Drug addiction runs through families, perhaps in part for genetic reasons, and in part due to environmental influence. If you have a blood relative who is addicted, especially a parent or full sibling, you have a higher risk for drug addiction. Some people are more vulnerable to drug addiction than others, just as some people are more vulnerable to cancer or diabetes than others. There is no single factor that controls whether you will become addicted. Overall, though, the more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of drug addiction is; on the other hand, the more protective factors you have the less risk of addiction you face. Drug addiction isn’t always an instantly obvious problem; it often starts small. In fact, drug addiction sometimes begins with simple recreational use, or a “one-time” experiment, trying something new, or even a prescription for a much-needed painkiller after an accident or surgery.

As a result, the person’s ability to experience pleasure from naturally rewarding (i.e., reinforcing) activities is also reduced. Pleasure or euphoria—the high from drugs—is still poorly understood, but probably involves surges of chemical signaling compounds including the body’s natural opioids and other neurotransmitters in parts of the basal ganglia . When some drugs are taken, they can cause surges of these neurotransmitters much greater than the smaller bursts naturally produced in association with healthy rewards like eating, music, creative pursuits, or social interaction. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of adolescence that shape a person’s future. As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person’s chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain—and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems.

What are drugs?

Scientists believe this starkly felt contrast drives some people to repeated drug taking in an attempt to recapture the fleeting pleasurable state. Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of an organ in the body, both have serious harmful effects, and both are, in many cases, preventable and treatable.

Drugs change the brain so that users physically feel as though they need drugs to function normally. They prioritize drug use above all else, as drugs are the only way they feel they can make it through the day, without the pain of withdrawal. There’s no cure, but treatment can help you stop using drugs and stay drug-free. The drugs that may be addictive target your brain’s reward system.

Genetic factors

Genetics – According to the NIDA, genetics account for approximately half, or 50 percent, of a person’s risk for developing an addiction. Gender and ethnicity may also influence a person’s risk for drug abuse and addiction. You may be here now, wondering, “Why do people get addicted to drugs? ” what is drug addiction or more significantly, “Why did this happen to my loved one? ” Maybe you are wondering what causes drug addiction at all. Many family members – particularly parents – will have these questions top of mind, questioning whether they themselves are to blame for their loved one’s choices to use.

Interventions can also help family and friends of the person with a substance use disorder. Loved ones can explain how they have been damaged by the individual’s words and actions. With time, the brain gets used to the substances, which translates to less pleasure. But these drugs overwhelm the brain, and in turn, the brain either releases less dopamine or gets rid of its receptors. This form of short-term treatment is for people who are physically dependent on drugs or alcohol.

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Addiction to substances happens when the reward system in your brain “takes over” and amplifies compulsive substance-seeking. If you have questions or concerns about drugs and how they affect you, call us today.