How Drugs Influence and Change Brain Chemistry

When we engage in behaviors necessary for our survival, neurons in our reward pathway release dopamine. The reward pathway also wants to make sure you repeat the behaviors whenever possible, so it connects to the parts of the brain that control memory and behavior.

Drugs cause rapid releases of dopamine in the brain. The brain is affected so dramatically (upon repeated abuse of drugs) that it adapts by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the synapse. As a result, the abuser will need more drugs next time they want to feel good.

Genetics is also a factor of addiction. This doesn't mean that addiction is "in the genes," but rather, certain genes determine whether the addict will have a difficult time quitting, or even the difficulty of becoming addicted. Even so, a person who's genes code for them to be easily addicted won't automatically become addicted. In addition, there isn't actually a single gene for addiction, but rather, the interaction of many.

Adolescence is perhaps the most dangerous time to start taking drugs, since the brain is developing and changing. But in addition, adolescence is also the time in a person's life where they're most prone to taking risks. Social and environmental factors are the main contributor to addiction, so peer pressure and the curiosity of experimenting with drugs may also make a person cave. Bad family conditions or a bad social life may also make a person want to make themselves happy-- thus resorting to drugs.

People saw-- and still see-- addiction as a personality flaw, as well as a sign of weakness. However, drugs back then that were considered safe and prescribed for many different medical conditions are now illegal and considered dangerous. Some drugs are still used for religious reasons-- such as peyote, a cactus containing mescaline, which is used in rituals in Native American churches-- with permission from the government.

Some addiction is treated with other (legal) drugs, but these drugs stop addiction and abuse rather than functioning like illegal drugs do. Some illegal drugs are used medically-- morphine, ketamine, and codeine-- and even ecstasy and marajuana have some potential to be used medically as well.

In conclusion, drugs will mess up the brain beyond full "repair," but that doesn't mean drug addicts can't try to get their brains "repaired" as much as possible.