Posts Tagged ‘scientifically-based research’
The News series, “A journey to disaster,” is a sad but much-needed wake-up call on the dangers of addiction. Untreated, this disease, which afflicts one in 10 Americans, wreaks havoc on our families and communities, and costs too many lives each year. To combat addiction, we must give prevention and treatment the attention and funding they deserve.
To that end, New Yorkers—and all Americans—would do well to urge their leaders to support strong implementation of the historic Wellstone/Domenici Parity Act of 2008 and health care reform law, which require equal coverage of substance use prevention and treatment.
Just like diabetes and heart disease, addiction is a potentially fatal disease that we can, and should, work to prevent. It’s the only way to save the William Jakobis, Victoria Eikenburgs and Adam Tafelskis of the future.
Paul N. Samuels
Director and President Legal Action Center New York City
Addiction Definition
The word addiction is best defined as the obsessive thinking and compulsive need for and use of drugs, alcohol, food, sex or anything that is psychologically or physically addicting. Addiction can also be described by the development of tolerance with distinguishable withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing the use of the particular drug or behavior. In addition to the development of tolerance with regards to addiction, the addict or alcoholic will experience intense physical cravings for the drug accompanied by an emotional obsession to take the drug regardless of the consequences. The process of addiction that leads the individual to experience the compulsive need for drugs regardless of the consequences is directly related to the change in brain chemistry affecting the process of thought.
The Science Behind the Brain and Addiction Relationship
Scientifically-based research on the brain and addiction relationship has demonstrated to us that drugs, alcohol and specific behaviors have a significant impact on the reward center located in the brain. Levels relating to certain neurotransmitters, send messages to the brain. These neurotransmitters include serotonin and dopamine. Chronic use of drugs and alcohol tends to over-stimulate the brain until it must depend upon substances and behaviors to produce the needed chemicals. This chemical dependency is what leads to tolerance and addiction.
Most people believe that drug addiction lies in the additional use of drugs or alcohol when it truly is related to chemical imbalances in the brain and the compulsion to use, regardless of the consequences. In light of all of this scientific research, we still find professionals who adopt the philosophy that addiction is due to a lack of willpower and/or moral imperfections.
Brain Chemistry and Addiction
Most individuals suffering from addiction use drugs or alcohol to feel “good” or to self-medicate physical or emotional pain. Substance use and addictive behaviors stimulate and increase the brain’s production and use of REWARD chemicals such as dopamine. Depending on the dose of the drug, the brain accepts neurotransmitters that are significantly more intense than they would experience during the “natural” highs produced by the brain normally. In basic terms, this is why addiction takes place physically and emotionally.
Addiction Alters the Brain
Over time, the continued use of a drug alters the way the brain functions. A person’s brain becomes dependent on receiving the substance. These changes in brain chemistry create the addiction and create the tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The only “good” part regarding drug addiction is the disease is treatable and recovery is possible.
I Am Addicted 2 
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