS 175
5.31.06
Presentation Outline

Introduction -
Gina

Physiology
-
Qi

Psychology
-
Maria

Conclusion
-
Rosy
What is an Adrenaline Junkie?

Someone who is looking
for the feeling of a rush

‘Type-A’ personalities that
are addicted to the
stimulation and arousal of
adrenaline

Stress-induced adrenaline
high
Types of Adrenaline Addiction

Stress as an adrenaline
addiction
– Used to repress
conscious that comes
from feelings of loss,
abandonment

Intense high
– “rush” from high risk
activities
Adrenaline Addict Types

The Accomplisher

The Personal Deflector

The Organizational Deflector

The Dramatist
Adrenaline Rush Activities

Skydiving

Bungee Jumping

Gambling

Surfing

Rock Climbing

Arguing

Kayaking

Hang Gliding

ER Doctors
Alternate State of
Consciousness

“Rush”

Causes desired physiological and
psychological effects

Anger, fear, guilt, worry  produce
adrenaline hormone
Crash

Coming down from a rush phase…
– crave for another rush

If unable to participate, experience feelings
of depression
Physiology
What is Adrenaline (C9H13NO3) ?

Catecholamine
– belongs to the family of biogenic amines

A hormone and a neurotransmitter

Enzymes responsible for fast degradation of
Adrenaline
1. Catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
2. Monoaminoxidase (MAO)
Adrenaline as an Internal Drug
Effects of the Adrenal Gland

Hyperarousal

Increased blood flow

Heightened pulse rate

Increased physical
performance
Brain During Stress
Subcortical Fight or Flight Areas

Subcortical Fight or Flight
areas includes thalamus,
hippocampus, brainstem, and
hypothalamus

Mobilize body for action

Bypass frontal executive
functioning and trigger stress
response
Adrenaline and Addiction

Adrenaline rush followed by release of
endorphins

Leads to increase in endorphin receptor
sites via synaptic plasticity

Extreme risk takers tend to have 1/3 less
MAO than average person

Mechanism for chemical addiction?
Psychology and Reports
Parachuting or Skydiving

200 years
– WWI & WWII

Definition
– Breaking free from a free-fall from a height
using a parachute

Types
– Blade running, Canopy piloting,
Skysurfing

Skills
– Basic safety, free fall maneuvers, parachute
operation, and landing
Safety

Statistics
 Risk Factors
– Inexperience
– Misuse of equipment
– Hundred Jump Wonders


100-500 jumps
Most dangerous period
– Changing wind conditions
– Equipment failure

Rare cause of injury and fatalities
Reports

Leonardo DaVinci
– “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with
your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will
always long to return.”

Shelley’s “amazing experience”
– “I was falling at 120mph screaming with excitement all the way, it was
thrilling and very noisy! Once my instructor deployed the parachute it
was like the whole world had gone quiet. We were able to float and twist
using the parachute, it felt so calm and surreal.”
– After landing: "It’s just such a rush. Definitely the most exhilarating
experience I’ve ever had. Just talking about it makes me want to do it
again. I’d say to anyone who has ever wanted to do it, sign up, you won't
regret.”
Skydiving and Addiction
The “Rush”
 Diagnosis

– Hard to draw precise line

Skydiving:
– sport or same as drug addiction?
 Drug addiction definition
 “Anhedonia” study among skydivers
(Franken, Zijlstra, Muris, 2005)
Treatments

Why seek treatment?
 Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous
– 12 Steps
Conclusion
A True Addiction?

Key elements of addiction present in
adrenaline junkies’ behaviors
– ASC causes desirable physiological and
psychological effects
– Altered state disappears, leads to “crash”
 Disappointment and depression
– Crash phase  craving for another rush
Individual Differences

Hooked on an adrenaline rush
 Seeking for the “rush”
– Different activities
Levels of Addiction

Less to more severe

Intensity may progress with time

No formal diagnosis

Drawing the line
– Risky behaviors
– Social and occupational dysfunction

Society benefits from this ASC
ASC’s and Adrenaline Junkies
Adrenaline rush one of many ASC’s
 Motivated to seek new experiences

– Global change in one’s consciousness
– Experience bigger than self

Adrenaline Junkies appeal
– Cheating death
References
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Sanchez, X., Journal of Sports Sciences 23.2 (Feb.2005) 164-165
Meadows, L. Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous, Reno, NV, 1995
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biology Psychiatry 30 (2006) 297-300
Schedlowski M et al. Psychophysiological, neuroendocrine and cellular immune
reactions under psychological stress. Neuopsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2):87-90. J. Clin
Immunol. Mar 1993; 13(2):119:29
Wong, DL., Epinephrine Biosynthesis: Hormonal and Neural Control During Stress.
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2006 Apr 28;
Meyer G, Schwertfeger J, Exton MS, Janssen OE, Knapp W, Stadler MA, Schedlowski
M, Kruger TH., Neuroendocrine response to casino gambling in problem gamblers.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004 Nov;29(10):1272-80.
Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients –August/September 2005
Ontario Science Centre, www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/imax
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydiving, 2006
Adrenaline Addiction Info & Articles, Reno, NV,
http://www.adrenalineaddicts.org/articles.php, 2003
Answers.com, http://www.answers.com/topic/adrenaline-junkie