answersLogoWhite

0

The brain has many chemicals, or neurotransmitters. "Neuro" because the brain is the central nervous system of the body, and "transmitter" because neurotransmitter carry messages from one part of the brain to another. One of these chemicals is called Dopamine.

The brain has many "offices", or areas of function. One of these "offices" is the office of "feeling good." When we do something that is good for us, as long as it is done in moderation, the brain releases Dopamine to tell us this is a behavior that feels good: it makes us feel good, or satisfied, and causes us to seek out that same substance again. In fact, this is what keeps us alive. If we didn't enjoy eating because Dopamine tells us it is an enjoyable experience, we would starve to death without intervention!! In fact, we feel the effects of Dopamine during sex, when we excercise, and when we get a good massage! As well as other things.

However, when we take a drug, say Cocaine, the coke fools the body into thinking it is dopamine, and it "binds" or attaches itself to the Dopamine. What happens in a normal situation is that you eat, you feel good, and then the dopamine stops being released and what is in the brain gets reabsorbed. You don't have feelings of euphoria for an hour, no matter how good the chocolate cake was. That is because the dopamine is long gone by then. However, when it is attached to a mind altering drug, it does not get reabsorbed into the brain. Instead, it hangs out for awhile, releasing and re-releasing feelings of pleasure for a time, whether that is 20 minutes or a few hours depends on which drug you took. That is because the drug interferes with the brain's normal mechanism for processing the dopamine.

Then, when the drug wears off, the person may want to repeat that feeling, and they will get some more of the drug. This is how addiction starts. Over a period of time, the experience will begin to be less exciting for them, and this also has to do with the amount of dopamine being released into the brain-natural dopamine in the brain is released in smaller and smaller amounts due to drug abuse. They begin to need more and more of the drug to obtain the initial high. Over time, their natural levels of dopamine have dropped so low that without the drug, they become depressed, develop nervous twitches and anxiety, feel sick and in pain, and may even be suicidal. This is when it becomes addictive: when they absolutely need the drug to re-create even normal levels of dopamine in the brain, and more than that to feel high.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Why do people not care when they become addicted to something?

Because they love the thing they are addicted to so much.


Is it possible for young people to become addicted to tobacco?

yes


When people become addicted what is the biggest reason they continue to use?

They're Addicted. No Self-Control and the impulse to keep buying. But mostly they're addicted.


How long does it take to become addicted to adderall?

Depends on your body. Some people get addicted quite easily, but some don't. For example a pack of cigarettes will be enough for one person to become addicted, and for other months are needed to become addicted (like me :D ).


What do you call a person addicted to painting?

If they are good at it, you can call them an artist. There doesn't seem to be a name for people who are addicted to painting. There are people who are addicted to painting specific things, such as people addicted to applying nail polish. These things would fall more into compulsions, since they are not dangerous activities and don't directly harm others. Then there are people addicted to inhaling paint. Those would be huffers and inhalant abusers, and that is a serious addiction.


Are people addicted by drugs?

No, not all people become addicted to drugs. It depends on the type of drugs as well as the type of personality the person has, which makes some people more likely to become addicted than others.


Can a person become addicted to Ibuprophen?

yes you can become addicted to ibuprofen as it is a painkiller


Why do people become addicted to tobacco and drug?

Because of chemical reaction in the brain


should i quite youtube?

no you can make a lot of money off youtube if you become popular enough


How many people who try cocaine get addicted?

Cocaine is extremely addictive; it is possible to use it once and not get addicted, but people who use it twice will almost certainly become addicts.


Who can become addicted to the internet?

Anyone can become addicted to the internet if they have a void to fill in their lives.


Why does a person become addicted to a drug?

Addictive personalities play a significant part in how people become slaves to the fix.