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Addiction is fundamentally a brain disease.
It results in changes that occur within the structure of the brain that are
manifested in a functional way, and behaviors, the hallmark feature of which is
the compulsive seeking and use of drugs in spite of negative consequences.
Addiction occurs because of repeated exposure of the brain to different
addictive substances.
That includes things like nicotine, alcohol, as well as illicit drugs like
***, ***, or methamphetamine; and also certain prescription drugs are
addictive.
We are talking a lot recently about prescription opiates and their addictive
properties.
There is a basic misunderstanding, I think, about addictive disorders.
Most people don’t really know that repeated exposure to addictive drugs
actually changes the brain in a fundamental way, that this change leads to the
hallmark feature of addiction, which is the compulsive use of drugs of abuse in
spite of negative consequences.
The assumption is that the addicted individual is rational, that the addicted
individual is capable of choice, that of course the non-addicted person
understands that if somebody uses that drug, there’s going to be big
consequences, so why can’t that person understand that?
But addiction doesn’t work like that.
It’s not that that person lacks moral fortitude.
It’s not that that person just is weak.
It’s that that person’s brain is fundamentally different and operates in a
different way than someone who is not addicted.
Their overriding desire is to seek and take their drug of choice—the drug
that they’re addicted to—and it is extremely difficult for them, particularly
when they are actively involved in their substance use, to be able to take that
moment to stop themselves and to think through that
choice and take a different path.