ADDICTION - A BRAIN DISORDER?
When we feel stressed , depressed or simply want a good time we have a drink, or perhaps we take a ‘happy’ pill, smoke a joint or even snort a line of coke. We may visit the casino or have a ‘little flutter’ at the races or perhaps we go shopping. It makes us feel better, helps us escape.
What happens in our brains is that we feel good when neurons in the reward pathway release a neurotransmitter called dopamine into the nucleus accumbens and other brain areas. Dopamine is released into the synapse, crosses to the next neuron and binds to the receptors, providing a jolt of pleasure. It is true to say that addictive substances or behaviours increase the amount of dopamine in the synapse, heightening the feeling of pleasure. That’s why they’re so appealing – and addictive!
The brain remembers that pleasure and wants to repeat it as soon as possible.
Ever had a win at a casino! Remember the feeling? Who didn’t want to go back and win again? However, at this point the normal brain has some self-regulatory devices to prevent the receptor nerve from being over stimulated. In other words, the brain’s ‘enough button’ works well. Reason prevails and we give the casino a miss.
However, where a person is vulnerable, has a genetic history of addiction or is in some kind of life crisis, or is experiencing social pressure the brain remembers the good feeling it got from the addictive drug and the drive is on to repeat that.
Addiction occurs when repeated stimulation disrupts the normal balance of brain circuits that control rewards, memory and cognition, ultimately leading to compulsive behaviour. Simply put, the area of the brain that controls impulsive behaviour over-functions and the frontal part of the brain that controls advanced functioning ceases to function. It is as though a person has an accelerator but no braking system. The ‘enough button’ ceases to function, the brain is ‘hi-jacked’ and the addicted brain begins to control the person. The longer the addiction is active the more the person loses control.
The levels of dopamine, serotonin and other naturally occurring substances that regulate our well-being are also affected and the body ceases to manufacture them. The result is an inability to feel normal pleasure and, sometimes, the onset of depression.
Multiple Addictions.
It is not unusual for people to be addicted to more than one substance or activity at the same time. If the brain is addicted, it doesn’t generally mind what it chooses to attach to. It usually has a favourite, known as the “drug of choice’ but will happily accept substitutes. Generally treatment for multiple addictions should be delivered at the same time.
Good News and Bad News
First, the bad news - you do have to quit! All recognized addiction treatment is abstinence based in order that the “addiction pathway” in the brain is shut down.
Now for some good news -The brain, if not too damaged, begins to slowly return to normal and frontal lobe activity is resumed. A person begins to be able to reason, make decisions, and think of consequences. The addiction pathway will eventually be de-activated. It will, in effect ‘hibernate’. However, it is always there with the potential for activation.
Warning! The addiction pathway can be re-activated if an addicted substance or activity is re-introduced. The pathway kicks back into action and the addict relapses.
Meet the Crazy Dog...
Imagine, if you will, that there is a crazy dog that has taken up residence in your brain. It has been well-fed and has become demanding and needy and doesn’t care about anything except its next meal. Imagine then that the only way to weaken this dog is by starving it. It’s difficult - as the dog will whine and howl and even bite, but if you persist, the dog grows weaker and will eventually curl up and fall asleep.
If you feed the dog, or even tempt it by placing it near food, it will begin to stir. Once its fed, it very quickly regains strength and the crazy dog is back!
For the latest in this research go to www.harpo.com . Look for Documentaries and then Addiction and search out the latest articles and interviews with cutting edge addiction specialists.
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