Natural Reward System-
Neurons are an organism's natural communication system and are in charge of sending messages through the body through exchanging a chemical or electrical message between neurons across the body. There are many different and distinct parts of the brain, and each is responsible for one or many different possible behaviors, thoughts, actions, etc. In the middle of the brain, there is a part in which controls the mind's reward system and is in charge of controlling our feelings of motivation, reward and behavior. This part of the brain's main job is to positively reinforce behaviors that would increase survival chances. The reward pathway connects to many different parts of the brain in order to be able to sense different things that are happening within and outside of the body so that it can react to the many actions of the body. For example, if a person were very hungary and ate a sandwich, the brain would release Dopamine, the body's reward. When someone has an addiction, the reward pathway influences the body to repeat a behavior in order for the body to get the positive reward.
Drugs Alter the Brain's Reward Pathway-
Drugs change the release of Dopamine so that a large amount of it is released within seconds of the drug entering the body. When this is released the person feels an intense pleasure, often referred to as a "high". A person's brain is going to try to adapt to the new substance and therefore becomes immune to its affects. The dose of the substance is usually increased in order to still get that "high" feeling. This is often refereed to as tolerance. A person changes from a drug user to a drug addict when the act becomes so natural that it is almost a habit. Occasionally, when a dose is too much for the body to handle, an overdose , the person can even die from the dramatic changes it has on the brain and body.
Genetics is an Important Factor in Addiction-
A large part of a person's risk for developing an addiction is environmental; no one is born an addict. No single gene can cause addiction, but a combination of many genes may make a person more susceptible to develop one. Many discoveries would not be able to have been made if it were not for testing on animal subjects, mice in particular. If a gene in a mouse is identified to aid in addiction, the human counterpart can be identified by examining human DNA. On a good note, if a specific gene is found that makes a person more likely to be addicted, a medical drug could be created that would specifically target that gene and ideally make the recovery process easier.
Timing and Circumstances Influence Addiction-
If a person were to begin to take drugs when they are in their adolescence, they have a higher chance of developing a lifelong addition. During the adolescence years a person's frontal cortex is still developing, so a person is much more likely to have risk-taking behaviors that may lead to trying a drug. If a person can stay away from drugs during their risk-taking years, they have a better chance of not starting them throughout their lifetime. Social aspects can also influence a person's likelihood to do drugs. If a person is not receiving enough of the natural reward from social aspects, they will seek it some other way, which may be derived from drug use.
Challenges and Issues in Addiction-
Historically speaking, society's general negative opinion on drug use and addiction is fairly new. In the recent past, drugs were looked at as a normal part of life and were prescribed for anything from sleeplessness to weight loss. Marijuana was the third most often prescribed medication until it was banned in 1937.
