Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Issaquah
Dopamine is an important chemical messenger in drugs. The reward circuit's dopamine surges are what reinforce dangerous, but enjoyable, behaviours. These actions are often repeated by people.
The brain adapts over time to the increased dopamine. This decreases the amount of dopamine that the person experiences relative to their initial high. This is called tolerance. To get the same pleasure, they may take more dopamine.
There is no single factor that will predict if a person will become dependent on drugs. A variety of factors can impact the possibility of developing an addiction. These include genetic, developmental, and environmental factors. Predisposing traits are more likely to lead to addiction than consuming drugs.