What you should know about addictionADDICTION is a BRAIN DISEASE
No one starts out using drugs or alcohol expecting to become an addict or alcoholic. Just as no one expects to get cancer or heart disease. But when people use drugs or alcohol over and over again, there is a good chance they will become addicted
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What happens when people keep
using drugs and alcohol?
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The brain changes, especially
the areas that process motivated behavior.
The changes happen at many biological levels, starting with the millions
of brain cells themselves. Some genes
are turned on in these cells, while others are turned off. The genes are a code for proteins that affect
how the brain cells communicate with one another.
In some brain areas, the cell to cell communication becomes stronger, like the cells that release dopamine, leading to craving and relapse. In other cells these connections become weaker, like in areas of the cerebral cortex that process self-control, leading to an inability to make sound decisions, process complex emotions, and resist craving urges. These changes can last for a very long time. This is why addicts and alcoholics are extremely vulnerable to relapse even after they successfully stop drug and alcohol use. They are constantly reminded of their habit, and those reminders stimulate the dopamine cells. |