Addiction damages the
Brain
Dr. Dwijesh Kumar Panda
Addiction hijacks the brain’s neural pathways. It is a moral
failing of desire, unrestrained eating and withdrawal that traps tens of
millions of people in the world. Addiction denote dependence of a substance
with increasing tolerance. If it is used more and more nasty withdrawal effects
occur when use stops. These are alcohol, nicotine and heroin. Nicotine is a
water soluble poisonous alkaloid found in tobacco leaves which is smoked and
chewed. Heroin is a white crystalline powder derivative of morphine having
euphoric effect. Marijuana and cocaine don’t cause shakes, nausea and vomiting
like withdrawal. Addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. It is
characterized by compulsive repetition of an activity despite life damaging
consequences. Anything that induces euphoria (feeling of vigor, well-being) or
is calming, can be addictive. Addiction depends person’s vulnerability, which
is affected by genetics, trauma, and depression. Many people have persistent
desire to eat certain foods. Pizza- typically made with white-flour crust and
topped with sugar-laden tomato sauce is the most addictive food, with chips and
chocolate. That is a major reason why people struggle with obesity.
More than two lac people worldwide die every year from drug
overdoses according to the United Nations office on drugs and crime. Much more
than this die from smoking and drinking. A billion people smoke tobacco. It is
the top five causes of death: heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Nearly one of every 20
adults worldwide is addicted to alcohol. Gambling and compulsive activities are
also recognized as addictions. In the United States 33,091 cases of opioids
overdose deaths happened in 2015. The U.S. surgeon general’s report on
addiction concluded that 21 million have a drug or alcohol addiction. 3.3
million worldwide die each year from alcohol. This disorder is more common than
cancer. 1.1 billion people in the world smoke tobacco. Behavioral addictions
are strong desires for gambling and other attractions of modern life- junk
food, shopping, smartphones. These are potentially addictive because of their
powerful effects on the brain’s reward system. Gambling and Internet gaming
resemble drug addiction.
M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) can unravel the mysteries
of addiction. The brain scans are coverted to images that pin point the
circuits. The brain images visualize the brain state. There is a spike in the
neurotransmitter dopamine. It is a chemical messenger that carries signals
across the synapses. Dopamine plays wide-ranging roles in the brain. In
addition, the flow of dopamine heightens. Each drug that’s abused affects brain
chemistry. They all send dopamine level soaring far beyond the natural range.
The brain’s executive control centre is the prefrontal cortex and other
cortical regions. Changes in this part of the brain affect judgement,
self-control and cognitive (memory) functions. People with addiction often in
using drugs to relieve the misery they feel when they stop.
Normal Neuronal Activity
Cocaine addicts have reduced gray matter volume in the
prefrontal cortex. The deficiency of the volume results in poor executive
function, memory, attention, decision- making. They generally perform worse.
Cocaine is a white powder obtained from dried coca leaves which is an American
shrub. This drug that is abused affects brain chemistry. They increase dopamine
levels far beyond the natural range. The cells that make dopamine are the
little devils in our brain. They powerfully enhance the chemical drive desire.
Several studies don’t answer the chicken-and-egg question. Does addiction cause
these impairments, or do brain vulnerabilities due to genetics, trauma, stress
or other factors increase the risk of becoming addicted? Goldstein, director of
NIDA discovered disappointing evidence that frontal brain regions begin to heal
when people stop using drugs.
Cocaine interfering with dopamine
transport
Our brain evolved a dopamine –based reward system to
encourage behaviors that help us survive. They are eating, procreating, and
interacting socially. Different drugs interact with the reward system in unique
ways to keep the synapses artificially flooded with dopamine. That dopamine
rush can rewire our brain to want more drugs, leading to addiction. Brain’s
reward system controls craving and pleasure. Craving is driven by
neurotransmitter dopamine. Pleasure is stimulated by other neurotransmitters in
“hidden hot spots.” When the craving circuits overwhelms the pleasure hot
spots, addiction occurs. People use more drugs despite the consequences.
Heroin flood the synapses with
dopamine
The application of electromagnetic pulses to the prefrontal
cortex or transcranial magnetic stimulation is a hope of success. This
technique is now being tested around the world. Medications that can prevent
the activation and keep people from falling prey to unseen triggers are in the
pipe line of modern research.
In the world of addiction, the best hope for treatment lies
in melting modern science and depend on ancient meditating practice. Use of
meditation and other techniques to bring awareness to habits that drive self
–defeating behavior. In Buddhist philosophy, craving (strong desire) is viewed
as the root of all suffering. Mindfulness can counter the dopamine flood of
contemporary life. It is more effective in preventing drug-addiction. It can
ride out the wave of intense desire.
Mindfulness trains people to pay attention to cravings without reacting
to them. It breaks the habit of ice cream and chocolate. Yoga, counselling,
amino acid supplements, and dieting changes can be more effective in preventing
drug addiction. Meditation quiets the Posterior Cingulate Cortex and the neural
space that don’t lead to obsession (evil spirit ruling a person). Our brains
evolved a dopamine based reward system to encourage behaviors that help us
survive, such as eating, procreating and interacting socially. The brain can
rebuild itself. That’s the most amazing thing.
References:
1.
Journal
of European Neuropsychopharmacology, January 2016.
2.
Diagnostic
and statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2016.