Dulce

De Jesus
DRUG ABUSE: Is a Brain Disease
The first step to becoming an addict is to chose to try
the drug, but it also true that once you use it it is very
hard to stop. Studies have shown that hydrocodone is
highly mentally and physically addictive. The reason for
its dependence is because this opiod, which has an
analgesic effect, also causes euphoria and a sense of
wellbeing/calmness, similar to the effects of morphine
and heroin. The latter sensation is what makes it so
attractive. It all begins with the neurotransmitter
dopamine, which is the giver of the feeling of reward.
Dopamine is released from the midbrain and travels to
the frontal cortex. It acts as a learning signal to
recognize and prioritize unexpected reward. It tells the

brain to be aware of this feeling when the drug is taken

because it is needed for survival. The more you take the
drug, the more tolerance you will develop. Needing
higher dosage each time to get the desired effects. The
great release of this neurotransmitter tells the brain
that the reward is better that what it expects, hence,
fooling the brain. Dopamine is a chemical of pleasure
that expresses intensely what the body wants, leaving
out rational and values. A cascade of neurochemical
occurs where the dopamine causes the release of
glutamate. One tells the brain that it wants it and the
latter tells the brain to go get it. Unfortunately wide
channels form in the brain for the drug, creating the
memory of the drug permanent. This is why it is very
hard for addicts to quit, causing relapse after years of no

use of it. It is thought that dopamine is responsible for

early addiction, but glutamate is responsible for the
final. Abnormal activites have been found in the orbital
frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex. These are
very critical for emotional attachment and decision
making, causing overwhelming want and extreme urges
to seek it. Eventually the frontal cortex gets warped and
fails, causing the addict to lose the sense of what is
really important and matters in life. As a result, the
addict goes through denial, personality change and
among other negative things. People become
emotionally and socially careless. It breaks their
families and their responsibility of life, such as work
and other things. Craving defeats choice. The
hypofrontal sends the body signals telling it that it

craves it. Which brings to attention and identifies the

addiction as an actual chemical inbalance, which is
manifested as a craving.
Addicts are judged based on their behavior and for
chosing to use the drug in the first place, but in reality
addicts loss the ability to chose. I truly believe that it is a
combination of both, but mostly of all chemical.