| It is no secret that the word "addiction" has lost | | | | brain might release a chemical telling you that you are |
| some of its meaning. It seems like these days, | | | | hungry (after the emptiness of your stomach |
| anybody who expresses a strong interest in | | | | prompts your brain to do so). |
| something is said to have "be addicted" to that | | | | When a person takes drugs, his drug of choice |
| something. The truth is that addiction is far more | | | | eventually takes over the production of certain |
| than a strong interest. For many people addictions | | | | chemicals for the brain. For example, when a person |
| are serious and, in the case of drug abuse, a drug | | | | uses heroin, the heroin triggers the release of |
| addiction can be a dangerous compulsion. So how do | | | | dopamine in the brain. As a person continues to use |
| people get addicted to drugs? How does addiction | | | | heroin, the brain loses its ability to produce dopamine |
| "work?" | | | | by itself. To use a simple analogy-the brain gets "out |
| A true addiction refers to the state in which a person | | | | of practice" and physically needs the heroin to tell it |
| thinks that he needs a substance in order to function | | | | how to produce dopamine. Different drugs trigger |
| properly. This addiction can manifest itself in the drug | | | | different chemicals. Amphetamines, for example, tell |
| addict's brain telling the addict that the drug will help | | | | the brain to release the chemicals that give the body |
| him "feel better." Drug addiction can also manifest | | | | energy. Eventually, the brain loses its ability to |
| itself physically-when the addict stops using his drug | | | | produce those chemicals by itself and the body will |
| of choice, he will go through physical withdrawal | | | | feel sluggish and tired until the drug addict takes |
| symptoms that (it seems) can only be stopped by | | | | more amphetamines to perk up. |
| taking more of the abused drug. | | | | The truth is that a drug addict really does "need" the |
| Many people assume that it takes quite a long time | | | | drug he or she has been abusing to feel normal. |
| to become a drug addict. The truth is that there are | | | | It is vital that, if you are trying to stare down a drug |
| many drugs out there, like meth and heroin that are | | | | addiction, you understand this. Understanding that |
| highly addictive and can create an addiction after just | | | | your body and brain cannot overpower the drug |
| a single use. How does this happen? | | | | addiction by sheer force of will is a major step on |
| First, let's look at how the brain normally functions. As | | | | the road to getting sober. Finding a suitable drug |
| a person goes through his day his brain will release a | | | | addiction treatment center is the next step that you |
| variety of hormones and chemicals that dictate how | | | | need to take. The road to sobriety will not be easy, |
| the person feels. When the brain increases its | | | | but with the right drug addiction treatment center to |
| dopamine production the person will feel happier. | | | | help you understand your addiction, sobriety is |
| When the brain triggers the release of endorphins, | | | | possible! |
| the person is better able to cope with stress. The | | | | |