At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of five addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, we recognize that understanding the science and biology of addiction is key to forming successful treatment plans for our patients. By understanding how addiction can affect the brain, we put ourselves in a better position to be able to understand both the needs and issues that our patients face during the recovery process.
When someone is battling with substance use disorder and addiction, they will essentially crave the drugs to such a high degree that they will do anything to obtain them. Even though the risks are clear – ruining bonds and friendships, creating issues between loved ones, and even having issues at their job (or even potentially losing their job), the mind of someone battling addiction is in a state that simply wants one thing – the substance or drug that they crave.
With this being said, the National Institute of Health, (NIH), is trying to learn more about addiction and the biology and science behind it. Scientists have discovered that addiction is in fact an extremely complex brain disease and is often a disease that lasts for long periods of time throughout one’s life.
Many people who are not fully educated on addiction may incorrectly believe that addiction is simply one’s choice to engage in these addictive behaviors. However, this is completely incorrect. We have learned through extensive amounts of research that the brain literally becomes altered from addiction, therefore requiring a significant amount of time, energy, and effort to get the brain back to normal.
When someone becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, the part of the brain that handles the feelings of pleasure/rewards becomes altered and affected. As a result, your brain actually makes you crave the substance even more. If that’s not difficult enough to manage, the brain chemistry changes in such a way that you will feel uncomfortable, and experience stress and anxiety when not using the substances. The effects of this are devastating to the user. Eventually a user may simply engage in substance use to feel normal rather than even achieve the “highs” that they once knew.
The brain’s prefrontal cortex is also affected by substance use and addiction. Known for being the “decision-making” part of the brain, there is decreased activity in this section of the brain in those who are addiction to drugs and alcohol. As a result of this, poor decisions are made by the users. They will continue to use the substances, despite all of the negative consequences that could arise.
It is still unclear as to why certain people have issues with addiction, while others do not. Scientists are still trying to learn about how all of this works – however, it has been discovered that addiction commonly runs in families. One’s genes may also contribute to this. It is important to note that even if addiction does run in one’s family, this does not mean that all family members will develop an addiction. It just means you are at a “higher risk”.
There are other reasons why people become addicted to drugs and alcohol, with a key focus being on their childhood. If you experienced an unpleasant childhood such as being raised by parents who suffer with addictions, or if you suffered abuse, you may be more likely to develop an addiction as an adult. Also, teens and young adults often face a high level of peer pressure to try new substances. Unfortunately, this can lead to an addiction and create issues for the user into adulthood.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, has helped thousands of patients achieve sobriety and a drug-free life. While there is still much research to be done, it is evident that addiction changes one’s brain chemistry, making it that much harder for the user to recover. Our unique model of providing total and complete care under one roof (psychiatric, wellness, behavioral health, and medication-assisted treatment services), allows our team to fully treat the patient, while giving them the highest chances for a successful recovery. For more information on Victory, visit our website www.victoryrp.com
