Your Brain on Drugs: Understanding Drug Addiction

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Understanding Drug Addiction
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• The brains many parts coordinate and perform all
  of the functions that make our daily lives
  possible. When drugs are introduced, they alter
  important life-sustaining functions and can drive
  the compulsive drug abuse that leads to
  addiction.
• The primary areas of the brain affected by drug
  use are
• the brain stem, which controls basic functions
  critical to life such as breathing and heart
  rate
• the cerebral cortex, which controls our senses
  and ability to think, plan, and solve problems
  and
• the limbic system, which controls and regulates
  our ability to feel pleasure.
• Understanding how drugs affect the brain leads to
  understanding addiction and how addiction can be
  treated.

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• Drugs tap into the brains communication system
  and interfere with how neurons send, receive, and
  process information. Almost all drugs that change
  the way the brain works do so by affecting
  chemical neurotransmission. For example
• Heroin and LSD mimic the effects of a natural
  neurotransmitter.
• PCP blocks receptors and thus prevents neuronal
  messages from getting through.
• Cocaine interferes with the molecules that are
  responsible for transporting neurotransmitters
  back into the neurons that released them.
• Methamphetamine causes neurotransmitters to be
  released in greater amounts than normal.
• Prolonged drug use changes the brain in
  fundamental and long-lasting ways.

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• Life sustaining activities, such as eating,
  activate a circuit of specialized nerve cells
  devoted to producing and regulating pleasure. One
  set of these nerve cells uses a chemical
  neurotransmitter called dopamine.
• Dopamine regulates movement, emotion, motivation,
  and feelings of pleasure. Most abused drugs
  target the brains reward system by flooding the
  circuit with dopamine.
• In a person who does not abuse drugs, this reward
  system is activated at normal levels making a
  person feel good when performing natural
  behaviors. In a person abusing drugs, it is
  highly over-stimulated and produces extremely
  euphoric effects.

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• The brain compensates for the excessive amount of
  dopamine received during drug use by reducing the
  number of dopamine receptors, to dampen the
  response, and increasing the number of dopamine
  transporters that clear out the dopamine.
• As a result, the brain is less responsive to a
  drug, and next time, a drug user will have a
  higher tolerance and will need more of the drug
  to get high.
• As another consequence, the pleasure received
  from performing natural behaviors is severely
  diminished to the point of being barely
  noticeable. Drugs become necessary just to bring
  dopamine function back to normal.

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• Addiction is also a consequence of behavioral
  conditioning. When your brain is accustomed to
  the idea that doing something will provide
  pleasure, such as eating dessert, just seeing a
  dessert or thinking about dessert will trigger a
  dopamine response.
• This is partly why it is difficult for drug
  addicts to stay sober. There are so many sights,
  sounds, and smells associated with getting high
  that make them want to fulfill the urge and get
  the actual high.

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• More of the drug is needed to experience the same
  effects that were once associated with smaller
  amounts.
• Drugs are used to avoid or relieve withdrawal
  symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia,
  depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
• Drug use is no longer controllable and is in
  excess of what was planned.
• A lot of time is spent using and thinking about
  drugs, figuring out how to get drugs, and
  recovering from the drugs effects.
• Enjoyable hobbies, sports, and socializing are no
  longer participated in.
• Despite major harm and problems, such as
  blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression,
  and paranoia, drugs are still used.

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• Drug addiction risk is influenced by biology,
  social environment, and the age or stage of
  development. The more risk factors a person has,
  the more likely theyll develop addiction.
• Biology The genes that people are born with
  combined with environmental influences accounts
  for about half of addiction vulnerability.
  Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the presence
  of other mental disorders may influence risk.
• Environment A persons environmental influences
  include family, friends, socioeconomic status,
  and quality of life in general. Factors such as
  peer pressure, physical or sexual abuse, stress,
  and quality of parenting can also greatly
  influence the occurrence of drug abuse.
• Development Genetic and environmental factors
  interact with critical developmental stages in a
  persons life to affect addiction vulnerability.
  Although taking drugs at any age can lead to
  addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the
  more likely it will progress to more serious
  abuse.

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• Recovery is never out of reach, no matter how
  hopeless a situation seems. Change is possible
  with the right treatment and support and by
  addressing the root cause of the addiction.
  Support is essential and can be received in an
  inpatient or outpatient treatment facility.
• Recovering from drug addiction is much easier
  when a person has people to lean on for
  encouragement, comfort, and guidance. After the
  initial detoxification, which can be aided with
  medication to suppress withdrawal symptoms, drug
  treatment can include individual and group
  treatment with peers for a concentrated and
  extended period of time.

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• Yellowstone Recovery has been helping people
  break free from drugs and alcohol for over 15
  years and offers Southern Californians affordable
  treatment options, including detoxification,
  inpatient care, extended inpatient care, and
  outpatient care.
• Website http//www.yellowstonerecovery.com
• Phone [phone]