Facts About Drug Addiction

How the Brain Works

The brain consists of billions of interconnected nerve cells called neurons. For the brain to function so that a person can think, move or feel, these neurons must communicate. They do this by receiving, processing and transmission of chemical signals called neurotransmitters. When a neurotransmitter is released from one neuron connects to another at a specific site called a receptor, very similar to the way a key fits a lock. If the key settings, the receiving neuron will be able to process the signal and send it.

Physical Effects of Drug Use

A drug is any substance that, once inside the body, changes in the functioning of the body. Drugs can be swallowed, inhaled, snorted, injected, absorbed through the skin, or dropped into the eyes. No matter the route of administration, most drugs eventually travel through the circulatory system and reach the brain.

In the brain, drugs can affect almost any step in communication between neurons, increasing or decreasing the amount of neurotransmitter that reaches the receiving neuron. A drug may also be linked directly to a receiver instead of a neurotransmitter. In the case of drug abuse, interference with nerve communication often causes a temporary feeling of pleasure.

What Is Drug Addiction?

With drug addiction, a person who longs for the feeling of pleasure produced by a drug binge and use despite negative consequences.

The use of certain types of medications can also cause physical addiction or dependence, which means that the drug must be present for the body to function normally. In this case, when the drug is withdrawn, the user may experience mild to severe effects ranging from nausea to death.

Treatment for Drug Addiction

There are many ways to treat a person with drug addiction, and a program supervised by the physician is the most proper and safe management.