Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Mount Vernon
To avoid dependence on pain medication, take the prescribed drug exactly as directed by your doctor. Inform your doctor about any drug addiction or misuse in your family. This will allow them to recommend the most effective medication for you.
What happens when someone takes drugs? What Effect Does Drug Use Have on the Brain? Your brain is wired to want to repeat situations that make your feel good. Your brain is motivated to repeat the things you love.
Most drugs cause the brain to "reward circuit" and flood it in dopamine, which causes euphoria. A functioning reward system can motivate people to perform the behaviors that will help them thrive. Dopamine spikes in the reward system encourage people to continue engaging in harmful, but fun, behaviors like drug abuse.
As the person continues to use drugs, the brain adjusts by decreasing the neurons' ability to react to the stimulant. This causes the person to feel less high than they did when they first started taking the drug. This effect is called tolerance. To try to get the same high they might take more. These brain adaptations often result in the person losing their ability to experience pleasure from other things such as food, sex, and social activities.