Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Bryn Mawr-Skyway
Relapse refers to the return to drug abuse after a failed attempt to stop. Relapse is a sign that you need more or a different type of treatment.
Dopamine is a chemical messenger that floods the brain with drugs. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit can reinforce unhealthy, but pleasurable activities. This causes people to repeat the same behavior over and over again.
The brain adapts to excess dopamine over time. This reduces the feeling of high compared to when they first took the drug. This is known as tolerance. To get the same dopamine high, they might consume more drug.