Addictive behaviors can impact your life and everyday choices, and when it comes to substance dependence, addiction is especially complex. Addiction, especially in regards to drugs, alters the brain in real, tangible ways. Treating addiction can feel difficult, but understanding the science behind substance dependence can help us understand the complexities of the brain and addiction as a disease.
The Science Behind Substance Dependence
One of the first steps in understanding why addiction can be so powerful is to understand why it is considered a disease. Here, we break down how addiction physically affects the brain:
Dopamine: Many substances release the chemical known as dopamine, which is a pleasure response that also happens when we do things we enjoy, like exercise or eating. This is a signal to our brain to take pleasure in what’s happening and reward the body for doing it again, which is why our body sometimes craves the substances that also negatively impact it, therefore forming an addiction.
Basal ganglia: This is the reward center of the brain. Similar to dopamine creating a craving for more pleasure, the reward center is activated by the high produced by substance abuse. However, with repeated exposure, the positive reward effect in the brain is diminished from other positive experiences, therefore making it difficult to feel the rewards produced by anything other than the substance.
Extended Amygdala: The extended amygdala plays a role in stress and anxiety. This is where withdrawal is felt. The brain is promoting discomfort to encourage you to seek pleasure activities again, including drugs, and addiction is formed when a person develops substance dependence in order to rid the brain of this discomfort.
Start Your Recovery Process Today – Call PFLC
Dr. Gene Devers and associates at Philly Family Life Counseling, LLC provide both addiction counseling and support groups to those impacted by substance dependence. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, it may be time to get help. Call Philly Family Life Counseling, LLC today at 215-677-3810 for more information about addiction counseling, to set up an appointment, or to learn about our Relationships in Recovery support group. Addiction doesn’t have to control your life; get help today.
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