It is not unusual for patients to relapse. However, it does not necessarily mean that the treatment was ineffective. It is important that patients' responses are taken into consideration when changing their treatment plan for chronic conditions. This applies to all chronic medical conditions. It is important to regularly evaluate and modify treatment plans in order to make sure they meet changing patient needs.
What are the changes that occur in the brain after someone has taken drugs? Dopamine is a chemical messenger that causes pleasure and affects the brain's reward circuit. By having a functioning reward system, a person is motivated by the possibility of achieving success in certain areas, such eating and spending quality time with loved ones. Dopamine spikes are responsible for the reinforcement of pleasurable, but dangerous, behaviours like drug use. This causes individuals to repeat the same behavior.
A person who uses drugs regularly will reduce the ability of their reward circuit cells to respond to stimuli. This will continue for as long the person continues to use drugs. This is known as tolerance. It reduces the effects of the drug and the amount of high that the user feels. The person might try to achieve the same high by taking in more of the drug. The brain changes cause the person to find it difficult to engage in normal activities such as eating, sexual activity, and socializing.
The brain's chemical circuits and systems can be altered by long-term substance abuse. This can lead to cognitive and behavioural changes such as stress, memory, judgement, decision-making and learning. Because addiction is a part of the disease, many drug users continue to use drugs.