48.5 million Americans are said to have battled a substance use disorder in the year up to the 2023 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and this figure does not even include those who have faced behavioral Science Behind Addiction such as gambling. These days, the word ‘addiction’ is thrown around without much thought, but do you know what actually happens in the brain when an addictive substance enters the body?
What is addiction?
The Cleveland Clinic defines addiction as “a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences.” Most people associate addiction with drugs and alcohol, however addiction can be categorized into two main forms: substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. Substance use disorders are the result of addiction to prescription or non-medical drugs such as tobacco, methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, or even caffeine. Individuals who suffer from a behavioral addiction develop a strong urge to partake in certain activities (for example gambling, excessive eating, shopping, or video gaming) despite knowing the potential harm such activities can cause.
As anyone qualified through an online MSW program would know, addiction can be an incredibly difficult, life-altering challenge to face, and it is far more complicated than many realize. Often, loved ones of those suffering from an addiction may not even notice that an addiction has set in until it has completely taken control of the affected individual’s life and caused issues in their relationships or career. As the following section explains, the changes that happen to the brain during addiction make it extremely difficult to resist the cycle of Science Behind Addiction.
What does addiction do to the brain?
Addiction targets the reward system, which is one of the brain’s most primitive pathways. Originally, the reward system pathway was intended to reinforce behaviors that enabled humans to survive, such as eating, socializing, exercising, and reproduction. When, for example, someone takes a bite of food, the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain and triggers a sensation of pleasure. Addiction ‘rewires’ the brain by chemically altering the reward system in such a way that makes it difficult for the individual to resist the addictive substance or behavior. Indeed, addictive drugs or behaviors flood the brain with ten times more dopamine than in a natural reward pathway. Individuals with addictions become desensitized to the amount of dopamine that they would usually receive through a natural reward pathway because it does not compare to the feeling generated by addictive drugs or behaviors. Consequently, they repeat addictive habits so that they can recreate that same feeling of pleasure. When the addictive substance is not consumed, individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches or nausea. Withdrawal symptoms feed the cycle of addiction as the symptoms are relieved when the addictive substance is taken again.
There are many factors that can contribute to the beginnings of an addiction, and some people may be more at risk of developing an addiction than others. The Mayo Clinic cites a family history of addiction and mental health conditions such as ADHD, depression, and PTSD as risk factors for the development of substance use disorders. Environmental factors such as one’s upbringing and their family’s attitude towards drugs and alcohol can also influence the onset of an addiction. Addiction can be treated with the right interventions such as therapy, support groups, rehabilitation, and certain medications that reduce cravings and help to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Is addiction a brain disease?
Many people mistakenly assume that addiction is simply a matter of willpower or poor decision-making. However, the biological basis of addiction and the way that it changes brain structure and function are proof that addiction is, in fact, a brain disease. The spread of misconceptions—for instance, claiming that addictions are the result of a moral failing on the part of the individual—are harmful to those suffering from addiction because of the negative stigma that it generates. Such negative stigma can result in barriers when those suffering from addiction seek access to help.
Addiction is a complex and serious condition that can have long-lasting effects if it is left untreated. Both types of Science Behind Addiction (substance use disorders and behavioral addiction) alter the brain because of the way that they increase the amount of dopamine that is released in the brain. Such changes to the brain’s structure and function point to the conclusion that addiction is a brain disease and should be treated as such.
