Addiction can be an uncomfortable subject to bring up. However, many individuals end up getting addicted to one substance or another. It’s highly likely you know someone who has had addiction or drug abuse issues.
Luxury addiction treatment is available for individuals struggling with drugs or alcohol, assuming they can afford it. There are all kinds of treatment centers, and finding the right one can be crucial if an addict is trying to get their life back on track.
You might be wondering whether addiction physically changes the human brain. It’s a subject well worth exploring, so let’s do so right now.
When Is Someone Addicted?
First, let’s make sure you understand what we mean when we use the term “addict.” From a clinical standpoint, a person is addicted to a substance if they go through the symptoms of withdrawal when they are deprived of it. However, that does not mean you’re not getting into potentially dangerous territory if you don’t go into physical withdrawal when you no longer have your substance of choice.
While you might not be technically addicted, you may still have a strong attachment to that substance. Judging how well you respond when you cut off access to it is often a good indication of whether or not you should seek help.
Yes, Addiction Can Physically Alter Your Brain
As for whether physical changes in your brain can be observed if you have become addicted to something, the answer is that yes, it is absolutely possible. Let us say you begin to use a substance chronically. You develop a dependency on it.
If medical science was to do imaging of your brain, after a certain point, physical changes could be seen quite easily. The brain’s circuits will have adapted. They will now be less sensitive to dopamine.
The pleasurable sensation you’re seeking through use of your chosen substance has become vital. However, it is also more difficult to achieve because you have built up a tolerance. At that point, you will generally have to do more of your chosen drug to get the high you’re looking for.
Can You Recover from These Changes?
Since we now know that addiction can change the brain, the next logical question is whether the addict’s brain can eventually recover if they break the habit. Luckily, it is believed that in many instances, some degree of recovery is possible.
It would be disingenuous to say that the brain of someone who has been addicted to an extremely harmful drug for multiple decades could ever completely recover from that usage. However, in plenty of situations, some degree of brain function returns.
It is generally believed by medical science at this point that individuals who were once addicted to a substance but who have gotten away from its use can essentially rewire their brain. Long-term use will more than likely impact them permanently, but if they remain sober, they have a much better chance of regaining some of the cognitive ability they lost.