How Does Addiction Affect Your Brain?
Do You Know How Does Addiction Affect Your Brain? Addiction profoundly alters the brain’s function and structure, leading to significant changes in behavior and decision-making. Understanding these changes is crucial to addressing addiction effectively. Today we will explore how addiction affects the brain, comparing an addict’s brain to a normal brain and delving into key concepts like the brain’s reward system, the role of dopamine, and the impact on various brain regions. Key Takeaways Addictive Drugs Alter the Brain’s Reward Center: Addictive substances hijack the brain’s reward system by flooding it with dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. This leads to significant brain changes in the dopamine system and reward pathway, making natural rewards less satisfying and driving the compulsive need to seek and use the substance. Addiction is a Chronic Brain Disease: Drug addiction is increasingly recognized as a chronic brain disease, not a moral failing. It involves si...