A psychiatric specialist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Dr Albert Sedohia, has emphasised that addiction is not merely a behavioural issue but a chronic brain disorder that causes significant, long-term changes to the brain.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show during a segment focused on the abuse of opioids, Dr Sedohia explained how opioid addiction alters the brain’s structure, leading to changes in behaviour that individuals often cannot control.
He said, “Addiction works by affecting the brain’s reward system, which governs motivation. When someone abuses opioids, their brain releases chemicals that alter their behaviour.”
Dr Sedohia explained that when people engage in basic activities like drinking water or eating food, their brain naturally releases a certain amount of dopamine, a chemical associated with feelings of pleasure.
However, when addictive substances like opioids are consumed, the release of dopamine can increase significantly. “With these drugs, the release of dopamine can increase by 50 to 100, or even 1000 times,” he stressed.
This sharp rise in dopamine can cause individuals to prefer the drug over basic needs like food and water. He illustrated this with the example of someone struggling with alcohol use disorder.
“A person with alcohol use disorder may lose their appetite because the pleasure they derive from alcohol is far stronger than what they feel when eating food,” he said.
The ‘feel-good’ chemicals released by the drug are far greater than those produced during normal physiological processes.
He continued, “The same can happen with other drugs, such as tramadol. The pleasurable sensation from the drug is much more intense than the natural satisfaction we get from everyday activities like eating or drinking.”
“This overwhelming pleasure is what drives individuals to continue abusing these substances. They get hooked because the high they experience from the drug is far more intense than the rewards of everyday life, and that’s what makes addiction a chronic condition,” he concluded.
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