In the private and public sectors, we’ve seen a great deal of investment in the science of addiction.
14.8 million were diagnosed with alcohol disorder in the US. While there are cases of sudden, traumatic addiction, it’s more common for addiction to be a genetic, environmental factor in the brain.Thought you might want to know what research has discovered about how addiction affects the brain.
Read on for the biology of addiction and plenty more.
Alter Brain’s Structure And Function
Addiction is a serious brain disease that changes the structure and function of the brain. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are not able to control their use, even though it is causing them harm. Addiction affects the brain in a number of ways.
It interferes with the brain’s ability to send and receive chemical messages. This can lead to changes in mood, thinking, and behavior. It can also cause changes in the structure of the brain. These changes can be long-lasting and can make it hard for people to recover from addiction and the brain.
Affects Decision-Making
The exact mechanism of how addiction develops is unknown, but we do know that it affects the brain’s decision-making process. The brain stem, which controls the basic functions of the body like heart rate and breathing, is also responsible for the brain’s reward system.
In addiction, this system is hijacked. The addictive substance or behavior activates the reward system, but the rewards are much greater than what is experienced in normal life. This reinforcement of the behavior leads to compulsive engagement in the addictive behavior, despite the negative consequences.
Understanding how does addiction affect the brain can help us develop better treatments for this devastating disorder.
Biology Of Addiction Affects The Chemistry
Changes in brain chemistry refer to the changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other. Drug addiction changes the levels of some neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, in the brain.
Dopamine is responsible for the feeling of pleasure and is involved in the brain’s reward system. The changes in dopamine levels caused by addiction make the rewards associated with drugs more powerful.
Alters Brain Processes
The most important effect of drugs on the brain is the way they alter brain processes. Drugs change the way neurons communicate with each other. They can increase or decrease the activity of certain brain areas, or they can change the way information is processed.
These changes can be long-lasting and can lead to harmful behaviors seen in addiction. There are many resources available, read more about addiction to help you or your loved one get treatment and start on the road to recovery.
Proper Treatment Helps Overcome Addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to understand how it affects the brain. Addiction specifically alters the brain’s reward center, making it difficult to feel pleasure from anything other than the addictive substance or behavior. With proper treatment, however, it is possible to overcome addiction and regain control of your life.
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