Drug addiction negatively affects an individual’s brain. Addiction develops gradually when a person continually uses drugs regardless of the impairment it causes. The sooner a person gets the help they need to stop abusing drugs, the higher the chances of reversing or minimizing the effects of drug abuse. If you are searching for a ‘drug rehab near me in Scottsdale,’ look no further. At Purpose Healing Center, we’ll help you find lasting, meaningful freedom from addiction using a comprehensive treatment approach. We have created a safe, healing, and comfortable environment staffed by compassionate, experienced, and highly skilled professionals.
Causes of Drug Addiction
Multiple factors can contribute to drug addiction, including:
Genetics
How your brain and body react to a specific drug is partly determined by your genetics. In fact, the National Institutes of Health report that your inherited traits are responsible for almost 50 percent of your risk to drug addiction.
Environment
The environmental factors that can contribute to drug addiction are:
Although it’s not easy to change all the environmental factors, there are ways to fight addiction or prevent it in the first place. For instance, you can steer clear of friends who abuse drugs and surround yourself with people who influence you positively.
The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain
Drug addiction alters certain neurons and the way your brain experiences pleasure. Neurons communicate with each other by sending messages through axons and dendrites using electrical impulses. The axons convert electrical impulses into chemical signals then sends neurotransmitters to the dendrites. There, the neurotransmitters are converted into the proper electrical signals to help you understand the message; for instance, I’m feeling hungry, I need to eat. In essence, these exchanges control your cognition, mood, movement, and behavior.
Drugs interfere with the messages, cause the excessive release of neurotransmitters that lead to wrong behavior. The result is an uncontrollable desire to take drugs despite the consequences. With time, all that matters is to feel the pleasure that comes with drug use, which causes addiction.
Dopamine is one of the neurotransmitters in the brain that is in charge of reward and motivation. Drug abuse results in the release of floods of dopamine that makes a person feel euphoric. This is usually followed by cravings and compulsions to repeat the behavior that produced the surge: in this case, drug use. The brain reacts to the surges of dopamine by minimizing the receptors for the neurotransmitter. This means a reduced ability for the brain to feel pleasure, leading to more drug abuse.
Holistic Recovery from Addiction
While your body and mind can suffer permanent effects from drug abuse, you can also recover in many ways by getting the help you need from a reputable rehab facility. If you are looking for a ‘ drug rehab near me in Scottsdale,’ we are here for you. From the moment you arrive at Purpose Healing Center, you are treated with the utmost dignity and respect from our team, while a tailored plan, including holistic and evidence-based treatment, is created for you. To start your journey to recovery, contact us today at 480-579-3319.