How Drug Addiction Impacts the Brain

Alcoholism and drug addiction essentially hijack the brain. In a healthy person who does not need drug rehabilitation, pleasurable stimuli such as eating and social interaction trigger the reward system of the brain. This causes the person to perceive these activities as beneficial. When an individual begins abusing drugs or alcohol, the reward system initially responds in the same way.

However, as you’ll learn when you watch this video, the reward system eventually stops responding to everyday stimuli and only the drug can induce feelings of pleasure. Consequently, the individual’s priorities in life begin to change until only the drug seems important. Eventually, the reward system becomes desensitized even to the effects of the drug.

Drug addiction education is an important component of the addiction recovery process at Retreat at Lancaster County and Palm Beach County. Call (717) 859-8000 to find out more about our treatment program in Pennsylvania.