- Understanding Addiction
Many researchers believe that addiction is i) a behaviour that can be controlled to some extent and conversely ii) that it is also a brain disease. -
- Testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause almost the same reactions inside the brain, suggesting that there may be a control model for addiction health-related issues. In other words, there might be a 'disease' covering all addictions ( gambling, smoking, overeating, drugs, etc), with a could all be treated in the same way.
The addiction mechanism works in the following way. The brain, the centre of the body’s nervous system, responds to addictive behaviours by increasing dopamine levels.
Dopamine is the chemical transmitter to the “pleasure centre". When a cell is stimulated by Dopamine it will stimulated another cell, and so on down the line, resulting in a spontaneous or systematic process of ecstasy or elation.
Nervous system functions are altered according to the properties of the addictive substance. In many instances the addicts perception, senses and reactions are impeded. e.g. Alcohol is a depressant; so a drunk driver facing an immediate collision will, in all likelihood, react slower than they would when sober. -
- Addictive substances can enter the body in various ways. They can be inhaled into the lung system, injected into vascular (blood) system or swallowed, thereby entering into the digestive system.
Continued use of addictive substances, results in increased dopamine levels and increased dopamine tolerance. As detailed above, this chemical reaction ultimately depresses an addict mental and physical systems, adversely effecting their health and behaviour.
Depending upon the addiction and length of compulsive activity, permanent brain damage and other physical / mental health problems e.g. cancer (smoking). -
- In summary, addiction is compulsive behaviour that is often accompanied by negative consequences.
