Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Washington
Addiction is a chronic illness that includes a need for drugs and a difficult time controlling it. For most people, the decision to take drug is voluntary. But repeated drug use can cause brain problems that impair self-control. These brain changes may be permanent, so drug addiction can be considered a "relapsing” illness. People who have been treated for drug addiction are at higher risk of getting back into drug use even after years.
Although it is common for someone to relapse, that doesn't mean they aren't getting treatment. Like with other chronic conditions such as diabetes, treatment should not stop and should be reviewed regularly. You should review your treatment plan often to ensure that it is adapted to the patient's changing needs.
What happens in the brain when someone takes drug?
Most drugs have a negative effect on the brain's reward circuit, causing euphoria along with flood it in the chemical messenger dopamine. A healthy reward system can motivate people to engage in the behaviors that will help them thrive. Dopamine overdoses in the reward system can lead to the reinforcement of unhealthy behaviors, such as drug abuse. People will then continue repeating the behavior.
What happens to the brain when someone takes drugs? Majority of drugs cause pleasure and flood the brain with dopamine, which affects the "reward circuit" within the brain. The reward system is a mechanism that motivates people to do the things they need to flourish, such as eating well and spending time with their loved ones. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit cause dopamine to increase, which can lead to reinforcement of dangerous but pleasurable behaviours, such as drug abuse. As a result, individuals will continue to repeat the behavior.
If a person is addicted to drugs, their ability to respond to stimuli in the reward circuit will decrease. This will continue as long as the individual continues to use drugs. Tolerance, also known as tolerability, has the effect of reducing the feeling of high compared to when the drug was first taken. They might try to get the same high by taking more of the drug. These brain changes can cause a person to lose interest in other activities, such as eating or engaging in sexual activity.