How does addiction affect the brain? Why do our brains get addicted? Read on to learn the facts about addiction and brain health here.
Substance abuse is calculated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to cost the USA almost $1 trillion every year!
One of the most pernicious aspects of drug addiction is that it directly targets the brain. The brain is in charge of all of our decisions and every aspect of our decision making. Once it’s been rewired, it can take a lot of work to return it to its original healthy state.
If you’ve ever wondered, “How does addiction affect the brain?”, then read on to learn all about it!
How Does Addiction Affect the Brain?
Drug addiction affects the neural pathways in the brain. It hijacks the reward center, driving the brain to pursue nothing but the drug.
The drug then overwhelms the brain through overstimulation. In the end, the brain no longer derives pleasure from drugs, but it will suffer without them.
So how does drug addiction affect brain health? In short, it first forces the brain to find pleasure only in the drug. Then, to make things worse, it makes it so that even the drug cannot provide pleasure to the brain.
How Does Opiate Addiction Affect the Brain?
Opiates are classified as a depressant. They act on the central nervous system by impairing some of its functions.
The brain naturally creates pain-relieving chemicals that are received by certain receptors in the brain. Opiates attach to these same receptors to eliminate pain, and they also lead to drowsiness, disorientation, and nausea.
How Does Nicotine Addiction Affect the Brain?
Nicotine is a stimulant, not a depressant. It stimulates specifically the pleasure centers of the brain.
After significant use, people will become constantly anxious without nicotine in their system. Every time they use nicotine, they are temporarily relaxed, but they become chronically anxious without it.
How Does Alcohol Addiction Affect the Brain?
Most people know that drinking alcohol slows down the reflexes, fine motor control, and clear thinking of the brain. Over significant prolonged use of alcohol, these effects can become permanent.
How Can a Retreat Assist Recovery Efforts?
Finding the right environment to recover from drug addiction is half the battle. Overcoming old habits can be almost impossible when you also have to be surrounded by temptations.
On top of that, there’s a certain amount of effort and discipline that goes into just holding your life together. That work includes preparing your own food, as well as trying to make sure you get healthy meals. It includes things like knowing when to turn off the TV and having the willpower to do it.
All of these things act as a drain on your willpower and mental strength. That’s just one of the reasons that it can be so powerful to take a step back and get away from your usual environment.
A retreat makes every other aspect of your life simple and easy. That means you can focus fully on overcoming drug addiction. Follow this link to find out more about finding the perfect retreat for you or to know more about or-nc.com.
Cultivate a Healthy Mind Free of Addictions
If you’ve ever wondered, “How does addiction affect the brain?”, we hope that this brief piece has helped you find the answer.
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