The Brain: The Effects Of Addiction On The Brain

The Effects of Addiction on the Brain

Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (e.g., gambling, sex, shopping) that can be pleasurable but the continuation of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary responsibilities and concerns, such as work, relationships, health, or all the above.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders no longer uses the terms substance abuse and substance dependence, rather it refers to substance use disorders, which are defined as mild, moderate, or severe to indicate the level of severity, which is determined by the number of diagnostic criteria met by an individual. Substance use disorders occur

Different drugs — because of their chemical structures — work differently. There are at least two ways drugs work in the brain. Drugs imitate the brain’s natural chemical messengers and overstimulate the “reward circuit” of the brain. After repeated drug use, the brain starts to adjust to the surges of dopamine. Neurons may begin to reduce the number of dopamine receptors or simply make less dopamine (Recovery, 2013). The result is less dopamine signaling in the brain — like turning down the volume on the dopamine signal. Because some drugs are toxic, some neurons also may die. As a result, the ability to feel any pleasure is minimized; the person feels flat, lifeless, and depressed, and is unable to enjoy things that once brought pleasure. Now the person needs drugs just to bring dopamine levels up to normal, and more of the drug is needed to create a dopamine flood, or “high”—an effect known as

In fact, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are currently six different subcategories related to Substance Use Disorder (SAMSHA, 2015). It goes without saying that long-term drug use will no doubt take its toll on the brain. For example, new research from the National Institute of Health in a Science Education Study on ecstasy, ice and speed users in Australia suggests that long-term use of these drugs is likely to cause brain damage. The brains of 30 patients who had been treated in the ER for amphetamine-related problems were scanned for this particular study. Out of the 30 patients, 6 of them showed signs of brain damage, which the doctors said showed up as an “unidentified bright object” on the frontal lobe during the scan. The results of the study concluded that one in five has suffered a likely drug-related brain injury. Additional emerging evidence also suggests that long-term amphetamine use may cause anxiety, depression, memory disturbance, and psychosis (Narconon,