If a person takes a drug often enough, the brain will make changes so that it can handle all the extra chemicals that are being put into it. In an attempt to adjust, the brain tells the neurotransmitters to slow down the release of certain chemicals in the pleasure circuit. As a result, normal levels of chemicals are too low. When that happens, a person becomes depressed. The person will then take more of the drug in order to feel better. The drug addict will temporarily feel better. The extra chemicals from the drug again tell the brain to stop producing its own chemicals, which further reduces normal levels. When the drug wears off, the addict feels even worse than before. This is called withdrawal. The person then craves more drugs to help him feel better, and the cycle starts all over again.

The human body has a system of checks and balances that keep us from being too happy, too sad, too stressed out-too anything. In a way, it's as if we have an electrical circuit board in our brain that determines how much of various neurotransmitters we need in certain situations. When it gets the signal, the brain then produces the correct amount. Drugs and alcohol act like a power surge, overloading the brain with chemicals. Just as an electrical power surge can blow up a computer or turn off all the lights, drugs cause problems with the chemicals in our brains. This causes addiction, in which the brain can no longer function without a drug.

Most people who become addicted to drugs follow a similar pattern of addiction. First, they experiment with drugs. People start to take drugs for many reasons. They may try drugs because of pressures at home, an ache or pain, coaxing from friends, or curiosity about how a drug will make them feel. Their tolerance increases. The more of a chemical they use, the more of that chemical they will need to get the same effect. They may have blackouts. There may be times when they do not remember what they did when drinking or using drugs.

An addict will avoid talking about drugs or alcohol. As the addiction develops, they try to take attention away from anything that will point it out. They become preoccupied with drug use. Spending time thinking about drugs, plan their drug use carefully, and choosing friends based on drugs. Addicts blame others and make excuses for their drug use. They may even cause fights as an excuse to drink or drug. All control of drug use is lost. They cannot control how much is used and are unable stop from taking more. An addict may feel weak or think that they do not have willpower. The drug use affects family, friends, employment, and education. It may destroy the addict's relationships and abilities to handle even the simple life tasks. The addict may have medical, legal, or emotional difficulties or problems. The addict will lose hope. As the addiction gets worse, they may feel as though there is nothing they can do to stop it. The addict will feel as if life has lost it's meaning or is not worth living.

Information on this page courtesy of National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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