Substance use disorder causes measurable changes in brain chemistry and structure. Modern addiction treatment continues to target addiction’s psychological effects but also aims to reverse or mitigate these alterations. At our Los Angeles addiction treatment center, we believe in the importance of breaking down the science of addiction so you are better able to achieve recovery.
How Addiction Progresses
A person with an addiction chooses to try a drugโfor the first time. Drug use evolves from experimental to involuntary and compulsive as time passes, becoming instinctive and sometimes uncontrollable. The inability to control these cravings for addictive substances is one of the defining characteristics of addiction.
Although one doesn’t become addicted the first time using alcohol or drugs, necessarily, their risk of becoming addicted increases the more they use.
Risk Factors
The term “risk factor” refers to a variety of elements that increase the likelihood of an individual developing an addiction.
Environment: Children in homes with drug-using parents or lack of supervision are at high risk of developing substance use disorders (SUD). Childhood trauma and peer pressure can also lead to addiction, especially in communities with high crime rates, poverty, and poor social skills.
Biology: Addiction often runs in families, suggesting a genetic component. Individuals with certain brain structure differences may have fewer chemical signals to stop use, leading to faster tolerance and quicker addiction development if there’s a family history of drug abuse.
Gender: Men are more likely to develop addiction or overdose, while women tend to experience more cravings and relapses. Biological sex influences addiction rates due to the differences in how the brain works, body chemistry, height, and weight.
Age: Early drug use increases the likelihood of severe addiction. Developing brains in children and adolescents are more vulnerable to addiction and other mental health issues.
Route of Administration: Injecting or inhaling drugs leads to quicker absorption into the bloodstream, creating a rapid, intense high. This fast dopamine surge increases the likelihood of repeat use and addiction.
Brain Science of Addiction: Scientific Research
The brain’s limbic systemโoften referred to more casually as the “pleasure circuit”โis the neurochemical system responsible for rewarding behaviors with positive outcomes and creating new habits that benefit the body.
With continual substance abuse, the brain is essentially rewired to seek drugs instead. This takes the form of powerful cravings, which is what fuels drug-seeking behavior.
- Drugs & Dopamine: Exercise, eating, and other “life-sustaining” behaviors release dopamine in the brain so that the individual will consciously or unconsciously seek to repeat that helpful behavior.
Drug abuse redirects that circuit, releasing between 2x and 10x more dopamine than you see from normal day-to-day activities. Another key difference is that drug abuse releases a massive flood of dopamine in seconds rather than minutes or hours. Since more dopamine means you would feel pleasure more, the brain loses interest in behaviors or decision-making that don’t release those euphoric bursts of dopamine. - Neurotransmitter Changes: The human body is really good at adapting to changes in its internal environment, including adjusting to unnaturally large quantities of dopamine. Specifically, habitual substance abuse effectively trains the brain to produce minimal dopamine on its own. When this occurs, the drug-seeking behavior escalates quickly.
- Neurological Consequences of Drug Abuse: Drug abuse doesn’t just affect the limbic system but virtually the entirety of the brain. For instance, addiction is associated with abnormal glutamate levels; if you’re unfamiliar with glutamate, this impairs the individual’s ability to think and learn. Moreover, the brain’s memory systems associate drug use with daily routine, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior as basically a reflex. Addiction also correlates to a variety of emotional and mental health disorders, particularly those related to emotional abnormalities and dysregulation.
Health Risks of Drug Addiction
Although classified as a brain disease, substance use disorder is a complex problem that wreaks havoc on the body. From organ damage to blood-borne illness, many risks to the body can result from habitual substance use.
Some that you should probably be familiar with include:
- Marijuana reduces attention and coordination, increases heart rate, damages the lungs, and increases the risk of psychosis.
- Alcohol damages higher brain functions and strains the liver.
- Nicotine massively increases the risk of cancer and other lung diseases.
- Inhalants are usually poisonous and often deadly.
- Cocaine dramatically increases the risk of heart attack.
- Opiates, especially intravenous heroin, increase the risk of infection.
Other drugs with dangerous physical or psychological effects include MDMA, LSD, and steroids. Drugs taken together can also increase overdose risk and pose other dangers.
Harm to Others
Substance abuse can also cause harm to others. The obvious example is prenatal exposure to tobacco, heroin, or opioids, which can cause infants to be born experiencing withdrawal symptoms and putting them at greater risk for learning disabilities later in life. Secondhand tobacco smoke damages the lungs of anyone who spends too much time around smokers.
Injected drugs are a huge risk, particularly among peer groups of users more likely to share needles. Injectable drugs put the users at risk of contracting Hepatitis C, AIDS, and more.
Finally, individuals are likely to put themselves and/or others into dangerous situations due to being under the influence or motivated to seek drugs due to withdrawal.
The Science of Curing Addiction
As we gain a deeper understanding of how addiction affects the brain, the treatment approaches are moving closer to more effective ways to manage and potentially cure addiction. Fortunately, the brain is highly adaptable and can recover from reduced dopamine levels, just as it adapts to excess dopamine. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, combining different methods has proven to be the most successful approach for many individuals. Below are some of the most effective treatments for drug addiction:
- Medication Management: To ease withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, many treatment centers offer medicinal support during detox. These medications can alleviate discomfort without hindering the detox process.
- Relapse Prevention: Since about half of addiction patients relapse after treatment, preventing triggers is crucial. Emotional triggers can lead to setbacks, so relapse prevention strategies focus on helping patients avoid and cope with them, improving their chances of long-term recovery.
- Behavioral Therapy:ย Behavioral therapies form the foundation of most addiction treatment programs. They help patients uncover the root causes of their addiction while teaching essential life skills and coping strategies for maintaining sobriety.
- Handling Withdrawal with Detox: Detox is often one of the most challenging phases due to withdrawal symptoms. Medical professionals provide support through medications and supplements to manage symptoms and ensure patients are monitored safely throughout the process.
Overcome Addiction with Purposes Recovery
If you’re seeking a leading addiction treatment center that offers personalized care and evidence-based methods, look no further than Purposes Recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how our comprehensive treatment programs can help you overcome addiction and reclaim your life.
The journey to recovery begins with Purpose.
