Addictions

Our understanding of drug use and addiction is greater now than it was in the past, but much is still unknown. In their article “The Addicted Brain,” published in Scientific American, Eric J. Nestler and Robert C. Malenka discuss the intricacies of drug addiction and the obstacles associated with both quitting a drug addiction and finding a cure for it.

For a person who has never used drugs, it is hard for them to understand why someone would want to use drugs in the first place. A person who has used some type of drug will tell you that the high that you get while you are drugged is one of the best feelings in the world to them. For that moment that they are drugged, nothing else matters. They have no problems, no worries, and no responsibilities. It’s only after the high wears off that reality comes and hits them hard.

Of course the more they use the drugs, the more they become dependant of it and the more they need in order to reach that same feeling. Once they try and stop, it’s normally too late. Not only does it mentally harm them but it harms them physically as well. The drug takes over the person’s life. Priorities such as loved ones, friends and family then become second to the drug.

Constant use of a drug will ultimately lead to an addiction. A person will begin to have stronger cravings and will stop at nothing to get more. They will do whatever is necessarily even for the smallest of hits. They would rather look for more drugs and get that feeling rather than do everything things like eat or sleep. This can lead to early stages of physical illness.

Even when a person tries to quit it’s not easy at all. They never forget the way they felt while they were under the control of the drug. They even have certain things they associate with drug use such as places, people or events. Even if a person is drug free for a long period of time, if the person is ever given even the smallest of dosages of the drug the addiction will return instantly.

Researchers believe they have found a circuit in the brain that deals directly with drug addiction. Drugs commandeer this circuit, stimulating its activity with a force and persistence greater than any natural reward (Nestler & Malenka, 2004, pg. 2).

So is there a cure for these people? Well it’s easier said than done. By learning more about the direct roots of addiction in the brain, researchers have tried to create various ways as to create a “cure.” Using drugs not only leads to drug addiction but can lead to various health problems ultimately causing death. Though some treatments may work for some, most of them tend to fail. These cures never are completely successful in erasing the memories of the feeling of the high and therefore can sometimes create stronger urges.

Although there are some treatments that imitate a drug this can sometimes just create another problem. The person might get hooked on the “cure” instead of the drug. Though other programs exist where no pills, drinks, patches are used, most participants in these types of programs tend to still go back to their old ways.

Though our understanding of drug use is greater now than it has been in past years it is still not perfect. The old saying comes into play that in order to stop a problem you must get to the root of it first. Are some people more at risk than others to become drug addicts? We already know that our environment plays a key role in this but what if drug addiction is something we are born with. What if there is some kind of gene that can be detected at birth that tells doctors that we are more prone to becoming drug addicts than others? Maybe then we could begin some type of early treatments. For now these are all just thoughts up in the air. Maybe one day we’ll have a solution to our problems until then let’s just use a temporary solution and let’s all just stay away from addictive drugs.

REFERENCES

Nestler, Eric J. & Malenka, Robert C. (2004). The Addicted Brain. Scientific
American. Retrieved December 6, 2004, from the Scientific American
Web Site: http://www.sciam.com/