DATE PUBLISHED: AUGUST 30 2022

AUTHOR: LAWERENCE ROBINSON, MELINDA SMITH, JEANNE SEGAL

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm

Addiction is a disease. It affects your brain and behavior. When you’re addicted to drugs or substances you can't resist the temptation to use them. When you hit the point where you are addicted you can’t stop. That is when your health is put in danger. It doesn’t when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. The temptation to get and use or take drugs can fill up every minute of every day, even if you know it's wrong and if you want to quit. The drugs that you use may be addictive to target your brain’s reward system. The substance floods your brain with a chemical called dopamine. This triggers a feeling of intense pleasure in the body, so you want to keep taking that drug to chase the high.