Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Lacey
Most drugs cause the brain to "reward-circuit" which floods it with dopamine and makes one feel good. People are more likely to choose things that are good for their health, such as eating healthy and spending time with loved ones. The reward circuit causes people to keep doing the things they enjoy but are bad for them. This in turn leads people to take part again.
A person who continues using drugs can cause their brain to adjust by making cells in their reward circuit less able respond to it. This will happen as long, as the person continues using drugs. This is known to be tolerance. The person will feel less high now than when they first started using the drug. You could also try to get that same high by taking more of this drug. This is because the brain has changed and the person may no longer find enjoyment in old pleasures like eating or having sex with other people.
Long-term drug abuse can also alter other chemical systems in the brain. This can result in changes to learning, judgement, decision-making and memory. It is because of this that many people who use drugs continue to do it, despite the fact that they know what bad consequences could result.
Why do some people become dependent on drugs while others aren't? There is no way to know if someone will become dependent. The likelihood that someone will become addicted depends on several factors. The greater the chance of someone getting addicted to drugs, the higher their risk factors are.
Your brain will adapt to the increased levels of dopamine eventually. You may have to take more of the drug to get the same results. You may lose joy in other areas, such as family time and food.
Long-term drug use can cause brain circuit and chemical changes. These changes can have a long-lasting effect on your reasoning, decision-making skills, as well as your ability to remember and learn new things. These changes in your brain can make it difficult to resist the temptation to use drugs in ways that you don't understand.