Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Shoreline
Most drugs cause the brain to "reward circuit" and trigger euphoria. Dopamine also floods the brain with chemical messengers. If the reward system is functioning properly, it motivates people to perform vital behaviors such as eating or spending time with loved ones. In the reward circuit, dopamine spikes can reinforce unhealthy and pleasurable behaviors like using drugs. This encourages people to keep repeating the same behavior.
As the person continues to use drugs, their brain adapts and reduces the ability of reward circuit cells that can respond to it. This results in a decrease in the amount of the drug's effects on the brain, also known as tolerance. To attain the same high, they may use more of it. These brain adaptations often result in the person becoming less able to experience pleasure from other activities, such food or sex.
Long-term abuse can cause other brain chemical system and circuit changes. This can have an impact on learning, judgments, decision-making processes, stress, memory and behavior. Even though they are aware of these adverse outcomes, many drug users continue to use them. This is the nature and origin of addiction.
Why is it that some people become addicted while others do not? One factor cannot predict if someone will become addicted. There are many factors that influence the risk of developing addiction. A person is more likely to become addicted to drugs if they have a higher risk factor.
Long-term abuse can cause brain damage and alter other chemical systems. Many addicts continue to use drugs, despite the fact that they know the negative consequences of their actions.
Why does some people become addicted to drugs while others can prevent them? There is no way to predict if someone will get addicted to drugs. The likelihood of becoming addicted is affected by many variables. There are many factors that influence the chances of an individual becoming addicted to drugs.
Biology. A person's susceptibility for addiction to drugs is approximately fifty percent influenced by their genes. Other factors that increase the risk of addiction include gender, race, gender, and any other mental disorders.