Addiction is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s a complex disorder that alters the brain chemistry and leads to uncontrolled behavior despite the negative consequences that come with addiction. When someone becomes addicted to a substance, they undergo a series of changes in their brain and body that make it increasingly difficult to quit. Let’s dive in.
1. Addiction Rewires the Brain’s Reward System
The brain has a reward circuit that helps us feel pleasure from natural rewards like food and sex. When someone takes a drug or engages in an addictive behavior like gambling, their brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that reinforces reward-based behavior. Over time, the repeated release of dopamine alters the brain’s reward system, making the substance or behavior more desirable than anything else in life. This is why people struggling with addiction prioritize drugs or addictive behaviors over everything else, including their own well-being.
2. Addiction Rewires the Brain’s Decision-Making Process
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, judgment, and impulse control. In people with addiction, this area of the brain is impaired, making it harder to make rational decisions. This is why people struggling with addiction often engage in dangerous behaviors, even when they know the consequences are or could be detrimental.
3. Addiction Rewires the Brain’s Stress Response System
Chronic drug use alters the way the brain responds to stress. The neurotransmitter cortisol, which is released during times of stress, becomes less effective in individuals with addiction. This rewiring of the stress response system leads to intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms caused by the inability of the brain to regulate stress without the drug or addictive behavior.
4. Addiction Rewires the Brain’s Memory and Learning Process
Repeated drug use leads to changes in the brain’s hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning. This impairs the brain’s ability to form new memories, leading to difficulties with learning and decision-making.
5. Addiction Rewires the Brain’s Pleasure System
Over time, drug use leads to a decrease in the number of dopamine receptors in the brain, making it harder for people with addiction to feel pleasure from anything other than their drug of choice. This shift in the pleasure system leads to depression and anxiety, which can trigger addictive behavior in an attempt to find relief.
Georgia Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center
Addiction is a complicated disease that alters the brain’s chemical makeup, making it increasingly difficult to break free from. It’s important to recognize that addiction is not a choice, and it requires professional help, support, and dedication to overcome. With the right resources and a strong support system, individuals struggling with addiction can find their way to sobriety and a fulfilling life.
At Green Acres Wellness, we understand the fear and uncertainty that come with taking the first step toward sobriety. That’s why our rehab facility in Alapaha, GA, offers a safe and supportive environment, free of judgment.
To get started, call us at (229) 213-3363 or contact us online.
