Dopamine and Addiction

Let's talk about addiction medicine and brain biology.

First and foremost, don't blame yourself for drug abuse or addiction. The human brain is inherently vulnerable to the effects of drugs.

The primary factor at play is dopamine. Dopamine is a powerful and unique chemical produced by the brain's nerve cells (neurons).

Dopamine may have been a divine gift in the primitive era when survival in the jungle was a constant struggle against death. However, in today's society, characterized by industrialization and materialism, humans find themselves in an extreme situation of dopamine addiction as a mechanism to escape stress.

Dopamine is produced in the middle of the brain, specifically in the amygdala, which plays a key role in mood regulation and motivation.

When you wake up and open your eyes, your brain and cells are also awakening, instantly assessing whether you are experiencing pain or pleasure.

Our brain is constantly seeking pleasure as a survival mechanism to avoid pain and anxiety. This instinct to pursue pleasure and avoid discomfort is actually beneficial.

This drive for pleasure explains why we plan activities like traveling, meeting friends, going to bars or restaurants, and shopping. If you enjoy playing basketball, you'll make time for it whenever possible.

This pursuit of pleasure is not so different from addiction. Whether it's to drugs or sports, our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

To overcome addiction, we need to accept that life involves pain and learn to change our attitude towards it. Here lies the issue: drugs like cocaine offer an easy way to experience intense pleasure without the immediate pain. However, they come with their own set of problems, such as the rush and subsequent crash, tolerance, and escalating use. One tablet might be sufficient today, but tomorrow you might need ten.

This occurs because the brain adapts by creating more neural networks and synapses, altering its structure in response to drug use.

Living inevitably involves some degree of pain. For some people, this pain is intensified by genetic and traumatic factors.

To manage pain in a healthier way, it is essential to find positive and constructive methods to cope with and transform it.