How Substance Abuse Hijacks Brain Reward Function To Cause Addiction

Substance Abuse is Injurious to Physical and Mental Health

Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny on Unsplash

Excessive usage of drugs or chemicals effect the functioning and decision making abilities, by taking control over, brain. Awareness regarding how substance abuse hijacks brain reward function, to cause addiction, is an eyeopener. Mechanism of brain reward function and its blockage by excessive substance use, is quite interesting and good to know for you and your loved ones.

What is addiction?

Being in habit or excessive use of something regularly is an addiction. Its an neurological disorder that needs to be curbed to control brain from being hijacked by external sources.

Types of substance that can cause addiction

Following are the group of substances that may be used to alter brain functions when misused or used in excess:

1. Drug addiction

2. Solvent use (eg, Aerosols and Glue)

3. Alcohol use (eg, Wine, Gin, Vodka)

4. Chemical use (eg, Narcotics)

5. Habit (constant habit of any activity)

6. Pain medication (eg, Fentanyl Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen)

7. Illegal drug use (eg, Cannabis, Cocaine, LSD, Heroin, Ecstasy)

8. Prescription drug use (prescription medication meant for patients)

9. Novel Psychoactive substance use (“legal highs” misuse)

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

Reward System of Brain

Reward system of the brain reinforces important behaviors as eating, drinking, walking, social interaction and other bodily functions and remind us of those functions as and when need arises.

For example we reach for food when we are hungry. After meal we feel good as the need of food is satisfied. This activity is repeated by us when the need of food arise or in other words when we feel hungry and this is memorable and we do the same function again and feel good. This…