Drug Addiction and Abuse

Drug addiction is more complex than people realise. It is not simply a social problem that means addicts can stop taking drugs at will, rather drugs affect the brain which in turn means that willpower is not enough. However, there are treatments available for people to stop taking drugs.

Drug addiction can be described as brain disease because the drugs themselves will change the structure of the brain. In most cases the decision to take drugs is at first voluntary, but soon becomes an impulse due to these changes in the brain. However, treatments can help these affects on the brain.

The Affect of Drugs on the Brain

When you take drugs the way nerves send information is disrupted. Most drugs flood the circuit with dopamine which controls the emotions, motivation and feelings of pleasure. The overstimulation is what leads to people experiencing euphoric effects of drugs.

When more drugs are taken over time, the brain will adapt by producing less dopamine and this in turn reduces the ability to enjoy drugs. This is what causes the compulsion that makes drug abusers continue to take drugs in order to bring the dopamine levels back up.

Drugs also impair cognitive function and affect decision making, learning, memory and behaviour control.

Prevention

Drug addiction is preventable. Programs usually involve families, schools and the media which are successful in stopping people from beginning to take drugs in the first place. This will involve learning the risk of taking drugs, and the message that addiction can be prevented.

Some people are more vulnerable to addiction, but there is no way of knowing whether you will become addicted to drugs or not. For this reason prevention is the best treatment for drug addiction and abuse.